The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1850-06-26

the Constitutional agency OF heir Repre-
senlsiises in the General Assembly.
What real lover OF the peoples rights,
what honest patriot will not sgree, no
matter what may be his opinions OF the
alterations proposed. that above I'll other
lhings Constitutional changes ought moi 10
be made The lest Of pany. nor The play
things in meIe parry conflicts; neither
The price OF any ones sleSslion, nor The
reward OF analher's oserhrow.
II is the Legislature and NOT The Gov
ernor. who are competent 10 enact laws
for the legitimate expression ofihis nigh.
~ voice Of popular sossreigniyi and u Is
now, a. il was Two years ago. mailer OF
liille signi6calion. what may be the indi.
vidusl opinion Of the Governor, OF Of any
candidate for lhal Office.
Do the people wish 10 have Q reform
in their Constitution Then they need
only 10 require their Representatives TO
pass laws for taking The vote OF ihe peo-
pie. That process the Governor posses
ses no power either 10 promote Or pre-,
vent, except il may be by the corrupt ex-
ercise Of an influence derived from his
station. believe that the honest adso-
Gates Of Free Suffrage do moi wish 10 at
tain their object by official sbuses Of pow.
er; and that The honest opponents Of all
change in the Constitution can hardly ex.
pect 10 resist the popular will by such
ignoble means. Our Constitution is not
perfect. No one prelends that il 10 or
ever can be. But Is il not the glory Of
our free Institutions ihal the people have
a right 10 alter their organic law when.
ever time and dexperience prove that amend.
mems are wanting, and the public feeling
end the popular voice demands changel
In our Constitution this righ, is expressly
provided for, and in my judgment il is no
part Of Governors duty or rights to
make or propose new Constitutions for The
People.
! liis undeniable that large intelligent
and patriotic portion Of the citizens ofihs
Safe are now demanding some very i'm
porlant changes in their Constitution. We
see the evidences Of this public senlimen
not only in the popular meetings Of boil
political parties, and in the public presses
but also ia the votes oi the last Assembl,
Of this Stale. and in The progress Of simi
i lar opinions amongst The voters Of almos
, every other State in the Union.
Whether those who desire a chang
constitute majority or not may befesdi
ly asceriained in the manner provided 70
by our Constitution, that is TO say, BY al
act of the General Assembly submiiiin
. these things 10 the people al the polls
And l hold il 10 be the duty Of their Rep
, resentaiives, as their Agents, 10 provid
!, for the orderly and lawful expression q
. The public mind..whenever there isTny we
] grounded belief thai a settled disconteI
prevails against the Constitution as !, i
I The People may be trusted, | am sure, I
decide for themselves in North carolns
and at all events they have reserved ,hs
right in the existing Constitution; and
such law should be passed by the Legia
laiure during my term ol Office, ilshall b
} faithfully and fairly executed.
!. In my view Of the subject, il will b
my duty TO recommend 10 the approachin
7 General Assembly such legislation, consi.
I ienlly with the compromises ofour preser
Constitution, as will enable The people
decide these questions for themselves
And lowe il 10 candor 10 declare this
you upon the present occasion. beeaus
{ the approaching election will take plac
. several months before my first 0fiicia
I Communication TO the General Assem-
. bly,.
Blu, to this Convention, 10 this Band {
4 Wing Brothers, who have braved the ba
!, lie and the breeze" in many hard fougl
Q field. would say, lei not questions ofthi
. kind divide you. Suffer not the organi
I law of the land, above all things, TO bt
g come party test. Learn from the cours
q pursued by your Representatives in ih
! last Legislature that such questions fort
. no test of party adhesion. For. in the ';
!. rious propositions in both Houses in n
q gard to "Free Suffrage" you foun
i Wings and Democrats voting togeiht
!, on one side, and Wings and Democrat
i voting together on the other. TakecouI
! sci from our political adversarles, wh'
although they differ widely among then
8 selves on many questions, and especial
}. upon Internal Improvement and upo
/ Free, Suffrage" maintain to the bin,
n end lheircohesive attraction as Democrat
o Let US maintain ouI adhesion as membe
!. Of the great conservative Wing Party upe
Q national grounds.
a wHIG PRINCIPLES.
y The Wing party had its organizatir
}. in the defence of The Constitution again
Q the aggressions Of the Executive; in d
}. fence Of the Legislative department, Of d
! government against Executive induenc
il Executive diclaiion, and the one.m'
y power. 1t is based upon regard for d
" Constitution and obedience TO law. "
y inculcate the doctrine Of honesty, and IA
IN n III .nufalah,li