Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1852-05-26

General Assembly," This very majority principle,
now brought into use by the Whig leaders, was ex.
pressly voted down in the Convention of 1885, and
the foregoing section adopted. We have a. much
respect for the opinions of the people as any man,
and more than many of the Whig politicians; and
when asked # will not submit to the voice of the
majority in the Assembly the ballot-box, We an
swer, of course, yes; but We mean, when We say
this, Constitutions! msorties, and not msjori,es as
proposed to be obtained by Whig leaders, directly in
oPPosition to the spirit and compromises Of that
instrument There are but two modes by which the
people of North Carolina can change their Constitu-
tion lst, they do it through the Legislature by
three-6fhs and a two-,birds vote, and then BY an
affirmative vote at the polls; Cd. they do it by
Convention. to be called by two-thirds vote of the
Assembly; but all other modes are unknown to the
Constitution, and are, therefore, VIOLENT and REvo-
LUTloNARY in their nature! They have, it is true,
the right of revolution; but this right existed before
the Constitution, and would continue to exist if that
instrument were swept away. The present PROPOSE.
ton to call Convention, as the result of majority
vote has warrant in the Constitution and is based
on principle which, if it should prevail, would
place the institution of Slavery in imminent peril
stitution of the United States, article 5h, provides
that I" the Congress, whenever t,oo-thirds of both
houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amend
ments to the Constitution, or on the application of
the Legislatures of two-thrds Of such States shall
call Convention for proposing amendments -, &c.
Here, it is seen, is the very ttvohrs principle which
we have in our State Constitution. Now. suppose
William H. Seward should rise in his place, in the
Senate, and propose to submit it to majority of the
people of the United States to say, by their votes at
the ballot-box, whether not Convention of the
people of said States should be called to take into
consideration the instsion of Slavery. and to adopt
steps for striking out the reehs principle bv ,Uhieh
slares represented in Congress, ,ceH TO
abolish ,oihin eioen time, the Institution itself; and
suppose tho proposition should prevail. and the vote
should be aken-does any dssbt to the result
Would not majority vote for this Convention! And
would it not be the dutyof Congress, according to
the rule as laid down by the Wing leaders in this
Eastern as well as Western Whig leaders-to
call this Cbnsention? Let the people of all portions
of North Carolina-,he West as we'll as the East
ponder on these things seriously. and besOare!
But these Wing leaders and the Salem Press ap.
pear entertain great respect for the opinions of
majority of the people. Why then. do they not take
their stand with the majority. for Equal Suffrage
Why do they continue to resist this majority.
iessed in the triumphant election of Gov. Reid and
the lhree-f,hs vote for tho measure in the las.
sembly 30:
The Press,' which is avo,nedly neural, bot really
a Whig print. talks about :. konesty"! This is re.
ffeshing-lecsures on honesty" from paper which
is living embodiment Of decep,ion-which prges.e'
be one thing, while its prove to be other