Newspapers / The Era (Raleigh, N.C.) / July 22, 1875, edition 1 / Page 1
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THE ERA. .... r , . . ' , . . wv" - ' . s.v t i iii-i-! i!i't -n-.'i . . ; THE ERA. V KHl'UBLICAN WEEKLY N KWS-I'Ari'Jt-TIIK CENTRAL OIKJAN oF THE PAUTY. PU11LISIIKD KVEItY TlIUUSDAY. (SEE-RATES OP SUKSCltlPTIOtf ON THIS -PAGK.)M X V. M. I1KOWX, Manager. i u KirKOver tlie North Carolina Hook- ni- rf Vim vt t rlt a u r 1 1 1 t v - ! t..lC, numi ' ...... in itrect, lirst door south of the State I .me. IfATES OF SUIWCHH'TIUN: i uie jear. Six mouths, Three month, -I?- Invariably - 10 - i o r VOL. V. RALEIGH, jST. C, THURSDAY, JULY 22, 1875. in Advanck. Tt J , ww- . hjzmm-yn$mmmm.: m: Mt THE ERA. Tlll'KShAY, Jl'LY lS7f. V specimen ol" Ieiuocratic I re forms. 1 11.- l-mocrats have been Iotul :i iln ir boa-tings of the reforms ,,.. , onitiiiiy that wo should have v. tly got into power. . Well I ,.t year they had nearly a two-third- vot- ii th" Legislature, and h.-iv- a speciun n of the reforms we .Mr. 1). I'. Ma-t, f Forsythe inly, was elected Knrolling Clerk ,, tin thinl day of the ss-ion, ami u titl there was no enrolling done ; ,r the first week, lie not he not only dav for everv n-tr-red six dollars a ,li-of the .-es-ion, hut drew pay i.,r iuo days more than the -e.-.ion I , t d, and drew one hundred and iinv dollai. he.-ddo for extra work. Not only did he do (ids, hut he . ,.j a iv-olution through allowing :nin i employ :s many n-.-i-tants , l.i- needed. l'nh r-this n -al ti ll.. n he employed a Miflirienl num : , i.f a i.-tants to do ill hi- work, .ii. .1 tlu n hired him-ilf out ;.s an .titaut to the Lrig"'-.-ing Clerk at tl,n - dollars per d; . . - have thr i V-inocrat ie 4-re-1 r. under the L gisinturc that ( tli.-d the Convention :s follow.-: i. A Clerk drawing for two days tu. -iv than t lie -ion lasted. '. Ii:iitiLf two v;darirs :il the -.i.'.H titi.e. :;. iM.iuin l"retlM work in ad-j .i t ! i . ! i : . Hi' r i ' ii i vi i .ilil. L.-i-Ulalure, with this) . . ..: .in i :d "i inn'" Ch rk. will Ih i i.!. .1 I.:u k if !; ihigli next in! r i f '(,. I K-1110.-1.1 elo t a io;J irity of .... .1. e g. lit to the Con vciii io:i. I; tlie pftp!' dfii't want any in. icft their re.' ino- " l.-t them i.te lii M.ti-Coiivcnlioii candi tl ite. The X, tts chargt that tlie Minir-an-. lea t an tiK) mth'h ti tlu er-'l nun for their vott-s. i .!..ii i voters h ive been all along uith the Republicans, and they are ui.h them now more thoroughly n i m I unitiilly than ever before. Uut have the Republicans of this State ..tie further than Mr. (ire I y did ;-! the colonnl vote? Mr. Creeley a.lvt-ateil tui.t'td acfiOo,.- in his I'fiighkit'psie speech, and the AVirs iipportiil Mr. Circeley for the J'res iileucy. Two years ago the elegant ;.-iicraI Ue-aureg-ard tcnik as strong u nui m I for the Civil Itights bill as Mr. Sumner did, and yet the Xt t( did not censure General 15oau regard, And nivntly General X. 1. Forrest b is distiiiguishetl himself by re ceiving a beautiful bouquet from -fine "col o ret 1 ladies," as he styled t!i in, and he complimented these l.i.lies in verv high terms in his q-eech. And yet the JTeic says, "ltIitic-al and social salvation are tt stake" in the present contest in tlii- State. What will tho Jews do uith Mr. Greeley, and Generals lieau regard and Forrest? What is it the Vnrand its friends would W tlo for the entire colored vote of this State? HV have these vote-, Mr. Acir., and you cannot U'' t one of them in one hundred. The colore! people know who but tered their bread, and they know aboon which side their bread is buttered. The DenuHTats are endeavoring to throw sand in the eyes of tho li.ph by telling them that there '-.ui 1h; no langer in the osJl of a nvention because its action will e submitted to the people fir rati hVation. Now even if this should be done (which is doubtful) itshould Ih remembered that the act allows only such as may be qualified by the Convention, to vote on the sub- je't. Suppose, therefore, that the Con vention idiould only allow such men to vote as pay poll taxes, or, as is probable, supjKise the proposition f the Alleniarle Register is adopt--l allowing only such joor men to vote as pay a poll tax and allowing every rich man an additioral vote for each live hundred dollars of pro-jK-rty upon which lie pays taxes. This would give to the aristocracy the power of ratifying an Consti tution, however infamous, which might bo adopted, llest .ssured, fellow-citizens, your only Safety is in voting for Republican dtlegates, thereby securing an i mined ate ad journment and retaining jower in the hands of Hie people, vhere it belongs. In this .way onlq can the machinations of demagogues and olitical tricksters be defeated, the blessings of liberty preserwd, and eace and prosperity continue to be enjoyed by our citizens. Opinions of ProinliuMit Demo- cr-at.s on the Convention Question Heart ami Circulate. 