Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1852-05-29
Equal Suffrage and the Basis.

.va,s in ,bis State during the last ten years. ca
entertain doubt as to popular oPInfon Pi,;on now
go IF reform and as the particular proPoslton lo
Ec,ra nc confidently assert that the people o! NUi
Carolina would decide in its favor II suD'n !r "
them by majority of twenty-five thousahu'
sJonce which could be adduced to eStaDllsn he Luz
- NV assertion is abundant and conclusive. Inc
auitaiion of the question Of Equal Suffrage cothue"o
ed two years ago, and so strong was the culent
popular feeling in its favor, even at the "a
few men who were candidates for either HOUSE VI
the Assembly were able, had the moral courage ~
resist it. The popular branch of the last er
Assembly passed bill by a vote OF three-r ~
making provision for this amendment out II -
10 obtain the requisite vote In the Sena'e' ~
press in the State, so far am advised, "li"'
tinction as to its party bias, has either adVocd ~
REFORM or been forced by public oPhon 70 auit IT.
propriety of such change IN the Cohs'I.u.to ben
Conventions of both the great political parues' n
assembled for the purpose of nominating cdHu!
for Governor, promulgated their views In lelH.ol
this question, and both parties were then
az hyorinU it. The candidates who were nominated
bv the respective parties for the Office OF governor
both came out unreservedly for this REFORM ana d.
most every member returned TO this Legislature 10
garded by the people as friendly to the prlhc.P 90,
EQUAL Suffrage. Can there exist any stronger r
dence, (short of direct and overwhelming Vo'e) ~
the popular sentiment on any subject lhan the lnut
cations, Just enumerated, exhibit!
The people of the State have not only given aecis-
i've evidence that thew wish this amendment made IN
their fundamental law, but, in my opinion the mani
festatiops have been alike decisive as 10 te niou
and manner in which that amendment shouiu oe ii :
corporated into their Constitution Inc au'oca'eS VI
reform in every portion of the State have explained 10
the people the provisions of the Constitution rela-
ting 10 its amendment and have directed their aIIeh
ton to the clause providing that any part OF mat III
strument may be amended by Legislative enactment
under the forms and ceremonies therein prescrioen'
and have, in almost every instance, impressed upon
their minds the conviction that the mode thus deslg-
mated and that only, would be the plan OF amendment
suggested and advocated before the legislature
hazard nothing in affirming then thata convention lot
the purpose of eectng this reform was not seriously
discussed or advocated in ten Counties during the
late campaign, and that the people would De even
more astounded at having proposition submitted 10
them for holding Convention, than have been the
sincere friends of reform in this Hall at the apparent
zeal and pertinacity with which certain gentlemen
have urged their Convention bills.
Mr. Speaker, / maintain that the trainers OF our
amended Constitution did not contemplate the hold
ing of any Convention except in cases of great ener-
gency, at such time as the people might desire 10
revise their whole organic law, and reerganze their
entire system of State government; and that 1t was
their Intention that if thereafter, more specific
amendments should be demanded, or become neces-
sary promote the interests of the people, that the
same should be made by Legislative enactment And
hold further, that limited Convention is author
lied by the letter spirit of that instrument. These
positions can be successfully established by reference
to the express provisions of the amended Constitution
ITSELF and may be still further strengthened by refer
to the circumstances under which the ConVen-
ton of 1885 inserted these provisions.
The Convention of 1885 assembled under an act
of the Legislature, which imposed certain restrictions
and limitations upon the delegates, and confined their
deliberations to certain enumerated subec That
body encountered much difficulty in deciding as to
the exact nature, extent, and construction of the
duties assigned to them, and of course acted with
perfect consciousness of the many inconvenience at
tendant upon limited Convention. Under these
circumstances, it was natural that the delegates should
endeavor to devise more simple mode of making
specific amendments at future PERIOD than the plan
,DIa r,hI ho1 a. kko,,
ifcatons should be effected without involving
vision of the whole Constitution The first provision
therefore, which nd in the instrument in relation
TO the mode of amending it, is that e" no Convention
of the people shall be called by the General Assem-
bly, unless by the concurrence of twothrds of all the
members of each House of the General Assembly"
Now, if it had been the intention of the trainers of
the amended Constitution, that alterations of the in
strument, whether important immateria, should be
madeby Convention, no other provisions would have
been incorporated than the section referred to but
we find Immediately succeeding additional clause
to this etect-that no part of the Constitution of
the State shall be altered, unless bill to alter the
same shall have been read three times in each House
Of the General Assembly, and agreed by three-fhs
of the whole number of members of each House re-
sPectvely." Provision is then made for submitting
the alteration 10 the succeeding Legislature and upon
receiving two-thirds of the representation of each
House at that session, it shall be submitted TO the
people fol their ratification Taking this section al
together, it will admit of no other construction than
the one which have given it; and wish to direct
the attention OF the House, particularly, to the ex-
preston in the second clause just quoted" M part
OF the Constitution OF the State shall be altered '-as
indicating clear intention that when only part of
the instrument was to be changed or modified, or
when The alterations proposed in their number and
erect did not render entire reorganization of our
whole system necessary, that such alterations or
notifications should be made by Legislative enact
menI as therein prescribed.
am well aware of the impression which gener.
ally Prevails that Conventions are aIlvnus popular
with the people, and that danger awaits any man who
care oppose them. under any circumstances. That
danger am prepared 10 meet-hat peril dare en- .
counter personally in discharge of my duty as Rep
resentaIve, if hsexists but venture the assertion
That popular feeling has yet taken such direction
ia North Carolina. as TO render it perilous question
me proprlety of Convent IN this time. | rm
iurthe that majority of the people have not become
30 lar dissatisfied with the entire system of organic
law under which their State Government is admins
tered, as to desire full revision of it, Believing then
that only under contingency of general dissasfc-
ZION with the entire Constitution or in the event that
the Legislature should obstinaely persist in refusing
70 make such reasonable amendments as might be de-
manded, the people would require an unlimited Con-
Ventlon and knowing, that such an application could
not now receive the Constitutional vote necessary to
pass IL, have witnessed with profound reprel the
introduction OF that proposition by my Western
.rlenus more especially, when it was accompanied .
ny 'he uec'arauon, that they wished disturb the
compromises OF the Constitution and subs,itu,e tho
white, in lieu OF the federal basis OF representation
such movements and such declarations as these At
ms time, IN my humble opinion can have no otber
eurct IMAM 10 create sectional ealouses and enkindIe
anew those old pre- udices between the East And West
which once marred the prosperity of the State: and
tne certain tendency of awakening those feelings