The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-02-18
An Old History tt
Interesting Story.
North Carolina Long Hello
Out for Sovereignty.
Constitution Attacked Gold, Silver
and Tariff Discussed.

|
relic OF revolutionary times In the shape
OF an old book, into the possession OF
which he has come bat recently, writes
Montgomery, Ala, correspondent OF the
Atlanta "Constitutiop,
Since his Inauguration as Governor q
friend in North Carolina, bis 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,
ano its date is 1859. and it contains the
"proceedings and debates Of the conven-
ton of North Carolina, convened at Hills
| borough on the 21st OF July, 1888, 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 Con-
stitution. The proceedings as detailed
| in this old book are of special personal
| interest to Governor Johnston, inasmuch
as his grandfather bore a prominent and
| influenti nj part in the convention which
refused TO ratify. This convention had
| only two committees, one on privileges
| and elections, and one on rules. OF the
| tirst-nsmed the Governors grandfather
was honored by being named as mem
| Der. The presiding officer of the con-
vention was Governor Samuel Johnston.
But sside from this special interest 10
| the Governor. the proceedings of the con-
veution ere of value to the general reader
| OF thi, day and time, as showing what
! the Democrats of that elder day feared and
| felt. Among the 26s delegates were sew
| eral no participated in the convention
| which frImed the Constitution. All the
| speeches were carefully reported in long
| hand, of course, the arguments OF each
| speaker teing clearly put and seemingly
| full and fair.
The reporter spolog ICES for heing unable
several times to ,eport in full by reason
OF the noise in the House or the low tone
OF ths Speakers voice, lie being in the
gallery. Many interesting facts are stated
| in tho debates. One OF the speakers, Mr..
Davis, VINO had been a delegate to the
Continental Congress and also to the
convention tnat framed the Constitu.
ton, stated In the course of q speech that
the credit OF the United States was so
low tnat when the last stroke was made
which secured the Independence of the
country our army could not move from
Pbiladelpbis until the minister of his
most Christian Majesty was prevailed
upon to draw bills to defrsy the expenses
OF the expedition, and that was secured
by "the personal influence OF the Com.
msnder-in- Chief, and not by the credit
of the United States" The book contains
$50 closely printed pages of debates, and
il is q remarks ole fact that Washington's
name was not mentioned in a single
speech nor was the namo of single officer
Of the Revolution mentioned.
The Constitution was bitterly assailed
as tending to destroy the independence
OF the states end to build up an aris-
tocracy composed OF the President, the
Senate and the Government officials. One
mem her objected to the representation at
all OF negroes ia Congress under the pro-
vision, allowing tbreo.fifths of them TO be
counted, stating that he wished not to be
represented with negroes. 10 this Mr..
Davis replied that "tnis an unhappy
species of population, but we cannot alter
their situation" "The Eastern States"
MIR. Davis said "hsd great jealousies on
this subject, and insisted that their cows
and horses were equally entitled to repre-
senta;ion." That the. one was property
as we'll as the other, but that in answer
to the objections OF the Eastern States
"wc 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 "on these
principles the Eastern States yielded"
Serious objection wss made to the
clause which permitted slaves to be
imported for twenty years. Mr.. Spaieht
(who brd helped flame the Constitution
said that there wns "a dispute in the con-
vention over this, that tie Northern States
desired to exclude the Importation OF
slaves absolutely, but the South objected,
aud chiefly South Carolina and Georgia,
who would n OF agree to II, insisting that
they had lost many slaves during the war
and were In neen of hands to cultivate the
nelds." One OF the speakers In discussing
the subject Of slavery said: 81, IL impossi-
bic for US to be happy II after manumis-
sion they (negross) are to stay among
u.s."
There was bitter contest in the con-
vention over many provisions Of the Con-
stitution aud II was conceded by both its
friends and opponents that IL North Caro-
lima declined to ra,ihy it. she would be q
separate and sovereign State and would
have to send "ambaspsdors to the United
states" IL was stated by one NJ OF the
delegates TINT MIR. Jefferson had written
to Msoisun whom Virginia was consider
ing the considering the question OF
adopting the Constitution saying he
wished nine states to adopt IL TO preserve
the union, bat he wished four States would
reject it so as to be sure TO obtsin amend