TERMS: .$10 5 One Year.. Six Jfontks. jrm. A. 1IEAKXE. Manager m rTtr ri-RMOCRATIC PARTY, OF NORTH CAROLINA. ADDRESS OF THE , ' Executive Committee. Central To the PeopU ofXorth Carolina . The Executive Committee of the Dem Jltic Conservative party or this State, lifter consultation among themselves and Lith many friends from different parts of the State, familiar with public sentiment, hire deemed it necessary and proper that th Central Executive Committee shall Sdress the people in reference to vaVious tonics of public interest, and particularly Kitfctional reform in this State The Central Committee, therefore, feel espe Zf.n.MdlBd upon and instructed to sub mit to the people enchriec . n.h measures ot .retorin ana xut aa. f thwr lodgment, imminent, are calculated tc to pro- concert ot acUon and the general welfare of the State. . r THE CONVENTION ELECTION. The result of the election in August . . .lrnnTh adverse ,to the call of a ..!'ti,in of fbc people, cannot be re warded as an expression of popular appro f mmv of the leading provisions of h,. nrrscnt State constitution : for all par- tics with scarcely any dissent, recognized andcocceded the paramount necessity for a change in the organic law in several material particulars. Xor can the result of tbat election be properly claimed as a party success or de feat The issue submitted and passed upon was not a party issue, although great efforts were made by interested persons to nuke it such nor was it so regarded or treated by thousands of democrats and Conservatives who voted against 4,Con vention." That election turned on colla teral and immeterial issues, most of them suggested and pressed upon public atten tion by the great body of the office hold ers of the State, who apprehended that a convention if called, would turn them out of office. The office-holders of the State generally opposed the call ; tbey freely used money and other appliances to defeat it The colored people were made falsely to believe that a convention would deprive them of their freedom, or greally abridge their political rights. Thousands voted against the call because they feared armed interference of the authorities of the federal government and another war other thousands voted against it, because they apprehended some unfriendly inter lerence with the present homestead pro vision, while some believed the call as made was without the sanction of. the constitution and revolutionary ; w that, we repeat, the election turned, not in favor ot or against any political party, nor upon the real merits of the-issue submitted to the people, but upon many collateral con siderations. METHOD OF AMENDMENT SETTLED. The majority against the proposed call lor a Convention, though comparatively meagre, settles adversely the proposition to amend the Constitution by a Convention of the people, however proper and desira ble that method of amendment may be. It settles it, because the radical members of the Legislature, at the behest of their party, unanimously refused to vote for the call of a Convention of the people by the Legislature. Such a call cannot be made without the votes of at least a few of them, and they and their party thus assume the grave responsibility of preventing the peo ple from amending and reforming their rganic law. The only remaining method of amend ing the Constitution is by legislative enact ment Although the Constitution operates oppressively in many respects, and some of its provisions preclude all hope of general prosperity while they continue in force, jet it is manifestly the duty ot every good titizen to seek relief from such evils by iie legislative mode, however slow and un satisfactory, in the present emergency, it may be. We venture to hope that the members of the Legislature will, when they assemble, at once agree upon thjs plan of relief, and we respectfully suggest that, in the meantime, the people give prompt and free expression of their wishes as to inch amendments a.3 they desire, so that the Legislature may be informed of the popular will, as well a may be, in reference to constitutional reform. OCU MATERIAL, LXDCsTRIAL, AXD EDUCA TIONAL INTERESTS OPPRESSED. That the material, industrial and edu cational interests of the State are in a ca lamitous condition is manifest to the com monest observer. There is now a direful incubus upon the state that deadens the energies of the people and destroys all reasonable hopo of future ' prosperity. Every man has the distressing j sense tthat ho labors and toils in vain I i -'!' t 1 These evils are not owing to any lack of industry and persistent eflort on the part of the people. Ever since the late -war thev have walked assiduously, and "thou sands have labored who never labored- be- J fore. They have lived economically. The soil has generally yielded, good crops and fair prices have been . realized , for them. But their earnings are gon-jl Where are they ? Their desolated farms are not restored. The waste places are not built up. The greater number of the towns and villages are as decayed as at the close of the war ; many of them are in a worse condition. The destroyed manu factories, with bnt few" exceptions, have not been rebuilt And where, we repeat, are the earnings of our impoverished peo ple? They are swallowed ujj in oppres sive taxation, to support a system of state government essentially expensive, and a radical