Wilmington journal., 1875-07-23
CONVENTION.
An Act to Call n Convention of the
People of North Carolina.

NOfth SdfOBInds
WHEREAS, The present Constitution
of North Carolina is, in many impor-
tant particulars, nnsuited to the wants
and condition of our people !; and
aOhereuS, i'll the Judgment of tins Gen
eral Assembly. convention of the
people is the only sure, and is besides
the most economical mode of altering
or amending it, and believing the end
in view utterly impracticable by legis-
lative enactment Oh account of the
greet number of di cordant and con-
ficting provisions of the Constitution
as it now is, now therefore.
SECTION l. The General assembly
Of North Carolina do enact, (two-
thirds of all the members of each
House concurring,) That a Convention
of the people of North Carolina, be
aud the same is hereby called, to meet
in the Hall of the House of Represen-
tatives in the city of Raleigh, on Mon
day, 9th day of September, A. d.,
1875, for the purpose of considering
and adopting such amendments to the
Constitution rs they may deem neces-
sary and expedient, subject only to
the restrictions hereinafter provided.
Sec 2. The said Convention shall
consist of one huEdl ed and twenty del
egates, and each county shall be enti-
tied to the same number of delegates
that it has members of the House of
Representatives under the present
aportiCnment, and the said delegates
shall have the qualifications required
of members of the House of Repre-
sentatives, of which qualifications the
Convention shall be the judge.
Sec. 3. On the 1st Thursday Of
August, 1875, the sherlffs of the State
shall open polls for the election of del
egates to the said Convention from
their respective counties, and the cleo
tion aforesaid, and the registration for
the same, shall be held and conducted; !;
the officers thereof, including regis
trars and judges of election, appoint
ed the votes counted and compared !;
the result proclaimed, and certificates
issued in the same manner as Is pro-
vided by law for the election of men,
bers of the House of Representatives
of the General Assembly.
Sec. 4. The said delegates shall be
called to order at II o'clock on the
day fixed therefor, Wy the Chief JUS
tice or one of the Associate Justices
of the Supreme Court or Secretary of
State, who, if there be not quorum,
shall adjourn them to the same place,
and from day to-day, until a quorum
shall appear; and on the appearance of
a quorum he shall administer to each
of them the following oath:
'You, A b, do solemnly swear Cor
affirm, as the delegate elect shall
choose, that you will faithfully main
tain and support the Constitution of
the Urited States and the several
amendments thereto, including the
18th, 14th and 18th amendments; and
that you will neither directly nor indi-
rectly evade or disregard the duties
enioined nor the restrictions imposed
upon the Convention by the act of the
General Assembly authorizing your
election. So help you God"
And no delegate shall be permitted
10 sit or be entitled to a seat in said
Convention, or act as q delegate
thereto, until he shall have sub
scribed the above oath or afirma-
ton; and as soon as q majority of the
delegates elect shall have thus ap-
peared and been sworn in, they shall
then proceed to elect their own pre-.
siding officer, and such other officers
and servants as they, from time to
time, shall find necessary; and if a va
cancy shall occur, they shall be filled
| in the same manner as the like Vacan
cies are filled by law in the case CT va
cancies in the General Ass-m bly,
Said Convention shall have no power
to consider, debate, adopt or propose
any amendment to the existing Con
stitution or ordinance upon the follow
ing subjects:
TheHomestead andPersonal Proper
ty Exemptions, the mechanics and Ia
borers' lien, and the rights of married
women, as now secured by law, nor tc
alter or amend section 3 or 5, article
V, of said Constitution, nor change
the ratio between the poll and proper
ty tax as therein established; nor shah
the said Convention have power tC
propose or adopt any amendment ol
ordinance vacating any Office or tern
of Office now existing and filed ol
held by virtue of any election or ap
pointment under the existing Consti
tuition and laws, until the same shall
be vacated or expired under existing
laws; but the said Convention may re-
commend the abolishment of any
Office when the present term
therein shall expire or vacsn
cies occur, and they may provide fol
filing such vacancies. otherwise thar
as now, and limiting the terms thereof
Nor shall the Convention adopt or pro
pose any plan or amendment or scheme
| of compensation to the owners ol
emancipated slaves, nor for the pay