North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-02-19
From the Elizabeth City Democratic pioneer.l

FREE SUFFRAGE AND THE Basis OF REPRESENTA-
TON. Under the existing Constitution Of North
Carolina the slaves of the East constitute element
of representation in the Senate and under this same
Constitution who DO not own fifty acres of land
are prohibited from voting for Senator During the
late gubernatorial canvass these two questions were
much mooted, and parties arrayed against each
other. The Democratic party took the high and re-
publican ground that all men entitled to vote for
Commoners should also be allowed to vote for Sena-
tors-and that this distinction between the privileges
OF the landholder and the non-andholder was odious
and anti-repubcan 1t made land the sole test of ''a
common interest in and attachment to the communl-
ty 1t made land the test of patriotism and devotion
to country; and the man who possessed only suffi-
cient intelligence to take knife and tallystck and
notch down his fifty acres, was considered mt to ex-
ercise the high prerogaye of suffrage: while another,
equally more intelligent and perhaps more wealthy,
who could not show an area of fifty of land,
was debarred this inestimable privilege. The Dem
ocratlc party opposed to this They wanted all
their feow-ctzens placed upon equal footing In
point of political right and desired TO see the prlVl-
fege of voting for Senators extended to all persons
who could vote for Commoners.
The Wing party, on the other hand, took ground
against Free Suffrage; and, in order to frghten the
people, some of their leaders determined to play upon
the popular creduty nurses do upon the fears of
children, by parading hobgoblins, and telling ghost
sorles They assumed that if the right of suffrage
were extended, the present basis of representation
would be swept from under the East, and all power
transferred to the West. This was to be necessary
and Inevitable consequence of the extension OF the
right of suffrage; and, if this right were extended,
the East would be like Sampson shorn of her strength
subject TO all the wrongs and expressions which the
caprice or cupidity of Western majority might sug-
gest and impose. In word, they attempted to unite
insepaably the questions of free suffrage and repre-
sentation; and by hanging the basis question about
the neck of Free Suffrage they hoped to sink it to
| the bottom of the political ocean.
| Their objections met and successfully over
come by the Democrats, who commended that the two
questions entirely distinct and foreign to each
other; and that Free Suffrage might be obtained with
out touching the basis of representation. lnJushhca-
ton of this position, they pointed with triumph to the
Constitution ITSELF which clearly indicates the man.
ner in which amendments may be made by legIsla-
ton. The people-the real sovereigns-at once saw
the reasonableness as well as justice OF all this.
They were not {" soft enough :" to be gulled by the
phasacal cry of Wing leaders, that the present basis
of representation would go by The board if Free Stuff
rage were adopted and consequently, when the day
OF election arrived they sustained the great measure
and consigned the Wing party to the shades OF prl-
waite life, and the oblivion of overwhelming defeat
Well, time relied on-the Legislature met, and at
ter hard Struggle Free Suffrage was again triumph
ant Some of the Wing presses, seeing that the meas
ure IS popular, and fearing that it will again visit them
with overthrow and disaster, whningly drawl
out the confession that they notopposed to Free
Suffrage per but object the of getting It.
They say, that the question of Convention ought to
be submitted to the people, and thong ais agency ef-
feet the desired reform. This is 6 boxing the COM
pass " with vengeance At first they set out with
the declaration that they opposed to Free Suf-
age because the basis Of representation tvoud be alter
ed also and noU they advocate Convention, which
would inevitably result in change of the basis Mr..
Shepard took the right ground with regard to this
matter. In his remarks explanatory of his change OF
vote, he says that" our Constitution wisely provides
for its amendment 1t is the only safe and fair way
of amendngit. 1t is the only way in which the peo-
pie can know precisely what amendments they are
voting for.'' This is the true ground-the Democratic
ground. But some of the Wings say, No; give us
! r. l.
qualified belief that if Convention called, The
basis of representation ,couH be ahered' And here,
again, Mr.. Shepard is right.
Another objection is raised by portion of the Wing
party, (among them the Raleigh Register and al
so, believe the Starry on the ground that, by
Legislative amendment, the people not consulted.
This is all leather and prunea all fustian. AS
Mr.. Shepard says, it is the only ,Oay in which The
PEOPLE can knou precisely trha amendments they are
u0ting for" The people not consulted What glib
berish Why, they are consulted in all its stages.
First, it is made issue before them by candidates
for Office, and they give their decision; next the
measure is framed by the Legislature and again pre-
scented for their decision the election of candidates
with direct reference this issue then it passes by
vote of twothrds of the representatives chosen by
them and finally it is submitted directly to the Peo-
pie themselves, whose decision is final and concu-
sive in the matter Not consult the people, indeed
Why, Free Suffrage is the offspring of the people
nuIaed by the people, reared by the people, and sus-
tanned by the people. They breahed vitality into its
system. and it is dependent upon them for its exist
ence. All the Legislation upon earth could not adopt
the measure; for Constitution wisely provides
that the question shall be submitted directly to the
people before it become part of the law OF the
land.
The most beautiful feature of the Democratic pol
lev on this subject is this that they wish to secure
Free Suffrage without touching the present basis.
Like skilul surgeons, they wish cut off this with
cred limb, and yet preserve the body in full health
and vgor. And the path is clear that the wayfar-
ing man, though fool, need not err therein" They
propose to submit plain and distinct amendment of
the Constitution the people the people examine it
upon its, merits. Can anything be palmer than this
anything more just We answer in the language of
Mr.. Shepard, :" it is the only way in which the peo-
pile can know precisely what amendments they vo-
ting for"
The Wing party evidsntly in dilemma Free
Suffrage is destined to triumph; they have been beat
en- by it once and do not relish the idea of second
defeat. They do not seem to care much about
sstency, provided they obtain polver and they
will therefore all kinds of devices in order
to regain the ascendancy. So far as
cerned, we leave the matter where it properly be-
longs-with the people. We shall from time to time,
freely express opinions, and endeavor keep
readers advised of the progress of events. OF
one thing we are satisfied in our mind-that the
Wing party will have to " come to TERMS" and seek
shelter under the Free Suffrage banner else be
Whelmed by the hosts who have unfurled il to the
breeze and will bear it aloft " till the last armed foe
expires"
FRESH Issue OF METALLIC CURRENCY. We have
pleasure in copying from Philadelphia journal the
following information of timely relief afforded by
measure advised by certain Bank Officers of Phila-