extravagance without a parallel in the history of a free people. burdensome taxation ruBLic extrav agance, j During the first two years under the present Constitution, $1,S07,680 were col lected trom the people, and I evej-y dollar of this vast sum was expended in the ad ministration ot the State government , an- average .of over, $ 900,000 a. yearl--abont ten tiroes what it cost to adminis-' ter the government before the war! There belonged to the School Fund, derived from .the Land JScrip donated by the United States, the sum of $122,000. This sum was invested mostly in "special tax . bonds," and the fund is virtually lost These monstrous evil are the legitimate f nrita of the workings of the present Con stitution and radical misrule under it. The present organization fastens on the People a system of government essentially OLD SERIES VOLUME 43. ( NEW SERIES VOLUME 1. s extravagant the township system aione making necessary about three thousand officers at an annual expense of from $300,000 to 5400,000. It establishes a public debt amounting to $40,000,000, half of which is confessedly dishonest and fraudulent, and which the people are un able to pay. . HISBULE. FRAUD, FOBCB AND THE SWORD. Under this organic law the people are subjected to an intolerable misrule at the hands of the radical party. By means of notorious fraud, force and the sword, that party had absolute control of the Conven tion that framed the present Constitution. and i like control of the first Legislature4 that assembled under it; and although the Dconle - were Imnoverished. - this radical Convention and Legislature increased the public debt from $20,000,000 to near $40,- 000,000 in less than eighteen months. Of thb 520,00.0,000, less than $500,000 haye- i into the public works or to ir sbenent ci tag people. -1 his party, piacea in. omce a uovernor -woo absolutely suspended the Constitution and laws of the State ; ' he ar rested scores of innocent citizens without warrant or any authority of law; he sus pended the writ ot habeas eorpu$ and defied the Chief Justice of the State ; he made his warrant from time to time on the Treasurer for large sums of money with out the sanction of law ; he raised a law less and mercenary horde of desperadoes and armed them at the public expense to execute his despotic will. This party elected to the State Convention and the Legislature scores of men notorious for their ignorance, licentiousness, dishonesty and corruption, who, at the behests of their party' and knavish speculators, in creased the public debt to the enormous sum already stated. This pirty degraded and disgraced-the JudjeiaBy by electing to high judicial stations men shamefully ignorant and 'corrupt, and others who have not scrupled to manifest, the most blatant -partizan ieelings while-.holding their offices This party have ruined' the credit of the State they have blasted the hopes and prosperity of the pcopLsin the most shameless and defiantyinanner they have made every department - of the gov ernment a by -word and reproach, j To es tablish the truth of these charges we need but point to the history of the State for the last three years and appeal to the ob , servation of every intelligent citizen. THE PRESENT CONSTITUTION. This Constitution and this party, with' a radical, reckless and extravagant admin istration of -the Federal Government, make up the manifest causes of the suf ferings, poverty and ruia "that crush the people of the State. ' The Radical party have brought upon us all these evils, and there is no relief from them but through salutary changes of the Constitution, and a change of our presenjt rulers for others who shall be capable, honest, wise and pa triotic. The present constitution is loose, illogi cal, contradictory and absurd in many of its provisions, and it were well it it could be entirely re-written; but this 'is not practicable by the legislative mode of amendment. Action will be expedited by amending it in a few very important par ticulars, for the present, and leaving gen eral amendment to a future time. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS SUGGESTED. In the judgment of the Executive Com mittee, the Constitution should at once be au ended in the following particulars: Section G of Article 1 should be so amended as to strike out all thereof that provides the inviolability of the public dtbt. Section 2 of ; Article 2 should be so amended as to provide that the Legisla ture shall meet regularly every two years, instead ot every year, and it should be provided that the members of the Legis lature snail receive put $ 6 per aay ana 10 cents mileage, and such pay for no lon ger a period than 100 days during their term of office. The office of Superintendent of Public Wopks should be abolished. Article 3, Section 1, should be so amend ed as the Governor and other officers, therein mentioned, shall hold their offices but two year$, instead of tour years, as now provided. Section 10 of Article 3 should be so amended as to provide that the Governor shall nominate the officers therein men tioned, by and with the advice and con sent of the Utenate, unless otherwise pro vided by law. Article 4 should be so amended as to strike out sections 2 and 3, thus abolishing the Code Commission. Section 4, of this article should be strick en out, leaving the .Legislature to regu late the number and style ot courts, in- t!prl of five Supreme Court Judges, and twelve Superior Court Judges, as now provided, there should be but three Su preme Court and eight Superior Court Judges, who shall be elected every eight years. Sections 11. