The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1875-07-28
ADDRESS
w FK6aiTHB tYl1
] Hon. VIM. A, Graham
M ihe People of Ora,ue CuanLg


Convention, rendered by a public
meeting Of the Conservative Democratic
party during the lust Superior C6itt,
had hoped 10 attend llie BlibliE assenibies
1T fl,e annual gatherings, andto make
suci, explanation OF the subjectas tile oc-
casion would allow; according tothe GU
caston Of the county.
An important engagement bf business
not ti,el, expected 10 interrupt, VII re-
auire me b, be absent from the Stite II
tile time or the election, an,l the feeble
condition Of my health, In the meantime,
prevents my presence among you as de-
sired. ! therefore address to sou this pa
per ~ mn apology fr my absthtei Hfi'i Z
brief statement Of my views on some of
the topics involved IN the election.
You win We, on rpilling tiie Convention
net. that the Convention ist, be oi,e OF
limited powers.
LIST. There ls no dangerin ittotlie rights
OF The colored people, because their rights
are secured by the Constitution ofthe Uni
Ted states, and the Convention ofa State
could not abridge them, II u were ~ dis-
posed. tsf4
End. The Convention Is expressly for
hidden to abridge the rights Of a falling
debtor 10 his Homestead. and the exemp.
tions Of personal property now allowed
srd. Ii cannot take away the mechanics
and the laJcrers lien, nor frenl married
women the right Ia their seperate property,
and IN yariotls other particulars Il ran
make no change In the regulations ut
present existing.
itIl. The C9nvention Is also forbidden
10 legisIaie. that Is, To pass laws on any
subject; this power being leit to The lte-
representatives. oft people 1t the usual
\ session of the Legislature, aIsltlie power
OF the Convention being coHfined 10 re-
gulating the organization of The several
departments of ofgovernnent. the declan-
tion of principles, and the establishment
10 very general ruler,
IL can therefore lay no tax, nor enact
any law Us 10 the existing public debt
whether the ciaim he fair or fraudulenil
that subject having been Withdrawn fran
the constitution by amendments adopted
by vote Of the people In 1873, and placed
under lie cpn.rol Of the Legislature where
itwas always considered 20 belong, I'LL
ruaran,ees for lis full payment, principal
aud Interest, were foiste,l into the Consti-
tuition OF 1855. THESE, the amendments
aforesaid have now repealed ] have thonght
4 Il pr,per, thus 10 siate .hesuJstanceaf the
Convention Act, because understand
that attempts are mnde TO prejudice the
frrcmen against the Convention upon the
old cry that Il h designed 60 put them
back Int0sIavefy;a a cry which they have
some reason 10 dfstrnt after ten years of
freedom, during which the right 70 per
-onnI liberty IL Tie white maii laid u y
the sn,re for Tire cnlondl has been suffice.
ted a. Tie severest ~ trials, aild came ont
4 victorious through the old Wi, Of Hdtcds
Iorpus; aIso ihat special pains are icing
taken 10 excite fears as 10 Tie safety oi
Homrs,,ads, lIcns of mechanics aud la
borers. and or uther heads; alfof which
are forbidden to lrtoucted ia c, INVENTION,
by The Ali section 81 said net.
q But il Is said thata Conventions b but
as epItome of lI,e people, and can't be re-
rrirtet by liuAts dl its Po'seFs.
Thl. can hardly he caile,l Nnftli Caro-
Ifns ,Inctrhs. since We ha,f tonvensinn 10
i7ss. I7s aud lsa6a whi-h were ihnrs-
. ted: aud they Rll snbmitird 10 the re-.
,rnints, and attempted nothing beyond
tl,en,. But h,wrvsr this mny be, the pep
, me have tle reins in their ow1 lrnd@ w
s,nossnr delegates. aidcan protect them
-eirrs against periIs ~ this kind, by re-
6,.Inr 10 elect any man who will not agree
A. abide ~ tile restrictions. Tie hery
s,ee,I ll,a shows beiorsh,rib That be VIII
KICK Out of ,lsr traces, should not be hft'
ched IL but be left 10 some other OCCASION
which will be free for anything.
A,p.l,er class IL olJectors 20 conyentAn''
Il h mId are Of the opposite kind, though
. IN close alllalice with tive above. m
/ They are willing TO be elected 30 e
Ralslen, adjourn and roine home again
F6t any useful work these require ih'
SUR rather than the grlns. Now tlmprin
cIple 81 these men IL but nullihcaiion ~
new aud most Objectionable h,rn. By .
dop,ng il,e existing Constitution, ! wa
orlainrd that the General Assembly, =,
msIoriiIes % two third q eMh Hoas'
might cali Convention, mud whcu il''
2 present Convention net pI'ssei NY tlirs'
maIori,ier. u became rs binding, o. ~
bsdLeen voted for by every member ofth'
Legislature aud by every citizen. iiwa
: adecree sf il,e peopls through ille'r az
nIulea agents that the Constitution
y should bsreeIsed, and after sicl, amend
Y menls ne tho. Convention shouldievlss
ol ,,,e work should Ue Submitted tctliereo
plc fOn approval 0Frejecl'cT and'''e MAJ