The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-09-16
Constitutional Conventions.

The North Carolina Constitutional Con-
ycntion organized last week by the election
of Dr. Edward Ransom as President on the
fourteenth ballot. DR.. Ransom was elected
to the Convention as an independent Demo-
crat, and occupied substantially the same
ground before the people us the regular
Democrats f;lvoring constitutional reform.
The body was composed of 50 Democrats
and 80 Republicans. The latter were pcdg-
ed to adjourn sine dic, without taking any
action upon tic present Constitution, in
case the Convention fell under their control.
DR.. Ransom held the balance of power,
therefore, and upon him depended the ell
tire result, 50 far rs the organization was con-
ccrncd The Democrats determined to make
him their presiding officer, and for several
days the ballotting went on without an Or
ganization being affected. Under these cir
cumstanccs, Dr. Ransom voted for himself,
and became the presiding officer, when
complete organization was made in the in
!crcst of the Democrats. The action nf the
Democrats in supporting Ransom shows
that there was wisdom and discretion At
their head, and that mere party advantage
was subordinatcd to the imperative needs of
the State Besides, one of the first or'ii-
nances introduced provides for the removal
of the political disabilities of Ex-Gov. 1lol-
den, whose Impeachment few years asn re-
suited in his disqualification This is Il sure
indication that conservatism will control
the majority After the standing commit
tees were appointed by the President, the
delegates went to work earnestly. and one
hundred and twenty-five ordinances were III
troduccd to amend the present Constitution.
These ordinances embrace many lmpotan;
topics of public interest, such rs reducing:
the number of judges, who are to be elected
by the Legislature, instead OF the popular
vote; reducing salaries i'll the executive and
legislative departments; prohibiting convict
cd fcolls from holding oiiie or sitting on
uricS; providing for separate schools tor
white and black children; providing for the
compromise of the public debt, &c. The
standing committees arc judic!Ously selected.
and it may be expected that every scheme
presented will be carefully scrutinizcd before
presented for action by the Conventions An
occaSiuncd by the death of Hon. VIM. y.
Graham, which takes place on the 18TH inst,
after which the Democrats claim an easy
working majority. The ablc>t members of
the Democratic party in North Carolina are
prominent leaders in this movement for con-
stitutional reform, and weshall expect every
action to harmonizc with right, truth and
justice.
The Alabama Constitutional Convention
met in Montgomery on the 9th inst, and
organized without any delay. Gen. l.. 7.
Walker was chosen President by acclama-
ton, Republicans and Democrats alike Yot-
ing for him. The father of Gen. Walker
presided over the convention which adopted
the Constitution in 1910, under which Ala-
bama was admitted into the Union. His
speech ON taking the chair shows a just ap-
probation of the work in hand, and vindi-
Gates the wisdom of the delegates in making
his election unanimous. He declared that
the civil and political equality of all men
should be recognized in its broadcst sisnli-
canoe and incorporated into the new Con-
stitution, which ought to quiet the fears of
those who arc anticipating rcactionary legls-
lation on the return of the Democratic party
tn power. In the Alabama Convention, the
Democrats have an overwhelming majority,
and will become responsible for the framing
ofamcndatory clauses, which we are satisfied
will only include such measures rs will con-
ducc to the moral and material welfare of
the State. The delegates were selected from
among the best, purcSt and ahlcSt men of
the State, who will correct many evils grow
ing out of the bad government of the last
eight years.