11 riMiOllSI'tofti U U'f l.-iv lrr-krn . . .. . . j our riers the follow,,,,' letter from Judge i owie on the Convention ItALEIOIT, Oct. 2H, 1S71 7y.i It". Dunham: sm:-ln reply to your letter asking my opinion in regard to tho calling of ;i ( oiiveiiiK.ii by the next General As f cm bly, for the purpose of amending uie u)tisuuiiioii oi rsortn Carolina. I ikivu io say : That in my opinion a call of a Con vention for the purpose indicated would l.o unwise, inextdient and productive oi great iiarm 10 me material interests oi the Stale. The defeat of the Conservative nartv in North Carolina in 187G would be a public calamity. That defeat would, in my opinion, be insured it the proposed I action is laKen. A very cursory examination of tho (' Ml.vt.it II I ilill Ull.l liictriri' s.f V". . -l 1 . olina will satisfy the ennuirer. that of the tw ineth.ds provide-! for amend- lug the tuisiituiioii, to-wit: the legis lative and conventional, the intention was, i hat lor ordinary times, and for the correction of ordiuary evjlj, it was iiKMjgnt w is uy our lathers that the lcgisiatue mode should be adopted, and that the mode of amendment by the i onvcntion was only to be resorted to when the exigency of the occasion was extreme, and was a substitute in a dem ocratic and republican form of govern ment for revolution, and was not to be exercised unless the emergency was great. Wo find accordingly that after the adoptiou of the Constitution of 1770. there was no Convention of the people or jNorth Carolina until the year ot ISoo. ixeept the conventions of 17SS and 1789 which were called for the purpose of : ! ratifying the Federal Constitution, and that since that tune there lias been no Convention of the people, which has been called for the purpose of amending the Constitution, and has actually done ' so until the year 1S6S ... .. . - The Convention which was called in isi-.t f.. ti.a t,...w,. r North Carolina out of the Union, and tho Convention ot lS(k, being called under l'residential l'roclam.itioii. and its conclusions being repudiatetl bv the r.M.iii nr .w.f tr. i.M niinQi.Uriui i tt.ic The policy of the State then being well settled not to call a Convention of tin noiiiilf. OYt'fni ii.irm ovtrnnnlinarw o. casions. is there anvthinir in the no- .... . ......... ...... T oi-cas ions, s incre anyining in tne po- th--ntioir 4 heme is passed that that they did not now desire a Conven htical condition of tho State that will ,, V , 1 1 scneme is pass.u, mat " J , . . h.x Democratic nartv . . . . . ! . tho I?prnblirna wlio vntmt wit i na in tlOll. And UOCs lilt Lieiiun iduu ui He- " a v-'urv oiimosf mi bi n.u-tn f August last will return to the RepubU- propose io ca it :;v(..r : Ilt(.rf-,,rt, With. rights of eon- sues is c: IlISLIIV SUCH UCL1UI1 21 L LUIS LIII1U. .,, :Jnven Party. ad nY Conservatives Me people? -inat wouiu oe a c...-...pi ; . " -Hhin tbo , e.,1- onemion niovement, in ie iy to ... j t for the voice uf tho people and not true science." within the ( an i ii ici rogatory irom me as io mo ne- Y i i T . . - J , . iomr k A t this time thev 1 , . . , i,,,,,.!,..!.-,, . The rm-,tim, ctaii ti,f i. 1 ohtical daring is sometimes the best I Democracy'. A.t.l"!!V . . . Hrave words tor "carpet-baggers." i knowledge i :. ; i " J" " i.V J r'T V policy, but to renew an exDeriment are tireu oi revolution uu ", y t4 , , in,1!!jnj i unstituii'.ii siioiua ne amenuea m three particulars : 1. Ketpiiring the Judges of the Supe rior Court to rotate, '1. IMsipialifyuijjf a jerson who has been convicted of an infamous crime from voting. lleqnirinjr the poll lax to be paid as a qualification of a voter. lu regard to the lirst and second of the-ie amendments, after considerable inquiry I am satisfied that they will meet with but very little opposition from either of the great political parties. I have heard at least two of the Re publican Judges express themselves in favor of the lirst proposed amendment. and one of them expressed it as his opinion that every diciary would give member of tho Ju- e his personal mllu- ence to the proposed anieudment. As to the second, the mere-introduction of the proposed amendment