Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1850-12-11
SATURDAY.. DECEMEER =, 1850.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.


say whether majority of the people of the State
are favor of alterations in the Constitution not
but he nevertheless thinks that law ought to be
rassed at 6 for taking the of the voters
upon the question of change or cAange.'' If no
tiange" should prevail, why then Equal Suffrage
would be defeated; but if the people should vote for
"ehange,' the next step, as doubtless anticipated
by the Governor would be On unlimited Contention
Is he in favor of that! Are the Wing leaders for ii!
If so, why not say so in SO many words? Why this
evasion! Why this marching up and falling back
Why not meet the question at once and like mens
The Governor furthermore says that this sc demand
for reform - has grown rapidly that it ''em-
braces change in the basis of representation in the
General Assembly," Who put that demand - in
Who raised it up, from the dust of repeated and sig
nal defeats, and gave 20 it vitality and official sane
ton! Gov. Manly; and yet he lacks the candor to
say that he is for it, tina: he considers the demand
for it just and reasonable one. 1t was &c a good
enough at Morgan the stump; but it is handled
in his Message if he afraid of it-as if it had
pushed itself forward without being called for. The
truth is this point in his Message is the most nsid-
ious and uncandid part of the entire document. He
hints what he feared to sag and he essays to put the
legislature on course of policy, by his '' change"
and '' no change suggestion, which he himself, as
ap1ivate citizen would doubt against at the
pills. But this, in has public career, is surprising.
It's level with his silence in the East, in 1874,
on the School Fund question, and his advocacy, in
lie Ipest, in the same campaign, of distribution of
that Fund according to white population; and it is in
perfect keeping with the course of many of his East
ern friends in the late campaign, who denied that he
had taken this latter ground in the West, and who
we're only informed and conuinccd of their by the
plain and pointed revelations Of his annual Message.
We charged, in the late campaign, that he had not
only taken ground in favor of the white basis for the
School Fund, but in relation to representation in the
Legislature; and we prored what we said. Wing
Eartizans denied it, and denounced paper in the
bleres terms the vehicle of Misrepresentation and
hsehood. Whe scas right in this matter2 Let the
ecords-;he proofs declare! We are satisfied in this
regard; but think it more than probable Gov.
Manly s Eastern friends not. They were grossly
deceived, and they have right to be indignant. But
We have no disposition to dwell upon these points.
We designed only to offer suggestion Or so in re-
hion to proposed Constitutional amendments, and
upon Tie Convention question.
We think the Senate and House have adopted the
proper course in referring the various Convention bills
10 the Committees Constitutional amend ments.
we can perceive no good reason for calling Con-
'entlon, whether IS limiied' or "unlimited." The
various Constitutional amendments proposed can be
elected by legislative action, in good time, and with
out the agitation and expense ineident to Con-
iInr H.
0y which It can be altered; and, in the absence of
>'E general demand by the people for a Convention,
ri that mode be observed. There is no necessity for
'Hl'ng these measures in the same bill. They can
he passed aratelg-Equal Suffrage in one. Judges
Hd Socltors inanoher. and Justices in another-and
e put TO the people, to stand fall upon their own
"efs. Nedo not fear that either of the propositions
Will iai. Tney will all go through, at the polls, by
n""fitles OF thousands; and we shall thus have re-
,0Fn without expense and without sectional strife.
'eed We do not believe tatany considerable portion
Vi the Western people are in favor of Conven-
ion; and We confident, from all we can learn,
'a' majority CT them are satisfied with the present
'ass OF representaonor, at least, if they had the
power 10 do so, they would disturb it at This tiue
''a' inFy are In favor Of Equal Suffrage, and Judges,
'''e'soFS' and Justices by the peoples and they ex-
's' is Legislature to adopt the necessary means,
!" accoFdacce with the Constitution, for carrying out
'eF wishes in this respect.
ar No'din no doubt spoke his real sentiments,
." those ola large number of his Wing constituents,
""S violent w!ite-basls effort on Wednesday last
' We cannot believe that Mr.. Hayner is in favor of
convention Of any sort. Of course we do not
"4f deliberate nsinceriiy upon the gentleman from
''F'''i.-he is above that; but he wants his politi
" opponents to show their hands, while his hand
:, very boldly displayed, and he would no doubt
" see lew western Democrats caught in his
S'''''So trap. Tint, according to our judgment,