The North-Carolina standard., 1850-07-10
THE VAGRANT LAW.

] The Raleigh Times charges Col. Reid with voting,
whilst in the Legislature, TO sell poor white AS
this charge has been caught up by ''smal fry
in our midst and used against the Colonel We will
change our original intent, to answering foul
and contemplate charge, and condescend to show
its falsity: He refers you proof to the Revised
Statutes Sect A., page s0l-a law passed in
1871 for the punishment of vagrants, which some
member moved to repeal in 1S40, but which Col.
Reid voted to sustain. The Times says this act could
not apply to gamblers, as they have generally good
deal of ready money with which to pay costs and
escape the punishment of selling, prescribed in
the act.
Now what is the marginal title to this Section ?
1t is &c Punishment of Fagrants' - not poor men, as
stated by the Times. What is the meaning of rag
rant-a poor man! Certainly MOTT means wan
derer, a vagabond, a man unsettled in habitation.
| What better definition of the bhckhs, who wanders
over the country without settled habitaton, running,
corrupting and blasting in his course And the Ed
itor of the 1in.es the defender of Charles Manly is
likewise the advocate and apoogist of such char
acter! But that readers may see how unjust the
charge is will copy the fore part of the section,
which recites or rather explains the character of the
offender:
elf any person or persons, who have no apparent
means of subsistence, or neglect applying themselves
10 some honest calling for the support of themselves
and families, shall be found saunering about and en-
deavoring to maintain themselves by gaming and 9TH
er undue means, it shall and may be Lawful, ,''-and
then follows the punishment to be inflicted on such
men.
| By this act man who is simply ragrant cannot
be punished much less the poor man. For it saws
that they must be found sauney5s,y about -this is
not all-and, mark we'll the language of the act,
"and endeavoring to maintain themselves by GAMING
and other UNDUE MEANS" So that this poor Hhite
man, as the Times styles him, must be either gamb
Ter or a scoundrel to come within the act. The Ed
tor of the Times insults the poor Of the country
when he asserts that this Vagrant act applies to
them!
Remember it, felIow-citizens, that this Wing pa
per, the mouth-pece of Gov. Manly, thinks that to
be poor is to be either gambler or scoundrel {!
That an Act passed to punish the oscourings of the
earth-the very dregs of society, is Law to-'Sel
Poor W hite Men !!!'' Ye who are poor but honest
who get your bread by the sweat of your brow, who
toll day after day to be at night the poor man still
how do you like to be classed with scgrants-wth
ragabonds and thieves? We await your indignant an
swer at the ballo-box. HiAsbo'ough Democrat.
The CAMPAIGN. On Monday last the Campaign
commenced in this county, that is old Orange, and
we have every reason to believe with the highest
hopes and brightest anticpations the par: of the
Democrats They 60 into the canvass proud of their
ancient principles. and proud of the high position
which their party occupies with regard to Southern
honor. The cry of "submission'' has never been
raised in their ranks and their flag floats on the breeze
bearing the inscription ''Southern rights and no sub
mission''
! On the great principles of Free Suffrage and FL
ecton OF Judges by the people, they do not beat the
bush as opponents do, but come out manfully as
the untri:g and devoted advocates of these
They are Democrats sound, tried and true. They
are men to be trusted of the highest character and
unblemished reputation. They will make one and
all, able, faithful and Industrious Legislators. And
we now appeal to the Democrats to turn out and do
their duty. What is that duty--what is to be gain
ed ? We answer a change Of rulers in North Caro-
lima. Let Us have Democratic Governor-a Demo
cratic Senate-anda Democratic House of Commons.
Let US make North Carolina what she ought to be
true Southern State. This is the duty we owe to
ourselves and to our country. What Democrat is
not ashamed to see the present state of things in
North Carolina? The State in debt-the country
getting poorer and poorer-her population moving
away by thousands-but worse than all, her honor
tarnshed by base submission to Northern arrogance
and Northern usurpation. Oh what Carelinian that
loves lis State does not blush see her'placed in
such dsgracefnl position by the whig leaders who
have held the reins of government! -.
ITO frown down these ,raitors-and vindicate the
rights and honor of the People. Ibid.