EDITORIAL.
The Democrats have only one
State oHlcer, and this otlktr has
taken a sacred fund entrusted to
his care for the poor children. Sup
pose the entire State g'avcr.inicnt
w,w in Democratic hands, we would
proha'dy he robbed of every cent in
l he Treasury.
i)n?onc Democrat hoklinsaStale
ofliceaud he has taken several thou
sand dollars of the poor children's
money. Now, if the entire State
government had been in Demo
cratic hands, wo, might have ex
isted a general stealing ring.
. Stephen D. Pool, the Democratic
SuK.Tintenuent of Public Instruc
tion, Is reported to have stolen the
fund entrusted to his care for the
poor children of this State. Mr.
Pool dots not deny it, but still the
Xcics,Sailincl ami other Democratic
taiers are silent. Do you endorse
this robbery, gentlemen. Your si
lence looks like it. Let r.s hear
from you.
The daily News of yesterday con
tains a card from S. D. Pool, Super
intendent c f Public Instruction, in
which he t-tates that he has sent to
Hev. U. Sears, fieperal Agent of the
Penbody Fund, u full statement of
the management of the fund sine)
November, 1ST 4. Mr. Pool does not
deny the charge against him, but he
asks suspension of judgment until a
stitf-nient can be published.
The Kopublie.
This splendid Republican maga
zine for A pril is before us. 1 1 is one
of tin.' most valuable political text
books in the country. Price of
subscription only Addre.-s Re
public Publishing Company, Wash
ington, I). C
The laic Democratic Legislature
appropriated llMX) in bonds to
the University of North Carolina,
but not one cent for the poor chil
dren of the State. Do you hear
this, mechanics and working men?
Do vou want another Democratic
legislature? Will you still bend
the knee? -Determine at once to
take your stand with' the Republi
can party. Come early and make
"a bold light to free yourselves.
I n a Stew.
All shades of rebelldom are in a
stew in and around Raleigh. Sad
looking groups throng the streets.
How much was it? Did he have
the-handling of it ? Can't we make
it up and smooth it over? -What
will (ieneral Cox give towards the
pool f We are done for, but, as the
Nt if jj says, .t may admit ol a satis
factory solution, we will keep dark
for awhile. This is funny talk for
all the hoii(fj, wealth and intelli
gence, but so they spout it.
Kxamine the record of the great
men of the Republican party, and
their great deeds. If there was not
here and these a Democrat in cilice,
what a page for history would this
make ! Neir Ittgime.
There is here and there a Demo
crat in othcc that's a fact, and some
of them to make nice pages in his
tory. There is only one in office
under the State government 01
Norlh Caroliua and he has just add
ed a sweet piigc. ICallowcd a few
more 6uch State oftkers as the pres
ent Democratic Superintendent of
Public Instruction,, the top would
be stolen off the State house.
Look here! Everybody, some
body, busy-body, Piabody, and all.
What has become of the fund sent
down to North Carolina for the pur
ine of educating the children of
our poor citizens? It is said the
money was sent to the Superinten
dent of Public Instruction to divide
among the poor little children.
Have they received it ? It was sent
to a Democrat to divide out. He
wns'one of the leading men of the
Democratic party, ami as his crowd
claim all the honest, decency,
wealth and intelligence of the
State-, of course the little creatures'
money ought to be safe. But ru
mor says not. Where, oh, where is
the poor children's money? Tell
us, tell us.
The poor working men of North
Carolina are now struggling hard
to support themselves and families.
Money is scarce and work is hard
to get. A noble philanthropist left
a large sum to aid In educating the
indigent children of our State. This
money wa3 sent to Stephen D. Pool,
the Democratic Superintendent of
Public Instruction, to divide out.
Ruinor says that it has been stolen,
and that Mr. I'ool has stolen it. Mr.
Pool has not, as yet, denied it', and
the Democratic press are silent.
Wo demand totear from the Dem
ocratic Executive Committee on this
subject. J)id they not kuow of
PooPa .defalcation when they met
in this city a few weeks ago, and
did they not adviae him to decline
being a candidate Will Cox an
swer this? Or, do the Democratic
S ate Executive Committee propose
to cover up the alleged rascality of
their Superintendent?
Rev Mr. Jordan, a Baptist re
vivalist, is conducting a protracted
meeting of religion In StatesviUV
Why Hesitate.
Mechanics and working men of
North Carolina are you alive to
your interest ? Ar you still hesi
tating 18 io which side you will
throw your Uiilut ncein the coming
campaign ? I airy your minds back
ii few years and rt fleet what you
have U en ami what you now are.
