Birmingham state herald., 1897-01-24
INTERESTING HISTORY.
How North Carolina Democrats Re- fused to Get Into
 the Union.

On the desk of Governor Johnston at the capitol the other day was noticed a relic of revolutionary times in the shape of an old book into the possession of which he has come recently.
 Since his inauguration as governor, a friend in North Carolina, his native state, sent it to him, possibly with the design of keeping the governor in mind that he comes from ancestors who in their day were the strictest of rigid dem ocrats. The old book bears the imprint by Hodge & Willis, Printers to the State" and it's date is 1779, and it contains the proceedings and debates of the conven- ton of North Carolina convened at Hills borough on the Fist of July, 177S, for the purpose of considering the constitution of the United States"
 AS is well known, North Carolina was one of the states which at first refused to ratify the constitution. The proceed ings as detailed in this old book are of special personal interest to Governor Johnston, inasmuch as his grandfather bore a prominent and influential part in the convention which refused to ratify. This convention had only two commit tees, one on privileges and elections and
 
 governors grandfather was honored by being named as a member. The presid- ing officer of the convention was Cover nor Samuel Johnston.
 But aside from this special interest to the governor the proceedings of the con- vention are of value to the general read CT of this day and time as showing what the democrats of that elder day feared and felt.
 Among the 26S delegates, were several who participated in the convention which framed the constitution. All the speech es were carefully reported in long hand, of course, the arguments of each speaker being clearly put and seemingly full and fair
 The reporter apologizes for being una ble several times to report in full by reason of the noise in the house or the low tone of the speakers voice, he being in the gallery. Many interesting facts are stated in the des bates. One of the speakers, MT. Davie, who had been a delegate to the conti- mental congress and also to the conven- tion that framed the constitution, stated in the course of a speech that "the credit of the United States was so low that when the last stroke was made which secured the independence of the country, our army could not move from Phila- delphia until the minister of his most Christian majesty was prevailed upon to draw bills to defray the expense of the expedition, and that was secured by the personal influence of the commander in chief and not by the credit of the United States" The book contains 2SO closely printed pages of debates, and it is remarkable fact that Washington's name was not mentioned in single speech, nor was the name of a single officer of the revolution mentioned.
 The constitution was bitterly assailed as tending to destroy the independence of the states and to build up an aris- tocracy composed of the president, the senate and government officials. One member objected to the representation at all of negroes in congress under the provision allowing three-fifths of them to be counted stating that he wished not to be represented with negroes" To this MT. Davie replied that this is an unhappy species of population, but we cannot alter their situation" "The east ern states" MT. Davie said, had great jealousies on this subject, and insisted that their cows and horses were equally entitled to representation, that the one was property as we'll as the other; but that in answer to the objections of the eastern states, we insisted that in time of peace negroes contributed by their labor to the general wealth. and in some instances might be highly useful in war;" and lon these principles the eastern states yielded"
 Serious objection was made to the clause which permitted slaves to be i'm ported for twenty years. MT. Spaight (who had helped frame the cSk1stitution), said that there was a dispute in the con- vention over this; that the northern states desired to exclude the importa- tion of slaves absolutely, but the south objected, and chiefly South Carolina and Georgia, who would not agree to It, in- sisting that they had lost many slaves during the war and were in need of hands to cultivate the fields" One of the speak CTS, in discussing the subject of slav- cry, said Tt Is impossible for us to be happy if after manumission they (ne- groes) are to stay among us."
 There was bitter contest in the con- vention over many provisions of the con- stitutfon, and it was conceded by both its friends and opponents that if North Car olina declined to ratify it, she would be a separate and sovereign state, and would have to send ambassadors to the United States" It was stated by one of the delegates that MT. Jefferson had writ ten to Madison, when Virginia was con- sidering the question of adopting the constitution, saying he wished mine states to adopt it to preserve the union, but he wished four states would reject it so as to be sure to obtain amendments"
 Frequent mention is made of Rhode Island as a disreputable state, and one that has opposed pretty much every de- cent measure during the revolution. Massachusetts comes in for some licks also.
 An objection was made that the sen ate being chosen for long term and hay ing the right to reject any nomination of the President, could build up an aris- tocracy, and it was gravely replied that one-third of the senate would change every two years; and it was also said: "If the senators stay six years out of the state government, their influence will be greatly diminished. It will be impossible for the most influential character to get himself reelected after being out of the country so long,"
 The rights of the states were as well, or even better, understood and as ably declared as they have been at any period since and 1t was because the convention of North Carolina believed that too much power was given the federal government