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, J8, 19 26, 27, 88, 31 and 33 of article 4 should be" stricken out and it should be 'provided , that - the - judicial pow ers of the state shall be rested in one Su preme Court and in such Superior Courts and inferior Courts as the General Assem bly may establish." ' f "2 c Section 4 of article 5 shoulu be stricken out, thus striking out the mortgage provi sion on all the property of the State for the interest of the public debt J Section 6 of article 5, should be so amended as to enlarge the class of exemp- J tions so as to include " stock and provi sions." " - Article 6, section 5, should be so amended as to provide that the persons therein rendered ineligible for office shall likewise be rendered incompetent to vote. Article ,7 should be abolished, except section 13, thus sweeping away the lown shtp tystem and leaving the matter to the Legislature. Article 10 should be so amended as to provide that the Homestead provisions should apply to all debts alike, and it should be in fee that is absolute. Article 11, section 10, should be so amended as to provide that its benefits shall extend only to indigent persons. Article 14, section 7, should be so amended as to provide that no person shall hold any lucrative" office under, this State wilehe holds an office under the United States. ' Sec 5 of Art, 2 should be .so amended as to abolish the provision ' for taking a census of the State in .1875, and every ten years thereafter. ! ' We would suggest as a further amend ment, that Sec 5 of Art.1 9 be so amended as to provide that the University -shalP be under the control of the General Assembly, who shall elect a Board of .Trustees, of Breathes these a man with soul so dead, Raleigh, K C, which the Governor shall be ex rfficio Chairman, and Sections 13 and 14 ot that Article should be stricken out. Oilier amendments ought to be made, but those suggested .would relieve the people from the burdensome and extrava gant State government that now swallows up their earning3, and fastens upon them a State debt which they cannot piy, but of which they may easily so compromise and adjust the honest portion, as will reduce it within manageable limits. CRIME AND OUTRAGE. We deem it worth while to notice in this address, that wicked and interested per sons unprincipled and violent radical partizans in and out of this States for sinister purposes, have sought to produce the false impression that the Democratic Conservative party have and do'connive at and encourage the perpetration of crime ana outrage io inis aetesiawe ena xney bafe, wherever they culdr'prowH5ted tbe press, legislative and judicial proceedings, and resorted to every means within their power. Such imputation l? not only groundless, false and scandalous, but in famous to the last degree, and betrays spirit of wickednes?, we venture to assert, without a parallel in political warfare. i lie party which we represent has al ways aud persistently condemned crime, by whomsoever perpetrated, and has re peatedly gone out of the usual political course to denounce it, and urpre upon the people the high importance ot peace and good order, and the duty of everv crood citizen to be active and zealous in brm ing offenders to justice. 1 he course pursued by the unworthy persons to whom-we refer is deeply to be deplored by aIlafod men of every politi cal party. It i hot only ignoble, but it -tends to destroy the moral and legitimate effect of the void of the press, legislative action and judicial determination, for the suppression ojt crime tneir constant et lbrt is to turn such matters to political advantage by giving them apolitical turn, and thus they produce the almost inevi table conviction on the minds r i disinter ested observers that the purpose of the press, the Legislature and Courts, is not to suppress crime and outrage, but to manufacture political capital and advan tage from the crimes of offenders, and thus r bitter feelings among their op ponents, destroy confidence in tne Courts and bring them into disgrace and con tempt. mends to set tneir faces against violence and lawlessness of all kinds, and to be especially active in preventing secret outrages by disguised persons. NATIONAL POLITICS. It is to be regretted that the peopla of this SUtc have failed to take any very ac tive interest in national pnlitics since the close of the late war. In our. judgment this is unwise. Our people are of the Un'on it is our government aud to it we must look, as we have the right, for sup port and protection in our rights of life, liberty and property, at home and abroad we owe it allegiance and support, and itisJ a patriotic duty to yield these it is as much our duty to join our fellow-countrymen in shaping and controlling the policy and destiny of this great common national government. We have all the rights that any of the American people have, and we are false to the country and ourselves if wc fail to recognize, exercise and act Upon them. The people have rights ; let them exercise them firmly and respectfully; and when need be, assert them as freemen and American citizens in the councils of the nation, in political assemblages, and