Newspapers / The Era (Raleigh, N.C.) / Nov. 4, 1875, edition 1 / Page 2
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t AT-'H E TR, A . OlllcUtl Orgma f h United Settle. W. M. lUtOWK, Manager. HALIC1GH, IM. Ci THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 4. The Work of the Convention, The Secretary of the Convention, Mr. Johnstone Jones, by order of that body, has Issued in a pamph-i.-r, the Amendments adopted, uiikh, if ratified by the pe ople, are to income parts of the Constitution. We have no hesitation In saying Elfxtiox. At nnoing of !! j i, at they re a- disgraceful to the Board of Dillon? of the IUIelgh and Gaston Railroad, held in 111- igh on Friday evening, 29li ult., Mrj. Jno. C. Winder was elected .SaiKTinteDdentin place ofCapt. A. B. Andrews, resigned. MhJ. Win der is a gentleman ol large railroad experience and his selection will give general satisfaction. , We shall print, after awhile, the forcibly written protest offered by the Hepublican delegates in the Cjnvention and which the Demo cratic majority, Justly fearful of having their acts canvassed by their opponents, refused to allow to be ontnrftl anon the iournal. Those who were present will not soon for get the trickery of Jarvis and Han som to outrage, as the bogtu concern outraged, under their lead and rul ings, section 10, article 2, of the Constitution. We would advise the Repub licans of the State to carefully read and weigh well the amendments proposed to the Constitution by the late Convention. Let it notbesaid when the campaign opens that any considerable portion of our people are ignorant of the issues at stake. Especially should the ordinances bearing upon the subject of depriv ing the people of electing their pub lic servants be well looked into. In some instances they are so shrewdly drawn as to deceive many of ordi nary intelligence. Let Republicans study well the questions before them and vote accordingly. It only needs that we should be watchful in order to give the revolutionists such a defeat as to render them powerless for harm in years to come. Glorious Jiews! On Tuesday last elections were held in Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Minne sota, Maryland, Virginia and some other States. The eyes of the nation were es pecially directed to the great States of Massachusetts, New York, Penn sylvania, in view of the fact that they are now under the control of the Democratic party, and their de cision in the present contest would virtually settle the question as to which party shall control the coun try for the next Presidential term. From all the indications we can gather from the meagre and partial returns furnished by the Associated Press disoatchts up to the hour of j intelligence of the Democratic ma Ij irity of the Convention, as the trickery displayed in securing the organization is to it moral charac ter. Thee Amendments are either frivolous, hurtful, or unintelligible. The spirit of legerdemain which turned a weak-minded Republican into a staunch "Democrat" by making him President, and which secured two permanent members by postponing investigation into the fraudulent character of their certi ficates, seems to have pervaded their whole deliberations. Every thing was accomplished by finesse. Nightly caucuses were held in which the work of the day following was resolved on, and the programme of the secret conclave dictated by the leaders was invariably carried out by their well-drilled followers. The Superior Courts are to be su perseded by other inferior courts," to be elected by the Legislature which was the well known purpose cf the leaders, but the language employed is so vague that a "Democratic" Legislature will con strue it in one way, and a Republi- V . . ft 9 A- - can legislature in mo opposite. The former would elect the Judges and give them a jurisdiction which would elbow the circuit judges out of business The next Legislature, if it should be Republican, would be warranted by the clause in meaning of this clause ; but there can be no controversy in regard to the next section, which wa design ed to reculafe legislative Amend ments. ..It Is as follows : "Sic. 2. No part of the Constitu tion of this State shall be altered unless a bill to alter the fame shall have ben agreed to by three fifths of each House or tne uenerai As sembly." " The remaining part of the section merely provides for submitting the now submitted to the people as a whole, (the controlling element having voted down amendments proposing to submit each amend ment to the people, to be voted on separately) and the people are there fore j asked to i swallow the, whole pill; sweet and bitter .together. -But upon examination, it must appear evident to the masses, that the bit ter contained in this pill far exceeds the sweet, and we predict- for it the rebuke-at the hands of the people, that its artfully conceived