Think of the terrible times you ex
perienced throughout the long and
bloody war brought on the country
by the Democratic party. Have
you forgotten that it was , rich
man's war, but a poor man's light ?
Have you forgotten how your sons
and brothels wt re dregged off to
fight for the rebel's property ? Have
you forgotten that even the sacred
fund set apart to school your little
ones was seized upon to carry on a
fight to save the rich man's slaves ?
Don't you know that whenever and
wherever the Di mocratic party are
in the ascendant the working men
are totally ignored both socially and
politically? These things are so,
fellow citizen, and it is well that
you realize them in time. Will the
working men of North Carolina
still continue to act as the tools of
tyrants and demagogues, or will
they assert their manhood and be
come independent? Now is your
time.
Rev. S. S. Ashley was the Super
intendent of Public Instruction
under Gov. Ilolden. Mr. Ashley
was abused and villified by the
so-called Democratic party because
he happened to be a Northern man.
But Mr. Ashley was honest. The
Peabody fund was distributed by
him fairly and squarely. Every
cent was accounted for.
Prof. Mclver, our lateSuperinten
dent, who was designated by all
kinds of hard names by the so call
ed w ealth and intelligence, distribu
ted the funds left in his hands hon
estly and faithfully.
But now ! comes a specimen of
chivalry, wealth and honesty.(bah),
who is charged with robbing the
poor orphan children to carry on a
paper devoted to puffing up the
"lost cause." These things are in
sufferable. What say the people?
If Boss Tweed with his $20,000,
000, stolen from the tax-pajers of
New York, had been a Republican,
he would to day have been serving
out his term at Sing Sing prison.
The Republican party of the coun
try would have demanded it.because
as a party, it is pledged to ferret
out and punish corruption. Tweed,
however, being a Democrat, still
goes unwhipped of justice, and it is
confidently asserted that he is even
now in New York city concealed by
his political friends. Even the
sheriff, who allowed him to escape,
holds his place without a reprimand
from Governor Tilden. This same
Tilden, be it remembered, is a can
didate for the Presidency, and for
fear of injuring his chances with
Tammany Hall, shielHs the most
accomplished villian of the age.
What a comment on the honesty
of the so-called Democratic party;
and, yet, such men expect the peo
ple to re-instate them to power.
When Belknap was found to be a
corrupt man Republicans were fore
most in demanding thaj he resign,
and that he be dealt with in the se
verest terms. Now, let us see if
Stephen D. Pool, the Democratic
Superintendent of Public Instruc
tion, will resign, or will he con
tinue to hold on to a position which
he has disgraced at the expense of
the poor children of North Caro
lina. There is no comparison in
the cases of Belknap and Pool. Al
though we agree that Belknap com
mitted a great wrong, yet those
from whom he obtained his bribes
could well afford to lose them.
Pool, however, deliberately robs
innocent children of the little mite
necessary to educate and fit them
for the duties of life, and it remains
to be seen whether he will have the
brazen arrogance to remain in of
fice. In the Legislature of 1873-'74 a
proposition was made to sell the
unoccupied lots in the city of Ra
leigh for the purpose of building up
the University of North Carolina
for the sons of rich men.
The bill was about to pass when
an amendment was offered to ap
ply a part of the proceeds for the
purpose of free schools for the chil
dren of the working men of the
State. As soon as it was found that
poor men's children were about to
come in for a share, the Democrats
laid the dill on Uie table.
The wealthy Democrats of North
Carolina have contributed liberally
to build up the University of North
Carolina, but the List Democratic
Legislature only taxes the land
holders of the State eight and two
thirds cents on the hundred dollars
worth of property for free schools.
Their object fs to keep the people
ignorant, so that they can work
upon their prejudices as ihey did
before and during the war.
In spite of these things thero are
many mechanics and working men
willing to Ik; led Ay such deigning
men. Will the masses of th eo
ple assert their rights? lx-lay no
longer.
Some of the ladies of Concord are
making efforts to" raise money to
send a flag to the Centennial.
POOL ADMITS !
THE OK EAT OUTRAGE.
From a correspondence in the
Index-Appeal, written from Italeigh
of date the 4th inst., we learn that
Stephen D. Pool, the Deirioeratic;
Superintendent of Public Instruct
tion acknowledges to have taken a
large part of the Peabody Fund for
his private use. The writer of the
communication is a well known
Democrat of this city, and is there
fore well posted.
