The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-11-26
HOW THE CONSTITUTION IS AMENDED


GUESSING the best method of securing ;
constitutional provision to limit the
suffrage to those who are properly quail
fed to intelligently exercise it. So fal
as we can judge of public opinion, there
is Il general feeling that the Legislature
will fail to meet public expectation, if i
does not settle the suffrage question by
submitting a proper constitutional amend
ment to the voters at the earliest prac
ticable moment
The Legislature of 1899 will be the
most important, as well as the ablest
that has assembled since 1870. Gov
ernor Jarvis was Speaker of the House
at that memorable session, and he anC
his colleagues did their work so wei
that the Democrats held the Legislature
for twenty years. 1t is our faith that
the representatives will select the ablest
and best man in the House for Speaker
act so wisely in all things that history
will repeat itself by giving North Caro-
lima another quarter of a century of rule
by the Democratic party.
The following letter from Governor
Jarvis shows the steps that must be
taken TO amend the Constitution:
To the Editor: There seems to be con
siderable discussion going on as 10 the
propriety, if not the necessity, OF amend
ing our State Constitution in certain par
ticulars. 1t may. therefore, be well for
MS to have clear idea Nof the methods
nv which amendments can be made to
that instrument. To that end | quote
in full Article XIII of the present Con
stitution, which is as follows:
ARTICLE XIH.-AMENDMENTS.
Section /. Convention, how called.
Convention, 1875. No convention OF
the people of this State shall ever be
called by the General Assembly, unless
by the concurrence of two-thlrdS OF All
the members of each House of the
General Assembly, and except the propo-
sition. Convention or no Convention, be
first submitted to the qualified voters OF
the whole Safe. at the next general elec-
ton. in n manner to be prescribed by
law. And should majority of the votes
cast be in favor of said Convention, 1t
shall assemble on such day as may be
prescribed by the Generalt Assembly
"Section .. How the Constitution may
be altered Convention. 1870. No part
of the Constitution of this State shall be
altered, unless bill to alter the same
shall have been agreed to by three-fifths
of each House of the General Assembly.
And the amendment. or amendments, so
agreed to shall be submitted ut the next
general election to the qualified voters
of the whole State. in such manner as
may be prescribed by law. And in the
event of their adoption by majority of
the votes cast, such amendment or
amendments shall became a part of the
Constitution of this State
/ call special attention to the words,
''at the next general election to be
found in both sections because they fix
and determine the time when the people
act. These words are plain and simple.
and mean exactly what they say-"at
the next general election" They un-
questionably exclude all idea of a spe-
cial election. The next general elec-
ton" to occur in this State will take
place on the first Tuesday after the
first Monday in November. 1900. Then
November 1900 is the earliest time the
people can be called upon to act under
either section.
1t seems to me that n careful reading
of Section ! of Article XIII. must con
vince any one that no convention can
be called until the people have sane
toned it and that their judgment cannot
be taken before the general election in
November. 1900. so that no Convention
of the people can be assembled till after
the close of this century.
1t is equally clear, it seems to me,
that careful reading of Section OF
Article NH. must convince any one
that if the Legislature shall propose, an
alteration in the Constitution. it cannot
be passed upon by the people before the
general election in November. 1900.
1t is more than probable that the peo-
pie Of North Carolina will be called upon
to consider and pass upon great National
dnestions at the next general election
Our friends in every position will dc
well to consider the obstacles that lie
in the way in their discussion of the
policy to be adopted by the Legislature
THOS. j. JARVIS.