North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1850-12-25
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.

j CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.
The Raleigh Register is opposed to Constitu.
tonal amendments By Legislative action and is evil
IDENTIFY in favor of Convention, if the people desire
it, Is there any evidence that the people desire a
Conventions If SO, where is it, HIS one County
even called for it, The Register says:
g For ourself, We maintain the position we have
a ways assumed. Let all questions, whatever, in
volViog alteration of the Constitution, be submt-
ted to the rightlal sovereigns If they decide thai
change as desirable, and tcig to call a Conpen-
lion, make one alteration or mann alterations be -
so! No man dare dispute their aafhority.''
That is tho language of the Register Now let us
see the purpose for which Convenient is desired In
the number Of the Register from which the above
extract is made, we find reported the following re-.
marks of MIR. ErwR Of Buncombe, delivered in the
Commons Of Saturday last
g Mr.. ErUin continued ais remarks in favor of an
unlimited Convention. and submitted SOME statistics
showing the inequality OF representation in the SEN
ale at rssent, between the east and wes-that some
Senatorial Districts In the west have double, and in
some cases. treble the population, and nav twice as
much tax as some ia the east. lie concluded by sta
ting that he was foe Submitting the question FIRST to
the people to say whether they desired any change in
the consultation. and fthey do. Eksn 10 call an unHn,-
tied CanUeation.'' =
The Register says If the people want Convention,
to make one alteration, pany alterations be so -
Mr. Erwin argues against the present basis of repre-
sentatiaa. and them like the Register he is for SUBJ
hitting cali questions whatever the righ,fuI SOW
eregns, and If they decide in favor of change his
next step would be an maEa1iiea Convention !!
what Is the difference between the Register and Mr..
Erwin2 We confess are unable TO perceive any.
Mr.. Rayner is for fmitcd Convention, and we
suppose he will for his bill in the House; but
he declared, few days since ia the Commons. That
If his proposition shoad go before the people, he
O0o"H cole against At at tie polls. What is this but
trifing with the House and the people? He intro
duces till, the sole object of which is to establish
Equal Suffrage by means of Convention, provided
the people will CALI Con~eation He presses this
bill on the House, declaring at the time that he
considers Equal Suffrage deceptive and iusory in its
character, and distinctly announcing it his opinion
that the mere ceremony of voting, equality at
the polls, is of bat little moment compared with po-
ticai po0er sceled BY representation in the LegS
Iature. Tie votes for his bill in the House, stating
at the time that If 1t should pass he will vote
against it al the polls What is this but repetition
Of Gov. Manly's argument, that Equal Suffrage is I'M
substantial, and that Equal Suffrage really consists
in giving power to the West! VIVA: is it but
an attack-coYeTt, admit-on The basis of repre-
sentGLisne
Under the circumstances, and with this announce
ment by Mr.. Rayner that he is prepared repudate
his own measure at the polls, the members of the
House owe il to themselves, matter selfrespeci
alone. TO down his BILL We hope they will do
it unanimously.
We have no disposition 10 repeat the arguments
against a CouEea,on and in favor of legislative en-
actmeae this subject. They have been already
presented the floor Of The House, in much better
and stronger than could present them, by
those champions of truth and of popular rights, Saun
ders, Mclean, Ruffin, Avery, and MizelI. But we
call pafiic attenon the ic that the Standard is
the oaly paper the seal OF which stands
I'D boldly tor the federal basis OF the Commons and
the taxation basis Of the Senate and that the Wing
papers of this City operating against the present
basis, and making for party objects. ,chitebasts
TO lie Vest. We charged this these papers
weeks since, and they did not deny it. We
call upon them, in the presence of the people,
10 shoao their hands Are they or against the pres
basis of representation? And if an unlimited
Convention should be called, UowH they oppose by ar
gume1f any change in this basix2 Let the people of
the State-and especially those of the East-ook for
the Of these papers to these questions, and
profit by them.