Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1875-03-26
VOL. 81.
THE ONVENTIOs BBEs.-A BRIEF
GLANGE ATIsS pHeygSt<>NS.

! THE ONtENEHO u EBB BEs.-A LIB Eg 4 T
GLANCE AT Iss PROVISIONS.
The object for which We have been
iaborlng for seven months is accom-
plisbed-the Legislature has called a
Convention to rid us of the burdens of
tie Candy Constitution
The text of tie bill, as published on
yesterday, shows the Convention is
what is called restrict Convention,
bat is to say, it is restric ed or prohib-
1tad from Going certain things that but
for the restrictions imposed, it might
do. We do not propose to discuss
how far these restrictions may DE
| binding on the Convention, for tine
reason that we do not deem the cues
ton to have any practical importance.
| We feel quite sure the Convention
will Disregard none of the prohibitions
| imposed upon it,
What we propose to do this morn
ing is to consider very briefly what rs
stnctlons upon the power OF the Cco-
ventlon are imposed by the act of the
Legislature. The restrictions are &. J.
Not to interfere with the Homestead
and perse nal property exemption. If
the largest liberty were permitted it is
safe to say Nc Que wou'd exercise it by
Interfering with the Homestead law.
Every tody is agreed upon that ca
Not to interfere with the Mechanics
and Latorers len and married VIC
mems rights. As to this restrictions.
also, all are agreed. These liens and
rights ought not to be int"rfered witt.
3D. Not to change Sec. 3, Art 3. of
the Constitution. This section requires
taxation to be al UuiOren1 and is Just
aud proper. & Not 10 change Sec.
OF same article. This section forhids,
the Legislature to contract any new
debt or contract any new pecuniary
obligation, unless it shall In the same
bill levy a special tax to pay the inter
est annually. 1t also forbids the Leg
islature to lend the credit of the State
to any railroad or other corporation
unless the same be approved by di
rect vote of the people of the State.
These are proper safeguards aud ought
to be maintained. 90 Not to change
the ratio between the poll and proper
~ tax-that is the poll tax shall equal
the tax on three hundred dollars worth
of property. To this too there will
be 10 objection, for the reason that it
will prevent either poll or property
from evading its due share of tax
alton, as one cannot be changed with
out changing the other in the same pro-
potion. Co., Not to vacate or abolish |
any Office before the expiration of the
term of its present incumbent. To |
this restriction we were opposed OF |
many accounts, but having been made |
part of the act Of the Assembly call |
ing the Convention, we shall now urge |
no objection to it.
o. Not to pay for slaves. We pre-
sumo no one expected North Carroll
ma to pay North CaroIinians for slaves
by the Federal
think any one proposed to make pro-
vision for any war debt. (9.) Nor was
there ever any purpose to require any
educational or property qualification |
as a requisite for voting. QO) Nor
was there any pu1 pose to restore i'm |
prisonment for debt. 11.) The prohi- |
bition against acts of ordinary legisia-
ture is merely precaution-unneces |
sary We thiuk-to insure a short ses-
sion of the Convention.
From this brief review it will he
seen that the only restriction of any
practical Importance is the one which
permits the present Office holders TO
serve out the terms for which they
wore elected. The Convention has
full power to change our coun
ty and township governments.
to require every voter to show
his poll-tax receipt; to prevent
from voting every man convi' ted Of
larceny; to change our whole judicial
system; the mode of electing judges
and magistrates; to require the Judges
to ride the circuits in rotation, and
indeed to make all the other cha anges
SO much desired. The restrictions, with
d single exception perhaps, cover
ground that no one proposed to enter
upDn