The news & observer., 1905-06-28

election, held April q, at which his
registered voters adopted the Consti-
tuition and also elected officers and
representatives provided for in that in
strument
Against all these proceedings, Gov
ernor Worth, the Governor of the
State, filed an earnest protest.
At the election, w. w. Holden was
chosen Governor, and Governor Worth
not admitting the legality of the cleo
ton. he was displaced by force, and
w. w. Holden was appointed by the
Major-General Provisional Governor.
1t Will be observed that the LegiS-
lature was not elected under any eX-
listing law or Constitution of the State
Of North Carolina. There was no law
authorizing an election TO be held at
that time. no law authorizing the ne
groes to vote at that time in North
Carolina. The whole proceeding wa
in derogation of the rights of the
state of North Carolina.
Similar proceedings had been held
in other States; and the Democratic
party in it's National Convention held
in New York In July, 1868, contcmpo'
raneously with them, declared all
these proceedings to be usurpations
and unconstitutional, revolutionary
and void: and on that platform Gov,
crllOT seymour, Oh NEW oIh, IcCtINcu
100000 votes while General Grant
received 100000 votes.
Although those usurpations were
thus apparently sustained by the pop
ular vote at the election, yet that cir
cumStance could not make couSt!tu'
tional acts and proceedings which
were of themselves "usurpatiOns, un-
constitutional revolutionary and void. "
The voice of 100000 voters put the
world on notice of the invaldity of
these proceedings; and among thos,
voices, if / mistake not, was that of
Hon. John G.. Carlyle, a gentleman at
that time distinguished for his char
acter and virtues as well as his learn,
ing AS far as North Carolina was
concerned. her voice was expressed in
the protest of her governor, Hon.
Jonathan Worth, but her people were
dominated by the military forces of
the Major General. They were under
pressure to bare their neckS beneath
the feet of the MajorGeneral and his
cohorts: and so the usurpation was ca
fected by force.
And now to return to proceedings In
North Carolina
1t having been shown that the Leg
islature of 1858 was a body unknown
to the laws and Constitution OF tho
State not elected under the Consu.
tuition existing prior to 1850 or prior
to 1868; and elected at a time when
the Constitution of 1858 had not been
ratified and was without validity or
force; it will nov be shown that the
particular acts under which these all
legged bonds were issued were passed
by bribery and corruption, and in adj
dition that they were without constt-
tutional warrant even under the Con.
stitution of 1868.
Governor Holden, the Provisional
Governor. convened the new legisla-
ture in special session on July 1sh
1868. AS the members of that body
came up to be sworn, most OF the
Democratic members were ordered to
stand aside on the pretence that they
were barred" and could not be ad-
mitted to their seats. Later TINS ruilng
was relaxed as to nlajority of them
and the Senate allowed seats to ten
Democrats and the House to twenty
five.
On July 4th amid great rejoicing
by the Republicans, the new govern
ment was formally inaugurated. The
change was complete.
So thorough at all points had been
the victory of those who supported
the Reconstruction measures that the,
Republican leaders felt every assur-
ance of a long period of political
domination in the State. They at onoe
began the work of securing the spoils,
of recasting the laws, and of creating
what they called "a new North Caro-
lima" upon the wreck of that honest
"old North Carolina" whose tradi-
tons were so honorable to our people
Legislation affecting the negro race
was the first to receive attention,