The writer says that this affair
will be a heavy blow to the Demo
cratic party of North Carolina, and
regrets that the matter could not
have been arranged before an expo
sure. The italics are ours. It seems
then that it would have been all
very well if the cat had not been
let out of the bag. Oh, Democracy I
Pool admits to taking three thous
and dollars, but it is thought the
defalcation will turn out to be con
siderably larger.
A Card to the Public
It is w ith regret that I again have
to appeal to the consideration of
the public; for, notwithstanding
that the News has been sued by me
for libel, aLd there is litigation
pending in divers aspects touching
the charge of bribery made against
me, it saw fit in its issue of the
ISth inst. to make the following
allusion
rhe firm of Brown &
Warner, on last evening, instruct
ed their agent here to take the re
duced price's "set by the.Investigat-
ing Committee. The News has
thus bided to save the tax-payers
of the State the ''large difference
which was attempted to be saddled
on them by Howerton, whom Tur
ner has taken "into alliance. The
country many yearn since and made
a fortune in a foreign land,dled, and,
desiring to aid in educating the
poor children of his native land,
beoueathed a larjre sum for that
purpose.
The share belonging to North
Carolina was sent to STEPHEN
D. POOL, the Democratic Superin
tendent of Public Instruction, for
distribution. It is charged that
this man Pool has squandered the
poor children's money umountingto
several thousand dollars. He has
not deiiied it. It is your privilege to
demand that this money be forth
coming. It is your further privil
ege to see to it, that no Democrat is
ever again entrusted with the dis
tribution of your children's money.
The man who would rob a poor or
phan is too mean to be anything but
a Democrat.
The Legislatnre.
We should not be content next
fall with a popular majority in the
State at large. Every exertion
should and must be made to rescue
the law-making power of North
Carolina from the grasp of men
who seem to delight in using it for
the oppression of our people.
It is wrell knownthat the Demo
cratic party gained possession of
the Legislature by the most infa
mous means, and that the present
basis of representation is an outrage"
on popular rights. It Is absolutely
essential to fair government that
both branches of the Oeneral As
sembly should be in Republican
hands. The people at large have
nothing to expect at present. Leg
islation seems to be directed solely
in the interest of the few against
the many. In the language or
"Sleepy Jim Morehead," the Dem
ocrats seem to think that "anything
is good enough for the scrubs." We
say, therefore, that our people will
not be rescued from degradation
until the law-making power is
wrested from their enemies.
We hope that our friends in the
different portions of the Slate, and
especially in the doubtful counties,
will go to work at once, and that
in every county the best and most
energetic men will be put forward
for seats in the Legislature.
Connecticut.
Although the Republicans of
this State made considerable gains
in the popular vote on Monday,
April the 3d, yet, the Democrats
succeeded in electing their Govern
or and a majority in the Leg
islature. We should remember,
however, that matters of a purely
local character operated to a very
large extent in the campaign. The
Republicans are and have been for
a long time, divided on what 1 is
known as the temperance or pro
hibition question. When the ques
tion is squarely presented to the
people of Connecticut in Novem
ber next, as to whether they will
vote to retain in power the great
party which fought for and saved
the Union from destruction, or turn
the "reins of goveriwnent over to Xhe
adherents of Ben Hill and other
leading agitators we have, no fears.
Connecticut is as certain for ,the
National Republican ticket as any
thing can well be in the future. ,
Therein one great lever agaiust
the Republican party that shows
itself in Connecticut elections usu
ally.". ,It is ;the contiguity of, the
State to New, York city thereby
rendering it to a considerable extern j
under the Influence oi(Jlaaimauy
HalL Besides this. there are.many
hundreds, and perhaps thousands, of
persons doing business In New
york, but who Iiye;Jn Conneciicut
and vote there. These things ope
rate more fully in. mere, State elec
tions than. they can pibjy do in
a national contest. v v .
In a f word, while Ctonriecticat is
seemingly f against us now, on the
niitlbhdl Issiiesi f she Will be round
truo'io herself ahd'the country.'
A Strange Statement.
The daily News, ' of the 8th, con
tains an editorial in relation to the
charges against S. D. Pool, Super
intendent of Public Instruction,
from which we make the following
extract: . .
Our reporter immediately uoon
hearing the report endeavored to
obtain an interview with Col.
Pool. He failed to find him, and
On Tuesday morning1 Col. P. left
it wa3 understood fdr Norfolk, with
a view of making' arrangements
and furnishing explanations which
would clear up the dark transac
tion. We telegraphed Col. Pool on
Wednesday ,requestlng the prom ised
communications.' The reply of the
operator was that that gentleman
was not in the city,; but was ex
pected that night.
