New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-08-03
NORTH CAROLINA CANVASS.
AHEATED CONTEST OVER CONSTITUTIONAL
CHANGES.

CHANGES.
A TEST CASE FOR THE SOUTHEASTERN or An. ACT
IN FAVOR OF AMENDING THE STATE cONsT1TU-
TION-THE PLEA or ECON0MY-A NORTH CARo-
LIMA AND NOT "CANBY" CONSTITUTION
ARGUMENTS OF THE REPUBLICANS IN oPPOol-
TON TO THE CONVENTIONAL CONSERVATIVE
TRIUMPH PREDICTED.
IPROM SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIbUSEI
STATEsvILLE, N. c., July 31.-Thc people OF
North Carolina at this time engaged In heated po
ltcal contest in regard certain radical changes WHOM
il is proposed make in the State Constitution Inc
question ut ISSUE although OF local interest," VIII ec'
the whole South, just the result OF the present cur
rency contest in Ohio will have an influence upon
the Western States in the next Presidential election
Here the question relates to the soundness ana the eg
iy Of the reconstruction policy pursued by the Admin
istration toward the Southern States. North Chroia
will be made test case and if the Democrats VINO are
the champions of the proposed changes shcceoo IA o
ryng the through other Southern states WI" "o
stimulated to attempt change in their organic law
HISTORY OF THE Present CONSTITUTION.
The present Constitution of North Carolina has been IN
force since 1868. The State was then unGer innIaf!
government, and in the district commanded by Gen
Candy who had his headquarters at Charleston u
on Oct. IS, 1867, Gen Candy issued General oruer w.
1Ol directing that election he held III Nofth 'afo
for delegates to a Convention 10 Ha"e WI"
stitutlon The State was divided by Gen. 'ahy
from each was designated by him. 1t IS ciaimed
nv the DE nocrats that the districts arranged rs
IN in,ure the election Republicans whether TINS Is
true or is, of course, not known put ono 'ins l"
certan very Democrats were elected 10 the CVnch
tion The election held Nov ID ana 20 1870 anu
the vote was forwarded Gen. Candy at Charleston
The line for the assembling Of The Convention ana 'ho
names Of those entitled seats therein as delegates were
determined by Cen Canhy aud made known b. MN III IN
official order Gen Canhy seems 10 have boen the man
acer Of the Convention as he seated and uhse''u n'
members at WILL as IS shown by the folo"ng order;
CHARLESTON & G., Jan. Il, 1868
10 co,ou,andinq Oolcer, I'ost OF AaIefgh: .
General Order NJ. l65 Il aneni'', a. loo"S us.
james MsCubDins in place @i if ~, Ic q; Mrc in
pace Of Edwin p. Barticit from Ashe, Aiegha .;
WaialIgl SurTy, and latkn connd33. Oruers Oy HIN
iu,oT,n oil ueIii,s ~ command Of Gen. Canh}.
LOUIS V. CAzIARC, y. ID. C. ana y. y. u
Tho Convention began lis work jan Is. ia'7' anu Hu-
ished it March 10 On March %. Gen Candy issued Gen
eroI Order No a. from which the following extracts are
made:
first: That an election be held in the STATE Of Nort Sort,
CaoInn coinrl IN Tuesday. the 2lSi dal OF Alih,
SGS ~ which an registered vOicre of aid state Iii
vote For Constitution or Against tVs'to' "
"iS for ,net,l.r, of thc United states louse OF hcpc-
scnatiycs as specified in the before cited ordinance
mira IN declaring who are 10 lie stricken from TIE
Rc;ia9n sz' Inc d tSa'G' ' 80, fpenen.ry thcrco
and their attention il especially directed 10 tc suPIc
inentary aot Of july 49, 1857.
thirteenth The returns required b. law to he made TO
tie Commander OF the district 0i ~ results oi me ~
ton Viii be cadcio ny the Boarls oI i.seisIa,on ..
the several Registration precincts 'hfoush tno %
rr5 of the Military Posts in which These rechcss are
situated and in accordance WIN 'ho uct"l!'u
hereafter to be SINrl'
In accordance with this order an election was he'd on
Aur Fl o. ard %. SOS. The counts were forwarded
to Cen Candy, and, dive time lie announced that the
Constitution had been ratified Since it, ratification Ii
has been in force The Democrats tried in 1872 TO nave
convention called FOR the li pose Oi Amending II; put
the proposi,ion was defeated by the popular vote Inc
Legislature OF Ie73 made amendments but 1t re-
mains essentially the when first ratified.
