North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-01-04

b member that all portions of the State have receive
from the fostering hand of the Government aid ant
assistance commensurate with their demands TO
wards developing their resources and opening an out
let for their productions except the particular section
which represent; and submit, whether it is thu
part Of wisdom patriotism to raise sectional issues
at a junctItre when most need assistance, AND
when occupy position to call upon the liberal
ity of Eastern brethren to extend like pecuDia
ry aid us, for the Improvement of our section,
has been extended to the Eastern and middle portions
of the State. fear that such policy may prove to
be unwise, and destructive of the very interests
are. all anxious to promote. - 49,
Sir, with all due respect for the opinion of others.
must be allowed to declare that this agitation of the
basis of representation here in advance of the wish
IS of the people, believe they not disposed to
violate their plighted faith, by breach of the
promises solemny made when their Constitution was
last revised. Such are the sentiments and feelings
of my constituents. feel fully authorized to
make this declaration in their behalf, because pub
lcly avowed before them, when the basis of repre-
sentation put directly in issue my determination
to abide by the compromises of the Constitution, and
sustain them in good faith, and they manifested their
approval of my views by giving me warm and gen.
erous support. The position then assumed am pre-
pared to adhere to 1oc am not called upon to de-
clare. what would be my course, if new Constitu.
ton to be formed, Independent of any contract
agreement, or understanding between different Sec
tons: Upon attaining my majority, and examining
the fundamental law Of the State, found certain
principles of representation Incorporated therein
which, the history of the times taught me, had been
inserted the result of compromise between some
what conflicting interests in the State; and, was al
so informed that the representative of the people who
agreed upon and framed that feature, solemnly pledged
their faith, and the sacred honor of their constituents
that the compromises then made should be kept in
violate, and should continue and remain as immutabe
as the institutions under which live. The cir
cumstances which conspired to bring about this ar
rangement can be comprised in very few words
The first settlements formed in North Carolina were
upon the seaboard and the Counties laid off in the
nIst instance were all small. AS population ncreas-
ed, emigration to the interior commenced, and very
soon other Counties formed but owing TO the
sParseness OF the population, greater size was given
to the Counties, and little complaint was heard whilst
population was anything like eqna. In progress of
time, however, the western CoBnties, owing to ex-
tent of Territory, became most popuous and AS the
representation was arranged with reference to Coun-
Ties, and was therefore unequal the West grew clam
erous Tor equality orepresentaton. The Eastern Coun
ties comprised among its population two-hirds of the
slaves in the State, and whilst the white population
was much greater in the West, the aggregate total
population was nearly the same. Oar Eastern breth-
rem had the power, by reason of the number of their
representatives by Counties each, County beinu
enutied 10 one Senator and two Commoners. Much
discussion arose and great bitterness was engendered
between the two extremes of the State. The East |
nnay agreed to make concessions, but insisted that
slaves were entitled to some weight in representa- |
lion, as they were protected by the laws from inbu-
man treatment even by their masters and were enti-
lied to the right of trial by Jury other reasonable
creatures and were moreover, subjected to taxation
per eoptfd' like free white persons-that if slaves
were 10 De considered as property, there existed
no stronger reason for subjecting them to tax DER
ap'fG' than horses, mules, other live stock The
was ultimately adjusted, by compro missing
ipon what is termed the Federal basis which is as
:eftained by adding the aggregate white to three
lfths OF the slave population, order to fix the "a ito
n the House OF Commons; and it was further agreed
hat slaves should pay poll tax commencing earlier
mo extending to later period in life, and that the
senate should represent taxation, upon the nrincinIe
nat representation and taxation should 20 together
MS arrangement Was hailed with exclamation bv
ur citizens vest of Raleigh, and the only opposition
encountered was in portion of the East, where it
vas supposed TINT the tendency and effect of the Fed
raj basis even would be, to give the West the nre
onuerdnce even: ualy. The apprehension tn US en-
ertalned and acted upon, will prove to have been
'eii founded at an early day. The census returns
now, mat both white and slave population in the
vest is increasing more rapidly than in the E,st.
nu wise and Judlcious system of Internal I'm =,
roVement shall be adopted so as to devotion the re- Z
ources OF mat section, and invite slave labor to en-
age more extensively in the cultivation of our lands
change of the basis, unless effected very soon
onid not materially change the relative weight of II
actions. - =
But, aside from all the reasons above enumerated :
nnenclng my course this question of the basis
ere is more powerful aud weighty consideration.
hlch should deter every true son of North CaroI h
= rom discussing the white and federal basis at I,
us trne' The federal compact is founded upon the Al
10,
on, and is this the period when we should furnish n
Northern fanatics, who laboring to destroy this
azure OF that compact, the argument in support .,
their netarlous designs, that North Carolina had .
ny tried that system of representation and its oper-
Ion was unequal-that the people were resisting it,
en- al the rsk oil creating pro-slavery and
factions In the State Is this the time for arraying ~
non-saveholder against the slave owner and en-. hi
nderlng among our people hostility to an instu- h,
'n' In the existence and permanency of which ~
cry man in North Carolina is so deeply and vital ii
Interested! No sir! no sir! Instead of weaken. -
the ties which bind people to that institution be
is the part of wisdom and patriotism to enlist Their
slings in its behalf-to impress upon their minds ~
3 Importance of its preservation and whilst mad 10
reckless fanatlcIsm is assailing from without M
at Their peculiar and especial duty should be TO 81 g. "a
n, foster, and protect it from within. j s,
The slaves of the South of greater value than liz
the capital and property in New England, yet, m,
institution OF slavery has never received from the
nos OF the Federal Government the slightest pro- IL
on. Even the common guarantees secured to all a.,
'Pery by the federal contract have been refused to
use directly interested in slave propery and whilst
fostering aid of federal legislation has been liber
extended to every other great industrial interest
inc country negro slavery OF slave labor has E.
ne wholly unprecedented only SO, but that Iegis-
oJ Nth ~ is,;t,; % 1870 .iie s'd.es 'oeh- fanc
at interests elsewhere; and This tribute, collected
Ter the plea of encouraging domestic manufactures
contributed to build up and enrich those lords M
the spindle and loom, who now engaged in ''i
entess war of determination, against the homes a !
hresldes of their own countrymen and against - ~
real source of their own wealth, prosperity and
eno,rs in M con,rova,s, "a -. :. 1Po1Ne1i'A am
Vement, which may tend to ALLEVIATE the affections "
On The ontrar ~ OF sav- cha
he 1nP rafr IL dnfr,