attempt to rob the people of their liberties legislatiue proposition to the pop- (justly merits at their hands, abolishing the " inferior courts," or in circumscribing their jurisdiction, or in ordering an election by the people. This may be called the Greek horse, which they propose to lend into the popular Ilion freight ed with enemies, but the people will regard it as but a sorry jade, and reject the gift. The ordinance to amend Article seven, may be styled the " sweep ing clause." That article fills two octavo pages of the Constitution, and yet this " Amendment," pro poses to only inree oi us mineen BWllons these rigl It is altogether so extraordinary Dle to the i that we copy it entire, as follows: " The General Assembly shall have full power by statute to modify, change, or abrogate any and all of the prorUions of this Article, andsub- siitute others in their place, except ular vote. But the above extract is conclusive against anything a Con vention may do, until it goes through the legislative crucible. . A Convention may work two months in preparing Amendments, anq bft all ratified by the " ml r - nnnlp tin t thp-i will amount to I tff nnihin.' until the Legislature shall " rko them ud. under this second ' clause, and adopt them by a three- fifths vote, and then secure another ratification bv the people. Was such absurdity ever enacted by a deliberative body before? It will be seen, alo, that on'y one legisla tive approval of the Amendment Is required; while the Constitution as it now stands reouires two. This facility of making alterations is in keeping with the Sweeping clause, which confers upon the Legislature the whole power of amending Ar ticle Seven. The work of the Convention, taken as a whole, is stamped with the character of imbecility. It is an abortive attempt to usurp the dearest rights of the people, and will be repudiated by an over whelming popular vote. The Dem ocratic masses will themselves be made thoroughly ashamed of it, whtn they come to examine It; and In our judgment the people will decide to vote the whole thing down, and thereby preserve their liberties as guarantied to them by the..,present Constitution. And whenever in their judgment the Constitution needs amendment, they will make it by legislative enactment, as they have heretofore made amendments by this mode, and thereby vote on each proposed amendment separately. This attempt to force the amend ments as a whole indicates that some of them at least are distaste ful to the people, and foreshadows suspicion as to some covert object. It will also be observed that by leaving the matters under the con trol of the General Assembly, that is, the courts, elections, &c, that there is no fixed or stable system established, but such a system is li able to be changed by every Leg islature. In our judgment these are matters that should be definite ly fixed and settled in the organic law of the State. Our observation is, that the people want a fixed and stable government founded upon principles of exact justice to all citizens. It is evidently an exhibition of weakness in the party controlling the Convention in not declaring their real purposes in the proposed amendments, but imposing that re sponsibility upon the General As sembly. Yet this dodge is easily seen through, if we admit the fact that they confidently rely on hav ing or controlling the next Legisla ture. That by this dodge they can we predict mat it win De rejected avoid disclosing their purposes to by the largest majority ever cast in the people in the next campaign, - " - l l i l : a. l i Vm.K pi-AMna j uuu in us uv couuwiiiuK uieir real purposes curry me amenuiuems 10- i gemer wun me xjegisiaiure. ; xney will then have shorn the people of their liberties, and the Legislature can then effectually carry out their nefarious plans and purposes. The selves to the dangers incident to such a precedent, and un:e upon them to vote down the new Consti tution, whenitissubmltted to them for ratification f;? v 6. That w recommend fo the, Re publican party ofV Nash county the propriety of holding a! Republican mass meeting at the Court-house in Nashville after the Convention at Raleigh shall have adjourned ; arid advise the fourth Saturday in No vember, the 27th day, for the meet ing, and that the County Executive Committee have the same made known. 7. That the proceedings be fur nished the Raleigh Era and Rocky Mount Mail, with the request that they publish them. Upon the unanimous adoption of the foregoing preamble and resolu tions, it .was upon motion of Mr. Robbin3, that the Convention ad journed. W. P. WALKER, Ch'n. W. H. Robbins, Sec'y. The late Convention and the Legislature. To the Editor of the Era : I n j i rm. a Ja w km v iti mm m m. a. km mj uii Lt? 1 . . . . . brought to the conclusion that th'e P.0.'"'' r.tfu .. 