Col. Pool returned to the city
on Thursday evening and we pub
lished on Friday morning a card
from him promising that solution
which we await and which we hope
will prove satisfactory to the pub
lic; and Col. Pool asks a suspension
of judgement until that solution
is offered, This is . no more than
right, and which the members of
his own party ought at least to ac
cord to him.
On Tuesday, it seems, it was un
derstood that Col. Pool left for Nor
folk. On Wednesday the editor of
the News telegraphed to Norfolk
and received a reply that Mr. Pool
was not there. On Thursday even
ing it Is stated that Mr. Pool re
turned to the city. This would cer
tainly be a quick trip to fix up so
dark a transaction.
But our information is somewhat
different from that of the News, and
we require more proof than the ipse
dixit of Mr. Pool,- or the assertions
of the News, to convince us that Mr.
Pool has been a half mile from the
corporate limits of the city ofHaleigh
since his exposure. We are charit
able enough to believe the News
has been imposed upon in relation
to Mr. Pool's absence from the city,
and we think, if proper inquiries are
made the News will acknowledge
it. By what road did Col. Pool re
turn to Raleigh on Thursday even
ing? We ask for information.
Verily, the way of the transgressor
is hard. We regret that Mr. Pool
should resort to egregious preveri
cations. It will only, add another
pang to his bitter cup. Better make
a clean breast of it at once. It
would be more consoling to his
friends and certainly more manly.
Superintendent ot Public In
struction. Rumors highly detrimental to the
character of Stephen D. Pool, the
Democratic Superintendent of Pub
lic Instruction for this State, have
filled the air for several weeks past.
These reports have assumed such a
shape that the public can no longer
doubt that there is something wrong
in the management of the-so-called
Peabody fund, the quota of which
for North Carolina, has been entrus
ted to Superintendent Pool for dis
tribution. We are not sufficiently
informed at this writing to present
to our readers the extent of the
crime charged, but we promise that
every exertion in our power shall
be made to ferret out and lay before
tha people of the State a true state
ment of the affair.
A great effort is being made by
Democratic leaders to cover up this
wanton robbery of funds set apart
by a humane philanthropist for the
poor children of North Carolina.
We hear that a strong effort is on
foot to raise a sufficient sum by
subscription to pay the amount of
Mr. Pool's alleged defalcation, but
judging from the silence of the
Democratic press of this city, this
arrangement has so far failed.
Mr. Poors reticence in relation to
the serious charge against him adds
to the belief that it is true, and that
he has no defence.
Thus it is, that the unscrupulous
leaders of the Democratic party
who, for several months past have
left no stone , unturned to villify
and falsely accuse Republican offic
ers, find, in the only Democratic
State officer-holder, a large defaul
ter. TJnder any circumstances the
case would be bad enough, but, thi t
a man holding the high position oc
cupied by Mr, Pool should shame
lessly rob, poor orphan children of
the pittance left to educate and fit
them for the duties of life is a
crime that should, in .our opinion
consign the perpetrator to lasting
infamy. ,
Some have placed the defalcation
as high as ten thousand dollars, but
even some of Mr. Pool's Democratic
friends acknowledge it to be at least
two or three thousand.
The , leaders of the Democratic
party, as before stated, will use eve
ry effort to keepquiet ibis infamous
business, hut it will come out. If
nn qther way can be found to bring it
t3 liglit, it can and nritt he doiiC
through the Trustees of the Pea
boay,fuiir,t and ive hope the whole
transaction will shortly, be iJaid
before tit- public. :-
Iu the meantime what has Stephen
D. Pool to say? Are you guilty,'
sir, or not guilty ? or have you been
instructed by the Democratic State
Executive Committee to keep quiet?
The people demand that you pay
over to the poor children of North
Carolina every cent entrusted to
you for them.
A diminutive specimen of deceit
and arrogance hung around Raleigh
ainpp. His name is
Dowell. Many of our friends re
member him to the tune of sundry
borrowed dollars. More than one
boarding house, it is rumored suf
fered during his stay in this vicini
ty. He has turned Democrat, that
being the party most congenial for
such characters. He lately wrote a
communication from New York to
the Raleigh Sentinel and is handled
by the New-Berne Times as fol
lows :
A little office hunting squirt
who assumed a consequence some
years ago in this State as editor of
the Asheville Pioneer, and who be
cause of a failure to be appreciated
at his own estimate, went to New
York, became a scribbler on the
Sun, the humble associate of the
monumental scoundrel Dana, and
consequently a full fledged Demo
crat, has recently written a commu
nication to the Raleigh Sentinel in
which he admits that while a pro
fessed Republican in this State, he
was very intimate with, and knew
very much of the actions of the
scoundrels of the party, a disgrace
ful admission to say the least.
