Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1875-06-11


greatest difficulties in their passage,
and even after the will of the people
was declared in their favor by over
&c, 600 majority, serious approximations
were entertained as to whether they
were properly adopted; again. legisla-
tors, when possessed of qualifications
for such duties, are encountered with
numerous matters, and cannot bring
that attention to each provision pre-
sented for consideration, without meet
ing such criticisms as may imperll
their labors.
The Convention method is speedy
and economical, the body is composed
only of the same number OF members
as comprise the House OF Represen-
tatives, and their minds are directed
alone to constitutional reforms and
their work may be completed and rat
fled, if necessary, in six months. AS
to the expenses that MAY be incurred,
it is believed they will be more than
defray ed in short time by the reforms
that will be inaugeratnd.
The restrictions imposed by the
Legislature fully and amply secure
the Homestead, Mechanics Lein,
Rights ofsMarried Woman, and Per
sonal Liberty, and should quiet the
fears of tho most timid, for they are
recognized as of binding efficacy and
are chiefly enjoyed by the friends OF
constitutional reform. Indeed they
wire incorporated III the bill mainly
to remove partizan clamOr, and ant1cl-
pate INSCRIPTIONS agitation. They
are not the property OF a mere party,
but had their origin in the necessities
of civilized society and found among
the statutes of various States prevl-
GUS to the war.
QUALIFICATIONS OF DELEGATES.
It is useless, however, to seek to
quiet the mere caviller; the keen OPP
tics of some persons defy all law
The mere fact that the honor OF the
best men in the State is pledged to
their preservation, should satisfy every
reasonable voter This Convention Is
called in pursuance of law, and each
delegate before che shall be permitted
to sit, to be entitled to seat III said
Convention to act as a delegate there
to-" shall swear to observe these ''re-
strictions' (see act lS74-75.) Should
a part comply and d part refuse to
| take this oath, only those who obey
| the law are members Of the body, nor
are we without precedents: similar
oath was required of the members OF
| the restricted Convention" OF 1888,
and the question was raised,
and after debate all the mem
bers took the oath and OBJ
served the restrictions, and that in a
time of high party excitement. In that
discussion the distinguished Judge
CASTOR used the following language:
''The State Legislature had indeed no
authority to impose an oath upon the
members of the Convention, but the
people had ratified the act of tie Leg
islature by choosing delegates under
it. IF we transcend the limits or re-
fuse obedience to the conditions there
in prescribed, we are not the COnven-
ton called by the people, but self
! constituted body" these views were
copcurred in by Macon, Edwards,
Morehead and others. We will dis
miss this subject, however, by calling
attention to the able work of Judge
Jameson on Constitutional Conveu-
tons, where, by argument and the
cases cited by him Ill relation to this
matter, he demons rated that COnven-
| lions are bound to obey the restrlc-
lions imposed by the Legislature in
| the Act calling the Convention.
| AID FROM REPUBLICANS.
In our last election it was gratifying
| to see Republicans who haG hitherto
| submitted to the control of unscrupu-
| lous leaders under a mistaken uelIef
that they were promoting the gen
eral welfare, seeing their cOrruptness
| as demonstrated by the 'sCredit MObi-
lier revelations, " SanbOrn Con-
tract" ami other frauds and defal-
cations, and their vindctive and re-
lentless policy, whereby they sought
to degrade the superior race by this
ubiquitous 'Civil Rights Bill" ove--
come their party prejudice and give US
their cordial support. To them we ex-
tend an invitation to remain and con-
tinue the work so ausplclously begun.
To those who opposed us under the de-
fusion of their leaders, who assured
them this bill would never pass Con-
gress and if it did would be vetoed
by the President, though it now has
his signature; and who have Witness
ed the earnestness with which the dan
gerous Force Bill" was urged upon
Congress, we say no longer remain
where there IS neither safety nor hon
or to q North Carolinan. The battl :
for civil liberty is not yet over. Civil
Rights is still a part of the recent
carpet-bag programme for this State;
| though driven from the halls of Con-
! gress, it will be renewed In the South
ern States. We therefore invite their
cooperation. The Convention owes
it's final success to the support of some
| of their abiest Representatives i'll the
General Assembly and they are doubt
| less aware that the wise provisions in
| troduced into she Convention of 1868,
| by their ablest native representatives
were secuted and defeated by that
same element that has brought ruin
upon their party and confusion to our
State.
NECESSITY OF ORGANIZATION.
The friends of Convention should at
| once perfect their organization and
bring out their best men in every
county in the State. The leaders of
the Republican party know that by
their reckless violations of the Consti-
tuition and efforts to centralize all
power in the hands of the Federal
Government, they have justly forfeit
ed the confidence and support of the
| people; they therefore trust not TO
their own strength but to our apathy,
! and will endeavor to secure our defeat
by divisions and false leaders. We
therefore respectfully invite your at
tention to the following resolution
adopted and successfully followed in
our last campaign:
ResolUed, That we earnestly rec ON
mend to the members of the Demo-
cratic Conservative party to discour-
age independent candidates and all
other disorganizers, that all support
be promptly withdrawn from every
aspirant for Office who shall oppose
the regular nominees of our Conven-
tions. Let your primary County Con-
ventions be duly advertised aud see
that the people have a full opportu-
NIFTY of attending and expressing their
wishes. The contest is important,
not only in its immediate effects, but
IN subsequent results. The Republi-
can party, under the leadership of
| Garnet baopars still rom aipTro oroopor