Wilmington journal., 1875-02-05
CONVENTION.


CONVENTION.
Since the action Of the State Execu-
tive Committee, composed of gentle
men from every section of North Caro-
lima, by vote approaching unanimity,
requesting the Legislature to call
Conve ntion, we have had little to say
upon the subject. We did not believe
then, nor do we believe now. that this
request will be unheeded. We believe
that the present Legislature will not
adjourn sine die without first calling
Convention.
The few papers in the State yet op-
posed to this movement have been
more active since the meeting of the
Executive Committee than before in
pressing their objections to the call.
While all admit the paramount impor-
tance and necessity for Constitutional
reform, some few oppose any move
ment looking to that end, Influenced
by motives of policy and not of princi-
pie. One marked difference, however,
is apparent in the opposition to what
it was a few weeks since. Then We
were told that it was not good politi-
cal policy to push the matter before
the present Legislature, but we must
wait until after the election in 1876,
for fear it might ieopardize the cleo
tion now we are told that if the Leg
islature calls a Convention at once,
Grant will send Sheridan with his CO.
horts to disperse the delegates, or
Congress will burden us with new Acts
of Reconstruction. The opposition
have abandoned all their old grounds
and base their objections on fears orig
mating in the Louisiana imbroglio,
and in the desperate and dying efforts
to regain power. This very fact fur
nishes the best evidence that the for
mer opposition to Convention at least.
| was not well founded, and conld not
and did not stand the test OF intelli-
gent controversy.
This new opposition, like the old, is
exaggerated. We do not believe it is
wilfully or perversely done. We hope
not. But we are unwilling that some
papers shall publish, and others less
bold, shall greedily copy, statements
which cannot be sustained, in order to
prejudice the question of Convention
either with the public orwith the Leg
| islature.
The Charlotte Democrat of late
date, for whose editor we have the
highest personal regard, in speaking
of a Convention says, that 'the
"whole Democratic delegation in Cen
| ''gress from this State advise against
''it, and think it very imprudent in
'sthe present condition of the coun-
| ''try."
| The Wilson Adr0nce, with whose
| senior edttorwe were, in former times,
| always in political accord, and with
| whom latterly we have so frequently
differed, and always with deference,
makes substantially the same state
ment. We can tell these gentlemen,
and others who have published or read
these statements, that our delegation
| III Congress have given no such
advice. On the contrary they ex-
pressly and in SO many words declined
proffering any advice on the subject
saying very properly that the people
at home knew better than they did the
necessities for Convention, and could
judge better of the state of public
| feeling. In response to an inquiry of
| the Executive Committee, they stated
what every Intelligent reader knew,
that the relations between the States
and the Federal Government were
much disturbed by the recent troubles
in Louisiana. The Committee, by it's
action, acknowledged this fact, but
was not deferred from recommending g
that the Legislature should call a
Convention.
The people of the State are quite as
unanimous as the Committee were in
favor of a Convention, and if the
present Legislature adjourn sine die,
without favorable action, a blow will
be given the party from which it will
not soon recover. It will no longer
be the party of reform. Its candi-
dates can no longer hold up to the
scorn of an outraged and injured peo-
pie the crimes of those who forced the
present Constitution upon Us. It be-
comes our Constitution. We embrs ce,
voluntarily, its burdens and the dis
grace it entails.
But what of the future if Convention
fails ? When such of our people as
have been led to believe that in 1876,
or in 1878, or even in 1880 the prom
lsed time shall come and we shall re-
form our Constitution, and their
hopes and expectations are destroyed
by the want of the requisite majorities
IN both Houses of the Legislature,
what then t? How can those
who now protest against the
Judgment of very large ma
lority of the party reconcile the
people with their disappointment
Nay, how can they atone for the ire
parable injury which they will have
brought upon their fellow-citizens,
their children, their children's child
rem 1t is, in our humble Judgment,
fearful responsibility which our
misguided friends are attempting to
assume.
We are glad to believe that their
efforts will be futile, and that the
present Legislature will be true to it,
party, to its constituents and to the
State, and will not adjourn without
giving the people an opportunity, the
only one probably they will have
during the present generation, of
adopting Constitution suited to their
wants, in sympathy with their preju-
and prosperity as a people.
Brevet Brigadier- General B. g. Ro-