Speaking of Dana he says. " I
firmly believe that he knows every
thief and rascal of any consequence
in the United States, and can point
them out at a moment's notice."
Like master like man. Such an
extensive knowledge of scoundrels
can only be acquired by association
and such association is certain to
leave the person more or less affect
ed. Indeed only a natural predic
tion for such society, and a moral
obliquity would cause men to seek
such associates,and resultant knowl
edge of them. Mr. Dowell is evi
dently now in the right school of
scoundrelism, in Dana he has an
able precepter, in Dowell Dana has
a promising pupil."
How it Works.
We have yet to learn of the
first Republican paper in North
Carolina that defends or in any
manner attempts to paliate the
crime of which Belknap stands
charged. The Republican party, on
the contrary, demands the strictest
investigations into the affairs of its
ofiicials and the promptest modes of
redress.
But although Belknap has com
mitted a crime which should con
sign him to merited punishment,
still, the government of the United
States has not lost a dollar by his
malfeasance.
How different stands the case with
Bobbins ? The bill for payment of
mileage to Stephens was once de
feated. Stephens Went to Bobbins
and told him if he would move and
advocate a reconsideration he (Ste
phens) would give him twenty dol
lars. Bobbins jumped at the pro
position, and for the purpose of
pocketing a paltry bribe of twenty
dollars caused the State of North
Carolina to lose several hundred
dollars. But the Democracy look
upon Bobbins as an honorable man,
and rewarded him for his rascality
with a seat in Congress. If they
give a man a seat in Congress for
receiving a bribe of twenty dollars,
what would they give Jeff Davis
who stole millions, if he were par
doned. We believe they would
agree to make him Emperor.
Protest.
JkJN ADDRESS
TO THE
PEOPLE OF NORTH CAROLINA;
By the Republican members of the
late Constitutional Convention.
We, the undersigned, under a sense
of the responsibility due from us as
representatives of the will of the people
of North Carolina, feel called upon to
warn the yet free citizens of our belov
ed State, of the danger which immi
nently threatens them from the despotic
nr ar;afrtrra.tta tendencies of the Dem
ocratic party, so glaringly displayed in
the amendments passed by that body
in the Convention which was lately held
in TlalAiorh.
A Convention called to establish the
principles which shall govern and give
vitality to the business relations of men
and define the limits of the privilege to
be exercised by the people, offers an
unerring test of the opinions and feel
ings of those engaged in the responsible
work. No less is it an absolute stand
ard by which to judge of the tendencies
of a party, when that party controls the
body. Then, if ever, will men show
their true political opinions and strug
gle to embody in permanent form, their
nxed convictions. Governments are
classified into free and despotic, at a
glance, by an examination of their con
stitutions, whether written or moulded
by the practices and tradition of their
history. When representatives respect
and consult the will of the people,
whilst dealing with their interests and
privileges, free government prevails,
whatever its advantages and inconven
iences. : When that will, expressed by
majorities, fairly ascertained, is disre
garded by the framers of laws, and
rights are taken away, against the sol
emn protest of the citizen, whatever the
other attributes may be, the govern
ment ceases to be one of popular con
sent. The application of this simple rule,
fixes forever, in alarming reality, the
character of North Carolina's last and
worst Convention.
A large majority of the votes of the
State, was given against its call, and
the will of the people thus expressed
should have controlled the delegates
elected ; a due regard to that will de
fnAnriart that the n resent Constitution
should bo returned to them unaltered
in a single principle, by which the
rights of the Deonle were defined and
guaranteed, and their duties described
ana enjomfa. -not respecting mkj voice t
of the people, contemptuous of their
twice expressed opinion, but only upon
na-tv rule and the substitution of t.e
"way of a faction for the will cf the ma
jority, the Legislature of 1874-'5, bv a
party vote, violated the primary idea
of the polity they had sworn to main
UinVand Jlled this body without con
sultation with the people, and in breach
of the declaration made all over the
; State in thecan vass of 1874. No denial
can be hazarded by any one, of this plain
fact, that a deliberate disregard of the
will of a majority continued villtuiiy,
makes popular government impossible.
