The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-08-06
NORTH CAROLINA.

From our Evening Edition of Yesterday.
| In North Carolina to-day Thursday, Aug.
5th) the people elect one hundred and twenty
delegates to State Convention, which is tc
meet at Raleigh, on Monday, September 9Th.
provided the people decide by majority Of
votes that such convention shall be held.
The law submitting the question of con.
vention to a vote of the people imposes re.
strictions upon that body in advance, forbid.
ding any action respecting the payment for
emancipated slaves, or the liquidation of the
rebel debt, or requiring an educational OF
property qualification for voters or holders OF
offices.
These reservations were made at Republi-
can instance, that party being so much op.
posed to convention that their candidates
for delegates are pledged to vote for an i'm
mediate adjournment of the convention sine
die in the event of their election. Although it
it is in this manner party question, there are
good reasons to believe that the convention,
when elected and assembled in pursuance of
an act of the Legislature, will have plenary
powers unrestricted by such enabling act. If
a Legislature can restrict convention as to
three or four subjects it can extend its re-
strictions to SO many other subjects as to
cripple, thwart and practically nullify the
whole work Of the body.
A Legislature of any one of our States has
no power except what it gets from the Consti-
tuition, which is the direct deed and act of the
people in their supreme and sovereign capa-
city. The right to alter their Constitution
when made is as valid as the original right to
make it. When q constitutional convention
is summoned, the body represents the Consti-
tuion-making, fundamental power of the
people, competent to disregard any and all
restrictions and reservations. When such q
body is lawfully elected and assembled, it is
higher power than Legislature can be.
The North Carolina Convention of Septem-
Der 6 can make new constitution
if they see fit or believe it to be the will of
the people, by which the framework Of the
executive, judicial and legislative depart
ments may be remodeled. The new Constitu-
ton when submitted to the people and ratified
by majority Of them becomes the new
fundamental law, whose provisions supersede
all contradictory, inconsistent and incom-
patible legislation whatsoever. Pending this
submission of the Constitution and its ratifica-
ton the convention may adjourn to reas-
semble afterwards and see that the govern
ment provided in the Constitution is duly put
into operation.
1t is probable that the Radicals of North
Carolina, who opposed convention in the
Legislature, will fight the new Constitution
at every stage of its preparation, adoption
and Inauguration. To secure the adoption
of the reforms most needed, to protect the
people from unbearable taxes, to guard the
public treasury from spoliation, to put an end
to corporation swindles, to check the abuses
Of private and local bills, and put an end
to the manifold evils of excessive legislation,
are objects Of such grave importance that the
ought to be very careful not to
insert any clause which will jeopardizs the
adoption of reformatory Constitution.
In 1874, North Carolina elected Demo-
cratic Superintendent Of Public Instruction
by majority of 1892 votes. The Demo-
cratic majority in Congressional elections was
2O,975. The Democrats have a majority of
"a in the Senate and 46 in the House. Total
vote Of the State, in 1874, 1872 812, and in 1872,
l95,361. The white population of the State,
in 1870, was 678, 47O, colored 391, $50.