every where. If we consent to be dwarfed and ignored nationally, then indeed, we may expect to be for all time to come. CORRUPTION, EXTRAVAGANCE AND USURPA TION. Our common country is subject to grievous political evils to which the com pass ot this address will allow us to ad vert very briefly. Official corruption in high and low places; public extravagance; usurpation of great powers not conferred, but denied and prohibited by the Constitution ; high and oppressive tariffs which foster im mense monopolies ; the direct encourage ment and support of monopolies; prosti tution df official patronage to promote party ascendancy ; a system of taxation which brings into active service in tne in terests of the party in power, hordes of Internal Revenue oiucers who oppress, plunder and outrage the people of the na tion, and under which large surplus sums of money are raised that ought to remain in the pockets of the people; a general system of cspiounge; a suspension of the liberties of tiie people up n the slightest pretext, in express violation of the Con stitution ; armed military interference with the freedom of elections; a general system ot official bribery and party favoritism in every department, and the administration of the affairs of the government, are public national evils, the enormity, extent and danger of which can scarcely be measured or appreciated by the people subject to them. That these evils do exist i3 man ifest to everybody. The dearest, highest interests of a free people demand tbat they shall not close their eyes to such dangers too long lest the time shall come when they will find their form, of government changed in name as well as in fact, and their liberties lost. SOURCE OF PUBLIC EVILS THE "HIGHER LAW" OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. Most if not all these evils, are attributa ble to the Radical or Republican party of the nation, to its doctrines, policy and practices. It is essentially a party inimi cal and dangerous to the constitution and public and personal liberty. It is founded upon the despotic dogma that there is a "higher than the constitution ; it is emphatically and essentially a "'higher law" party. This dogma is its life and soul, and ft proceeds on the jesuitical max im, that "the end justifies the . means." Hence it is, the Lead of this party, the president, does not heit-.:te to send t lie army to New York and elsewhere at the North, to this State, Texas and all over the South, in violation of the letter and spirit of the Constitution, to control the elections and prepare the way for his and his partv'a continued ascendancy, nrt his own election. Hence, too, v.e fiud him for like purposes suspending the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in a time of profound peace, arresting the citizen with out warrantor lawful authority, but only by lawless force. Hence, too, we find this party in Congress avowedly, and in the most riotous manner, passing laws at one time to oust the juris diction of the Supreme Court .of the Union to prevent that great jtnbunal Who never to liimsQlf Sattjeday MoRKWar DEOEMBER 2. .1871. from declaring its acts and assaults on the Constitution unconstitutional and void, at another time passing at similar Jaw.to " pack" that Court with partizans to alter a solemn decision already made, but dis tasteful to this "higher law? party. Hence, too, hundreds ot other sipmar acts done by this party which illustnite the princi ples, policy and practices which we hare attributed to it, and which if not arrested and suppressed, must result & the absolute overthrow of the system jof government formed and handed down to us by Wash ington and his compatrioti. f That such a party has been allowed "to spring up on' American soil is monstrousjand alarming! THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATS C PARTT TH1B ONLY OTHER PaItT. 'S ' There is but one othcri great political Earty in the country thafU the National lemocratic party. In pur jfogment, it is the patriotic duty of every J '.ye or lioerty - Ua4lree - ith Jhat B "d powerful party to arrest the verted, and which will, sooner or later, if not suppressed, destrov freedom and es tablish despotism and the sword. POLITICAL DUTY OF ALL PATRIOTS. To accomplish this great measure of re form in our State and National Govern ments, we cordially invite the zealous co operation of every patriot, without regard to his hitherto party affiliations. We stand in determined opposition to the crimes and evils to which we have briefly directed public attention, and we ask all good people to stand with us, trusting that such common patriotic effort, through the blessing of God. mav save us and our country from impending danger and ruin. THOS. BRAGG, chairman. A. S. MERRIMON. ' M. A. BLEDSOE, R. II. BATTLE, Jr., J. Q. DECARTERET, C. M. BUSBEE, W. R. COX, J. J. LITCHFORD, Central Executive Committee. Tiic Constitution of North Carolina. PROVISIONS AFFECTED BY AMEND MENTS SUGGESTED BY CEN TRAL COMMITTEE OF TIIE DEMOCRAT IC PARTY. The following Articles and Sections are taken from the Constitution of the State to show wherein it is proposed by the Democratic party to amend the Constitu tion of North Carolina by Legislative en actment : Article I. Section 6. To maintain the honor and good faith of the State untarnished, the public debt, regularly contracted before and since the