This Convention is a bold deciarautm
against the popular will and is, in it
self, by the very fact of its existence, a
revolution. ,
It is an anoinalv in our history, anc
stands a solitary" example of a body,
called for the good of the people, usurp
ing their rights, and seizing their pow-
0:ne thair oTnrPs4Ml Will. 15111
four years since, the people were call
ed upon to express their wish upon a
change of the Constitution: they an
swered that they wished no change
Two years ago many .amendments 01
that instrument were submitted agam
te the people: very few were adopted
and those were matters of detail going
only to the judgment as matters of ex
pediency, and not touching a single
right or privilege. In the House of
Representatives, in the session ol
1874 '75, the dominant party; had a
majority of two-thirds. This Conven
tion, composed of the same number,
elected by the same voters, under tne
same laws, with no intervening change
of circumstances, returns a majority oi
delegates against the party in power,
thus giving a rebuke to its revolution
ary spirit, and declaring again in favor
of the Constitution they have tried so
bard to preserve. By a course ""Par
allelled in the history of political bodies,
that true majority is perverted, and the
power of party is enthroned upon the
trampled rights of a State
SteV. by step the dreary dramaof ty
ranny is enacted. The Supreme Court,
the bulwark of the people, their tearless
champion in many contests with an en
raged and usurping Leg slature. be
neath whose august decree the poor of
theNnd rest secure in enjoyment or
homes for themselves and their loved
ones, when baffled avarice casts its thirs
ty gaze upon the pittance wrenched
from its insatiate greed-this tribunal,
so fearless and so just, is attacked, and
falls before the will of those whose ac
tion forebodes evil to every institution
and principle dear to freemen.
The election of the Superior Court
Judges, now with the people, was cov
eted, and the purpose contemplated to
wrest this privilege from them, and
"ive it where faction can supply ready
made partisans inclined to direct the
forms of law, and the principles of Jus
tice to the purposes of party. Ibis
change was only averted by the adop
tion of a provision which enables a par
tisan Legislature to rob the Superior
Courts of their iurisdiction, and confer
it upon tribunals erected in their place,
whose officers shall not be responsible
to the people.
Justices of the Teace, the familiar
counsel of the people, whose functions
have always been to assist them in their
common, ordinary disputes ; who have
been with the people, and of the people
since tradition has spoken- these neces
sary, and almost family functionaries,
torn from the people, lest they should
continue Democratic in nature, as in of
fice, and an aristocratic complexion is
to be forced upon their homely features
by rendering them no longer responsi
ble to their neighbors, and by divorcing
their sympathies from the humble and
rude poor, whose causes they are to de
termine. Not only officers, but institutions,
popular and elevating in their nature,
are ravished from the masses. The
popular county and township govern
ments, established by our present su
preme law. carries the idea of responsi
bility to the people down to every
neighborhood. They give the control
of every dollar of the money needed
for the myriad uses of civilized and
progressive communities, into the keep
ing of those who are under the direct
eye of the people ; they familiarize eve
ry one with the forms of business, and
educate the primary divisions of socie
ty in the ways of self reliant and inde
pendent men.
These tribunals carry the idea of the
will of a majority to its ultimate end,
and they are the rude, it may be, but
healthful nurseries in which the infant
steps of freemen are trained to tread in
the ways of independent manhood.
But this nurture does not accord with
the spirit of democracy revolutionized.
That bad genius broods with evil men
ace over the precious heritage of our
fathers, and the shadow of his dark ap
proach, even now mingles ominously
with the broad light of our liberty. A
strong government is demanded. The
divinity of privileged power must here
after claim our devotions, and the vul
gar independence of poor men and Ig
norant people must be trained to forego
its somewhat turbulent conduct, and
learn politer manners, and more cul
tured forms from the example of our
very virtuous and model rulers, who
are to be supplied to us by that exces
sively pure medium a modern partisan
Legislature !
Thus one by one the rude forms of
hemebred privilege are destroyed, and
the dainty proportions of an elegant
aristocracy are erected, beneath whose
iron-hand, though cased in a glove of
velvet, no popular right can flourish ;
and in whose eye, a free people is an
enternal fear. All earth is drenched
with gore poured out to glut. the selfish
ness, revenge and licentious lusts of
Kings and privileged classes. The poor
are the universal sacrifice.
The slaughtered millions, whose
blood cries to God from the thousand
battle-fields, which cover our country
like the foul blotches upon the leper's
skin, are the human offering which
alone can appease the cruelty of an in
satiate aristocracy. Even under the
mild forms of privilege, which former
ly prevailed here, the eternal hate
which power always cherishes for free
dom, allied itself to the dread demon ot
rebellion, ana its insatiate greed unap
peased by the holocaust of blood and
impoverishment through which we
have passed, will never cease whilst
man is free.
Under our previous history, the laws
regulating elections, were plain and
simple, no one ever dreaming that the
time would come when the people's
will would be disregarded by any leg
islative body that could be assembled.
