The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1851-01-29

'0 'uhuaihehtai pfincip'e upon whIcl
all Tree governments are based. This cues
'loh embraces no proposition TO enctoacb OF
ihe rights OF the landhodcr. but 10 extend !,
numerous aud meriorious class oc fellow
ehizens one Of the dearest rights of Ameri
eau iieemen. u IL gratifying TO know ihs
'h's question ofextending the right of sufJra yt
mas not atrayed the landhoders against ,h.
no0.landhnlders, for such i, the love If t,bs,
a"u fqna'i'y among our people, that bo,t
e'asses are found ec'ively to &C. operate ir
'ne'f eh"r's to carr, out This question Of Con.
s'utiohal reform. Efforts have been made
10 c'nnect with This question a chanpe in The
oasis OF representation. do not ,h,rk tha,
e''ner justice or pubic policy demands such
chahge. The Convention of s35 IN a soi
!" VI compromise and conce ssion. adnptej
TAXATION as the basis for the Senate. and fed.
tfa' population as the basis Of reprc.cntat;,n
Tor the House Of Commons. The Abolition
s a. 'ne North wish TO destroy The basis
o''eoerai population upon " hich we are repre.
sented IN Congress. Their course on his
sup CT Is viewed as dangerous and misctie.
vouS; and regard a similar movemen. IN
,e'ai'oh 10 our representation in the State
hes'sia'ufe, however well intended, as fra,pht
WI" eqhd' mischief aud danger. The fed
erai basis consists Of three ftths of tbe s,fves
added to the whole number of free oe,s,ns
ne white basis would wholly exclude the
computation OF slaves in representation. Per
sons o'her than voters are properly represen
'eo' although federal population prevails
as oasis, yet slaves do not vote, nor do " hi,e
,rha'es ana minors, still they are represented.
saves although property, are persons, and
SUBJECT to legislation in that two fold charac.
ter.
Every county in the State is interested in
,oe slave question: and The Stale should have
ou' one voice on this important subject Ex.
pe,'e"ce mas but too recently shown US the
SAD consequence resulting from The slavery
question between the different States Of the
o"'"o. Are these exciting scenes to be
Drought nearer home to us-to atrav one
section Of the State against another. and ,o
destroy The good feelog,l the peace and friend |
sup "h'ch u IS so desirable to cultivate he
tween the various portions of the State =
Lei US forget that we are parrisans, and bury
MS dangerous element Of agitation with the
detefminaton TO unite our earnest exeriioos
10 promote the honor aud prosperity or the
o'lle' Engfafitng the white basis on Equal .
Suffrage would be an indirect bnt most Ger.
'ain ana ffiectusl mode Of defeating the lat
er question. This must be obvious TO eyerv
mind. Equal Suffrage, connected
WIN change OF the basis, mus, ia il, standinp
y usei' u must prevail. This amendmen,
Q 'he Constr uIlon may be passed, BY the
PRESENT and succeeding Legisla ures and sub
nitted TO the peoples ratification in The man.
ler provided in the Constitution, wthou, in. +,
uti'ns the expense Of calling Convention.
q me inlttatory step, ii requires Iaroer
uihoer OF the members 6 he Assembly 10
an Convention than to pass the amend.
nent. he Conventional mode of fTsctino
ms reform veakens the question, while the i
legislative mode does not, and therefore The ?
i,ler is preferable. i
The election OF Judges and Justices or The
'eace BY the people, and for terms less than r
'r lite, are questions of Constitutional reform {
Inch recommend 10 The favorable coo,ide. Il
hlion ot the General Assembly. There are
'her amendments TO the Constitution tha, v
ave attracted public attention, TO which, | II
QUOT not, you will give that degree of consl
eratlon which their Importance demands. n
In couclusion permit me 10 remark that al
10 General Assembly may RELY upon nv NJ
eafiy CO operation in such measures as NAV re
nd to The prosperity and happiness Of the
'ople OF the State. ii