rebellion, shall be regarded as inviolable - andneve? beguestioned; but the State shall never a&sunissayi pt authorize the collection of, any'Tebt or obligation, express or implied, incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave. Proposed to so amend as to strike out all thereof that provides the inviolability of the public debt. Article II. Section 2. The Senate and House of Representatives shall meet annually on the third Monday in November, and when assembled, shall be denominated the Gene ral Assembly. Neither House shall pro-, ceed upon public business, unless a majori ty of all the members are actually present. So amend as to provide that the Legis lature shall meet regularly every two years, instead of every year, and it should be provided that the members of the Legis- ature shall receive but $3 per day and 10 cents mileage, and such pay for no longer period than 100 days during their term of office.1 Article III. Section 1. The Executive Department shall consist of a Governor, (in whom shall be vested the Supreme executive power of the btate) a .Lieutenant Governor, a Secre tary of State, an Auditor, a Treasurer, a Superintendent of Tubbc Works a bu- perintendent of Public Instruction, and an Attorney General, who shall be elected for term ot four years by the qualihed elec tors of the State, at the same time and places and in the same manner as members of the General Assembly are elected.' Their term of office shall commence on the first day of January next after their elec tion, and continue until their successors are elected and qualified : Provided, That the officers first elected shall assume the duties of their office ten days after the approval of this Constitution by the Con gress of the United States, and shall hold their office four years from and after the first day of January, 1869. Address asks for abolition of this office. So amend as the Governor and. other officers, therein mentioned, shall hold their offices but two years, instead of lour years, as now provided. ! Sec. 10. The Governor shall nominate and, by and with the advice and consent of a majority of the Senators elect, appoint all officers whose offices are established by this Constitution, or which shall be created by law, and whose appointments are not otherwise provided for, and no such officer shall be appointed or elected by the Gene ral Assembly. Should be so amended as to provide that the Governor shH nominate the offi? ccrs therein mentioned, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, unless others i. provided by law. Article IV. Section 2. Three Commissioners shall be appointed by this Convention to report to the General Assembly - at -its first session after this Constitution i shall , be adopted by the people, rules' of practice'aud pro cedure in accordance with, the provisions of the foregoing section, awl the Converi tion shaH provide for the Commissioners a reasonable compensation. Sec. 3. The same Commissioners shall also report to the General Assembly as soon as practicable, a code of the law of North Carolina. The Governor shall have power to fill all vacancies occurring in this Com mission. . ., hath said, .-This is-my own,, l Strike oat sections 2 and 3, thus abolish- iishing the Code Commission. - - 4 ' -: See. 4. The judicial power of the Slate j?hal be vested in a Courtr the trial ot 'impeachments; a Supreme Courts Superior jConrts, Courts of Justices of i he Peace, and ; Speci a 1 Courts. ' -y -' "; " ' -. - : i- ' -: - j Strike out, and leave the Legislature to regulate the number ;and style of Courts. (Instead of five Supreme Court Judges, and ! twelve Superior Court Judges, as now pro j vided,' there should be but- three Sopreme Court and eight Superior Court Judges, ; who shall be elected every eight years. " , bee 11. The bupreme Court shall, nave .original jurisdiction to hear claims against the State, but its decisions shall be mere! recommendatory ; no process in the nata of execution shnll issue thereon ; they shall' be reported Jo the next session of the Ocn Sec 12. The Stale shall bq divided into twelve judicial Districts, for each of which ' a Judge shall be chosen, who 'shall hold a Superior Court in each County in said Dis trict at least twice in each year, to continue for two Veeks, unless the business shall be sooner disposed of. ' Sec. 13. Until altered by law, the fol lowing shall be the Judicial Districts : . First District Currituck, Camden, Pas quotank, Perquimans, Chowan, Gates, Hertford, Bertie. ; Second District Tyrrell, Hyde, Wash ington, Beaufort, Martin, Pitt, Edgecombe. Third District Craven, Carteret, Jones, Greene, Onslow, Lenoir, Wayne, Wilson. Fourth District Brunswick, New Han over, Duplin, Columbus, Bladen, Sampson, Robeson. Fifth District Cumberland, Harnett, Moore, Richmond, Anson, Montgomery, Stanly, Union. Sixth District Northampton, Warren, "Halifax, Wake, Nash, Franklin, Johnston, Granville. Seventh District Person, Orange, Chat ham, Randolph, Guilford, Alamance, Cas well, Rockingham. Eighth District Stokes, Forsyth, Da vidson, Rowan, Davie, Yadkin, Surry. Ninth District Catawba, Cabarrus, Mecklenburg, Lincoln, Gaston, Cleveland; Rutherford, Polk. Tenth District Iredell, Wilkes, Burke, Alexander, Caldwell, McDowell. Eleventh District Alleghany, Ashe, Watauga, Mitchell, Yancey, Madison, Bun combe Twelfth District Henderson, Transyl