Year: 1868

To the People Of North Carolina:


The Convention which met under the
Reconstruction acts of Congress, to form
Constitution Republican in FORM for the
State of North-Carolina, preparatory to its
-admmission into the Union, have finished
their labors, and now present the Constltu-
ton to the people of the State tor their
ratification. The undersigned have been
appointed to prepare a brief statement
of its most important provisions and OF the
principal changes which have been made in
the former system of government.


THE BILL OF RIGHTS t -


states clearly ''the general and essential prin-
ciple of liberty and good government" and
secures- them by all ths safeguards which ex-
perience can suggest. The great ehanso-in-
troduced by this Bill of Rights is, that it
removes every argument on which the doc
trine of the right of secession has been adj
yocated. and secures forever the integrity of
the Union and the peace andprosperityof
United States. To the Union-loving people


of North-carolina no defence need be made
for the told assertion of this great principle.


In the EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, the
changes appear to be much greater than
they really are The names of some officers
have teen changed, and instead of being
elected by the General Assembly as hereto


Sre, the choice of these high agents of the
peoples will is given directly to the people.
This is in conformity with the acknowledged
principles of Republican government. But
two new officers have been created. 1st
Lieutenant Governor. The necessity for
this officer to supply the place of the Cover
nor, in case of a vacancy in his office, was so
apparent that it was provided for in the
proposed Constitution of 1866. No addi-
tional expense is incurred, as he will receive
no pay, except while acting as Governor or
presiding over the Senate. End. A Super
intendent of Public Works A proper care
of the interests of the State IN the great and
expensive public works in which it is en-
gagged renders such an officer maniestly nee.
essary. 1t is a measure of economy The
State has lost hundreds of thousands of dol
lars heretofore for want of the watchful at
tention which this officer will give to the
expenditure of the public money on internal
improvements.


Under the heads of the LEGISLATIVE De
PARTMENT and SUFFRAGE AND ELIGIBILITY
TO OFFICE, the changes which will challenge
attention is the giving the right to vote and
hold office to all the male inhabitants of the
State, without regard to race, color or pre-
viOus condition. This change was inevita-
BILE. Without it there can be no return to
the Union, no escape from the hopeless ruin
which is inseparable from continuance in
in our present unnatural condition. But
apart from this convincing reason, reflect
ing men must see that prudent regard for
the welfare ofboth races and for the peace
and harmony of society required the exteu-
sion of the great privilege of voting to the
colored people, and just men must admit
that all who are expected to bear their
share of the manifold burdens of the gov
ernment at all times, and to expose their
lives for its defence in war should be allowed
full participation in its direction. To re-
fuse this right to any class of the people
would be to continue slavery in modified
form, course too abhorrent to the spirit of
the age to be permitted. i.,r 81.


While giving suffrage to the colored peo-
pie, the Convention has not been so incon
sistent with itself, and with the great prin-
ciples of Republican government, as to de-
ny it to any portion of the whites 1t is an
undeniable monument to the wisdom, and
equity, and magnan.mity, of the Union peo
pie of North Carolina, that in three years
after the close of q bloody and devastating
civil war, in which wrongs and outrages
were endured that can never be forgotten,
they have framed Constitution, in which
not a trace of animOsitys or ,vindictiveness
can be found; in which the wrongs of the
past are ignored for the sake of the peace
of the future, and all who arc now true. to
their country, are invited to participate in
its government. Such wise forbearance is
certain of its reward in the approval of re-
Hecting men now, and of all posterity. III


This NAV be the proper place to speak of
charge, which has been freely made against
this Constitution, by those who have never
seen 1t, and have determined to defeat it. be
ne 1t what it may. The charge is, that it
favors the social equality of the races. 1t is
untrue, nothing can he found in the constitu-
ton looking in that direction. With the
social intercourse of life, government has
nothing to do; it must be left 10 the taste
and choice of each individual.


Some persons have been so bold or so TO-