North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-03-08

issue. the great law of selEinterest, which, when
euo htened is the greatest security for any people,
will combine both the rich and the poor against
a plan which is, in truth. nothing more or less
than scheme for legislative plumber and ex-
tortion. J.
To convince the Senate what little cause there
is for complaint against The working of the present
Constitution, l will state remarkable fact drawn
from the public records.
The following countless viz: Burke, Cabarrus,
Caldwell, Catawba. Cherokee, Cleaveland, Da-
wilson, Davie, Guilford, Haywood, Henderson,
Iredell, Macon, Nc Dowell, Montgomery, Moore,
Randolph, Rutherford, Slanly, Stokes Surry,
Wilkes and Yancy, paid taxes into the public
Treasury, in 1850, amounting to $27.957 only,
and received during the same year from the school
fund, $31, 1873 Here are twenty-three western
counties, entitled to some fifty members in the
Legislature, receiving from the Public Treasury,
exclusive OF the expense of Judges, Members Of
Assembly, &C., over $4,000 more than all their
payments for the support of government; and yet
these counties are represented by the very men,
bers that complain most of in justice done them by
the present Constitution
Mr.. Speaker, if gentlemen will permit me to
tender them any advice upon this subject would
say them, with the greatest sincerity and respect,
do not raise the cry of Convention no Conven-
ton, with the hope of organizing a party upon
that issue in North Carolina. Should you sue
coed, it will have other result than to divide the
State geographically; TO embitter the two sections
gainst each other, and for years to come, to place
an nsurmountabe barrier TO all judicious or prac-
tcable schemes of improvement. Wait until the
objects of Internal Improvement which have been
commenced finished and matured if they
successful they will be extended by the intelli-
oence of the Legislature to the remotest parts of
the State. Neither Constitution or Legisla-
tire, can be fairly blamed, that little has been
done for the cause of Internal Improvement in
! North Carolina. Our State is unfortunately sit
uated, having no seaport, which, being the centre
of trade, could concentrate improvements our eff
forts were unconnected and desullorv; the conse-
quence of which was, much money was lost, and
many errors were unavoidably made. But Ger
tainly this unfortunate state of things will not be
rcmfdied by throwing the wh1e State into conu
sion, and upturning the old settled foundations Of
the Government.
| The gentleman from Rutherford complains, and
perhaps justly, that his section has been neglected.
I can sympathse with him in such complaints
l have the honor to represent a people who know
nothing of your Government except through The
tax collector. We have great work TO be exc
cutcd in our immediate ncghborhood, which, if
made, would add ncaIculabl to our wealth, COM
! fort, and even health; and yet when we come here
| for assistance, you refer US TO the General Gov
eminent, and when we 60 to the General Govern
ment, and urge your agents there to exert them
selves in our behalf met by Indifference
if not by positive hostility We have borne this
state of things patiently for more than twenty
years. and have not even dissolved our party ties
much less attempted to destroy those stronger or
dcarer ties which should bind ms to the institutions
and memories of our native State
Let not gentlemen deceive themselves by the
success of Free Suffrage. That question did not
raise any sectional issue; it had numerous parti-
sans in all parts of the State, and for years had
been regarded by many persons, as odous in
dvdual distinction, that Dug bit 10 be blolted from
our Constitution. The basis of representation is a
very different matter it involves the very security
and protection of much the larger portion of the
property which pays revenue for the support of
Government; and it cannot be abandoned by those
persons to whose charge it is now committed,
without admitting themselves unworthy of the
trust confided to Them. If gentlemen wish a hob
by by means of which some Gubernatorial aspi-
rant may ride into the Executive Chair, l beg
them to select something that will produce less
disastrous results TO the best interests of the State.
AS regards the bill upon your table, which pro,
poses to consult The people upon the propriety of
calling Convention, in addition to the evils of a
Convention already mentioned, this bill is liable TO
very serious charge. 1t proposes indirectly to
reach result, in a mode directly opposed to the
one mentioned in the Constitution. And this re-
suit is urged by men who, but few days ago
made this hall ring with patriotic devotion to con-
s,utonal law. Then, the very idea of consult
ing the people upon matter deeply intert sting to
them raised all sorts of horrors in their minds
now, it seems, positive Injunction of the Constu
ton can unhesitatingly be disregarded when an
Iother favorite purpose is TO be answered.
Well, Sir, suppose this bill passes, and ma
jority ofthe people, but not constitutional major
ty of countless express themselves favorable to the
assembling ola Convention gentlemen will be nc
nearer a Convention then than they are now un
less they intend to get up a Dorr rebellion, and
after succeeding in popular vote, to march to
Raleigh, capture the Capitol, form Constitution
and install a Governor, &c. l hope, whilst they
are doing all this, they will not forget to send to
Rhode Island and borrow that celebrated sword O.
the unfortunate Gov Dorr, that the play may be
correctly performed with all the appropriate cos
tune. Il remains for this Senate 10 decide wheth
er they will countenance such proceeding in law
loving, law.abiding North Carolina. Pass this
BILL sent US from the House of Commons, and you
array the two sections of the State in deadly hos
tity to each other, and we may see, in few
months tumultuous assembly in this Capitol
calling themselves the people, acting the same
scenes, which but few years ago brought the
State of Rhode Island 10 the verge of destruction
and consigned the leaders and deuders of the PEG
pie to prison and the contempt of mankind.
N. B. Since this table was made, have seer
the Register of the 5th of February, containing
D " Address to the people of North Carolina thu
subject of constitutional REFORM" This address il
signed by Members of the Legislature from nineteel