1 ...,,... tk w ct u v oit:ai uwav men nu- .i in v a ( n. ill r j r iisiiiwk.iiiiwi " M. trolling It, deemed the competent to exercise or members of it in the late Con wm t m A-k.- , i,a rirrhra ! -".ao iivjv 111c m,M aim ujmiusiuuiio iih,rtiP which thfiv nowpninv. U1 luc uw.ywBuc K- , h oq4,,mpH th rd. Vl ujciuucis ui it xu iuu law vuu- wipe it out excepting eanmlny tt vention enouKh to convince any of its thirteen sections. anl 00 5f"he pe L!!??. ?nsPir ?S powers 01 the peo- General Assembly and propose to empower mat ooay to say to what extent the people shall exercise these liberties. For instance, look at their action in placing the whole judicial system of the State under the absolute con trol of the General Assembly. Un- against the liberties of the people? We respectfully ask the people to consider well these matters, and by their judgment at the ballot-box teach these conspirators a lesson that is very much needed at this time. I will srive you some more obser- going to press, we can state that but little doubt is entertained that these great Commonwealths havexcheded into the Jlepublican line and that the Democratic jarty of the country is totally disrupted. We have only time to congratulate the Republi cans of North . Carolina ou these glorious results. In our next we will enter more into detail. Nov. 1st, 1875. OBSERVER. ; sections seven, nine, and thirteen." der lhe several amendments propos- vations 011 this Certainly no legislative body in ed on this subject, it will be Been Amprica was ever invested with that the Legislature is empowered to America was eer invested wun create manVj and sueh courts such powers as are here conferred. 4. inferior to the Supreme Court." The Constitution of England is said as they may choose, to prescribe the j lo be unwritten. It is made up of manner by which the judges or immpmnril o.mtoms. of not of Par- presiding officers and clerks of these llament, and of judicial decisions. their terms of office at not exceed- Parliament has the power, at any ins eight years. it To Work. Thre is nothing like taking time by the forelock" in jolitics as well as in the, ordinary transac tions of life. It cannot be success fully controverted, that the party which, in a political canvass, first enters the field with its forces regu larly and properly disciplined, and goes to work on the defensive, is moat apt to win. the race. It will not do to allow the Republican forces in the State to remain in masterly inactivity. There is a great deal to do, and it cannot be entered into too soon. Our enemies for the most part are men who not only fully understand the various questions now before the? people, but are keenly alive to all the tricks peculiar to politicians. The Repub licans of the State need Instruction. For the most part they are laboring men who have no time to devote to studying the issues at stake. They are compelled to rely upon the leaders of their party for such information as will enable them to vote Intelligently upon the great questions naturally expected to arise in the next campaign. The leaders of the Republican party, therefore, should at once be stir themselves in their respective counties and proceed to lay before the masses of the people proper in formation of- the situation. The experience of the past campaign Is sufficient to convince us, that we can not only carry North Carolina for the National and State tickets, but that we can, by early commenc ing the campaign, secure a good working majority in the General Assembly. A careful investigation of the vote In the several Senatorial districts as given at the late election will show that with a little cxer ton In certain quarters, even the higher branch of the Legislature cm be secured, and by . repairing some of the oversights in several of the counties, the lower branch Is almost certain within our reach. "We say, then, let no time be lost. The prize is great, but it is within easy reach. Let the lending Re publicans all over the State put their shoulders to the wheel with a will, and North Carolina will be redeemea In every particular. time, to alter the Constitution ; and Blackstone says that Parliament can do anything, unless It be to raise the dead. But in America we have no King, Lords and Com mons, invested with these imperial powers. Ours is a government based on a fundamental constitu Again, in the aet purporting to re duce the number of the present ju dicial districts to nine, with power to either increase or diminish this number, it will be observed that the Legislature is empowered to virtually abolish the present system of Superior Courts and substitute "courts inferior to the Supreme Court" therefor, and thereby defeat Republican Meeting- in Nash County. A portion of the people of Nash county met in 'Convention, at the Court-house in Nashville, on the 9th of October, 1875, to consider the action of the Convention now as sembled at the Capitol, in