The Democratic sentinel and Harrison County farmer. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1851-1852, 1852-09-01
The Wings Opposed Free sufra ge

q
In every State the Wings as party have
fought inch by inch, every reform in our
State Constitutions, under the plea of being |
soRssIrotiss and opposed to 1snOpatiOas.
The n. y. Evening Post, in the following
article, shows that the Wigs of North Caro-
Ina were beaten on their old anti-sufIrage,
tury hatred Of the people:
NORM CAEoLINA PoLIrIcs.-The Wing
journals are laboring TO show that the late
large majority obtained for Mr. Reid, the
Democratic candidate for Governor, is not a
Democratic triumph. 1t was, say they sim
ply the triumph OF free suffrage. Reid was
"a Jealous advocate for universal suffrage
in the Stale elections; the i lea took with the
people OF North Carolina, and they carried
Reid into the executive chair with a sort Of
rush.
Suppose all this to be true; the election
of Mr. lteid is none the less Democratic
triumph. The doctrine of free suffrage is an
article in the Democratic creed: while iG is
everywhere the whig party who support the
policy OF restrictions on the right of suffrage,
freehold qualifications. property qualilca
lions. q long residence ofthe voter in the place
where he chooses to exercise political rights,
and all other eXpedientS TO make voters few
in number, and create sort of arstoc
racy in the community. All the extensions
OF the right of suffrage in any of the States
have been effected by The Democratic party
In the State of New York the Democrats
have all along been the enemies Of these re-
strictions and have shaken them off one by
} one, after hard struggles with the aristocracy
party. North Carolina, at a later period, is
going throug the same process. A Demo
critic principle is proclaimed, the Dem rcrat.
ic spirst is aroused, and in consequence, q
Democratic candidates. elected; anG if this be
not Democratic triumph there is nothing
which can be called by that mare
In vein," says Tribune, "Mr. Kerr, the
whig candidate for Governor avowed himse
wiling to see free suffrage established by Z
conve ltion, instead of being enacted by
the legislature. In as much as the legisla
= ture OF North Carolina have the power to make
the charge, the people naturally regarded the
: formaty of the calling convention as tricl
= to delay the reform and getrd Of it if posi-
bic. 1t is the universal eXpedent of practi
ced politicians when they see that a question
is pretty certain to be decided against them
either in Il deIiberative body or at the polls
to exert themselves under the same plausible
pfetext for It's postponement. If the ques.
lion of free suffrage is to be settled by a con
= vention. an act OF the legislature must frs
be passed to authorise the convention; thu
measure must be considered and debated
means may be found to postpone it to anoth
er year; if it shuold be passed at last, there
: would be room for an attempt to elect to th,
convention majority of delegates uafriendly
to universal suffrage, or at least in favor o
retaining some remnantof the Old restrictions
The people of North Carolina dstruste,
those who pretended this conditional and dis
tine: friendship for universal suffrage, Mr.
Kerr among the rest, and gave their votes
accordingly.
1t is childish to pretend that the moral eff
feet Of the election in North Carolina will no
be in futlre fvorabIe to the Democratic part,
in that State. The triumph of the Democrat
ic candidate and of the principle of free suf
frage are considered there identical. Th,
Legislature will probably now grant the lesr,
of the people 50 distinctly expressed. If i
should not, the wings will naturally be helt
responsible, and will fall into still greae
uupopularity. If it shonld, class Of mel
will be admitted to the light of suffrage, who
generally in all States, vote with the demo
cratic party, and who will be apt to remcm.
, Der to whom they are in debted for the re
cogpidon of their political / ghts.