Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1875-09-10
AbisSR u
Alabama Convention Opening Speech
By Gen. ". Z. Walker.

Of the Conventions which aGup-t:; TIN
Constitution III 1919 uuder wl..c!l "a
''mmn . f,lmitt.d mt Sic tolan-
GA tahi = the ch*'. Ne SAID
'iEETiEHTH or VH GaNr1NTEo5 -
| h"g yen IT, ac.e.5t MY s:ucer'
l.,.'i. Il ia. distinguished E5I.Ur
v,'u hnv,- c"n.r9r>i u :.iecfa"1 MT -
pee T. over ) 'r &"ir.-2t.nI Il IN
1 es [ all en-, Et-irs.r I, discharge ".
fatrn-ss and i.Df.artis.It.v, a1.i El:ft
Sucn ,!rj-tv al LAY comma ~. j.. -
nc'irr,-j Gov r'-rnc'.!s, CF's-IrjE, .1'.'>.
N"uytutro!.@ s:.cu L i',-, a III. {, IN.
az II i;:re' uc"'Ir;,-l.c- a:.,,. c&.'- s22 ~
he Inrdam tts; IAN ought f. he Only
;n.''te >'t'"m IL ai-ns.cd =, t'set i. gf%>s
aud n"e,;n II cjNij'Z ton IitsICH
!. w All ,!,nner grae.i!..'.y - ira
highest wisdom # Government and tic
C,.s.atItu'',in framed hv our l"r~t"tlI-
ers ~ 1879 #r- m:.,!e fAr a icw
State ,t,,s nnder Ii s.t:. pop 9 pros per
al a",t sr,-w in."H gr-ao ce'g:!aau'l te.s-I-
lng. Tie war cor. n..d &C. sse,.rt. cd
Ihca i;ulit wit! -;-s-h. care aaid iAt.
DrI'nrvui toTt..t+ ol the Ml--ls-
slppI was alsnailil''i and RACED 10
Ii GROUND by ;t,!eu ilo.f,3- "a y ~u-il'
ot rat! less lcs-nocit-nl- W"n' - e,i.i-r"
lbe present Cuuetltutluu oi - g Sfttt'
IF Alabama is III urluiy Mosaic com
posed II shades and ia,i:oes gather u
here and ti."rr, iucnngruous IN = ; -
and inhnrluoniols in action, Giscyiu.In-
alton and oppressive, IL the bnr-i.t'.s
1t i}npasses reckless II tie lict-s.*' d..
cOnfers unjust and w-cEt & ItRt-.a -...
aud acting IL every Limit 20 l--ss1-'..
public confidence aut! trHo E-[-f
eence and affection Of the pCop.e -"
here met to day, not Indeed T" It
claim the scattered fragments. a2', Il
build the old temple, !sut II c0noirnc.
a Constitution EDt wholly unworthy -
We trust to srcccca t::l4 tIU-st state
manshjp is that which 30 g'nsTatszes
principles ~ 10 give them 4.eElD!,
bic adaptibi!ltY to progress and the
needs OF civilization.
Irt us endeavor 10 give l. our
proceedings tni characteristic Cf Wis
dom. Let the organic Jaw We arr u
frame, be mpreilsEStY2. coA>Isteht /,
enlightened and non E3aTtZal, 1lkG
lust to all c'as4,s, protective Of ali Iii
terests and edaal in It's bnriLers AID
in lis benefits. The events OF Inc ;a7t
decade have eliminated frura o0f III
ssitut:Ons the only elements OF national
controversy 1T IL recognize tbIa
fact with /, broad significance. AID III
corporate into tie Constitution III"
national spirit and H.. national !.,a O.
the perfec; Yy.st.c:t. nj ciF,! s3''it'tl
of al mGn. OF whatever Ta:-, @".or, on
previouS condition. keuH':. C9n IN
otitutiuNS rest upGll the con. ulHn liItr.
!icel.e. # the people; therefore, 0le II
the high Gtttis.7 .; Rvp:th i;,.,I govern
meIt IS the education 81 I'll II .sse.s'
for these. Trcte caH b. 10 nIogrees
without education, a. she-e IS. 1'2 civ
hz.tio4l :, ltt.uot irrei;i<,-.s Ala emf
neut statesman nas sai&, jE+ js3s.rr
to tax Is ,Lt- power 50 d-rjI"%.'
Govcru4re!Ira should provide s:sa,1'' +
| possibilities, ,ss pu~>,ibIs3tsrs "ttett IT,
! come f"cts; limit, tii>i5isfe. tie 9 -
! 'atIve bower Il tnE2;t"A as = -
! spIre this Illumination, 50 as 90 &.ii-!d
| from suspicion the honor and credit -
the State The spirit II ,rc age =
| iIcentiou> aiId ez;i.t.. 9-,af the old
| economies iisv@ Income dtSre f''it.tD. e
| by d"Su|f1i'ie .diNi"U5ti c5a'tsc, =
! istlc, have been mae" tie hnh3fn ~
! the Government, ;ud tie I'oFcf''IA"h
! has drgeIlrIit-d INTO 2 mere lA~ii d
| mentality for the a0val'VeAeEt ~
! personal ambitions and the promo
! ton Of personal aims. III way
| that wo2!d nave shocked TIE lI'Ea5flEt
! simplicItits II The I4rit WAG c"Art!Tt'.
! and illustrated IL tAelr ifveS tine gre :
! problem OF free goF2rAA12- Oh ID"
| continent as lar As may IL Que rt1Hs-
ence to circumstances. Let u I'M
! the duties CT government TO the end
| OF government which may he SlneG "
| In the general phrase De ia-A pro
| lection Of the rights Of pelSCE ab0 Fl
! prop ty he simplest COVER Ilc.-t S tll>
| best.
| The complications Of ma t'!"rn
machinery, however Slls%,'i. o me 90
velOPem2nt OF fhe Nlec.t-i sc.thc'S OILY
! aggrcyat1 10 the burtLeus winch more
more or less attend every form q c!NlI
administration abstrac. from lie fn2
damental law every useless ms t'1ilaeti'
tality, SO as t. haze as few 3"t"ri.e'it
/ aries as possible between tie govern
ment aud the people " thus secure
| both responsibility and economy, and
! the harmony Of protection ana dyfancC
which is the graHt law OF order. Is
paced beyond The hazards + Hue ua-
/ tons or disturbance. Az t.il2f-ce Il :
! cardinal virtue and shou.d ~ - Pc
tent III the law Of States a. IL ts:e con
duct of individuals, COVER, - i5t--e IS
! possibIe, and ONLY hv general laws i
! the rule OF wisdom sanctioned ~ *
perience Determinations whether pro
tective or primitive. are always INV .,9l-
ous. aud therefore always unjust. The
growth of Interpretations IS one "f the
! maryels Of the age III which We i've.
| TheIrp0Eer ike that Of King Geo, u
| has Increased, is increasing. sss,l ouS.-.
to be diminished. Grrataa they ar,
! they are simply the representatives, Of
individual interests a2ld are ncv = OF
ganized. except to promote personal
/ ends. The dignity of Cover .r4tit ! all
compromised when it< credit j. sur
rendered and its honor comm itt-d -
other ctstodilns than is ovD agents
and servants. Constitutional prohibit
ton should protect the State against
the CONTINGENCIES Of Legislative. de
parture. From This principle special
limitations should be place upon