The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1851-04-02

; I hopo, siF. lhai @y petition On This
ques,lan l. now understood. W. bout ~.
fsFtass % ms oHR private indirnlull epln-
ions on he mems 81 lIfs ssaisge-l
eroaad my seiian On he eEess and de-
msnisFy principles AZ our free iasiilnliaas.
4 insist. lAas 20 zdsyssng lhis Fundamental
law 10 their peeullsr condition. and lie
gequiTrnrnts Of The ssr. lhe peopk are
fnlly eampesen, % he protection af their
own rights. and The understanding &c their
esn wants. As mere Legislature. il Is
our province Ia follow. rather sI,an 10 ii.
tempt 10 lead public opinion upon a qurs.
ZION Of shis sort. In regard 10 fire amend
nsens OF This fundamental law. lhe peoplr,
who are The original soure % all poser.
should Ne ennsnlresls and il lhey desire a
change ihry sl,onld make The change by
their own agents. specially chosen for that
purpose. and eleried free from those dis
irrhing influences that are calculated IN
drfrai The calm and deliberate parpase III
The public mind. This. | roniend. il The
true. conservative. republican doctrine Of
constitutional freedom.
! am aware. thai many Of nv western
friends. who are pressing an open and
unlimited Convention. think have already
committed myself 50 Gar. that | ran never
retreat. Fnm The esidenres | ran see
and hear around me. ! am swsre ihas they
think my argument esiops me from OPP
posing The proposition 10 ronsnli The pso-
pie 10 regard 10 an open Conveniinn, and
that may advocacy of The right Of the peo-
pie 20 amend their own Constitution in
their own way. applies as well 10 ihe al
'eraiinn Of the basis of representation. as
10 any other provision. ! sm sorry b
have 10 dispel these illu.ions Of my frientls
.--bui my regard Tor my own consistency.
my duty TO Thai section frum whence |
come. and The interest wbirh feel i'm The
peace and harmony and general welfare
&c The State. compel me 10 do so. | fear
before ! take nv seal. some Of my conrla-
siaas will he as nnpalaiable io many III
my western friends. as my premises seem.
ed agreeable. am asked by gentlemen
from the West. why da not extend The
provisions Of my bill. and consult The peo-
lie in regari 10 The Encouragement OF The
bask. I viii answer. Ersi. breause this
latter question has moi been aeiiaied. ex-
ccpt locally. We have no reason 10 sup
pose thai there is any hing ike q general
desire for any such rhange as Ibis through
out The Slafe-in fact. there are reasons
which make me doubt whether this desire
is general even IN the extreme West.
'Fhere arc severed genllrmen here from
that section. who so far from urging. seem
disposed 10 disrnuulenance such move.
meni. What did We hear from the gem
ileman from Burke. (Mr. Ayery,) lie in
formed Us, that whilst he advocated free
suffrage. yet throughout his County, on
the stump. he took ground against any
change IN che basis Of representation. And
yet that geniIcman was elected. and thai
too by constituency opposed 70 him 10
politics. With this evidence before me,
ran I believe that in The west even, This
desire for change in The basis is 50 pe-
neral. as 10 leave u at all doubtful whell,-
er there is.a majority ofihe people IL the
Stale in favor of the change. And LEI ii
bo recollecied, that have con.ende,l
throughout, that as a Legislature, we
should fnllow, rather Than attempt 10 lead
The pnbIic mind, in regard TO amending The
Constitution.
Blu ! do not rest my objections here.
] am opposed to submitting This qnfsiipn
nc the basis 10 the ,Iecision nf The ballot
box in The second place. because The arr
rangemenl Of the basis or representation.
in our constitution. ,loes moi rest ON The
same grounds and is moi 10 be sustained hv
Ilie same arguments. as those Other gene
raj provisions OF that instrument Cor The
security Of popular rights and republican
principles Let j, not be forgotten that nv
argument IN favor Of defering 10, and abit.
ing by the wish OF he majority. had re-
ference 10 The modification of hose gene.
raj questions involving popular liberty.
which are not local hut co-exiensive with
The limits Of The STATE. affecting an sec.
lions. classes aud interests alike. The
basis OF representation does moi cume with.
IN This category. Il is purely question
81 compromise. Of agreement, nf contract,
ltmay he said. lIaLall The other provisions
,f the constitution are matters of compro.
mise and agreement. True, bur then ar-
'or'ling 10 the theory Of social compact The
parties to such compromise were The peo.
Die in their individual characters; an,! As i
majority established them. The majority
AN change them at pleasure. The same
,arlies that make contract. can Of course
Modify the terms Of The contract. But The
arrangement Of the basis of representation. !
vas not compromise by the parties 10
What may he called The social contract in
his State. lin the sense OF The law wri,ersl
u their characters as individuals. withonl
elerence 10 sectional considerations II,