is all that is necessary to secure its passage before any legislature that can now beelected, regardless of its political complexion. As to the third proposed amendment, it is believed by many persons that its etl'ect would be to diminish the Repub lican vote in the State several thousand voles, thereby insuring a Conservative triumph. The proposed amendment itself is in my opinion a very gootl one, because the increased taxation that would be thus derived would greatly benelit the common schools of the State. Hut I do not believe that the vote will be mate rially diminished by its adoption, be cause in every well contested election, the funds will be provided to pay the poll-tax for such voters as cannot pay for themselves, and I will show before I get through that our elections in 1S7G will necessarily be well contested by both of tho great iolitical parties. Hut even if I should be mistaken in thiM, tho success of our party in 1870 is not a good reason for deviating from tho course of action in regard to constitu tional amendments, which has been sanctioned by the wisdom of our fore fathers, because it would be establish ing a precedent for tampering with the Constitution whenever the exigency of a party required it, and Conventions in North" Carolina, would become as fre quent as revolutions ir Mexico. In a very able letter, signed by YV. A. Wright, Esq., and live other distin guished geutlemen, dated Oct. 22, 1S74, ihe following expression is used : "Sullice it to say then, that in almost every one of the many instances where the "Canby" Constitution varies from the old Constitution of our fathers the difference has been productive of un mixed evil. In ouropinion the sooner we return to that old Constitution the better it will be for the people of North Carolina, observing, of course, the changes rendered necessary by the war and its results. And we deem it proper to say here, in order to prevent any possible misunderstanding, that we be lieve no one contemplates, as no one ought to contemplate any change in regard to the 'Homestead Exemption, save such as will enlarge and render moro secure that wise ami benefi cent provision. We deem it proper to say also that we believe no . one con templates, as no one ought to contem plate any change in the Constitution tending to impair, the rights of tho col ored people." To this broad assertion we respect-, fully enter our dissent. There are several changes in tho or ganic law, made by tlie Convention of lSOS, other than the exceptions made by these gentlemen, which, in my opinion, the people of North Carolina will not willingly yield as for instance: The election of the Judges by the ico ple. The abolition of the Count3' Courts and theelection of County Commission ers by tho people. ' There may be a considerable iortion of our people, particularly in the Eas tern section of the State, who would be glad to see tho power taken from the Eastern negroes to .elect Judges. and County Com mtssioners. So far us the election of Judges is concerned, the 7- . v.-'r:" ""ur,""a 5miJi,WnUMl to n:iivcillill lilt W111U) LWODJ6 III Uie It BSl I ""u . - , . , i , , . . are willing to ilelewatito the Legisla- suffer, and from time to time rv j us in legi.'ining the pruii ot the j every power except what, is ex lure tlieir rijjiit to elect magistrates, move those evils in a manner which t instrument which has leen so lav- nresslv rteleiratert in the Const it u- I. ...... . . I wo suail elect COtintV Commissioners, , - ,.,...ii ,. .. lied at being ritf oi U.e cummrand expensive old County ourt system. liut anartfrom all this, it would h a political blunder to call a Convention, In 1870, the people of North Carolina votea tne conservative ticket. Xot Ti was sa,,V.7tConention duIin "r. t 1 . ''"""'"was yon- servative by nearly two-thirds majori ty, iakmg advantage of its majority, notwithstanding the warnings of many of our wisest leaders, a bill was passed submitting the question of calling a convention to the people. It was de- icated by more than V.000 maiontv. Hut more than this, ol" the delegates elected, a majority. J have been inform ed by a well posted friend, were Repub licans. Tho people were angry with our party and charged in many localities that we could not have carried the election m 1S70 if our purpose had been avowed. It was regarded by many of them as a fr?",d "Pon. the F0Ple- Many members ?f th? IKture of 1S7U, who voted for that ImH, would never have been elected if their constituents had been aware that they would have