The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1875-01-06

ty that presents it.
COL. CUNNINGHAM.s LETTER.
We publish on the FIRST page the letter
Of Col. John W. Cunningham. Of Person
County on the subject Of the call Of Con-
yention.
Like everything else that emanates FROM
that gentleman. it is stamped with sterling
honesty Of purpose, and is perfect sinceri-
ty is entitled 70 consideration.
Col. Cunningham is another who admits
the glaring defects Of The present Constitu-
tion and the urgent need for its reform or
the total abrogatiop. But like many oth-
ers, he halts in the accomplishment Of his
purpose because The time has not yet come
May we ask, in all candor, when is the
time to come? What time 50 favorable as
the present, when the constitutional majo-
rity exists in the Legislature; when the
subject is ripe for action; when legislators
are more harasscd and hampered than ever
by the distractions and restrictions Of the
present ILL begotten Constitution; when its
farther existence is certain to enure to con-
tinual trouble. vexation, eyen.to disaster;
aud when by wise, and at the same time
bold and independent action. the Lcgisla-
ture can solve the problem, cut the Cor
dian knot, and start the State on new ca
reer Of life and prosperity.
That the people have not given more evil
dence Of desire to call Convention and
change the organic law, j. the fault Of po-
liticians themselves who seem anxious to
keep the people in the dark, to magnify the
dangers Of the effort, TO connect il with the
disastrous attemps Of the past. 10 pander to
the idea that constitutional reforms are dan
gerous exercises Of power. and plans for
redress and relief, dangerous innovations.
Why not tell she people-truths that
cannot be gainsaid--that the Constitution
Of 1868 is not the work Of the people Of
North Carolina. that II is the work Of mi
litary power, that its pretended ratification
at the ballot box Is q matter Of more than
doubt, that it Is an instrument utterly m
suited to the habits and customs Of our Sec
ton, that il has given US system Of gov.
eminent, arbitrary and almost despo.ic 10
some Of its branches, and In all of them, a
costliness and extraraganee altogether at
variance with the crippled fortunes Of the
State thstit is senii-legislation 10 its cha.
racter. an iDscperable obstacle to efficient
necessary legislation by the proper branch
Of the government, that ID il obscure and
contradictory, requiring the incessaut and
never ending Interpretation u the Supreme
! Court. thus erecting into formidable and
cvershadowipg power, what should be only
coordinate and eo-e9usl branch Of the
State government.
Why not go farther, and say that II !,
designed to restore as nearly as may be-
subject only to the changes made necessary
BY the war. and the improvements and sug.
gcstions that the Constitution Of 1868 may
have made desirable and necessary 10 the
people-the Constitution under which VI
all lived % prosperously from 1885 to the
beginning Of the war.
As regards the danger Of disaster 10 ID,
election Of 1876. We think the party vii
60 into the campaign 50 vastly strengthened
BY new and acceptable Constitution. thai
it need never after fear defeat. The re.
publican party is as much interested as Oh,
democratic in this reform. and We hay,
none Of the fean which seem 70 possess sOmt
Of our friends Of losing the new converts o
August last. We think they were glad D
good pretext TO leave their bal company
and may be relied upon with due prudence
as permanent acquisitions % The ranks .
the Democratic Conservative party. =