Raleigh. wnereupon, vv. '. waiter was called to the chair and W. H. Rob bins was requested to act as Secre tary. On motion, a committee of one from each township in the county was appointed to draft a preamble and resolutions expressive of the Remarks of Mr. J. O. W ilcox, of Ashe, in resigning as a member of the Committee on Privileges and Elections, in Convention, Oct. 11th, 1875. Mb. President: I arise this morning lo a personal privilege, and the question I shall raise is one rarely brought up, but my only ex cuse for so doing is the fact, that the cause from which arises this question is, fortunately for the prin ciples of a free government, but sel dom known. I am, Sir, (as is well known by the delegates upon this floor) a member of the Committee on Privileges and Elections, and in that committee I have had an op portunity of taking a bird's eye view of the transactions of the ma jority of that committee, which has succeeded in retaining in tnis oody two gentlemen who have no more right to sit as members here than a man from New York or from the North Pole, and it is in defense of myself and the members compos ing the minority of that committee thatl ask your attention for a short time this morning. Now, Mr. President, what are the facts in this case. 1 say facts, he cause in these premises we can only deal with facts. On the l9t Thurs day in August, an election was held in Robeson county for the purpose of choosing- delegates to represent the people of said county in the Constitutional Convention which was to convene in the city o Raleigh, on the 6th day of Septem ber, 1875. It appears from the records of the poli-hoiders in the various town ships of said county, as returned to the commissioners of the same that Dr. R. M. Norment and Neil McNeill, the contestants, received a majority of all the votes cast a said election, viz: Dr. R. M. Norment received 1774 votes. Neill McNeill received 1756 votes The incumbents received as fol lows: Sinclair received 1737 votes. McEachin 44 1718 Showing lor the above named contestants, R. M. Norment and Neill McNeill, a maioritv of 37 votes over the incumbents, there by evincing to the whole people o; North Carolina that Norment and McNeill were the chosen represen tatives of the people of Robeson county. Now, Sir, on the day set apart by the act calling the Conven tion, Sinclair and McEachin ap peared before his Honor Judge Set tie, presenting the Sheriff's certifi cate of election, and took the oath prescribed. The contestants, Norment and McNeill, appearing and protesting against the incumbents' rights to seats on this floor, presenting at the same time a certificate from the Register of Deeds, certifying that they, the contestants, received a sense of the meeting, and nendiner tion, which cannot be altered rrom tne people 01 me election 01 ineae tneir deliberation the meeting was v,.. 1 n loaves, xnuaineoniv luuo-es nro- aarirpsspri nv .k .i. sham anr nt. 1. jeariujwi.ujrn ics.omnvo uwy. - , f. ,ttff , t0 V.j nf I, . r maioritv of the votes cast, assertinar Thisso-calledAmendmentisastart- IfiTZZ wlth time that the incum- ling innovation upon American in- nitpi v defined, are the iudtres of thp rpml nml rlnntPfi bents received their certificates of stitutions. If a Legislature, elect ed by a bare majority of the people or by a minority of the people, through the machinery of a gerry mander, such as now exists, or by a fraudulent count of votes, can make one part of a Constitution, why not the whole ? The object of this sweeping clause" is to abolish the Supreme Court. It is for the Leg- Whereas, All power is vested election oy . a irauduient act, und islature to sav whether they will in and derived from thp nennlp. anrt an assumption oi arbitrary power confide the election of anv of the can onlv hp px-pi-pishi! iwitimMteiv hy the commissioners other judges to the people or not. through delegates chosen by the In this, that the said commission It will also be observed that the will of the majority ; and whereas, ers did without authority, throw convention proposes 10 empower tne said Convention now holdin&r I out in iiitj vuira ui iour lownsmps, the Legislature to abolish the pro- daily 'sessions reflects the will of under the pretext that the poll- . . - I ... . I . it I 1 1 4. . A A At.- vision in tne present constitution the minoritv. anti in onnoifinn oooks nau not ueen returned to tne - i mi w m n v V- v v I - for the election of county and to the will of the maioritv of the Register of Deeds in due time. township officers, and place the con- voters of North Carolina as exnress- Now, Mr. President, a contested trol of the election of all these offi- ed through the ballot-hox- nn thp seat in deliberative bodies is of - . 