Last year the Democrats. having large majority IN
both HOUSES Of the Legislature. determined 10 make an
effort to get rid OF the Camp! IoHstu'on rs '"' "'
light TO call ii.
According to the act. which was passed by strict
rarty vote the Convention is called 10y The Legislature
without submitting tie question to the people, and WIEN
it assemblies it will he under certain icstrcons On' OF
these Two points the Republicans make much "ciec-
pioneering" CAPITAL. They urge that the Legislature has
taken from people the right Of calling the Conven
tiou without having any warrant OF law or precedent
III rcfor They also That while Tie present ConS
tuticD cnufes on the legislature the power o! calling
convention il does admit Of calling restricted Con-
vention Hence they argue that when the Convention
assemblies +, viii not be restricted, hn will he free 10 20
forward in utter disregard Of the restrictions laid down
in fine bill THIS they urge, The Democrats Will do, 10
fn si,ycrson I'll the whole work OF reconstruction IN
inc state.
They pronounce the bill fraud upon The people The
way in which these charges are met 10y the Convention
raIt q, viii DE seen ny the following extract from the
address Of tlc Executive Democratic Central Commit tee:
lis Convention s called in pursuance ~ law, and each
delegate before " lie shall be permitted 10 81, 10 be
entitled 10 sea; in sad nIcntion or nct as drl'eae
fLtr,fo. snail swear 10 0baoiyc these ''tI.cioiS
zee acts STD should = iar colnrN ana part
refuse take ts oa, oIN those who o"ty the law aye
t. f.t.lf IA Nj
ctod oorycuion OF 1880 the sane Question WIS
raised and acl debate AL the members took tho cath
and oscry, ii It iic:.ons and that IN ma OF si
party cx,iiDlc IN that discussion the DISTINGUISHED
Judge CASTOR used the following language The state
LEGISLATURE hal indeed no authority - impose "a o"ih
mp"n Ins i,Ibcr, Of the Convention. bat De people Ind
tjiicd he act If the Legislature ny choos ne dccp4t
under ii. If transcend tie limits or riuoo obedience
TO liz cOnGtIcs therein prescribed NO tc Con-
ycnt.on GATED ny tn people, but i seiieonsi iurd
bod" Thee views were cGncuITcl N hy NaeDn.
Ei'ysrds, MoIrhcad, "ra others We ~' a. miss IN
subject; however bv calling attention 20 the able worn
OF Judge Jameson on :. Constitution Conventions
where by argument and the ems. ct"d ny ma ~ iea-
ton T. this matter. he demonstrated That conventions
bound 10 obey The restrictions nros't ~ Inc Legs
laturc in the act calling the convention
OBJECTIONS 10 TIE PRESENT CONSTITUTION.
tn main objections to The present Constitution are
that it is too complicated. and renders the state and
ccuty governments too expensive; that ats piOvis-
ions are loosely worded and badly arranged To
constitute only medley Of Inconsistencies isat deics
the construction OF the courts, and that thus, It's prac
teal workings are to impede rather than to
facilitate tc administration OF JUSTICE and mainly that
II /, the creature OF military dctG0n and Is the work
of '.sc.0l,ss aivaHturcrs, ana cmpet-bdgsers-boIh
black and wntealien III feeling and radical III educa
ton" ,
think if the truth wcra known. the latter would ap
pea to tho main objection. They feel 1t 10 DE keen
insult that tl' Constitution made agd ratified with
the aid Foreigners ana negroes, Willie many ~ the most
influential citizens IN tie state were drDarred tIUin
yufiu. piomin.nt DcnocrI. said - tne day or Two
ago: "Tcll THE TRIBUNE we do NOT want Candy Con
situl ON North Carolina, but Aorth Carolina Con
stutou for North CHrOinians."
Tbis venture 10 say the sentiment OF ninetenths