Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1875-06-25
Au Act 10 Cali a Convention of the
People Of North Carolina,

| A8 Act To Cali a Convention of tn,
People of North Carolina.
WHEREAS, The present Constitution
of North Carolina is, in many impor
tant particu ars, unSuited to tho wants
aud condition Of our people anG
a"hcrcaS, II tue Judgment of this Gen.
erai Assembly. d convention of the
| people is the only sure, and is besides
| the most economical mode of altering
| or amending it, and believing the end
| II view UttRiy inpracLicable hy legis.
| tative enactment on account of the
great number of Ill cordant and con-
| tilcting provisions of the Constitution
as it now is. now therefore.
SECTION l. The Gencrdt assembly
| Of North CNrolila do enact. (two-
| thirds of ali the membars OF each
House concIrring,) That Convention
| OF the people OF North Carolina. be
and the Same is hereby called, to ueet
IN she Hall OF the House OF Rep-osen-
tatlves in the city of Raleigh, on Mon
day, 9th day Of September, A. D.,
1878, for She purpose of considering
and adopting such amendments to she
Constitution "a thy may deem neces-
snry and expedient, subject only to
the restrictions hereinafter provided
Sec 2. The said Convention shall
consist of one hundl ed and twenty del
egatrs, and each county shall be enti-
tied to the same number of delegates
that 1t has members Of the House of
Representatives under the present
aportionment, and the said delegates
shall have the qualifications required
of members Of the House of Repre-
sentauivee, 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
ton aforesaid, and the registration for
the same, shall be held aud conducted;
the officers thereof, Including regis
trars and judges of election, appoint
ed tho votes counted and compared :;
The result proclaimed, and certificates
ISSUED IL the same manner az is pro-
ylded by Law for the election of men,
5ers Of she House of Representatives
Of the General Assembly.
Sec. 4. This said delegates shall be
called to order as - O'Clock on the
day fXod therefor, ny the Chief JUS
tIce on one of the Assoclats Justices
OF the Supreme Court Or Secretary of
State, who, II there be not q quorum,
shall adjourn them to the same place,
and from day today, until a quorum
shall appear; sud on the appearance of
d quorum he shall administer 10 each
ot 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, iuelUding the
18th, 18th and 18th amendments; and
that you will neither directly uor indi-
rectly evade or disregard the duties
tnJoIncd nor the reStrc ctions imposed
upoa the Convention by the sct of the
General Assembly authorizing your
election. So help you God"
Aud no delegate shall be permitted
to sit or be entitled TO a seat in said
Convention, or act as a delegate
thereto, until he shall have sub
scriOed the above oath or afirma-
ton; and as soon MS q majority of the
delegates elect shall have thus ap-
peared and been sworn in, they shall
ttieu proceed to elect their own pre-
siding officer, ard such o.her officers
and servants as they, from time to
time, shall find necessary; and If a va
Cancy shall occur, they shall be filed
il 'iio same manner - the like vacsn-
cles are filled by law in the case of va
caDcIes IN the General Assembly.
Said Convention shall hare no power
to consider, debate, tJups or propose
any amendment 70 the existing Con-
stltHt.2n or urdsnsEce upon the follow
ing subjects:
Homestead audPersonal Proper
~ Exemptions, the mechanIcs' and la
poTcrs' hen, and the rights of married
aE poE secured by lsw, nor to
alter or amend section 3 or 3, article
', of said Constitution, nor change
the ratio between the poll and proper
t1 tax as therein established; nor shall
the eaid Convention have power to
propose or adopt any amendment or
ordnance vscstlng any Office or term
Of office now ex sting and filed or
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
commend the gbOliahment of any
therein shall expire or vacan-
cies occur, ard they may provide for
filling such vacancies, otherwise than
rs now, and limiting the terms thereof.
Non shall the Convention adopt or pro-
pose any plan or amendment or scheme
of compensation to the owners of
ment of any liability Or debt incurred
- Ia
between the States, nor for the restor-
alton OF imprisonment for debt; nor
shall they require or propose any edu-
cational or property qualification for
Oiiice or voting; nor shall said Conven-
tion pass any ordinances Legislative in
their character, except such as are
necessary to submit the amended
Constitution 10 the people fer their
ratification or rejection, or to convene
the General Assembly.
Sec. 3. The Constitution, as amend
ed, shall he submitted TO the people
for ratification or rejection, and shall
not be binding untIi the same shall
have been ratified by the qualified
voters Of the Stut~. snd the Conven-
ton shall prescribe the mode where
by the sense of the people therein
shall be taken and recorded.
Sec. {. There shall be printed i'm
mediate!y ten copies of this act for
each member of the General Assembly,
and one. hundred copies within thirty
days alter ratification for each board
cf county commissioners, and the use
Of The registsa ars ani judges OF elcc-
ton in their respective counties; and
this act shall he IN force and take ef-
feet from and after it's ratification.
Ruttied the 10Th day OF March, a.
d. 1875.