1 a rmm m . I . I A. 1 1 a . a cers, inciuuing snerin, under the oth day of August, 1875: and, where- irequeni occurrence, wnicn contests rtrPAPnt. svstprn nf fnnntv envprn- mpnta It at the same time authnri- absolute control of the Legislature, as, such proceedings are in conflict are promptly and legally settled by menu, it at ti e same time autnon- And a8an eviaerice that the Con- with the fundamental principles of an adjudication of the matter in j-cu lucigiaiuiuiciuotiuauiureouj venuoii, or rawer tne party con- iree government, revolutionary in committee, wun tne co-operation other form of government in its trolling it, was opposed to the elec- spirit, and subversive of the rights place. It may be the old county tion of thess officers by the people, and liberties of a free people ; and, judge of the eligibility of its own court svstrm or a wvpmmpni mm. tne votvd down au araendment whereas, it is shown that forty-one members. And in order that the court ssitm, or a government com- offered to that effect and intent. Republicans and thirty-seven Dem- will of a sovereign people maybe Y f"u"" vi, vkj xnis again is jeit wun tne iegisia- ocrats are properlv accredited to respected, it is tne duty oi every exclusion of other classes, or a gov- ture to say whether the people shall seats in the Constitutional Conven- deliberative body to act promptly exercise tnese privileges or not. tion, wnust lorty-two, composing ana impartially in tne premises l hese are oniy a part oi the rights I the one hundred and twenty dele- NNow, oir, tne minority ot your ana liberties oi tne people proposed gates, holding informal certifi- committee, or l as a solitary mem to be delegated to the General As- cates, are likewise seated: and, ber of that committee, cannot longer pembly by the controlling element whereas, the means by which the sit idly by and submit to a gross in the Convention. And we might Convention was organized are with- injustice done to a sovereign people add, controlling tnrougn fraud, in out precedent in the historv of le- without uttering a denunciation retaining two men in seats who gislative bodies, contrary to parfla- and offering a solemn protest in be were illegally and corruptly return- meutary rule and usage, together half of the injured contestants and ed from the county of Robeson, with the act of refusing to admit to their outraged constituents. and upon which the whole action seats in the Convention two legally The minority of your committee oi me convention turned. eiectea delegates irom the county of nave not been actuated by any par v. v v- . . . j w. not naturally lead to inouire whv ca iv-constituted bmlv: thprefn. Carolina will for one moment listen the centralization of all tnese pow- Jiesolved. 1. That we deprecate to the idea or incorporating this legislature r wny tase ana aenouuee such usurpation and despotic principle in the State Con- "ieiu 'fum ine people ana deposit exercise oi power, as tending to " IT nOTTI in Ida I aon.M I I a 1 n,mirr K n 1 I, X" . I i f "' ucunai vssciiiuiv wwuuc inc win ui me ueopie OI T 1 ...I a. ..II . ... . . l.i- e . . jjy wimi uutnoritv uin dpipcmrpa tnisaLSte. ana tmiiP'hfc with thppu r... . i r .t . i it. - ... " . n . .7 " . o " v. , i3uv mo vouveuuun cappeu me assume mis responsibility ? So far spirit of 1861rhavinz its end in fear climax of absurdity in its attempt as we are informed the people had ml results, unless timely arrested to remodel the Article reirardintr "OI.De?n. consunea as to this step, oy tne popular will. a j mi a a. . I Could it De done under the nlea that I 2. That such a stuoendons fraud 7 ZT T.T k n"1 the rople have so much confidence was never before attempted to be uuu wvuwuui miciuci uuf i m me iegiaiaturer That they forced upon a iree ana enlightened soions intended to require a popular nave repreaenteu ineir interests so people. ratification of a two-thirds vote of honestly and faithfully? Upon 3. That the narrow-contracted h T;ia. i these questions our information is partisan prejudice shown by the XT " '"r I. , 10 tne effect that the People have Democratic party in refusing to re Convention, or whether the popular very little confidence in the General lie ve W. W. Holden of his disabili ratification is only necessary when Assembly and regard them as hav- ties, whilst it has relieved numbers the proposition to call a Convention I !n& Deen weighed and found want- of its own party guilty of felonious eminent of one man. In France, it i said that under the monarchy, a man could not build a mill, or open a hotel without first obtaining the consent of the government, in Paris. The government of North Carolina, if this Amendment be adopted, will have authority to set up this French system for the control of our local affairs. We cannot De is made by a simple majority. The language is as follows : "BXC. I. No Convention of the people of this State shall ever be called by tne uenerai Assembly, unless by a concurrence of twb thlrds of all the members of each House of