Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1875-03-19
GOVERNOR "A n e e AND TEaE
CONVENTION QUESTION.

The following communication, taken
from the Petersburg Lade1 and APP
peal, ia attributed, and we presume
correctly, to the accomplished pen Of
Capt. SAMUEL T. WILLIAMS, formerly
the able editor of the Raleigh Ns,0s.
It places Governor Vance's position
npon the Convention question in its
proper light before the public.
ROCKY MOUNT, N. c., March 8, rs.
To the Editor of the Inde1 and Ap-
peat:
In regard to your editorial of Satur-
day as to Governor Vance's position Oh
calling Convention in North Carolina
| to alter the Constitution of the State,
permit me to say that you misconceiv-
| the motive that infu snced Governor
Vance in favoring Convention. If the
explanation given by you be the cor
rect one. the absurdity of Governor
| Vance's position should cause his
| friends to take into consideration if it
| were not time for a commission de
leuaatjc0 snqtirendO to Issue in hi
| case. 1t is too serious a matter t.
suppose that his telegram was intend
ed as one of the practical jokes OF
the greatest wag of the South"
The true solution is, Gov. Vance
thinks the passage of the Civil Rights
Bill by the Republicans in Congress.
will have the effect in North Carolina
of driving away from its ranks the
masses of the white men who have
heretofore affiliated with the party,
! who will unite with us, and make the
| ~, fat2 IL II =,
favor OF the Democrats that there Cal,
the delegates elect to the Convention
| will belong to the Democratic party.
Another thing-many who have
heretofore opposed Convention il.
North Carolina will now strongly ad-
vocate it, because apprehension of III
reference by Congress has passed away
with the death of the Radical Con
eress. Even that body, before it al
iourned adopted the Poland resolution
that President Grant had no right te
interfere with the State government il
Arkansas, put i'll operation by the new
Constitution. That Democratic
Congress will allow Grant to interfere
IN North Carolina when a Republican
Congress refused to allow him to d.
, the same thing under similar circum
stances i'll Arkansas, would be too VIC
: lent a presumption to consider.
Gov. Vance could not dream tina
the Convention, if called, would tax
any action to modify or in any wa,
effect the Civil Rights bill, and he vii
; doubtless be surprised to see such
construction placed upon his Telegram
, TO the Wilmington Journal.
The writer has, until the adjourn
ment of the 43rd Congress, constant,
urged the postponement of the Con
vention question; bu. now that tn
fangs OF the serpent,have been extract
: ed, he will unite with the friends Q
i the measure in assisting to reform tn
! defects and absurdities of the organi
law of the state. He will do SO wit
the fullest confidence that no conflc
:! with the Federal Government can b
y under any pretext precipitated, an
V with the firm belief that the Legisls
:. ture will so guard the bill that thei
=, can be no interference with the HON,
Ii stead law, with the mechanics and /,
G borers lien law, with the rights of tt
Y colored race as now secured by til
= amendments to the Federal Constitl
tiOn, or with the terms of office of q
e persons who hold under the preseI
+ Constitution. These restrictions wi
is doubtless be incorporated in the bi
= IN express language. W.