vania, liaywooa, jiacon, jacKson, uiay, Cherokee. Sec. 14. Every Judge ot a Superior Court shall reside in hi3 District while holding his office. The Judges may ex change Districts with each other with the consent of the Governor, and the Gover nor, for good reasons, which he shall report to the Legislature at its current or next session, may require any juage to noia one or more specified terms of said Courts in lieu of the Judge in whose District they are. LSce. 15. The Superior Court shall have exclusive original jurisdiction of all civil actions, whereof exclusive original juris diction is not given to some other Courts ; and of all criminal actions in which the punishment may exceed a fine of fifty dol lars or imprisonment for one month. Sec. 16. The Superior Courts shall have .appellate jurisdiction of all issues of law or fact, determined by a Probate Judge or a Justice of the Peace, where the matter in controversy exceeds twenty-five dollars, and of matters of law In all cases.' Sec. 17. The Clerks of the Superior Courts shall have jurisdiction of the pro bate of deeds, the granting of letters testa mentary and of administration, the ap pointment of guardians, the apprenticing of orphans, to audit the accounts of execu tors, administrators and guardians, and of such other matters as shall be prescribed by law. All issues of fact joined before them shall be transferred to the Superior Courts for trialr and appeals shall lie to the Superior Courts Jfrorn , their judgments in all matters of law7 SeeTlS.Tn all issues of fact, joined in any Court, the parties may waive the right to have the same determined by jury, in which case the finding of the Judge upon the facts shall have the force and effect of a verdict of a jury. Sec. 19. The General Assembly shall pro vide for the establishment of Special Courts, for the trial of misdemeanors, in Cities and Towns, where the same may be necessary. Sec. 2G. The Justices of the Supreme Court shall be elected by the qualified voters of the State, as is provided for the election of members of the General Assem-? bly. They shall hold their offices for eight years. The Judges of the Superior Courts shall be elected in like manner, and shall hold their offices for eight years ; but the Judges of the Superior Courts elected at the first election under this Constitution shall, after their election, under the super intendence of the Justices of the Supreme' Court, be divided by lot into .two equal classes, one of which shall hold office for four years, the other for eight years. Sec. 27. The General Assembly may pro vide by law that the Judges of the Supe rior Courts, instead of being elected by the voters of the whole State, as is herein pro vided for, shall be elected by the voters of their respective Districts. Sec. 28. The Superior Courts shall be, at all times, open for the transaction of all business within their jurisdiction, except the trial of issues of fact requiring a jury. Sec. 31. All vacancies occurring in the offices provided for by this Article of this Constitution, shall be filled by the ap pointment of the Governor, unless other wise provided for, and the appointees shall hold their places until the next regu lar election. Sec. 33. The sevcrai Justicesiof the Peace shall have exclusive original jurisdiction under such regulations as the General As sembly shall prescribe, of all civil actions, founded on contract, wherein the sum de manded shall not exceed two hundred dollars, and wherein the title to real estate shall not be in controversy ; and of all criminal matters arising within their Coun ties, where the . punishment cannot exceed a'firiffqf )Sf)ytoIIarr; or imprisonment for one raonth. . When an issue of fact shall be joined before a Justice, on demand of either party thereto, he shall cause a jury of six men fo be summoned, who shall try the same. The party against whom judg ment shall be rendered in anv civil action may appeal tb the Stfpcrior Court from the I same, and, if the judgment shall exceed j twenty fire dollars, there may be a new l strial of the whole matter in tne appellate my native 'toLH ':$?k LCourt; bntnf the iadsfmert shall -be for twenty-live dollars or- lesaf-then the case shall be heard ia,the.pplhit Court only apon matter pt Jatu m all cases of a criminal nature." judgment Superior heard anew, a Justice, proceedin! vient oi me isupenorvMprOT.iri.sVU4J -i l - v "whj --tne partyasaljwtwhorA KTftri. , .... ?Z 7". ' " is agivei may appeal to thV-1 CStS V7 -rX 4 . ..V r . ; 3ourC Where tie matter skSl Ml&W. J . r . Inall ses brought lfr-n ho fhalleaTecDrd'ol-tM be stricken oat, and ft should l preMfjTlha:! I exempt from'ta'4 for tax ded that the judicial .powers ef .fbe. State'f .