dono so In 1872, it insured the defeat of Judge luernmon lor governor, ana worse that this, the failure to carry North Car olina 'paralyzed the opposition to Grant. and his re-election was due more to the result in North Carolina in August, than to any otiier cause. In lbu, there will be another great contest lor the 1'resideiicy, 1'ennsyivania, by the change of its .state election irom October to Novem ber, is no longer the Keystone State. IS or th Carohua has the doubtiul honor of being the Keystone State in that con troversy. Every effort will be made by both parties to carry the State. Kequire the poll tax to be paid in ad vance and it will be by many Irom bevoud the limits ot the State. Tvvnrv vntpr thuf raii 1 ia nrl nr-nil c rrn to the noils will bo carried there. And if North Carolina falters, we will have four years more of Republican rule at Washington. jiio auvcicaies oi me u,onveniion in- . luai u"ous" 11 oe iuexpeui- eiMaa,a. arty ln,e.asul " right in lt- se- mexpeuienc, n is. Decause n is "nPpUlar- 11 unpopular, it will fail. failure will not benefit, but greatly in- moral1 question oi right or wrong in- l lvtu' 11 me.xpeuieiu, it is ponu- I "ally WTOng. . m. 1.1:1 i . i ... a r . ueueraie juugmem. is, map ii , which has already pro ved so disastrous, would be suicidal. Daniel G. Fowle. In a letter of date Nov. 4th, 1874, Hon. A. V. Venable in a letter to the Oxford Leader , says : It is with deep concern that I ob serve the agitation of the Conven tion question in our State. There is, however, one wise pro vision in our present Constitution the mode in which it can be amend ed although in practice somewhat tedious, yet in either fixing or al tering the fundamental law of a State great and patient deliberation should be required. The present Legislature will have in it a sufficient majority to submit to the people all the amendments that are necessary to restore our State government to its former sim plicity and efficiency, and thus we may get a double expression of the wishes of the people : lirst from their representatives and then from the people themselves. The great question is: is now the proper time to raise new issues? sr This is more obvious when we re flect that a majority already elected to the Legislature have the power to submit to the people all the amendments which "a re necessary. The various amendments can be fully discussed in our legislative halls, the people will become f;i miliar with them in all their bear ings, and thus be prepared to give an intelligent vote upon each one. The agitation will be confined to the Legislature, and their work submitted to the people, who, if they approve, wilt adopt ; if they disapprove, will reject. It is also most desirable, to aroiit the expense attending a Convention. The people of North Carol in a worn down by taxation, poor and iiJipurerUwd, can bear bid few more burdens. Besides all this we need peace and repose. History nut repeats itself No free people can prosper who are frequently altering their fundamen tal law. It renders everything un certain, and in the end is ruinous I knew North Carolina belore the first Convention, a body of distin guished men presided over by Na thaniel Macon, and composed of men remarkable for both their sa gacity and integrity, and the widest of them informed me that the most that they had elfecied was to pie vent great da mag to the Cons' no tion. I voted against that Convention, and I look back wijth astonishment at the practical perfection of that Constitution thus subjected to amendments. Mr. Macon told me that the old Constitution of North Carolina wa the best that wit of man hud ever devised. That Constitution had no provision for amendment, and as piring politicians agitated the qus tion until in an evil hour the people called a Convention. Tht result iU' this has been painful history, Hius trated by every Constitutional Con vention cajltd -i.ic , i ik' pre. -cm Constitution being iiiv.- v.i-.