The farmer and mechanic., 1913-12-02

|
State Literary and Historical Associa
tion on it's recent meeting here.
Doctor Hamiltons studies have
done great deal to re-create inter-
est in North Carolina history. His
paper on the convention Of 1865-1SS6,
is considered one of his best. He
says:
A true convention Of the people, |
in theory the sovereign body OF the |
State, must necessarily originate with |
the people, or thei. authorized repre- |
sentatives, uncontrolled by any ex
terror force, must be limited and
bound within the proper sphere Of
its action only by the people, and
must be answerable only to them.
Measured by this test none or the
so-called conventions which met in
1865 and 1866 in the late Confederate
States we're genuine conventions in
legal or historical sense since they
were called into being by provisional
governors, appointed by the President
Of the United States, exercising the
war power inherent in his Office OF
commander in chief OF the armies of
the victorious nation. In addition.
they were responsible to him and
acted under his instructions with their
members chosen by only such classes
Of the voters as he selected and were
deprived by the same authority or
the services Of many persons whom
those voters would have chosen as
delegates. Finally. with much of their
action made we'll nigh obligatory, they
clearly fail to meet every test usually
applied. Yet in spite of this defect.
incident. as it must be concluded, to
the revolution in progress at the time,
TO these bodies was iHtruSted a most
important duty; upon them rested i
burden Of grievous responsibility; and
in the maelstrom Of confiictin: pub
lie sentiment, sentiment everywhere
abnormal as consequence of war.
their position was one OF infinite diff
f1culty and the political danger from
any mistake almost inca1culable. That
the convention Of North Carolina
made few serious errors was an
achievement Of no little honor, the
more remarkable in view of the fact
that many of the States chosen lead
ers were excluded and a majority o.
its members were comparatively in
experienced politically. 1t also speak!
volumes for the leadership Of th'
tody.
When 1t Opened.
On May 2, 1866, President Johnso,
began his policy Of restoration by tn
issuance OF a proclamation of amnest.
and the appointment Of William w
Holden as provisional governor o
North Carolina This appointment car
ried with it authority to prescribe tn
necessary rules for calling and assem-
bling a convention, the members Q
which should be choeen by that por
ton Of the voting population whicl
was loyal to the United States at tn
time Of the election, the test Of 10y
atty being the previous reception Q
pardon either individually or throug
the amnesty. This convention wa
given authority to exercise all pow
ers necessary to restore the State t
her constitutional relations with tn
publican form of government as woul
entitle the State to the guarantee {
the United States against invasion
insurrection, and domestic violence.
was also directed to prescribe Qualif
cations for electors and the holders
Office
Acting under this commission, Coy
ernor Holden organized a provision;
government and took steps to caus
the amnesty to be taken as widely {
possible. He also recommended tt
pardon OF more than a thousand Pc
sons who were excluded from the bcr
efits OF the amnesty. This took tin
and he was criticised for his delay
calling the convention, but with Z
justice. since his delay made it po
sble for many to vote who otherwi
would have been disqualified for lat
OF pardon. and the convention ";
therefore a more representative bod
No Interest in Campaign.
On the eighth OF August. he issu,
proclamation ordering the electi,
Of delegates to convention which
called TO meet on the second Of O
toher. The campaign that follow
was almost devoid of interest so Qui
was IL and so marked by the a
sence of any discussion of issues
the minds OF the people, there were
issues. The war had forever abolish
slavery and with it the right OF sece
sion, and while the question OF I
disposition Of the war debt still I
mained and was a vital one, no o
contended that il should be settled
once or tina. Il was necessary for [
convention 10 take action upon it
ITS first session. The Standard. &C
erRor Hoiden's paper. early in I
campaign declared for The prom
non-recosr:ticn OF debts contracted