Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1876-09-29
WHAT DO THE AMENDmE is
f..,.~, PROPOSE -

t.H
The Candy Constitution, though It
must have ever been symbol of their
subiugat1on and humiliation, might
have been submitted to by the people
of North Carolina, had it not been in
itself such fruitful source of go
many intolerable evils; in word if
the Office holders had not possessed all
the power and the people none. The
evils growing out of it, however, were
SO great and SO many from its very be-
ginning, that the people have unceas-
ingly clnmored for their removal But
it was not until 1873 that any relief
was had. Much mole was still needed,
however, for the machinery of our
government was still complicated, still
cumbersome and still expensive, and
its officers are still clothed withpowers
that were excessive, exorbitant. hurt
full, oppressive and corrupting. The
executive and judicial officers were
still masters of the people, and their
Legislatures were still servants and
still helpless. Salaries and offices
were still multiplied beyond all control
To the gross oppression of our people.
To restore to the people their right
| full rule, to secure an economical ex-
penditure of their hard earned money,
to strip the officeholders of their OPP
pressive power, further changes had
to he made in the Constitution. To
bring them about, Convention,
called in accordance with the Consti-
tuition, assembled in Raleigh in 1875
and proposed various amendments
which, if ratified, will make the people
once more masters and not servants
in North Carolina. ALI the changes,
that may be necessary, are now. by
the proposed amendments, put within
easy reach. They all seek to restore
power to the people, and to secure a
careful, economical expenditure of
their money.
The day that we have looked for 40
eagerly during all these long, weary
years of reconstruction, is at last nigh
at hand. II the people wish, they can
once more get their own government
into their own hands, for the amend
ments simply propose to restore them
to power. The question now is whether
the people of North Carolina can be
trusted with the government OF North
Carolina. We think they can. If the
amendments be ratified, it is PLAIN, sc
plain that he who runs may read, thai
the people will be rulers and the Office
holders will be servants, and that the
cast-iron Candy Constitution can nc
longer crush ms to the earth. Fol
eight long years the whitening. blight
ing curse of the venomous viperou
brood of carpet baggers and scallawag'
who controlled tile Convention O
1868 has rested upon the State, but i
can now no longer remain there with
out our consent. What say the PEG
Pile? " FL .... "-
Shall those amendments be ratified
shall the people rule That is tn
Z issue before us and upon its decision
hangs the fate of North Carolina. II
this fight the people of North Carolin,
fight not for mere partizan success, bu
for their very lives. their liberties ant
their property, and not only for them
selves but for generations yet unborn
In our judgment if the amendment
shall be ratified, the strifes and con
tentions that have SO long afflicted u
in North Carolina will come to I'm enc
ana new and better era of peace ant
good government will dawn upon us
We believe this because the great fund
amental principle underlying all tn
amendments is tho restoration of pow
er to the people and an economical ex
penditure of their money, and becaus
we believe the people can be trusted
Eight years of the rule of Radical of
!, fce-holders have served only t.
+ strengthen our old love for the rule O
| thespeople. e-,. ..1-
To be prosperous in North Carolina
power must be taken from the few an,
given to the many. must be taken from
/. the office-holders and restored to tn
the people The people and not thei
rulers must be supreme. And this tn
amendments provide for.