The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1874-11-11


Eeur rosnchfioD ii So. II ~ o,hcr Say
csn lie people haze vilo.ce anolg os'r bsrt
men. A convention is tiss olily ,heiu'd of
amending cur constitution snst II perfectly
consonai.t viii, ille spiritpfosr illsiltuilaus.
IL can deal With ail.our grievances and aeAi
With them at once Il will Jeal with shFin
under i s.use II obligation and responsible
| its which . Legislature peyer feels. y
would secure for the several subjects of de-
| liberation las attention only possible with
sncIl nisisira III labsAr. II weuld save the
IreoyIe frvu, tiiose iutessant agitations which
~ MANY grave cnssss, rs can -tpplIy IN tzzIa-
stu. through me fcesslarbye niust ineyi-
taLly engei.der. II World exclude all
doubt aud uncertainty rs 70 on organic
law, since i, would speak autboritatively
ard finally. Ii would settle every constI-
,utio,,al question for a quarter Of centn-
! ry 10 come. 1t would restore tranquility
/ TO tire public mind call cut the affections
of the people 10 government Of their own
choice bind them 10 their homes; and
cheer them on in the new career Of pr0spe-
rity which constitution adjusted to the
times would open up 10 them.
A majority If lie journals Of the State
have pronounced against convention. II
they baye given expression 70 the convic-
,ions u the people. there would be no more
10 say; tor with the people the decision Of
this question must lest. II. however. il
shall be found that this opinion is based
rather upon the presumed. than upon the
expressed judgment of the people. then the
question ls as open To discussion as before.
i This discussion would be favored By the
journalists themselves. fur AZ a class. none
are more partial TO free inquiry none more
anxious 10 reach right conclusion in this
matter.
| 1t is clear. that capseity aud Access toin-
| formation apart. tie oliDion Of the jenrna-
list on this subject as worth no more than
that Of aur other citizen. itlsa question
Of fact and while the advantages pf those
who Conduct the press Of the State, are.
over the generality of men, undoubtedly
great in respect 10 the particulars mention
Ell. yet esen here. they themselves would
admit that the advantages Of thousands Of
our citizens are equal to their own.
Il Now il is conceded that upon this sub
jcct there has been 10 recent expression cs
, opinion " the people. 1t is three years
since fhey we're called upon 20 vote o. this
question; for three years. the people have
been silent 20 far as regards a definite de-
claration u their views upon the question.
II hey have been silsAs il mus. 6e admit
ted that any conclusions respecting their
apinions at this time. must be conjectural
But, in all eaudor. let il be asked. is it
consistent sith the nature Of such momen-
tons Issues to rest their decision upon a
guess at popular sentiment, based upon ac-
tion which took place three years ago.
Shal! we take no note Of tie progress u
opinion during that periods Is conserys-
tive SiatesmaBship uf that sors wbieh looks
backward oHly. and fears or refuses to face
the questions of the das.
Let rs glance moaent at sumo Of the
chief objections which have been urged to .
contention. Tie one must relied on. and
most frequently urged l.. il must be can.
le,.ei sufficiently ill-dciined. Il seems to
grow cut ofa vague dread of dining anything
At all. lt declares any navemeut looking
10 i ypnssniion to he .impollfic' since il
wbald pat 10 hazard tiie frn,ls Of our recent
victory. Il is d;fisult 70 appreciate the
force of this objection, IT our late triGciph
had Leen the result Of any great aud sudden
.aeiirmeni. which swept the people out q
III ordinary track cf opieion; if il hnd
beer obtained by resort to doubtful poli-
;ica, eapedients. then this objection would
base great weight. But the latter was ne,
yer charged hy even our political adverse.
ries. aud We know that 10 surh exciseoisnt
existed. There was. il is true. tho civil
rights bill. hut that was no uew issue. i
had been besnre the country for months: j,
mad been debated AZ length in both House,
uf Congress ;it l,ad tern fally discussed b,
the press Of every State. Il womb, pro.
baby. he strictly true 20 say. that NJ el-c.
tiun was ever freezer Irum exc,temcnf. Ma.
MS issues we're embraced Ia that cahyas,
aud % Far y tie civil rights bill was con.
csrned. The People vert forward on the d.,
|. of election % record vcriiet long mad,
up. u Wit, .hal i was u orsc uncuustisu.
iional destructive uf our society destruc-
\ tise II tie peace of the two races aboy,
al. degrading 10 tue white race. II wa
done so quietly and calmly as 10 afford |
spectacle II thc lrpcst moral graduer. Il
Was simple exercise IL righ. and POWER b,
free people. Sush al exhibition " qaicl
= power, In presence IL ~ much dangsr /,
! Institutions and IL race will mako that
election 10 ever rointei 10. as cao of III,
modest achievements cf Z free government
: Il Will be regarlcd ss t-ewulng proof s.
" the capacity 81 4 Tree pcorlc to appr.cial.
= the greatest qncstioD>. aud 10 deal vii
them with ilesame calmness Of tempe,
" with which ihey would treat an esehI =
: ieliy oeearr-m~.
! Il y ersas m,siaka. NAY nris-.s
!, liniier. 50 20 in.csprci ilsr la1e eleciio,, d
/" ia,msss u ei,erk ap..n me movement 4,
Y ward CONSTITUTIONAL Frl.wm. Equally ~. 1
: 4 10 hold. ihst u de.aAnd- pause ~ d,