Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1849-05-18

lom was first unfurled by the Mecklenburg
patriots, on the 20lh of May, 1775. 1t was
her brave and hardy sons who were first among
The American Colonies TO repulse ravaglng
enemy, and to disenthrall themselves from re-
gal power They were the first to nnloose
the fetter which bound them at the footstool
OF the British throne, and TO throw OF the
CALLING yoke OF tyranny and oppression. They
were the first to cast off the chains OF political
vassalage, and at period of doubt, of dark
ness, and of danger, without concert with
other States. without assurances of support
from any quarter, they were the first to " dis
solve the political bands which connected
taem with the mother country and to declare
Sc free and independent people.
and, of right, ought to be sovereign and self
governing
Such acts of fortitudc and bravery manifest
their deep devotion to liberty, and prove that
they were
"Men who knew their rights, and knowing, dared main
tain them"
The patriots and heroes of MeckIenburg,
who first published 10 the world the Deelara-
ton of independence, have left behind them
in the memory OF their countrymen. beyond
the reach of calumny,
&c A name of fear,
That tyranny snail quake to hear
And left their sons hope, fame,
They, too, would rather die than shame"
The blessings of our mild and benefcelt
Government, like the gentle dews of Heaven,
should descend equally upon all, the poor as
well as the rich. am in favor of establish
ing equality in political rights among free
white men wish to elevate The condition
of the poor man, because it is mainly those
with limited means who always fight the bat
ties of their country. Whenever our country
has been summoned to the sanguinary altar of
ruthless war; whenever her rights and honor
have been a>sailed. the laboring classes have
always focked TO her standard, and arrayed
themselves to meet the foe Is man less a
friend 10 his county because he is born poor
Is poverty crime, and misfortune reproacn
Is it right or just to deprive freeman of the
privilege of the elective franchise because he
is of humble birth No, Sir, ii is contrary to
the spirit of free institutions and the primer
pies of republican liberty, which recognizes
all freemen politically equal
90 Equality of rights is natures plan,
And to follow nature is the march of man."
1t is political equality that gives energy and
strength 10 our government; an it is those
who are Injured TO daily toll those with labor
hardened hands and sun burnt faces who are
its safeguard in peace and its tower of strength
in war
Sir, regard the property qualification for
the exercise of the elective franchise, as in
compatible with the fundamental principles of
free government, and contrary to its nature
and genius. This property qualification in
our Constitution, is a plant of exotic growth
in North Carolina. 1t was transplanted on
her soil from the soil of England. 1t is an
excrescence, unsuiled to our saluhrious and
genial climate. 1t had its origin with the lords
and mobiles in kingly government. 1t is the
gem of arstocracy, the bane of democratic
principles. 1t was waited to our shores across
proud Atlantic-it came as an unwholesome
disease. 1t is a morbid and unnatural plant
that cannot flourish in our State, and believe
that evidence has already been a3duced to
prove that the people are disposed to extirpate
it. The current Of public opinion cannot be
easily resisted
''You may well bid the mountain pines
To wag their high tops, and make no noise
When they are fretted with the gusts of Heaven"
1t was the powerful voice of the people
with Divine assistance, which spoke our gov
eminent into existence and made it what il is
Sc city set upon a hill which cannot be
id,''-which gave it energy and vigor to be
able TO Withstand all the opposition that might
be waged against it, and which has preserved
il from domestic dissentions and the tumults of
faction.
The revolutionary battle grounds in North
Carolina, will ever remain as enduring mon
uments Of the valor and bravery of those who
gained our liberties, amidst the roar OF artiIe-
ry and the clash of arms, Mecklenburg,
Moore's Creek Kings Mountain, and Guilford,
are landmarks which time cannot Grace from
the pages of history They will remain as
long as her own Pilot Mountain remains
They will stand out as beacon lights 10 direct
her sons in the road of freedom They will
continue when time itself shall have grown
old, as faithful sentinels upon the watch tower
of liberty, to guard the rights and privileges
of the people against the entertainments OF
arstocratic power And whenever the peoples
rights are assailed by hostile adversary, they
will at all times be found ready to respond to
the country's call. They will
" Come the winds come. when forests are rended,
Come as the waves come, when naVies stranded.'
1t is freedom of speech, freedom of action,
freedom of the public press, and essential ele-
ments Of our government Let either of these
be attacked, and the hardy people of North
Carolina will rally as bodyguard, TO repel
the aggression of the enemy For
freedoms battle once begun,
Though batfied oft, is Won"
So will freedom ever triumph in every coun
try where the elective franchise is exercised
equally by the people, and where their inter-
ests and destinies are identified with their
country.
In the Republic of France, which was un-
til within the last year Kingdom, suffrage is
now universal. In the Preamble to the new
Constitution of the Republic of France, it is
declared hat The French Republic is Dem
ocratic, one and invisible" In the Constitu-
ton of France which was adopted by the Ma
tlonal Assembly in November, 1S48, it is de-
cIared that Suffrage shall be direct and
universal" Suffrage is free and equal in
France, the most powerful country OF Europe,
which was until lately ruled by a king, and
where the great body of the people were en-
tirely deprived of the exercise OF this invalua-
bic privilege.
1t is my humble opinion that property
qualification for the right of suffrage, does not
comport wit the fundamental principles OF
free government. 1t virtually deprives every
man who is not so fortunate a, to own the
amount of properly required by the Constitu-
ton, of the right of self government. 1t SUBJ
stantially deprives the people OF the privilege
of self-governmeat to have no voice in choos-
ing.
| believe it TO be wrong in principle TO make