-,t of them all. Upon whatever hubject the peo4.Ie think often and think long tricy ul timately think right. Tho fumla- mental law of no Stae should be tampered with nastily, iet us h'W --oconHtruct. and patiently I . . - fhn f Tnnstlf nlinri T?ef.ifP nni inv i v- ...j.vu. - --- 'G IUlU" W,U griau liillftna on rtM man, who has not been an inatten tive observer of current events, ami a who. feelinir a profound interest in the welfare of his State, takes the i;oertv nf makiiiL' tht se surest ions to his fellow-citizens. On the 11th of November, 187 i, Hon. Jesse J. Yeates, of Hertford, addressed a letter to Major J. W. Dunham on the Convention ques tion, from which we make tho fol lowing extracts : -2 However so well distinguished gentlemen may w rite in favor of a call ol a Cenventiou, the peo ple are unmistakably opposed to it. - During the past summer when our opponents were charging upon us a covert desire to get possession of the I legislature and call a Convention, I heard several of these new elected members of the Legislature Dledge the people on the stump that they would not support such a meas ure, and since the election I have heart! them declare the same publicly anil privately. They cannot and will not violate them. ior win it cm ir our pany 111 me nfR..aiic ....uC. ...n.. caucus the question into suwess. It is, not a party question, ami was n i su i cfuaiicipation ol any slave,' which right be legal or equitable. ' -u,fnU;hleforeS ! " k- M ' "e crcdi- i ir, The abolition of .ho forms of sentiments of the people at home must not be caucused away But I am opposed to a call ol a Con vention at this time for other important reasons. The advocates ot a Conven - tion assert that it would be promotive of the best interests of the State. This I do not believe. - - xne peopu were opposed to a call ot the Conven tion three years ago, and the Jegisla ture was in crave iimiw anu nesicaeu 1 1 ' A A t long, but finally gave way to certain nersistentinliiuMH es and passed the bill. The people voted it down by a majority of thousands, and if I am correctly ad vised, elected a majority of Kepublieans to the Convention. ; - There are good reasons why the people will not sanction a call of a Convention at this time. It luis been but three years since they said to the Legislature in emphatic language. want neace. They been all the time losing ; they are pi j ni'Aviitnniont nnel iirpsfiOkini' rest. For these reasons, the present time is not suited to a Convention. The violence of party spirit is too great. without the people being previously x am uj)p"-cn i." . w. " v.... . ....... -r . I ... .. i.i nr n l 'iilivf. linn consulted, ana ljioj 1J pVity in oJ5l?tCAti over the will of the- people because we happen to have a two-thirds majority in the Legislature. It is a manifesta tion of contempt for the people The people have not been eonsuncu aooui this question sim-e they mioko hi uiuh- der tones again.st it. It is ineoinpauuie with the spirit ami genius ot a nee peo ple and a libertv-giving t onsiuutioii, that the Legislature, beeaic-e two-thirds may agree, shall ie at liberty to over- turn and i evol iitionize the go vein men t. Two-thirds have the right to eall a Con vention, but the spirit of our freedom would say v( until tlie people had sug gested it. The following are extracts from a letter from lion. Jos. J. D.ivis, da ted Nov. fth, 1S74, addressed to Major John W. Dunham : 5: i regrt-t that I eannot concur with llo.-.e of our friends who think that the Legislature, soon to as semble, ought to eall a Convention to revise and amend that instrument. The last expression ot the public will upon the subject was in 1S71, when the question was submitted to a direct vote of the people, and when it was voted down by a large majority, although we had had at the preceding election in 1S70, a victory almost equal to that of the present year. I know that it is said, and truly said, that many men voted against the Convention m 1S71, because thev did not approve the mode in which the question was sub mitted, but it will be remembered that at the same election at which the Con vention was voted down there was an election for delegates to the Convention, in the event it should bo called, and, if 1 am correctly informed, we failed to elect a majority of Democrats and Conserv atives, though we had, the vear before, carried both branches ol the Legisla ture by decided majorities. We know tlie fact that the Republican poty lenders in North Carolina control, with a few exceptions, the solid negro vote. 1 only state a tact there is no division in that vote on- any question. No question of llvme jstead, of the Judiciary, of improper dis tribution of power between the different branches of government, of ehelioux, oj criminal law, of the restoration of the county courts, none of the.se questions divide them. : 5 - I have heard ol but one Republican of any note who is in favor of a Convention, autl ne, l am tinorin ed, avows himseii in favor of it . with the hoixj that it will annul the h me stead provision. New Things in the tion. Constitu- "lls authors were mainly sciolists and adventurers who had lived among us without preferment, others were our recent slaves 5 and others still cupvt-baggers IkUi black and white." Democratic Ad I ress. 4A wise man will follow the light, though tlie Ievil carry, the lantern." Did Italian Proverb. ., Few even of those who hav con sidered the merits of our pr-nt Constitution, are a ware of the num ber nod importance ol the changes and. addition made by it in our or g.iiiic law. l-'or I h purport-d pla cing iheiu succinctly U i..re tliu mind, We have collated loriy hicli we deem lb? niiKst iuiorinnr, Jiiid gi ye them below with some com ments upon a few of them : 1. The first thim? 