North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-03-22
SPEECHsOF MIR. BROGDEN,
Z. OF WAYNE.

3oA, 1850, on the SUBJECT Of Equal Suffrage.
No SprAxrn. The bill now before the House
:. IF vast imnor,ance to a large and respectable
portion of the people OF North Carolina. II IS one
ia which they feel deep and Jealous interest. IL
Is the main great pillar which forms the base OF
the noble edfce OF q representative government
II is the political ark freghted with the farest
homes and the brightest prospects Of freemen This
Question is intimately connected with the cardinal
nrncioIes which lie at the foundation of free insti
iutions Its magnitude is properly appreciated by
the votaries of freedom, whereverhe lights oftruth
and intellectual knowledge have bsen difused
Justice and equality are the chief elements which
form the true basis Of liberty Justice is the queen
of virtues Equality is the escuicheon of sover
eighty. The intrinsic value Of the elective fran
chise is above all price. 1t is the sure fucrum
in the lofty and magnificent fabric of freedom. II
is star in the political armament whose reful-
gent glare will light up the road Of justice. Its
high moral power will be realized by the benign
influences of the enlig htened age in which it is
our destiny to live Great events are on the wing
casting their shadows before. The march of mind
is onward in the improvement OF the moral, SOCIAL
and political condition of mankind. 1t is the part
of wisdom TO make such improvements OF our fun
damen,al laws, as time and experience may prove
TO be necessary This course seems 10 De oeSt
adapted 10 remedy human errors and lmperlectlons,
and is sanctioned by the soundest dictates OF reason
and philosophy.
According to the theory of our government, ali
poltical power resides with the people. The truth
of this axiom will be readily adnitled by every
intelligent citizen But the middle clause, OF the
third Section Of the first article of our present Con-
stitution does not seem to harmonZe with this
broad declaration. The clause in the section to
which | refer is as follows:
All freemen of the age of twenty-one years, Eek
cep as is hereinafter declared who have been lnhao-
itants of any one district within the State, twelve
months Immediately preceding the day OF any elec-
tion and possessed of freehold within the same
district of fifty of land, for six months next
before and the day of election, shall be entitled to
vote for member of the Senate"
1t is evident that here is restriction to the ex-
ercise of the right of electors to vote for Senator'S
which is incongruent with the first section of the
Constitution: THAT all political power is vested
in, and derived from the people only" Here the
people are declared to be the of all politica
power and sill there is limitation to the full
and free exercise OF sovereignty, which is in con-
traventon to a portion of the peoples power.
Why should the political privileges of llr9e
portion of the free white citizens of North Carroll
ma, be defined by the kind or quantity of property
which they may happen to own2 Does i! comport
with the genius of a republican government, to
deprive one portion of her czrns of the inestlma-
BILE right of suffrage, because they do not possess
a property qualifcalion2 In my opinion it does
not Intelligence and virtue should be duly priz
ed These essential attributes, with industry and
prudence, are the main tests of merit. ldlenrss
and leisure often lead 10 wickedness, immortality,
and vice.
If any man supposes that the Constitution of
North Carolina is so perfect, that no alteration IN
any part of it would make it better, he differs in
opinion with great majority of the people OF the
State.
The Constitution formed by wise and
patriotic body of men, according to the number,
as ever assembled together on any occasion, in
North Carolina but they were men who were
agreeing upon the mode in which new and IN
tried experiment in government should be made.
With but limited experience in the working OF a
Government, founded on principles of popular
sovereignty, it is astonishing that their work is as
perfect as is; that it is we'll adapted " to estab
lish justice, insure domestic tranquility, and secure
the blessings Of liberty to ourselves and pos
ieriry."
But, Sir, the Constitution did not como from the |
hands of its founders perfect in all its parts. Il
seems to be proper, therefore, that it should be
amended, after its defects have been ascerlained by
experience, as to adapt it more and more to the
objects which its trainers had in view in establish
ing il !; and especially should il be amended when
ever is found to contravene those principles up
on which our Government is founded am sat.
lshed that experience has proved its defcts and
that public opinion calls loudly for its amendment
In the language of that great Statesman, Burke
Government is a contrivance of human wisdom, |
TO provide for human wants" 1t is the duty of |
good Government. to provide for the security and
protection Of all its honest citizens, in the free en-
joyment Of their rights. Allegiance and protrc-
ton are in their nature reciprocal and one should
not be claimed if the other is refused.
Equality is the great bulwark of civil and reli-
glons liberty. L. imparts to the starspang ban
ner its ory and to The American citizen his port
of noble bearing in every land. 1t is fast sending
the blessing of liberty to the friends of Justice and
It is the lamp of hope that will lead them on TO
triumph. In the language of Goldsmith:
"Hope. like the glimmering taper's light,
Adorns and cheers the way;
And still, as darker grows the nipht
Emits brighter ray.''
Hope is the rIysian of the soul. 1t remains as
Heavenly messenger, ministerng comfort and con-
ISOLATION to our troubled spirils when every other
delightful prospect has left u.s. 1t is the harb;poer
of peace, clothed in the habinents of purity, But
will not digress
In 1888, when our Constitution was amended
the question of Equal Suffrage was not brought
before the people. If it had been submitted 10
them al that time for ratification or rejection. as
the other amend nenls to the Constitution were
there is very little doubt but that majority of the
voters in the State would have been found in favor
OF The adoption of this great fundamental princinle
OF freedom. 1t is in perfect harmony with the
primary mnxims of liberty and accords with the
paInrs' doctrines of republican simplicity.
Inc elective franchise is the highest functionn.
ry OF sovereignty: Equality of political rights is