The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1851-03-05
Upon that PLATFORM we will stand; and,
J we TAU II vii be IN advocating THE
RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE.

oPon 'nd' TLATFoBM we Will stand; an
" We tall II will be IN advocatn TIL
RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE.
IL you sanction the principle that the Lee
i'Ia'ure is to amend The Constitution, that
's'o be the foot.6aH Of every demsgosue " h
desires to win popular favor-if il is to b
mingled with the corrupiing influence OF par
y-t II is to be mixed up with the busines
OF Legislation, aud to be Influenced by tn,
! osr'erIng process so freely resorted to now
s-dsys, determining the fate Of measure
mere, or measure there, its fate is sealed, i
PROSTATE IN the dust, 10 be trampled upor
oy those who understand not its provisions
and care not Er It's protection. |, become.
lhe toy, the sPo't-the prey OF those wholly
,nC"Po6fe of the task assumed to themselves S.
This has been fully proved by the progress
oi Free Sufiage" through the presen,
General Assembly.
Early IN the session, a Bill was introduced
INTO The House of Commons to amend The
Constitution so as TO allow non fIeeholders to
vote Tor members Of ,he Senate. | was dis.
eussed at great length in that body, and a
vote was taken, and il was r,jec ed-three
tif'hs OF The members Of the House not volug
for il.
Its friends Get to work TO revive it. 1t
was reconsldered, according to a rule Of the
House; and by The use of those means so
readily presented in a Legislative body, hay.
ing power 10 beslow Office and rewards
f" hen the House was again called upon to
vote, every thlrg was arranged and II passed
and
bod, came 10 exsmne irlo this del berote utH
considered act Of the II Hpuse of Commons, to
change the fundamental law Of the State, it
turned out to be Free Suffrage indeed for it
gave to oil freemen over 81 years of age the
right to vote for Senators, whether they we're
black or white, and whether they had paid
tax or not 1t allowed in the opinion OF ma.
ny, 'nsoirent free negroes TO vote for mem.
bers IN the Senate
The same scene was enacted over again in
that body. The bill was elected. Again its
trends taxed heir wits TO revive i, and the
intrigue was cunnngly contri,ed BY which II
was finally forctd through that body. lis
friends 10 the House of Commons affected 10
regard II fs a, an end; and to become lndig.
nan' ; ard bill was introduced and pressed
throu 81 with hot haste, providing lha, The
people should hold an election and declare
through the ballot box whether lhev desired
a Convention. This was done 10 intmidate
Eastern Senators who were opposed TO letting
the people say whether they desired Con,
sehtion or not. 1t had its effect. Some Sc.
majors we're frightened at the prospect, ha,
The people might meet in convention and OBJ.
tam Their rights They changed their votes,
and Free Suffrage passed. Upon the floor Of
The Senate, some Senators avowed that they
we're opposed TO II, that hey thought i, an in
traction OF the compromises Of the conslitu.
lon, bu that they would vote for it solely TO
keep down Con, entlon. Other Senators
vowed their determination 10 vote for Con.
sen''on, unless Free Sufr'age passed. And
Free Suffrage did PASS, and all its friends uni.
ed TO vote against a bill which only asked
he poor boon for The people ,ha, they might
ell the Legislature, through the ballot. box,
hat they desired a Convention to be called
o take into consideration oil the grievances
nder which they labor, and redress them in
he manner which they alone have The light
o determine.
The issue, then, has been fairly presented
free Suffrage. or q free Convention, unrestric.
ed by any'hing bat the Wal ofthe People
We have cho>en to support FREE Coz.
'ENTloN. We opposed Free Sufii age, not
ecause we thought the people ought no, to
ave H. bul because we did not like the man.
Ter of getting II. We can never sanction The
roPnety of amendments TO tue ConslItulion
y Legislative ame' dments. 1t ,s true, the
constitution points out that as one OF the modes
i ame ndlng the constitution !; but 1t is wrong,
nd never can accomplish the object intend
d BY It. Let US see how it is TO be carried
nto effect. A bill is to be introduced into
me Legislature, proposing, an alteration of
he Constitution. Ii it receives the support
t three fi.ths OF both Houses of the Laglsl.
ure, IT is to BE- published in such a manner
3 the Legislature may prescribe, for the in.
orma''on of the people; and is then TO be
ubmllted to the next Legislature. They
lave to pass II again through both bodies BY
vote of two. thirds Of both Houses: aud II
$ then submitted to the people who msy ua,.
(y or rejec, it, by voting directly upon ii a,
he ballot box.
Now, is it not perfectly obvious, that by
his mode, the will Of msjori,y-nay, of
wo thirds of the people, may be defeated
Ne have already shown that after $50, ,hr.
cen senators will represent . majority of the
eople Of North Catolina. the minority is
epresented by thirty seven senators, any sew.
nteen of whom may defeat the will of the
Whole State. Is there any principle more
thoroughly settled than that majority Of The
'eople have right TO form or reform their
their fundamental law! All
il is true, are designed TO pro
ect the minorities it is the shield which
.uards their rightsags'ns. all encroachmenls.
But these shields, these guards must come,
rom mcjorify. 10 no other way can 'pow
II be derived from the people only" Free
fro, h.s n trur oassc1 ho |