New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-07-15

been thought best to exclude for a time large
proportion of the people Of the South from the
exercise of the right of suffrage. Not one-tenth
of those who voted at the Constitutional cleo
tons could so much as read the ballots placed
in their hands, and the number who could I'M
dcrstand the plainest proposition OF law was
unite rs small Thousands voted for the adop-
tion of a new Constitution merely because it
secured to themthcir freedom, and others because
its ADOPTION seemed to offer the easiest way
of escape from military government. NO
wonder that laws thus framed should
be crude in conception and execution, abound
in absurdties of legislation, and prove utterly
unsuted to the people to whose benefit they
should have Injured.
One of the most faulty of these RecOnstruc-
ton Constitutions is that under which the
peOplc of North Carolina have lived for eight
wears. and which it is now proposed to amend.
4 recent address of the Democratic Central
Committee of the State thus describes some OF
fine characteristics of this instrument and its
practical working:
Its provisions are so loosely worded anu SO pauiy
arranged to constitute but medley OF Inconsistencies
that dedcs the successful construction OF the courts IN
fact 10 reconcile the difficulties arising from Its practical
Workings the court has in instances been driven 10
su; ply OMISSIONS and In others to Introduce new ph
CHILE hitherto unknown in the jurdical history Of our
state distinguished judicial legislation an lhnoVa
tiou antircIubican in character and invasive of the
rights and duties OF a separate department. It's pro-
visions arc so obscure that within the brief space or
iis existence many more decisions on cohstitu
tonal questions have been demanded than in the entire
reyjous history Of the State-and Of late We haye wit
messed the extraordinary spectacle OF two sets OF Judges
I'm both the lid and With Judic Districts con'endihB
for the same position Of which claiming To hod by
an appoinncn from the Governor for period or Ten
years an office that the Constitution seems To say Is 10
he filed ny people at the polls and whose term il OK
pre- sed he only eight years. In many counties there
l. practical denial justice, the courts are inadequate
to the public demands and thus they are driven 10 resort
To special terms. which are expensive ana uhs''siac
tory and persons accused Of criminal ocnses are OFTEN
confined for months without trial.
The address which we have quoted also
urges the necessity of a less expensive judici-
airy system, the abolition of useless offices,
return to the old practice of rotation OF
iudges. and the disfranchisemcnt OF persons
convicted of infamous crimes and we are glad
to add the people are called upon to elect to
the Constitutional Convention "men OF en-
"larged and practical craftsmanship, spoiiess
Integrity, representatives of all classes OF
"society, and whose positions Will entltle
d" their labols to confidence and support" The
Subjects here suggested for consideration by
the Convention surely may he discussed and
acted upon without giving rise to any we'll
grounded fear that the rights of the colored
man are in danger, but this cry has already
been raised by partisan press i'll North Car
DINA, and we may expect soon to hear II como
from Washington. The Legislature, however,
in calling the Convention, was wise enough to
impose certain restrictions upon its action
which forcstal such partisan clamOr. These
restrictions amply secure personal liberty !;
each delegate before che shall be permitted to
"sit in SAID Convention shall swear
"to observe these 'restlictions;'" and Judge
Jamison and other high authorities
on the powers of Constitutional Con-
ventions have clearly held that Conventions
are bound to observe the restrictions impOscdby
a Legislature in the act calling such Conycn-
tons. We repeat, therefore, that in view Of
the necessity for changes i'm the fundamental
law of the state, the declaration of the people,
EXPRESSED by n twO-thirds majority of their
chosen representatives in favor of amendments
by Convention, aid the restrictions imposed
by the Legislature as to the topics to be con-
sdered, it would seem that the attempt
of North Carolina to improve her COnstitu-
ton should be allowed to pass without
further impuiations of evil intent. 1t is to be
hoped and there is reason to believe, that the
members of the Convention to be elected next
month shall be such as are called for by the
Democratic Committee; if so, there will be
little cause to fear that the changes which
may be made will give any class Of citizens
cause for complaint.