But the desperation of party exigency,
in this Convention, has shown how
frail a hold the people have on their
own government in North Carolina.
The people of Robeson county, elect
ed to this Convention two delegates,
Neil McNeil and R. M. Norment. The
judges of election, against whom no
fault has teen alleged, made their re
turns as usual, and these returns show
ed a majority of votes in favor of the
gentlemen named. The only duty of
the county commissioners was to add
those returns, and declare the result.
But, usurping powers never granted
them, they declare the returns untrue,
and in the face of the written record
before them, they pronounce that there
was no election in four precincts of the
county. Nolawis8bown authorizing
them to review the judgement of the
inspectors of election ; none can be
shown which entitled them to jndge of
the qualification of electors. This pow
er is vested by law in the judges of
election, and in them alore. If they
abuse it and admit unlawful votes, or
refuse lawful ones, it is a case.ibr the
candidates alone, and the determina
tion ol the fact In "each ' case, belongs
solely to the body of which the parties
are seeking to become members.
Thia Hnnrantinn I. i.'i.-.
vw. . v.. ww. .o, KJ t n 1 1 J I , lilt?
judge of the election and qualification of
nu lupuiwiB. , a ctjrwnaie oi elec
tion from the DroDer ofncerse-icp the,
possessor a prima facie righ t to his seat.
unin mo ii uuuuiuuHs oi me certincate
is questioned. YVTien. thialis done the
first thing td do, and the , only fhlnV it.
to exaniine the records of the election
If they are in lawful form, tliecfrtititt't
must be given accordingly. Ii voun-t
are questioned, the duty of approving
or disqualifying' them," rest with tin.
candidate making 1 he issue, ami tlM.
facts must be determined upon u,,. evi
dence adduced. No legislative IkkJv, (1f
its own motion, ha ever made a -'m-test
between members without thir
own active interposition. All UkUi.i
tive bodies determine the lawfulm .SH ,,f
the certificate. When this is dono, th,.
burden is thrown upon thecontetahi
These are rules of law prescribed forth,'
proceedings of contestants, public ;w
of common application. The action.,,
this body is directly, contrary t u,i
method. The commissioners of H.,.
sou. have erected theum. ve into r fn.
dicial tribunal; they have, without A i
Jei;o and agairift the record. K-t..r
mined the fact of legal :uid illegal vote
have, taken from the Judges of cl, , ti,,,,'
the discretion conferred upon the,,, ,v
law, to be exercised under theobii i.
tion of an oath, and against their own
written statement to'tho contrary, lm,.
declared that no election at all whs !,
in four precincts of the county. If t!.v
have power to disregard the return,
from four precincts, they inav eo,n;t!v
disregard the returns from every
cinct, and at their more will and
ure, declare no election held in av
county. By a combination easy ui jH ,.
fection amongst the couuty conunU
sioners, an election over the wi.,.
State may be nugatory, and the peopi,.
discarded entirely in the managed. , m
of public affairs. How is this l v i,,
judge of the election of its mem -, jt
the county commissioners are ein,.iw .
ered to act in. a judicial character, an.i
determine who are the members , it , i
Yet this has been declared the law nt th,'.
land by the majority of the conumtt,.,.
on Privileges 'and Elections, an,l th.it
decision has been sustained, by th,
judges of election are stiicken fVo'm ,.,ir
system, there is no one to reconj the
votes of the people ; the commission, M s
though not present, determine th.'.
rights of voters without evidence: tln
body is robbed of the right to d termin,.
the election"of its members, maintain
ing only an inferential righof appeal
if that, and acoi.iplete revolution i;i !
complished.
The past Con ventien sat in the (.api
tol by virtue of this revolution, ami ha
overthrown fho government of ti,
people thereby.
By means of two votes, secure! in
the manner above recited, thecoiiti
tuti n is blotted out against the will .,
the people, and against the laws of uK.
State.
In ordinary cases, where majorities
are decided, one way or another, anl
where the votes of the contest in r mem
bers can make but little difference m
results, a case like this may Im- pass, ,
over and excite but little attention.
But this case, upon the determination
of winch depends the sovereignty i
the people, must be made a test ';,,.
and the circumstances around it, nuke
it a prominent landmark in the history
of government.
The first dut3' of the Convention w;,
to determine who .vero1 the riuhtini
delegates from Robeson, had there, heen
a desire' to follow, ami ohey the voice
of the people. The action of this i.y
has postponed the question until rev
olution is accomplished.