the General Assembly, ex- ! cept the proposition, Convention or No Conveution, be first submitted to the qualifier voters of the whole conclusions, but have been forced to them by facts and figures. I leave to the majority of that com mittee and to the delegates on the other side of this house, whether or not they have been shaken in meir opinions by political preju dices, or whether their action has been based on law and justice. I have only this to say, that if their idea of law and justice is such as they have indicated in this case, I ask an omnipotent God to save the American people. In the hrst piace, Mr. President. from ail the evidence brought be fore your committee it settles the lact, that the contestants in this case were the recipients of a ma jority of all the votes cast by the . .iil.kB(nnili rt nrtlfH cmninprni wiiuu DBicutuui cal prejudice and the fair fame of North Carolina is blackened in the eyes of the American people. Now, Sir, this Convention has been in session for thirty-five days, and yet, to day, the Robeson coun ty case is to all appearances as far from a legitimate adjudication as when your committee first met In the other end of the capitol. Now, Sir, I ask who is to blame Is it the Honorable Justice of the Supreme Court, who first admitted the incumbents to their seats in the organization of this body ? Are the commissioners of Robe son county the only actors in this scene, upon whose shoulders any censure can be cast? Or will the contestant, R. M. Norment and Neill McNeill, hold the majority of this house responsible for this out rageous act against civil libeity ? Now, Mr. President, in answer to the first question, I gladly admit that his Honor Judge Settle, in the decision which he gave upon the Robeson case, whilst it rendered powerless the party with Which he affiliates, (yet true to the exalted judicial body of which he is so prominent a member,) rose above political feuds, personal and politi cal prejudices and gave a decision that became him as a learned Judge and an honest man, which decision endears him to the hearts of his party as a member and to North Carolina as a son. Then, Sir, no blame can be attached to him. . Then, Sir, I repeat who is to blame ? If I understand the duties of the board of commissioners, it is simply a ministerial duty. That they are to compare and add up the votes as certified to by the judges of election, and when this is done their duty and authorityends. But, Sir, this board have arrogated tothein selves more than this, they have taken upon themselves judicial au thority, by refusing to allow the votes of four townships to be count ed, thereby changing the whole fea ture of the election in Robeson county and the political complex ion of this entire body, regardless of all law. This? iir-t of the commissioners of Robeson county is a palpable fraud nnon this bodv and upon North Carolina. Tint. Mr. President, that fraud the peopled They admired its sim plicity and were attached to I U im memorial customs and usages. With regret it was abandoned and fearful forebodings were entertained of the practical working of the new ami untried system. Our ptopie, mim. ally slow to move and averse i.h sudden changes, looked with m..- picion and doubt upon the, to them, untried experiment. From exj. rience and observation they have become enured and attached to U.h present order of things, uiid inm will not willingly abandon it. In the ilrnt place, by this systt m, Uh rights of the people a iuUi reel iy re cognized in the selection of those officers both county and township from among themselves in cam and every neighborhood, who are to exercise a general supervision and control of the penal and char itable institutions, schools, road-, bridges, levying of taxes and fi nances of the county" and town ships therein included. This is an important trust; and comes directly home to every man, woman anil child. The assessment and levyip of taxes is oue of the highest func tions of government. The proj.ir regulation and control of the com mon schools 4s of paramount im portance to all our people. Upon these schools, as scanty as are the means used therein, iu our impov erished condition, nine-tenths uf our citizens are solely dependent. Without them, ignorance, super stition and vice would universal ly prevail. As the Constitution nuV stands the people upon whom Un burdens of taxation must fall have the selection, among their neigh bors and friends, of those agents who are to collect the taxes and dis burse the money. The whole ma chinery of government is of and with them in their midst open to everyday inspection simple in its modus operandi economical, im partial and just. Direct responsi bility by official authorities is es sential to good government, and absolutely indispensable to economy and fair dealing. This trust is so recognized by our county