Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1852-08-04
s7KOa'e Proof that John Kerr is for
V1s Open, Free and U1arestrdc-
ted CO1sUe1etIO71 ~ -

As John Kerr goes turther w est he comes out
more decidedly for a free and open Convention
and in addition to this he has also taken ground,
in the West, against Free Suffrage by Legislative
enactment, and tells the East thereby that they
shall not have Free Suffrage unless they will agree
to his Western project of an open Convention. We
make the following statements the authority of
MARCUS ERWIN, Esq, prominent Wing member
of the last Assembly: ......y..., ...
In his speech in Asheville on the oath instant
Mr.. Kerr declared himself the advocate Of an
topen, free and unrestricted Convention.'' He
declared also that his Convention opinions were
not new-that they were not gotten up to serve
eleconeering purposes, but that he had, four years
ago, written a letter to Mr.. Rayner, in which he
declared himself in favor of an open, unrestricted
Convention, and subsequently, two years ago. he
had written letter of similar import to Gov Man
ly that he still adhered to these opinions, and was
now, as then, the advocate of free and unrestrict
ed Convention.
He also made furious attack on Gov. Reid for
the opinions expressed by him in his Inaugural
with regard to the effect on slave property of agi
tating the question of the basis. The following
portion of the Inaugural was most severely de-
nounced by Mr.. Kerr:
"The Convention of 1885, in spirit of eompro-
mise and concession, adopted taxation the basis
for the Senate and federal population the basis of
representation for the House of Commons. The Abo-
litionists at the North wish to destroy the basis of
federal population upon which we represented in
Congress. Their course on this subject is viewed
dangerous and mischievoHs; and l regard a SINH
Lar movement in relation to representation in the
State Legislature however well intended. fraught
with equal mischief and danger. The federal basis
consists of three-h of the slaves added to the whole
number of free persons. The white basis would
wholly exclude the computation of slaves in represen-
tation Persons other than properly repre-
scented. Although federal population prevails a
basis, yet slaves do vote, do white females
and minors; still they represented. Slaves, al
though property, are persons, and subject to legsla-
ton in that two-fcld character"
And the burden of his denunciation was, the
white basis slang of the Greensborough Patriot,
to wit that Gov. Reid in the foregoing, charges
the advocates of change of the basis with being
Abolitionists!
We learn further that Gov. Reid asked Mr..
Kerr, at Hendersonville, on the 23d July, whether
if he were a member of the Assembly he would
vote for the Free Suffrage bill; to which Mr. Kerr
replied, 81 WOULD MOTT am opposed to
all amendments to the Constitution by the Legis-
lature"
We learn further that an offer has been made
to Gen. Edney, at Washington, by subordinate
in the Navy Department, and by certain Wing
members of Congress from this State, to secure to
him, Edney one thousand dollars in case he Edney,
would come home and take the stump, or IN case
Kerr should be elected! We make this statement
on Mr.. Erwin's authority who received the infor-
nation from gentleman of character and standing
in Washington City.
We learn that when Mr.. Kerr announced him
self in Ashevle for "open, free, and unrestric-
ted Convention" Gov. Reid told the people Mr..
Kerr had mever taken similar ground in the East,
in his hearing The truth is, if Mr.. Kerr had taken
the ground in the East, which he has taken in the
West public meetings of the Wings would have
been held, and he would, in all probability, have
been denounced and compelled to withdraw from
the field.
By thus advocating an open Convention, and by
setting his face as he has done in the West,
against the Free Suffrage bill, Mr.. Kerr uirtualIy
goes for change of the basis for the plain reason
that, if Free Suffrage should finally fail by Leg
islative enactment, Convention will be called :;
that Convention Mr.. Kerr advocates that Conven-
which the West has already eight or ten majority,
and Mr.. Kerr knoacs that THIS majority, an an open
Conpention, aciN change the present Senate basis
of pure taxation to naired" or a aOhite basis.
Again Mr.. Kerr holds that majority of the
people of the State have right to call Conven-
ton to change the Constitution! or, in other
Words if a majority should vote for Convention,
the Legislature would be L" naorally and politically
bound to call it! What is this but the HIGHER
LAW? The Consultation says two-thirds, but
Mr.. Kerr, who it seems, has claw" "higher +"
than the Constitution, says majority of the peo-
pie!
Will the Eastern Wings submit to this? Will
they, for the sake of party vote oaoay their dearest
rightss Let them answer at the polls
And what will the people of the State say to
this foul attempt, IN Washington City, to transfer
them like so many cattle, first to John Kerr, next
to Scott and Graham, and next to Seward?
We have stated the foregoing facts on the best
authority and we have other unquestionable au-
thority for them besides that of Mr. Erwin, but did
not deem it necessary to use it. Has word will
not be disputed, where he is known, by any one
Remember, that every vote for John Kerr will
he q vote AGAINST FREE Gifted ACr IL