The North-Carolina standard., 1850-07-17

h charged twenty-five per cent. higher than the above
,,es reasonable deduction will be made to those who
advertise by the year.
tiers to the Editor must come free of postage.
From the Carolina Watchman Of June, 1881
TO the Freemen Of North Carolina.
CPrB1IsHED BIZ REaUEsr.l
Tbev are evils which MAJORITY of the People
have RIGHT TO REMOVE. TO deny this right is to
argue against the very foundation principle OF all
nonular Governments. 1t is retained in the front
rank of our Declaration of rights, and in that OF
every other State in the Union, that in the concerns
of this life all power and sovereignty reside, and OF
roht ought to reside, in the People, They alter
their Government when they please, whenever in
deed the happiness and prosperity of the larger num-
her imperiously demand change. Herein they are
the sole rulers and sole judges. No limit has been
set to their authority, but that which the almighty
has imposed that they shall exercise it in Justice and
,rine of free American institutions. 1t is the doc
,rine of the Revolution-1t is the Republican doc
trine of this country. Whenever the People shall
consent to repudiate it, they will cast away the great
check they have retained upon the usurpaton of their
raers. Let US not be misunderstood or misrepre-
sented Whilst earnestly maintain this g. funda-
mental principle we heartily deprecate licentious-
ness we would rather invoke speedy cooperation of
al partes in our beloved State to settle the
Of agitation which alone produce it, but which
are now too justfable to be condemned, and too po-
tent TO be harmless. And why may it not be hoped
for1 We profess to venerae the fathers of the Rev.
oution and the principles they established and shall
that grea: leading principle of the Revolution that
representation and taxation shall 60 tcgether;' be
excluded from the charter Of our own Government
We have demanded of Congress an abandonment of
the Protective Tariff system because it infrnges the
great principles of political jsice and shall we be
deaf to the calls of majority of people for jus
tee at home? We trinmphed at the advancement of
free principles when the question OF Reform IN the
English Parament-of reform Of the unequal rep
resentation of the People, was sanctioned and sus-
tanned by the KING Of England against his House
in North Carolina be denied? When Ireland had
wen partial restoration of her rights by the removal
of an odious restriction upon her Catholic people.
We witnessed flow of generous graduation from the
hearts of North Carolnans; and will they turn
from US with Indifference, men We remind them that
The hated tyranny over the conscences OF Gath
olics is sanctioned by the very charter of their lib
erty!
Unless we choose to indulge degree of susPi-
eion that is alike dshonoable to ourselves and sub
yersive of all those principles OF action which arise
from observation and experience. remedy for these
evils is neither difficult nor dangerous. BY your
votes at the Elections in August, pronounce your de-
termination upon the question arhsther a change IS
needed in the ConsiiiutiOn-that expression of your
will being sent to your Representatives they will be
bound 10 provide remedy, o: to pass law by which
you shall be enabled to effect it yourselves. If this
obligation does arise from that article in the Bill
Of Rights which secures you the right of petit
ionng the Legislature for redress OF grievances"
then it privilege far too iriing to be retained
solemn charter. This expression of your will,
will be instructive your Representatives, and if they
do moi obey it, then indeed period has arrived in the
history of the institutions OF this country, when the
people are bound by the Constitution, and their
wants alone are exempted from its obligations. But
you need not fear such result. The right of rep
resentaton-of fair and equal representation of the
People, has become, in our day, but another name tor
civil freedom, and success has crowned the exertions
Of those who have struggled for it in other free States
Of America. There is not less republicanism, nor
less Justice, nor less lberality, among the people Of
North Carolina, than all others. Let but the voice
of decided majority speak, and the work is done.
1t is not possible for the most Jealous and eloquent
par,izan to force from the minority of North Caroli-
ma, denial of the great democratic republican prn-
eiple, that maturity must gorern.
The general practice of the States has determined
that the ordinary and therefore perhaps the most
appropriate remedy for Constitutional evils, (where
the existing Constitution contains provision for its
amendment) is through the medium Of a State CON-
VENTION, authorized, and in its incipient steps
regulated, by law. Whether this Convention shall
be imiled and to what bounds, is question of
erpedency for the previous determination of the peo
rle. We do not stop to argue with those who feel,
or affect to feel great fears of Convention, Uithost
limit to their powers. The friends of Reform are
not the advocates of Revolution or disorder-they
socitous to maintain the great principles Of
the old Constitution as any others; they only desire
10 see change of our system. of Representation,
which, in the lapse of than SO years. has come
in conflict with these principies-to restore to the
people the right of electing their Governor-to d.
mnish the expenses of the Legislature down to that
standard of economy which is commended by the
practice of our fathers-to reconcile the Constitution
with our Declaration of Rights, by removing re-
strictons upon conscience-and to establish safe
plan of future reform. Hence they meet their objec-
tions on this point, with distinct avowal that no
unlimited Conuention is asked. If Convention shall
be deemed indispensable, let it be limited to these
subjects, and the advocates for reform ask no more.
Let them be restricted to these specific amend
ments. and the friends Of reform will be satisfied,
and the people will be so likewise. -.
CONVENTIONS BE LlMIrED.-They possess no
inherent power, they exercise that only which is DEL
egaed they are servants of the PEOPLE who only are
sovereign, TO whom alone all power belongs, who,
and who only confer power at their pleasure and
TO the extent they may will it. Convention is notr
Ing but an assemblage OF delegates elected by the
people, and how can it be affirmed that sovereign
may not create limited delegation? Have the whole
people less power even than each individual A
man may create limited agency for the transaction
Of his business; and must the people, necessarily
cothe their agents with IS oil power' for the perform
ance Of their businessf
The General Assembly, is composed of Represen-
taives, whom certain powers are delegated by The
people, and their limits prescribed by the written
Constitution, under which they assembIe-this is their
power of Attorney, and they sworn to maintain
1t. Experience has proved, that this affords rea-
sonable security the rights of property and of per-
sons. So the people may convoke any other body of
their delegates, define the boundaries of their power
and impose on them, the same solemn sanctions for
'aer strict obseryan'c Of them. The Constitution
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