officers, elected by and for the people, ami accountable for their stewardship every two years to the true an I only sovereigns of the land. This liht of selection, in all matteis apper taining to theirimmediate and loc 1 and direct and interest, and direct and repeated . ,,.,1 rrniinthi litv. is ilesprvedlv imm - was not one irom meu uu 4cui . could be taken. No, Sir, it Is true uu suia uic " K'-""- that the practical result of this H- ei our peopio. ou u i whm Rnhpunn romniis- school system, and as the pub ic sioners was to place two illegiti- funds increase, and better reguia .o mnmh.ra iinnn this floor. Kut. tions as to details are provided, tin- Sir, it was expected by the whole present method will gain favor in people of this State, as well as the public opinion. It gives the con people of Robeson, that a speedy investigation of the whole matter would be had by your committee and the question settled forever, whether or not county commission ers have the right to throw out as many townshipsasthey may choose trol of the school money to those who pay it, without the interval tion of salaried officers or distasteful men who may know or care hut little for the wants of others. Tin people pay it and the people dis burse it. Then, Sir, why change V muhnnf iour for.f . innthpr vvfirds i)n what principle oi common nun without any justification whatever, esty or just reasoning can you look except to gratify party ends and po- for better results from the hands ol iifii roinriir. those who meet in these halls? otiuii nf ihU not on Whv crive a set of politicians assem- . . . -a 111 the part of the board is more still, bled in Raleigh the right to regulate, It has resulted in the complete an- as whim or caprice may dictate, nihiintinn r.f thp Constitution of these dearest interestsof the people? 1 .. . . . . ... North Carolina. To place the ar- win mey mase a oeuer uisposmo i gument of the case in a plainer of the public funds than the haul liirht. I assert that an illegal body fisted yeomanry of the la-id from of five men acting as county officers whom these funds are extorted have, by an unheard of arbitration mere any advantage in an ever r - of power, thwarted the sovereign furring change ot method, as win will ot au enure orate, ana mar, iucvuau ui num xm- n-. -.,,. too, in the face of a body of august meeuus m uie ouiounm- m mi. (jauiiui . riuw iiiaov iriM.iiiei s o i delecrates whose powers are unlimit ed so far as the investigation of right and wrong is concerned. But, Mr. President, have they made anv investigations to settle this questionable fact ? I am sorry to answer no ; but such is the fact that for thirty days the minority of your committee have been pleading for justice ; pleading only for a fair and honest investigation as tome rights of the incumbents to retain their seats. But. Sir, our pleadings have been unheeded and in vain : the voice of I Roheson coiintv and the will of its snvprpio-na havA hppn utter v and presumption mat. irom the laic m 1-" " - i:. ntnl tr i! .nml Pll Qr hu ia Una ennn lillllOUM L'HrrVIl Ml UHf. MM I (111 tl'lall uioi cjai vau mic aiiivj opuu i o w i thanwiaa haacrl iinnn im(rinarir I BiaiUS IS. iur Hll lime. UAeu . i" technical law. not deceived, lor more startling re And. to-day, Mr. President, it is oiutions have occurred, as the pen ...:innfi.T nrritran i.tnn tho fonoo nr me rise un in ri yfu.eoos inn truaiio'i KZ v AvAvJil 11 V TW A IbkUU u ivu uiiv c v o v i . - r o - the gentlemen on the other side of this house that the Kobeson county vou since the war of the eminent fitness of the General AseiiiWy i legulate und control, with ,di.-ere-tion and sound judgment, the in ternal polity and domestic relation- of families and neighborhood-? Are the authors of the Lmdioni and Tenant " act of the last liei lature that infamous bill of abom inations, passed in utter contempt of the rights and properly of the poor people fit custodians of tin- educational necessities of the poor people? Why entrust the li"gis!;i- ture with all power f Is it on Use case has fallen asleep in the arms of the gentleman from Chatham and his colleagues, and will there re main until such time when the out rnorpfl rpnnlpnf "PCnrth Carolina, will visit nnmi thpm a ravptp hut. i nst or impeach their honesty. Tin " r- . J I l . . . . - .1. rPtrihntlnn. Now. Sir. taking this I people tne masses Of me people- view of the case, and believing that are honest and true, jealous ot ineir and eject their tyrants and oppres sors irom power. This, hir, is tne people's government. This mag nificent fabric was reared by ail for them, and in undertaking to wrest from them their rights, yon necessarily distrust their judgment have done my duty and my whole duty m the matter, I ask that this Convention accept my resignation from that committee, upon which motion I call for the ayes and noes. Remarks of Hon. O. H. Oock- ery, of