-PrJ'p; t of-obfigatloni contrurt. .shall be vested in one Saprenie CoprttURjff' R .i N' i . a ,' w I 5ctv3k: Ths bomcstcad, alter Iho ocatl. ;insnch Superior poarts and inferior Courts ;pf.the atr thereof. h.tll bo cxctnot ,8t as the General Assembly may establish. re v .j T1" V ;j- tH ; Sec i. The General Assembly shall,' by appTopnaxs legislation - and by adequate taxation; provide" Tor lhpmpt 1(1 K ular payment of the interest on the public debt, and after the yeai 1880, it shall lay a m ' - specific annual tax upon the real and per sonal property or tne state, and the sum thus realized shall be set apart as a sinking fund, to be devoted t6 the payment of the public debt. Should be stricken out, thus striking out the mortgage provision on all the pro perty of the State for the interest of the public debt. Sec. 6. Property belonging to the State, or to "municipal corporations, shall be ex empt 'from taxation. The General Assem bly may exempt cemeteries, and property held for educational, scientific, literary. charitable, or religious purposes ; also, wearing apparel, arms for roaster, house hold and kitchen furniture, the mechanical and agricultural implements of mechanic and farmers, libraries and scientific instru ments, to a value not 'exceeding three hun , dred dollars. Should be so amended as to enlarge the class of exemptions so as to include "stock and provisions." , ' ARTICLE VL Sec. 5. Tae following classes of persons shall be disqualified for office : First, All all persons who shall deny the being of Almighty God. Second, All persons who shall have been convicted of treason, per jury, or of any other infamous crime, since. uecoming citizens or me united states, or of corruption, or mal practice in office, un less such person shall have been legally restored to the rights of citizenship. So amend as to provide that the persons therein4 rendered ineligible for office shall likewise be rendered incompetent to vote. . Abticxk VII. r 'SkctIon 1. In each County, there shall be elected, biennially, by the qualified vo ters therof as provided for the election of members of the General Assembly, '(he fol lowing officers : A Treasurer, Register of I Deeds, purvey or and Fire Commissioners, . 2. :abajl bfl Jthe.-tlety of the Com, Deeds, Surveyor and Fire Commissioners, IUIBS.UVWB ia currviiKi a general supervision ana control or tae penal and charitable in stitutions, schools, roads, bridges, levying of taxes and finances of the County, as may be prescribed by law. The Register of Deeds shall be, exoffieio, Clerk of the Board I of Commissioners. I of Commissioners. Sec. 3. It shall be the duty of the Copt missi oners first elected in each County, to divide the same inter convenient JJlstricts, to determine the boundaries and presrcibe i ue name or me saia lJistocts, and to re ,uv ""'"v- v oiu aim tore- port the same to the General Assembly be?.! lore lue urn, uay, oi January. lOvJWTt 1 n . v m Sec. 4. Upon the approval of the reoorts - provided for in the. foregoing ; section, by1 iue ueaerai AsseuiDiyf uve saia Districts shall have corporate powers for the neces sary purposes of -local, government, . and shall be known as Townshins. Sec. 5. In each Township there shall be' oienniany eiectea, oytne qaaufled ..voters thereof, a Clerk and two Justices of the Feace, who shall constitute a Board of Trna- tees, and shall,' under the supervision ot the County Commissioners, have control of the taxes and finances roads-'and bridges of the Township as may be prescribed by law. The General Assembly jnay provide for the election of a larger number of Justices of the Peace in Cities and Towns and in those Townships in which Cities and Towns are situated. In every Township there shall also be biennially elected a School Committee,' consisting ol three persons, whose duty shall be prescribed by law. ? Sec 6. The Township Board of Trustees I snail assess the taxable nronertv of their Townships and make return to the Couotyr -Amm.i.;AM : f 1 i vuuiuiiniuuciB, iui rcriaj uu, 'mb may DO Ere3cribed by law The Clerk shall also e, ex officio, Treasurer of tho Township. Sec 7. No County, City, Town.ofothcr municipal corporation shall contract any debt, pledge its faith, or loan its credit, nor bhall any tax be levied, or collected by any officers of the same, except for the neeessary expenses thereof, unless by a vote of a majority of the qualified voters there in. . Sec 8. No money shall be drawn from any County or Township Treasury, except by authority of law. Sec v.' All taxes levied by any County, City, Town, or Township, shall be uniform I and ad valorem, opon all property in the same, except property exempted by this Constitution. Sec 10. The County officeVfirst elected under the provisions of this Article iball enter upon their duties ten days after the approval of this Constitution by the Con gress of the United States. Sec ll.The Governor shall appoint a sufficient number of Justices of the Peace in each County, who shall hold their places until sections four, fire and six of this Article shall have been carried into effect. -v-.3 Sec 12. AU charters, ordinances ud provisions relating to municipal corpora tions shall remain in force until legally changed, unless inconsistent with the pro visions ot this Constitution. K'J Abolish the Article, except section 13; thus sweeping away .the fowuAip iy$tem and leaving the matter to the Legislature. ' AKtlCLX X , 4 Snr ;h?JrP?t,0f ?7 i m i i 15 S.te M?10,60' rZ indrcddolUrs.to.be- selected by- each resu' hun resident, shall be, and is hereby exempted from sale under execution, or , other final nroccss of anv Court. Issued for the mi lection of any debt. 'a. 15 0 (-0 3TC0 fl) CO llxVOO r square V square 4 square, 4 oujiimn ' y&tvlS fr t.