Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1849-05-18
[BY REQUEsT.l
Speech Of Mr. Brogden,
OF WAYNE,

delivered an the House OF Commons of the
General assembly of North Carolina. Jan
,lary 2ad. 1919, on the subject of Equal
Suffrage.
Mr.. SPEAKER: Before the vote of the House
is taken on the bill now under consideration, |
propose briefly 10 express my sentiments on
the great principle of Equal Suffrage may
not possess the ability,to express my views
with the perspicuity of logcian. but hope
to be able to express them in the sober deduc-
tons of reason and entirely disconnected from
all superficial and extraneous encumbrances
have not consumed the public time in de-
bate during the present session, and in the
remarks which it is now my purpose to submit,
am influenced solely BY sense of public
duty which feel unwilling 10 disregard on
this occasion
shall not attempt TO delineate elegant pic
lures OF the Imagination, or to embeIlsh my
subject with literary garlands of the flowers
OF rhetoric. But conscious of the rectitude of
my Intentions, feel myself fully justified in
the course have deemed proper to pursue.
The subject before the House is one of vast
importance to very large portion of the peo-
pie of North Carolina. A proposition to
amend the Constitution should be determined
calmly and dspasslonately. This great ques-
ton of altering the fundamental law OF the
land is one that should be removed from all
political influences and associations. 1t should
be disconnected from all party considerations
and party bias.
The bill proposes to submit the question TO
the people of North Carolina at the earliest
practicable period, for the purpose of ascer-
tanning whether they are in favor of amend
ing the Constitution so as to allow all quail
he'd voters for members of the House of Com
mons to vote for members of the State Senate.
This proposition to amend the Constitution
should neither be advocated nor opposed as a
political subject. 1t is 10 entitle every free
white male citizen of twenty one years and
upwards, who has paid his public taxes, to
vote for Senator as well as for Commoners.--
Ut is declared in the Declaration of American
independence, that great character of Ameri-
can liberty, that sublime monument of exalted
patriotism and chivaric daring, that all men
are created equal, that :hey are endowed by
their Creator with certain inaienable rights,
and one of those cardinal rights is the right Of
suffrage-a right inestimable to freemen, and
formidable to tyrants only.'''
Sir, why should large majority of the vo-
tiers in North Carolina be deprived of the full
and free exercise of the right of suffrage, that
invaluable heritage of liberty, that great bull
wark of American freedom and independence?
It is this legitimate offspring of the American
Revolution which imparts halo of glory 10
the American name, which gives transcendent
lustre to the Star Spanged banner OF this
land OF the free and the nome of the brave"
And yet, strange as it might appear, when
an amendment to the Constitution was advo-
Gated by the Hon. David s. Reid, the Demo-
cratic candidate for Governor, in the summer
of 1913, it was denounced in the most un-
measured terms. 1t was characterized by
Wing newspapers and Wing leaders as Dem
ocratic humbug and the doctrines of Equal
Suffrage was not only violently opposed by
the Wing newspapers and Wing leaders
throughout the State, but Col Reid was ira
duced and villifed because he thought it his
duty, as a candidate before the people for their
suttrages, to express his views in favor of this
alteration in the constitution. He was charged
with being influenced by sinister designs, with
being actuated by personal considerations on
7 ly. He was accused with having brought for
ward this hobby. as it was classically styl led
by his opponents, for the purpose of accom-
plishing party object, for securing his own
election. But he protested on all occasions
against having this proposition 10 amend the
constitution connected with the political ques-
tons of the day. Was this question opposed
as party question, only because it was adj
vocated by the Democratic candidate for Gov
ernor Is every useful measure to be oppo-
sed because it happens to originate with the
Democratic party? Who made this doctrine
of Equal Suffrage party question How
came it to be made a party question , Why
is it party question Is it because it is ad-
vocated by Democrats Is that sufficient
reason for opposing every new measure In
some senses, however, it may be termed a par
ty measure.
1t is party measure in the same sense as
the revolution in England of 1858 was par
ty measure. Sir, that was party measure
carried through by a party. 1t was party
which overthrow the tyranny of the Stuarts
and gave liberty chance TO rally. The prin.
ciple of Equal Suffrage is party measure in
the same sense as was the glorious Revolu
ton. That was emphatically party move
ment, sustained and carried through by the
rallying cry of party, which was but another
name for the rallying cry of independence anC
liberty.
The great civil revolution of 1900, was al
so party measure, which overtl rev ancien
Federalism, the first combination of all the
arlstocratIc elements into dynasty of politi
1oi POHCiS anu icStoIcu the CONSTITUTION DIT lVs
last gasp. The famous bulwark of English
liberty, which now goes by the name of Mac
Ma CHARTA, was extorted by the Barons from
King John in 1915. That also was party
measure, great reform measure. This char
ter was agreed to al place called Runimede
still held in reverence by posterity as the spo
where the standard of freedom was first cree
ted in England. The celebrated Habeas Cor
pus Act, which confirms the subject in an alb
solute security from oppressive powers, wa
passed in the reign of Charles the Second, at
ter Parliament had been in session seventeen
years, towards the close of the seventeenth
century. This Act was another reform meas
ure
might refer, il it were necessary, to man,
of the reforms in the Church which have bee
constantly taking place since the commence
ment of the Christian era, but will desst
will only mention two or three instances o
reform at present. In the early part of tn
fifteenth century, John Wickliffe, a celebrate
English divine, was said TO be the father O
the reformation of the English Church froE
Popery.
In 1917, Martin Luther, who had been i
one OF the monastic orders of the church Q
Rome. opposed himself TO The Papal authori
ty. Several ruling powers in Europe separa
ted from the church of Rome, and followe
the doctrine taught by Luther This event
known in history by the name of the REFoR