The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1874-10-21
JUDGE MASLY's LETTER.
NEwsEhN, Oct. lst, ls7I

MISUNDERSTANDING / Il iisclain, for my
opinion all significance above those Of my
frllow-men, the emergency is believed TO
be sufficiently grave TO demand an answer
from every one % the questions you put
II l., therefore, from sense Or duty as
well as from courtesy tIlatI reply 10 your
letter of the 18th Mt.
]. The Constitution ought. IN my judg-
ment, To be amended In many material
respects. and II should be done at once, as
indispensibIy preliminary TO useful legis.
lation. Thcre Is m person IN the State,
Il seems to me. who has the sense 10 foim
judgment upon the subject at all, aud
who, nj the same time, u capable of free
ing himself from tl.e binding effects Of
prejudice and self interest. who does not
understand and ndacknowledge this. Many
PROVISIONS are forIgn 10 our habits and
mode of life, unsuiied 10 the condition OF
our people. cumbrous aud expensive. IL.
Is tainted with an arrogant use Of moral
platlludes and exhorations, is uninielligi.
blc or absurd IL parts, and has many
matters crystalizel Into constitutional law
which DcIang 10 the eyanescent and
chang-ablc ideas u the day aud ought 10
have been left 10 tile inniain OF ordinary
legislation.
This being The character Of the ins,i>
tuition under which weare now attempting
10 conduct public affairs. can conceive
Of mo- sound reason, should there be
strength Ia the two Houses of Assembly 10
change Il. why w slloa'd moi reform and
make II harmonic with our wishes.
=. or tile two modes of amendment,
that by Convention OF delegates nom
the people, Is the only one which meets
our need The mode by nets of successive
Assemblies Is ,lIiatnry, aud Is, indeed,
hardly practicable. where many amend-
ments arc rsiuiled. such mode is ap
prOpriaie only whrn single amendment
Is wanted. .'or Al most few.
With defects aud blenli-lles interviewer
IL every part, n III our case, il reqaircs y
council. sitting lngeihcr, and freely In
terchanging views, % eliminate them
thoroughly and leave the law IN con.
.isieBt state. Itisnu possible to Inform
people in their ueighJorhood meetings Of
tie Intended sense Of variety Of amends
meuts, o. their relations 10 each other, aud
of their general elect upon the whole.
The experience OF mankind has shown
that in such eases, full understanding
and complete aud satisfactory work can
only ~ done " persons acting collectively,
lcogkgiaitcr). The force of tile objection
20 legislative amendment. will be plainer
when you consider that each amendment
must De IN separate bill Ia order 90 avoid
tie risk Of losing the whole by the failure
on the part of tlie second legislature TO
pass the bill ibdentical Ia all iis parts, that
was proposed by The first. a question is
made as to the validity ofthe amendments
or Angus, 1873 upon the ground above In
dIcalsd which i now pending weare In
formed III the supreme Court 81 the State.
A Convention u ihe only adequaie.remedy
for the iniolerable political eyiisthat beset
us aad tile sooner Il l. called the better.
Q. Promising alI proper respect and de-
ference to the approaching General AS
rcmtly. aud relying upon their better
judgment for wise aud patriotic action In
Tie premises, proceed 70 answer your
third inlerogatory. II the requisite nuns
ber IN each House cohcur M 70 the neccs-
slly Ola Convention see no reason why
Il sllould not be called this winter.
The experience Of the past few years
convinces NE that legislation In North
Carolina 70 any good end mustbe crippled
aud Inefficient rs long es the Constitution