- :,0 : -If lhr "T5J CCIiUIUQ column -f t) ftT 30 00 . i An inch space,. or less. iuaru. T sqnare ,-. . "J3dc ft. Every K'uacH'iU'(tid the dwl- V Hngd buiUtmgstHvT i herewith; fioS kTZ.K eeedtuj; io yalug .hduiaml . dolhrs t. . ,-:scJteica .tScrcnf, or in prqcott.'raTj . j Tin anv debt, iliat nu rbmibepajoitnt pt ny d--T ?. d i"-- t thcm.;yr . - - . &c 4.. The provi ' . . ne - j aim two c uu.c a cu- iln' ' aW 1 ofk do... l ; . d pcrsou I claiming t-ch i;icuiptinn, or a mechanic i? r . i , . i uco ior wors uopo on me prcmues. Sec. 5. If the owner of a hoinotcnd die. leaving a widow, but no children, the same shall be exempt from the debts of her hus band, and. the rents and profit, thereof shall inure to her benefit during hcrwid; owbood, unless sho be the owner ot a' homestead In her own right. Sec. 67 The real and personal p,.pcrty of any female in the State, acquired In fore marriage, and all fropcrty, real and per sonal, to which le may. after marriage, become, in any manner entitled, shall be ' and rc iln the sole sod separsto estato and property df such female, and shall not bo liable for any debfs, obligations or en gagements of bcr husband, ;nud may bo devised or bequeathed, and, with the written assent of her husband, conveyed . by her as if she wcro unman led. Sec. 7. The husband may insure hiiown life for the sole uws and brnf fit of hU wife and children, and in case of the death of the husband the amount thus insured kfu.ll be paid over to the wife and children, or the guardian, if under age, for her, or their own use, free from all the claims pf the representatives of (he husband, or any ot hit creditors. - Sec 8. Nothing contained in the fore going sections of this Article shall operate to prevent the owner of a homestead from disposing of the same by deed ; but no deed made by the owner of a he" teud shall be valid without the voluntary fcinu ture and assent of Ms wife, tdnflk-d en her private examination according to law. This Article should bu so amended ut to provide tbat the Homestead proviioi should apply to all debts alike, and- it should be in fee that is, absolute. ' Abticlb XL Section 10. The General Assembly shall provide that all the deaf muton, the blind, the insane of the State, shall bo cured for at the charge of the Statu. . So amend as to provide that its bt nif.t shall extend only to IntfyjA persons. " Section 7. No- person tfis'l hol-J more than one lucrative offlco under the State, at the ssme time : Provided, That cfilccru ' in the Militia, Justices of the Ptuco. Com missioners of Public Cbaril't s and Corn- saissioners appointed for iccial purtMn-s, shall not be considered ofjtrtis within the meaning of this section. (Should ba so amended as to provide that no person ttall hold any lucrative office under this State while he holds nn f j. mce under the Unltcdtatcs. " Section 5. AiTclJum(a1lpnTtheliihsbI. tants of the State shall sBe"iakt4 under the direction of the General Aincmbly in the year one thousand tfgut'.hnitded and seventy five, and jtt;the-end of every tin years thereafter j and the sld.Seoate dis tricts shall be so alteid by tho. General Assembly, at the fint session after the ie tarn of every enumeration taken as aloic said, cr by order of 't'CongrcBs.-thst . ieh Senate District shsll contain, as nearly may be, an equal number of inhabitant, excluding Alien's. ajia.Indisni cot taxed,, and shall Remain unaltered until t! ratiun of toother enumerstlon, and khall tn!i times consist of cnnlfguous territory; anl no County shall. lis divided in the iorm tion of a Senate District, unlet ucl County shall bo "equitably entitled tu to or jjwre Senators. , jSo amend as to abolich the provision fortsking a ccntus of the Sfatoln.1875, end every ten years thereafter.! Ahticle IX . Section 5. The University of North Carolina, with its lands, emoluments ntd franchises, is under the control of the State, and shall be'held to an inseparable con nection with the free public school srtlctii ol the State.;' So amend, as to provide that the Uni versity "shall be under the control of the General Assembly, who shall clct a Board of Trustees, of which the Governor shall be ex officio Chairman. - Sec. 13. The Board of Education shall elect Trustees for the University as followi One Trustee for each County in the Bute. whose term of office shall be elht yearn ine uni mceung oi me llomTd shall bo held within ten (10) days after their tac tion, and at this and every suUequeot meeting, ten Truitcce shall constitute a quorum. ' The Trusters, at tWdr firbt meet ing, shsll be divided as equally tt msy be, iotn four c'aesea. The wiu of the fim class shall be vacated at the expiration of two years ; of the second dais, at the e- . I pirauoo oi iour years; of tbe thlrcl clsw, at tbe exp'ratlon of tix years ; of the fourth class, at tbe expiration of eight years; so that one-fourth msy be chosen every second year. i Sec 14. The Board cf Education and .the President of the University shsll be n 'effida members of the Board of Trustees ot the University; and shall, with three other Trustees, to be appointed by tbe Board of Trustees, constitute the Executive Com mittee of tbe Trustees of the University of North Carolina, and shall bo clothed with j ae .powers delegated, to the Executive Committee under ths exiiting organization f" of tbe Institution. The Governor shsll be ' a officio President of the Board of Trustees M Chairman of the Executive Co of the University. The Board of tlo- ghall nrovide for th mora mmlttee Educa tion shall provide for the more perfect organization of (be Board of Trustees. Sections 13 and 14 of this Article should a x f i i. " . f'tawsalindcr tcutioh. or other fiml . du suicaen out.j r JteT- jk.V -V--' it 4