'which .strikes ! :,.i.i.. i. i iMiiv ueiiouiicet.i as couotiiioit in I tM from beginning to end, ! is humhie and grateful aeknowl idgmi-nt of the overruling "care of AiinU'h.y ;.d, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations" and of our continuing j separation of the legislative, execu dependenee ujion Him. This is a tiveand judicial powers of theState, formality hitherto considered tin- which the old Constitution eom neeessary in our constitutions, but j mended but never secured,. as is ii !t altogether unpleasant to the re- j noticed by Chief Justice Pearson in ligiously disposed mind. j 2 he State vis. Bledsoe. 'Fo confer 2 It is followed with a deelara- j upon the Legislature the power to tion that all men are created equal I appoint o ulcers and upon County and endowed with certain unalieu- ! Courts the administration of the abb; rights therein specified; o. Next comes a declaration that "the State shall ever remain a mem ber of the American Union," has "no right to secede," and that 'all attempts to dissolve that Union ought to be resisted." 4. This is followed by the kindred provision that "every citizen owes paramountallegiance to the govern- mi nt of the United States," and, .). The inhibition of of" any debt incurred the payment in aid of re- ; oeoion, m uuv ciaun oi int. iu ui : tors of the Slate in its present form, ! (. Th.u a Ierson charged with cn ne shouul not he compelled to ,.4,t i-iil.fVcs r neco;irv . J . . wit noss lees ol Hi" defence unless f..inid guiliy, st i lus so evident a niaMcr of jn.-i ice ami h eeney that ,e wnl del thai it should Hot Lu en provided lor btfire. 7. I uiprisonoieiii for debt i- have i hi) isiici. ; s. The privilege of the writ of J liu.rti.'i corif. shall riot be suspend- ' ed. 1). iv-.'ligiotis liberty is extended j and secured. "No human author- j itv should in any manner control, j 10. "No property qualih'cation I ought to affect the right to vote or ; jloitj office." m,ltrifi(W, of .leinbood ( --v'---v'-- ....... I .uui merit, which is afterwards re- 1 affirmed in other sections of the in- nd impresses every un-1 impresses every un prejudiced mind as ah unavoidable deduction of common sense and common justice from the equality of r:ght and identity of privilege, which constitute the basis ideas of American liberty. The objection urged against it is, that it allows i men who mwu no mirresr mine rovernment to control it. This proceeds on the fallacy that interest in a nation, patriotism is measured solelv bv dollars and cents. This is not only untrue in point of fact, j but reasonably and naturally so. The poor man has a far greater pro portionate stake in the government than the rich man can have. lake the mite which the widow cast into the treasury, the poor man's in terest in his country, is his all. His future and that of his children de pend entirely on the character of the government. He has no power to evade or mollify its effects. He isaud must continue its creature. The rich may fly from oppression. The poor must endure or resist. His children's education and his own daily bread are dependant on the legislation which is to control his State. Their only hope for the future and his only chance for the present depend on its order,, peace, prosperity and recognition : of equal manhood. The advocates, defenders and martyrs of liberty have almost al ways been found among the poor and its worst euemies among the rich. The poor have been the pa triots and the rich the oppressors of the earth ! Liberty Juts been cradled in the manger while, tyranny has worn swaddling clothes worth a king's ransom. Poverty gave Home freedom ami strength, llichtsgave her shackles and ruin ! Poor Swit zerland was never subjugated and rich Spain waa never free ! Wealth is far more likely to corrupt than poverty ! The right of self-government is the "one little ewe-lamb," which sleeps in the poor man's bo som ! , ( . . . 