Tue action of this Convention in its
legislative character has1 cot responded
fully with its revolutionary c onstiin
tion. Measures of vital concern seem
ingly prepared in party caucus, he
been introduced as a matter ot h.jm,
simply to obtain the scrawl wimh
stands for a common seal, and under
the spur of the previous question, with
out an opportunity of debate, were im
patiently hurried through, as prepared
at party dictation. There, are griev
ances of an alarmning character, and
not the idle clamor of disappointed
hopes. We wished for nothing, wu hop
ed for nothing, but to preserve the con
stitution dear to the people, who have
struggled for years to retain the benefits
of its admirable provisions. The dis
cipline of party tactics has at last tri
umphed over the wishes of tlx- people,
and has left us no course but to dise
the people of the .spoliation., of i ii;ht s.
fearfully imperilled by this Conven
tion We have had an embarrassing cii,,i,-e
to make in conducting the people's de
fense. We hoped that the free discus
sion of principles amongst gentlemen
of intelligence, assembled from all parts
of the State, might Cause some conces
sion from the rigor of party demands.
But the invariable coui;e of procedure
in this body has been to prepare in mid
night caucus the succeed ing da v's w ork ;
the measure agreed upon is taken up at
once ; rarely has time or postponement
been granted, still more rarely has dis
cussion been allowed, especially in me
ters on which opinions have Ix-en most
opposite; and when discussion has been
impatiently conceded, wo felt the ui er
hopelessness of speaking to a question
which judgment had -gone before hand.
ThetHv expedient left us was a re
sort to cuxtruary parliamentary rules,
to delay for a few moments the pain we
endure in seeing the rights ami privile
ges of the people smothered in this Con
vention. It was the only way we had
of protesting against the hasty and un
sparing decrees of this Innly and how
ever unsatisfactory, we were driv n h
fit as to the last ditch in resisting the in
vasion of the assailants of our riht.
Never has any legislative lxdy shown
less of concession than this; never h
the caucus system been more rigidly
and persistently enforced ; never has
party discipline been more perfect, and
never has a minority been less regard
ed. The closing scene of the Convention
was a fit finale to a body which assein-,
bled in opposition to the will d th
people, acted and worked 'by means"'
a majority purchased by the disfran
chisement of a county and the total dis
regard of law; which has seized all y'
rights of the people and given tht ni i"
the Legislature, and ended its revi
tionary career by denying to members
a right of protest. Never has any '
before known, jnthe history of North
Carolina, that iTpfotest, offered m a re
spectful manner and in substance "1
offending against propriety should i
refused a hearing and a place upon the
journals. 'Bat this Convention na
crowned its life of usurpation by
closing act of tyranny which lorbi'
complaint of grievance and denies the
right -of petition. So monstrous
the act, that a leading member f th
majority rose in his place and rebuke,
thia open outrage. Not even this cou m
bring a blush of shame to the laces t'
that majbrity which began life in law
lessness and in their own minds, listen
ing chains upon ,the limbs of the
pie, aptly ended its course by bidding
them cease all complaint at the tyrannr
of this usurping assembly. We ay t '
the people that the intention and an"
of the Convention was to enslave v"
and you are enslaved if you . ratily l
act. , .
J.' W. AlberNon;
W. II. Wlieeler,
K. C. Badger.
Jonas Ilolnnai,
,J. M. Justice,
J. It. Page,
J. M. BatenVan; '
Q. B. Bliven;
B. F. Jones, .
J.-0. Blocker,
J. II. Smyth,
W.-W. McChiiU.
A. McCabe,
A; L. Davis
W,M. Black,.
J.O. Crosby,
Wilson Carey, e, N.JI. Hampton,
Allen Jordan,'4 W. J. Munden,
O. HiDockery;
Kalplr 1. uuxk.
K. W.. King.
A. McDonald,
W. P. Aiabson,
J. W. Thome;? i
J. Orrin Wilcox,
G. II. Grantham,
R; F. Iehman, --y.
M, C, Hodge, ...
A. M. Lowe, ' "
J:Q. A: Bryan;
1. J; Young,
,A. W Tourgee.
W. T. Fainjloth,
J.' A. Bullo k,
W. Mi err,
William i Birros
'Edward W. Taylor,
TVJ; Dula,
OrJ5l''reneh,
J as. IS. Boyd7
Rufus Barringer, , S. J I . .Maiiniiur.
V . , A - . i b , r ,H : " l....fll
J. E. O'Har.i,
J.;.J.Ti.odwyn,
J. W. Bean,
J.J. Horton,
p. T. Mjusey,
ii. K. Hiimant.