Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1852-06-05
THE REG1sTER-"FoUL LIBEL. :"


usual quantum of i'll temper and irascibty; but
those who well acquainted with the generally po
lite and courteous bearing of that print, will readily
perceive that its ndig nation is all merely put for
party purposes Under the head of 's Foul libel on
the Wing party. it has done the honor to notice
an article which appeared in the Standard some time
ago, In which candidly, and we trusted sue
cessuy, attempted to show that the agitation of tho
Slavery question was necessarily revived by Wing
leaders and presses in their dvocacy of general Con-
venoH, and in connection Herewith, the doctrine of
the white basis in opposition to the present system
of representations and that such agitation could lead
to no good-and must be productive of much harm.
This was our opinion, and is and the Register,
under the foregoing announcement of its being
" foul libel, has been pleased select the follow
ing language, among other phrases of like character
to express itself:
Misrepresentation most barefaced and fou-In-
famous atempt-Base, and fraught with mischief
Foul charge-Vile purpose-Charge basely false
Standard has execrabe fame-Foul charge (repeated)
-unqualifedly false-Fendish spirit-Base and un-
INSTANTANEOUS lbel-And with the pertinacity of a
concerted and wrangling demagogue.'
AS to the " concerted and wrangling demagogue,'
we suppose there must be some misprint; but how.
ever that may be, the above extracts make up an
average sample of the staple productions of the Reg
a
this time, in initiating the example he has set u.s.
and in not retorting his BLACKBOARD epithets. Our
purpose is rather to bring his mind back to matters
of more public concernment-not losing sight of his
very reprehensible position the Convention and
Free Suffrage questions; which subjects being dis
posed of, we may then perhaps have more leisure to
handy personalities with him.
Let then how the question stands, and what
is the position of parties in regard to it! The Con-
stuon of this State provides for its alteration
and amendment, by Legislative enactment, and by
Convention. The people of North Carolina, by
very large majority, undoubtedly desire amend it
by abolishing the property qualification of voters in
| the Senate. Gov. Reid aRd the Democratic party
have openly advocated the said amendment, and ex-
pressed their preference for the former mode of effect
ing it. The wing leaders and presses Cat least those
of the Register stripe) will not condescend to say
whether they advocate oppose the proposed amend
ment, or whether they would have Convention or
not; but say, the people desire Convention, they
have objection and that Convention is the proper
and the only proper mode of amending the Consttu-
ton, IF it is to be amended In the Legislatures of
l948 and 1850, these questions discussed and
is notorious that the main object for calling gen.
eral Convention, avowed by the original movers
and warmest advocates of the measure, change
the basis of representation in the House of Commons
1t is equally notorious that this question of the white
basis opposed to the federal bas is, was thrown
into the discussion the Free Suffrage BILL, by
Wings; and that it did, in these General Assemblies
afford theme of uncalledfor and unpleasant agitation
Ii be denied that the Legislative mode of a.
mendments is cheaper and more expeditions and
that the ultimate aim and hope Of those who origina-
ted the proposition for general Convention, is to
subject the State Constitution general revision and
alteration, and especially to establish the white basis
of Representations in other words, declare that
slaves shall not be counted persons Gas they
to the extent of three ffths, under the United
States Constitution in aPportionng representation.
Now, if this be not the agitation of the Slavery
question by Wing leaders-what is it? If under
these circumstances and the movements already too
plainly indicated in wing quarters, this would not be
to array the STAKEHOLDER against the non-slavehoder,
and section against section-what else could be the
effect of it, We repeat that it movement much
to be deprecated, tending to mischievous agitation
and likely result in evil, and nothing but evils
But the Register denounces the very idea of amend
ing the Constitution by Legislative enactment, and
affects the proposed, if it should
coed, being the first instance in this any other
State of the Union To read the laundering denunca-
uonS Oh SdSdClouS anu duVlSeIS, one
would suppose that it usurpation of authority in
the General Assembly to undertake to amend the Con-
stitution in obedience the wishes of the free
men of the State. And yet such power is given the
Legislature by the fundamental law engrafted in the
Constitution of 1885, after much deIibeation subse-
quenty ratified by the people; and its wisdom never
questioned asssailed by any one, until within
short time past, some Wing leaders would have the
world to understand that NATHANIEL MACON, WILL
LIAM CASTOR, JOSEPH ]. DANIEL and an illusrious
host of otfels in the Convention of 1885, were not
so wse nor loved they, the people WELL as certain
Constitutional expounders of 1852. We respectful
y ask attention the vote, by which the provision
in the Constitution. referred to- was passed by the
Convention:
Those who voted in the affirmative were
6 Messrs. Andres, Averitt, Arlington Bower, Bon
ner, Baxter, Branch Britain, Biggs, Bailey, Bunting
Brodnax, Boddie, Cathey, Cox Canister, Cooper,
Chalmers, Calvert, Chambers, Carson (E2utherford)
Collins Daniel, Dobson, Elliott Edwards, Ferebee
Fisher, Faison, Franklin, Calling, Graves, CASTOR
(Crauen,) CASTOR (Hyde) Gillian, Gaines, Gary,
Gray, Giles, Gudger, Hill, Hall, Hogan, Hussey,
Hooker. Hodges, Higgins, Howard, Hasey, Holmes,
Jones (Wake,) Jones, (Wiikes,) Joiner, Jaeocks,
King, Kelly, Lea, Lesaer, Macon, Melchor, Nc
Pherson, McDiarmd, Marchant Morehead, Martin,
MarsteIler, Meares, Norcom, Outlaw, Owen, Powell
(Cotumbus,) Powell (Robeson,) Pearsall, Pipkin,
Rufin, Rayner, Ramsay (Pasquotank,) Roulhac,
Swain, Styron, Sawyer, Skinner. Spaght (Crnyen,)
Speight (Greene,) Sugg, Stallings, Sanders, Sea-