11. Slavery is forever proh i hi ted. 12. "All powers not herein dele gated are to remain with the -people." ' ' ' 'i:"rr';.':; This is one of the most imortant" aiid yet most generally overlooked provisions of the instrument we are consider! ug.4 Under the iormer eqn stitutiou all poer- notgiven to tho Kxeeutive , aud, J udiejal. .depart-I inenta remainetl with; tie Legisla ture Under this one, the people, leel that inev nave ao cn i to cis jumi iiuirin . i ino.-v..o jeidotis of theirpower, and -taught by experience to avoid usurpation, withhold from all the departments tion. QutTi. Is .any express power any where given to the Iegislature to to rexfrh-t a Convention if th peo 1 lu. The; --complete ;ml absolute j county finances, is to subvert this great principle and Pacrifico' Svhat has already been gained. 14. The abolition of theMistino tion between actions at daw and suits in equity is a great economic measure in a modest guize. A pre tence for greater cast, and higher fees is avoided : one complete set of ' officers struck out of existence : the risk of loss by a failure to select the j proper court obviated, and thesuitor' ""simssofu county is thus trans is always sure,of a judgment estnb-(ac'te(, as il Were, imperceptibly, !,.,.. ... ... j usinur. ju reineuy w iieiner nis j actions is the greatest .uaft L'iia .1 the j law has evergiven thest.iu rainst i fc . . ' the ignorance or carekssiss of the I lnir l nmfUimnci XTr. mn j , . . . e . it How be thrown out of court because j his counsel has failed to distinguish ; between trover and cutmmpzit. The j form of action is now immaterial : and the suitor will obtain judgment upon the cause of action set forth in his complaint whether it be that for which hu asks or not. Under this system the courts administer justice both law and equity without regard to form but substantially and fully. 1(5. The abolition of feijjned is- dculated to bring the law ompass of ordinary md the comprehension and remove the occa- I sion for charging fees for unnecessa ry and trivial services upon the part of the legal profession. John Doe and Richard Iloe, Esqrs , were simply charms with which to con- (jure ducats Irom the pockets ol the people a sort of duplicate divinity whose worship, like that of Diana, was profitable to the "craft." 17. The election of judges directly by the people instead of indirectly by the Legislature. Poor Rich ard was of the notion that one who wanted a thing done and well done he had bettor do it himself. The Solons of to-day, however, hold to the doctrine that if the people want anything done thev should send one of them to do jt. If the "rwfe," as Mr, Mcre- head calls the people, k'tow enough to select some one to pick out a judge for them, why are they not able to pick out theijudge at first hand themselves. There isone view of this question which is y.ery sug gestive, viz: It is much 'easier to corrupt a few than many, and po litical jobbery and legislative log rolling are politer names for bribery. The best way to gather the will of the people is to let them express it themselves and not take it after it has filtered through the loose con sciences of pot-house representative politicians. 18. In the election of Justices of the Peace the ordinary principle of law and business is applied, which says that a jnan's neighbors -know his character better than strangers. As all aigns fail in a dry time, so we are now told that this principle heremeets with an exception. The people are amply good enough and fully capable to elect legislators, Congressmen, Governors and other important officers, but the man who is to t ry the neighborhood squabbles and keep the peace oailrfetle Itidge must be created only by the acco lade of a con3ecratetLhand ! Only a legislator is capable of begetting a worthy "Squire" with projer cer emony ! The appointive .system-; election by the Legislature or any similar method of supplying magistrates ready-made to a -people not. fit to choose ' Air themselves, lias threo advantages which should not be overlooked. - "7f ; 1. It affords a magnificent oppor tunity for corrupt ' electioneering. Many a man who ; could not be bought' with money straightout would .sell; hi3, vote and influence readily enough for the: title of "Squire'? and a chance 'to put his finger Juto . ,r county , . affairs, for .white nien (have sought arid obtai li fe'! the place just to avoid -.work: Ori i p Joh Woak execute! at fchort no tice and in a style unsurpassed by any similar establishment in theState. KATES OF ADVKUTISIN'O. , One sqnarc; one time, - 5 ' - $1 (hi " two time, . l .vi V" ' threo times, . 