Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-07-26

some misrepresentation exists among our IFlehoS IN
relation to the position occupied by Col. REID, upon
the question of Equal Suffrage; and that some of
them have even gone far to confound it with
change in the present basis of representation This
is a mistake-a very great mistake. Nothingcould
be farther from the facts of the Nothing
opposed to Col. REDS views and wishes. Col REID
and the friends of Equal Suffrage contemplate no
change in the present basis of representation and
the reform they have in view has connection
with the basis of representation than with the
in the moon. We will quote Col. REDS own words
upon this question: that the people may what he
does say In abiding to Equal Suffrage he says:
I" In advocating this REFORM do not now, nor have
at any time proposed to change the basis of repre-
sentaton for either the Senate House of Commons.
Let that remain as it is. What now propose is, to
permit erery ho as entitled to cote for the
Commons, to cote also for the Senate.'
This is an extract from Col. REDS recent address
to the people of North Carolina and is in strict
cordance with his private views and feelings. Du-
ring the canvass of 1S48, we had the pleasure of
meeting with Col REID, and of conversing with him
upon this subject No man could be more opposed
to change in the present basis than he is and
no could more Indignantly repudiate all inter
ference with the matter.
To illustrate this subject more fully we will take
the county of Dupln as an example. In apportoning
Senators and Commoners, according to the present
basis Duplin is allowed one Senator and two Com
moners. Suppose we allow every man Ia Duplin who
is entitled to vote for President of the United
States, members of Congress, and State Commoners
also to vote for State Senator what change will it
make in the basis ? None at all. Not particle of
change. Duplin will still be entitled to two Com
mOners and Senator as before. The basis of rep
resentaton has reference only to the apport,onmen
Ofrepresentation among the countless and not to the
mode of electng them by the people of those coun-
ties If it be ust to that the Senate is the
representative of land, and that all except land
holders ought to be excluded from voting for Sen
ators, it is equally just to say that because repre-
sentaton in the Commons is founded upon the feder-
al basis, all except shareholders should be excluded
from voting for Commoners and yet who will assert
thisl
This thing of making a legal difference between
free trhte men, residing in community, is rem
nant of British rule and aristocratc tyranny which
cannot too be got rid Of The basis of represent
taton being intended to harmonic conflicting inter-
ess, and preserve the balance of power between diff
ferent sections, forms of the compromises of
Federal Constitution, and lies at the very foundation
of political SYSTEM and the democratic party is
opposed to any change in it. Hear what Mr. REID
says upon this subject:
Our basis of representation for one branch of the
Legislature taxation for the other it is federal pop
ulation. The abotionists at the North wish to de-
stroy the basis of Federal population upon which we
are represented in Congress. | regard this course
on the subject as mischieUouS and dangerous; and
shall regard similar movement in relation to our
in the Legislature fraught with equal
mischief and danger"
But now hear Gov. MANLY's position upon this
question. We quote from the certificate furnished
by T. RUFr1N Jr, and four other gentlemen of Rock
ingham county. They affirm that at Wentworth,
in that county, Gov. MANLY
g Declared most distinctly and unequvocally, that
he favor of abolishng the present or black basis
and of instituting 1rhte basis its stead He called
upon Col. REID to know what were his views this
subject to which the Colonel unhesitatngly replied
that he was OPPOSED to any change whatever in
the mode of apportioning representatives: and
especially at this particular uncture Gov. MAN
LY then emphatically announced himself IN tauor Of
the change, and pronounced that he better
friend to Equal Suffrage than his opponent"
1t is believed that there is now fifty thousand
free white citizens of North Carolina of the age of
twenty-one years and upwards, who cannot vote for
the Senate And why! Is it account of any
evil that they have done! Are they worse than
those who vote for the Senate 1t is not preten-
ded that such is the Why, then, they shut
out from exercising equal rights with the rest of their
fellow-citizens Why is it, or how is it that two
free white men, equal in character and in intelli-
gence may walk up together to the ballot box and
yet be allowed to vote for Senator and the other
be debarred this privilege and treated inferior
simply because he does not happen to fifty acres
of land Is not this an unequal and invdious dis.
tinction between free white residing in the same
community, and having the same interests! Rene
dying this injustice would not have any effect upon
the basis of representation. A certain amount o.
taxation entities district to senator, no matter
whether every man, or every tenth votes who
that Senator shall be and have clearly proved
that Col REID is opposed to any change in the present
basis, while Gov MANLY denounces the possession O
a Senator by Onslow county as GROSS INJUS
TICE, and himself in favor Of abolshng the
present or black basis, and of instituting white
basis in it's stead.H
We beg the people of the East-Democrats anc
Wings alike--to read these FACTS calmly and re
fleet upon them Show them to their friends an(
let the TRUTH be known, and we have no fears fo
the result.
- Respect to Gen. Taylor.
The procession yesterda- in honor of the memoir
of Gen. TAYLOR late President of the United States
was the most imposing display which has ever bee
made in Wilmington. The military and the variou
societies, Masons Odd Fellows, Rechabites, and 9th
in rroat hriIlia