Wilmington journal., 1876-07-14
WHAT DO THE AMENDMENTS
PROPOSE

PROPOSE
The Candy Constitution, though it
must have ever been symbol of their
subjugation and humiliation, might
have been submitted to by the people
of North Carolina, had it not been in
itself such a fruitful source of SO
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 clamored for their removal. But
it was not until 1873 that any relief
was had. Much more was still
needed, however, for the machinery
of our government was still compli-
Gated still cumbersome and still ex
pensive. and its officers were still
clothed with powers that were excess
i've. exhorbitant, hurtful, oppressive
and corrupting. The executive and
judicial officers were still masters and
the people and their Legislature were
still servants and still helpless. Sala-
ries and Offices were still multiplied
beyond all control to the gross op-
preston 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 op-
pressiye power, further changes had
to be 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 peo-
pie once more masters and not SER
wants 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 careful, economical expendi-
ture of their money.
The day that we have looked for 80
eagerly during all these long, weary
years of reconstruction, is at last nigh
at hand. If 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. so
plain that he who runs may read, that
the people will be rulers and the office
holders will be servants, and that the
cast iron Candy Constitution can nc
longer crush US to the earth. For
eight long years the withering, blight
ing curse of the venomous viperous
brood of carpet baggers and scala.
wags who controlled the Convention
of 1868 has rested upon the State, but
it can now no longer remain there
without our consent. What say the
people
Stall these amendments be ratified,
shall the people rule? That is the issue
before us and upon its decision hangs
the fate of North Carolina. In this
fight the people of North Carolina fight
| not for mere partizan success. but fOl
| their very lives, their liberties and
their property, and not only for them
selves but for generations yet unborn
In our judgment if the amendments
shall be ratified, the strifes and con-
tentions that have so long afflicted Ut
in North Carolina will come to an end
and new and better era of peace an6
good government will dawn upon us
We believe this because the gres
fundamental principle underlying all
the amendments is the restoration OF
power to the people and an economical
| expenditure of their money and be
cause we believe the people can bt
trusted. Eight years of the rule OF
| Radical Office holders have served only
to strengthen our old love for the rule
of the people.
To be prosperous in North Carolina
power must be taken from the few
| and given to the many, must be taken
from the ofice-holders and restored te
the people. The people and not theil
rulers must be supreme. And this the
amendments provide for.