2 UO . i Contract advertisenn-nts taken at proportionately low rates. ' ; ' the public roatlsbut they were very cheap men. ' ' 2. It is a capital engine for defeat' ing the will of tho people and pre venting the "scrubs' from getting the big-head. Uy it an obnoxious administration niay be forced on a county and the people taught that self-government is only u fiwdUh fancy or "sciolists" and "rarpvt-." baggers " ! II. It has the same kind of cuoji nr that characterizes a Convention as compared with amendment by legislative action. Any one' who cannot see how much cheaper It is to pay a Legislature live dollars per . diem each to select justices Instead of electing them in the several townships themselves must be very near a fool or else not understand the mode of figuring it ouf 1 10. The establishment of Courts of Probate enables thecltlzens of the various counties to transact the bus iness of administrations, guardian ships, A:c., without tlelay and at their own convenience, instead of crowding it all into tlie terms of a County Court. One-half the legal without fuss or parade and usually without a lawyer, which is bad for the profession but convenient for the people. -0. A definite ratio between the imll-tax and the tax upon property seems so just, reasonable and' iuvcs sary a safeguard that: we hesitate to believe that it has not always ex isted in our law. 21. That properly should be taxed uniformly according to ils value seems too plain a proportion to -have escaped the wisdom of Ihe an cients. 22. Three-Tou it hs of tlie poll-tax and all fines and penalties are sa cretlly devoted to the support of public schools. 2:1. The (Jencral Assembly hns power to exempt three hmnlred dollars in value from taxation. It is not the policy of the Constitution to "take from him that hath not even that which he hath," nor -permit others to do it. Hence the lib eral exemptions from taxation and rale under execution. 21. Universal suffrage is the most remarkable feature of the Constitu-' tion when we consider the circum stances of ils adoption. At a time when passion and prejudice were at fever heat ; when ridicule, ubuse and ostracism awaited every one who dared advocate its adoption; when wholesale and ruthless pro scription was the order of tho day ; at this time North Carolina adopted a Constitution imbued with the spirit of Christian charity and true American democracy, proscribing no one, debarring no one from any right or privilege, but welcoming all alike to the arena of self-government! 25. Under the old Constitution 'a . belief in the Christian religion" was an essential qualification for holding office. Under this,' only a "belief in the existenceof Almighty God" is required. Uy this change, for the first time; the Jews are put on an equal footing with other citi zens of the State. The danger to be feared from stringent religious tests is seen in tho fact that the present legiBlature, despite the constitution al guarantees of religious liberty, expelled a duly elected member be cause his religious Views disagreed with those of the majority, as they could not well help doing if ho had any at all. It is said that "those who have least religion are the most bigoted," which is well exempli fied by the most profligate and god less of Legislatures making itself notorious as the most reckless of religious persecutors. 26. The administration of the . county finances; the conduct of its police and the control of its jienal and charitable institutions bv Com missionersi elected j by the people and having no judicial power, was a great step in self-government ami a; death-blow to tho means by which counties had been hitherto managed for personal and partisan purposes.' ! 27. The township system gives to tho people the control of all their, domestic affairs, and when prpperly ad ministered secures the best known system of schools, roads, .vc. It Is also the great educator, the training school in that self-governing arid capacity which is the spirit great safeguard of our liberty, mtcllb ' 1 !!.. 'I ' ' "' geoce an u p roeri ty. ; 28. A general and uniform system of public schools free of tuition to all the people of the Stale, is a new tjiiug in the - Constitution jof the Stated an me wh Ich t he act call! nt
The Era (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
July 22, 1875, edition 1
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