North Carolina standard., 1851-01-15
EQUAL SUFFRAGE

1t will be seen, by the Commons proceedings Of
Saturday, in our paper of to-day that the Equal Suf
frage bill, proposing amendment of the Constltu
tjon by Legislative enactment was put on its third
reading in that body that day, and that it lacked
four votes of three-ff,hs of the whole House. and
was, consequently, rejected. We refer to those pro.
ceedings for brief statement of what transpired on
! the occasion.
I Soon after tho bill rejected on Saturday, its
reconsideration was moved by Mr.. Love; and it is
now pending before the House on its third reading.
1t will no doubt be finally acted upon SO far as the
Commons is concerned, this week.
This bill was rejected mainly by a combination of
Western men, aoho desire 10 keep tie question open r
agitation a means g calling Contention tn disturb
and destroy The present basis e representation. Imme-
dately after Gov. Reid had delivered his Inaugural
on the lst instant, meeting of the Western members
was called by Mr.. Senator w Woodfn; and we learn
that in this meeting it was determined 10 defeat Equal
Suffrage The for this course, as above stated
was the fac: that the proposition change the basis
ty iSsy, could not rally even the extreme Western
Counties for an unlimited Convention and so it was
determined by these men, that Equal Suffrage should
be preserved issue to aid them in their work
There can be no doubt as to these facis-indeed we
do not suppose that Western gentlemen engaged in
this combination, will deny them.
These gentlemen, composing as they do but a
small fraction Of the Assembly, encouraged in
this work, more or less, by the Whig papers of this
City; and one of these papers, which depends MAIN
y for the scanty patronage it enjoys the Eastern
Counties. has even become the organ and the chosen
mouth piece of this whitebass faction. For proof
OF these additional facts, refer TO the columns of
these papers themselves. We know that the Star
and the Register have put in denials this score;
but acts speak louder than words They both go for
a Convention, or for submitting the matter to the
people: and they no doubt both rejoiced the
rejection of this great measure of Equal Suffrage by
ihe Commons. He that is not for the present basis
of representation, is against it; and these papers
hnoW that the game of portion of their party is, o
defeat Equal Suffrage in order to use it handle
for calling a Convention Convention which, if
The wishes of those who are advocating it carried
put, would produce bitter and.endless hostility be- |
tween the East and the West and give 20 the Vhig
West undisputed swa y in the public councils!
When this great measure announced rejec- |
ted on Saturday last, there loud applause from
The Whig side of the Hall Think of this, We hon. |
est Republican people of North Carolina Think of
his, and then ask yourselves if this be indeed free
country! One of the first principles of free go vern-
people, and this is followed by exntation and /
ejoicing the part of members representing Re-
publican peopIe!! Such would have been
ar appropriate TO The British Parliament than
70 the House of Commons of North Carolina.
We now tell gentlemen, for all, that they will
neither get Convention Of any sort, defeat
Equal Suffrage. If defeated now, it will come up
With tenfold power at the session, and triumph.
Is well attempt to chain the winds, to control the
ides, or to strike down the sun, 10 attempt to
rush this great question. H. ves and breathes, and
onimands and it force its way, all oppo-
iton, into the very heart of your State Constitution
We have nailed flag to the mast; and if, by pos
ibility, this question should he defeated at this
ion, shall keep that flag flying for the two
ears, and under it shall be Inscribed the names of
hose for it and against it. That FLAG SHALL YET
VAvE IN TRIUMPH a 5t