Richmond, on the Or dinance to amend Article VII of the Constitution (Municipal Corporations), in the Cousti- Township system, rights and distrustful of their rulers. Plain, artless and simple, they yield obedience to reasonable exact ion, but repel with scorn and indigna tion any infringement ol their rights or imputation of dishonest motiveorwantofjudgment in their own domesticaud pecuniary anairs. Self-government is the basis of so ciety, as is self-dependence the hai of common manhood. This prin ciple of justice is ensured under our which is an-o- tiitional Convention, Oct. 8th, iurely founded upon popular lights 1875. uie oniy sale and lasting barn oi -,r pnmpv-ni . t-k noeoi,n good government. In the name ol Mr. President: 1 he passage of Uhn r.i t :.t .hi. " eXOPli Pnt. ami virrnfrt.iiifti ore- it. ?Z?XSX& rerring the" plainnS. .Wnpiil-My and cheapness of the present system to tne usual routine of red tape lor death-knell of North Carolina. ine with the policy ofthedomi nant party on this floor, as enunci- ing. crimes, extending even to the Rob- Upon l he Whole, the Convention eson outlaws, is unnaralieled in sovereigns of Rnhpson haa dono nothing for the relief of wickedness and partiality. there not being any proof of illegal the people, and even disappointed 4. That the ordinance passed re- votes having been siven. thpv are many tnat were friendly to its call, ducincr the Sunreme Court to thrpp unaueatinnahlv pmitlprl ti t hr r Ana wnue they have proposed Judges, and vesting the appoint- seals as delegate some jew amendments that .the ment of certain judicial officers in liut, Sir. by an arbitrary act of people fyor (which have thrown in by way of sweeten yet when we come to careful I v Biuer me mawer, we una that what ot her representation in the Federal cratic Executive Committee of nas been done is mainly In th In- Con?r. and Ipavp thp rptrnsnPYt KnrrH rrlino toinnrr ihom tr holrl State, at the next ireneral election, terestsof lawyers, at whose instance iverclause of the Hompstead to hp Rnhfsnn mnntv t. hrAni thp . i - I nv-ti-J I ... i . ... I , .... I - - in a manner to do prescribed by "t4U tu suoaerve wnose mieresis tne maae void at pleasure. win or a sovereign people is disre- jaw." vwuvbuhuii was onginaiiy conceiv- o. xnat in exercising our rights garded, the law trampled upon and Tnfplltnf mon rif (for uu lorwu uP"n ine people. as xreemen, we do appeal to the junice put to shame. " i -wBuupwcM jiujcuuuamis re pwpie ui mu oiate io arouse inem-1 i ne voice oi Kooeson county is ?s upon this floor, an arbitrary act ol been the Legislature, is an infraction of an unauthorized body in the county InirL the Federal Constitution, and If rat- of ltohHsnn. hapkprt hv a trfwram mm- I ified. will deurive North Cnrnlina from t.h f'hflirmqn nf tho Tbimi- -ted. darimt the .laSt canvass, and malitl nf tho nMV iH LinZ"LlntfSS "bmlt to this change they are gom-, "" """r'' ""y ""U ytc- and 1 Pnlpr tnv mnt n prnn nrote-l V m mm T WW mvw m-m m - - tne passage or mi onn- tution. This attack, however, is not open, bold and avowed ; but hid den, disguised and covert. The our pose to destroy our county govern ment is not directly declared, but the inevitable tendency is apparent and unmistakeable. The design the intent of this movement, is the revival of that effete system of County Courts, which the people have long since repudiated, nd will not again willingly embrace. Upon the Legislature is conferred the right to annul, modify or amend the 7th Article in the Constitution, with the exception of the 7th and 13th sections. This is the dodge by which the public mind i3 to be mis led into an endorsement of these piebald amendments. Under this i subterfuge direct responsibility a to be shunned. In this insidious manner the very mudsill pfpopular government -is'- to; h- sapped and undermined. Mr. President, there can be no satisfactory, practical, business-like reasons for this radical change in our county organizations. The old County Court system was at one time a favorite tribunal with against nance. Brsiroi Atkinson's Appoint MENT8. Appointments by Hish"l Atkinson for his Autumnal visita tion : Gaston, Nov 10th. Ridge way, Nov. 11th. Warrenton, Nov. 12th. Henderson, 2-th Sunday Trinity. Nov. 14th. WilliamsborpNov. 1 Sassafras Pork. Grant xx ov. lbtn. Goshen, Nov. 18th. Oxford, Nov. 19th. Louisburc. 2tUh 'Sundav afur Trinity, Nov. 21t. r ranklinton, Nov. 22d. Kittrells, Nov. 231. aftr A. 1 OU1. ville county, The Washingt iii iAole.tros t'"t Col. S. T. Cam w ha ?ol I b'" highly valuable fum known as the Spence Farm," ti Messrs. II u r fc Cutrell, of South Creek, lor "0 tales of cotton at l'2 cents, to be paid in five years, 100 bales each i year, amounting to $2,00o.
The Era (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Nov. 4, 1875, edition 1
2
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