The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-07-03
Messenger Bureau.

ing In the Journals or the
Of 1868. The copy from which the
printers printed II is a sight in itself.
The feature OF il is the constitution
which was then adopted. The demo-
cratic minority. John w. Graham and
Plato Durham, Of the committee on
suffrage. filed a report in which they
said:
I'VE cannot view without serious
apprehension the admission TO all the
highest rights and privileges OF citi-I
Zenship of a race consisting almossl
entirely of those recently emerged
from slavery and untitled by previous
education and habits Of thought and
self-reliance for the intelligent dis
charge Of the duties and responsibility
ties which would devolve upon them.
We do not regard the right TO vote as
inherent. but as conventional merely
to be regulated in such way as VIII
best promote the welfare of the whole
community. Upon this principle VOL
men and minors ave been excluded.
Is there any reason why the negro!
should be advanced TO a higher posi-
ton? While We do not deny thai there
are individuals of that class VII!
might be expected to pre- their
own convictions at the ballot- box. still
the great mass of them are SO ignor-l
al dLu pre- uOAISu lAdI liz easily
become the dupes of designing advent
turers and demagogues and through
secret associations merely follow in
StructionS n re1ec the views Of
those who control them. We believed
that the blessings we have derived
from our government have been due
TO the virtue, intelligence and inde-I
pendence of those invested with thel
right of suffrage, and we tremble for
the safety of republican institutions
when il shall be determined 10 conferI
this trust upon those who mentally and
morally are Unfit to administer it-toI
confide the power Of making laws toI
those who have no property 10 pro-
tect and TO beStow the right to levyI
taxes upon those who have no caXesI
TO pay.
But it is said hat the proposed al
teration is demanded by onSress ami
is necessary TO restore our state Jol
constitutional relations with the led
eral government. 1t is certainly a sin
gular demand that we should extend
the franchise TO those who are So mex
perienced and little prepared for thel
ordinary business life that the gov
deems IL necessary, thought
the Freeman's Bureau, 10 exercise SUI
pervision and tutelage over them. But
we deny the power Of congress to pre-
scribe TO North Carolina who shall or
shall not vote. This has always been
recognized as one of those great rights!
reserved to the states, and in fac j.
is their privilege to prescribe VINO
shall vote for members of congress"
The commftte on education reported
the article on education. cOmmonI
schools. ethc. Section . of this pro-
vided that the legislature shall no
vide for a general and uniform sys-i
tenn of public schools wherever tuition
hall De free of charge 10 all the chill
dren of the state between 6 and .
years" Nothing whatever is said asi
TO separating the whites and the
blacks, il will be noticed.
An interesting report was that made
by the committee or relief from polit-
ical disabilities. When that was made
Plato Durham said:
This report is a fraud on the people
of North Carolina and it is 50 intended
TO be. The secretary may take my
words down. 1 don care for the sec
rotary or for the convention either"
These words were ordered to be en-
tered on h journal. The committee.
report was adopted. 1t said:
Whereas, The persons hereinafter
named are disqualified to hold office
by the fourteenth article of the con-
stitution of the United States, known
as the Howard amendment, and
whereas, They have evidenced that
they are in hearty accord with the re-
construction measures of congress,
therefore
Resolved, That We petition congress
to remove their disabilities in accord
ance with the aforementio-ai article
of the constitution"
A negro was the chairman of this
committee IN relief" The list named
in the report contained about 300
names, and was arranged by counties.
Here is a specimen. ordinance Of the
convention, ~divorcing people. There
are scores of such, scattered through
the journal:
BE it ordained by the people of
North Carolina, in convention assem-
bled, and it is hereby ordained by ne
authority of the same that - be di-
Vorced from the bonds of matrimony
from MS wife = and this ordinance
shall be in effect from and after its
passage"
There was a committee on divorce"
An interesting resolution was IN
these words:
That it is the sense of lis V
ton that the mex legislature take into
consideration the condition Of the
landless population of this state and
II practicable devise some means nv
loan or otherwise so that all citizens
can be permanently located on a
small freehold, so that they will b.
fully identified with the interest OF the
state"
When the constitution vas being
signed by the delegates the bell in the
capital square rang a joy peal.
me convention met January II.
1868, under an order from General e.
H. ,. Candy, commanding the second
military district, headquarters al
Charleston, S. c. That day a dispatch
was given TO the convention by Post
A~djutant Daniel T. Wells. of the
Eighth infantry, of the post OF RAJ
eigh, h dispatch being from General
Candy and saying:
order 165 (Which notified
the convention to meet) is amended as
follows: Insert James McCubbins N
place Of Isaac NJ. Shearer as delegate
from Davie and Rowan, and John G..
Marler IN place of E. p. Bartlett for
Ashe, Alleghtny, Watauga, Surry and
by Yadkin. Order mail. inform all
parties"
The secretary vas directed TO apply
TO Genera Candy for a full statement
Of the vote for and against a conyen-
ton in the various counties of the
state, also for statement of the vote
by counties received by each candi-
date for this convention"
On the third day of the invent