Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1852-04-28
For the Standi
FREE SUFFRAGE.


FREE SUFFRAGE.
Mr.. EDIroR: Free Suffrage is to become the "
| stitutionai law of our State No fact be more
surely stated, as IN its triumphant progress to more
triumphant finale, than this But while this fact is
so apparent, there is being made most desperate eff
fort TO conceal its by such conceaIment kill it off
and out OF the {" noise and confusion conceaRg it,
to bring to life the dead body of the detunct wing
party. Knowing this, it is duty good demo-
cratic conservaors to keep attention directed TO the
principal measure affecting parties at present in this
State.
Convention and convention; east and west !;
mum candidate and no-mum candidate, many
traps catch votes in many different sections, and
to entice attention from the main question:; that
Mum, Anft-num f. 60. may successfully hoist flag
that whilome foaIed rather ingloriousy the des
TIMES OF the odd North and which is laid
away among the discarded relics of the past. WhiIe
these innocent and harmless little devices are being
resoried to- TO retrieve the fallen fortunes of buried
dynasty, 1t s no idle duty this of keeping own
flag bright, its folds given freely to the breeze, its
principles distinct, clear, unuistakeabe. In doing
this, occasional reference necessarily be had
to free suffrage.
| Several of the wing papers, young-uns.'' for
older heads more wise-will persist in calling the
extension of suffrage ''humbug, Reids humbug
&c." While it is still in allegiance, these brief gances
at it, will the double purpose of pointing out
its excellencies and developing the reasons which
have proved to the people that 1t is no hum5ug.
1t has been held by some, that " the Senate repre-
sents the landed Interests and if the landed quafca
ton for be abolished the landed Interest must
consequently suffer-"
This specIous objection has had much weight at
tached it, and exerted quite orndabe Influence
against the success Of the people, iavore measure
Fairly investigated, this objection falls to the ground
as the most impotent that could have been bostered
up by desparng opponents, that could have been de-
vsed by the friends of sinking cause, and that could
have been put as special plea into the hands Of
skilnl debaters 1t is grounded In allacy' and sus-
! tanned by the fmsiest OF sophlsms.
Let's see The Senate represents specially and
peculiarly the landed interest " so readeih the faacy,
so is recited the sophism TO open the ballot box
for every other class destroy the landed interest
so foloweth the sapient conclusion to the talaclons
premises
1t not true that our Senate represents the landed
interest alone 1t represents by its legislation, every
class and calling in the community. 1t is tue that
the members each represent many voters upon land
as fall within the ofcountry paying such pro-
portion OF the Herein lies the error. and which
is the determined purpose of our people TO expunge
But to say that the Senate by its action represents
solely the landed interest is to say that which all the
records and facts are against. We have at hand
work by learned jurst, which in discussing the
various forms of government, gives an example of
government where the Senate represents landed
aIstocracy but Stale government does not come
within the definition given by our author to such
form of government; far, very far from 1t. Indeed
every interest known the labor and professions of
this State is in the Senate by every mode
familiar in Legislation; save, that the members COIN
posing the Senate, by perverse provision of the
voters.
A plain proposition and its logical sequence shew
at glance how our Senate represents other interests
besides the landed. The Senate represents the
paying portion of the State: Every interest in the
State pays its rated proportion of the tax;
But observe, that while every interest is represent
ed by the Senate only privileged land holders are
represented in the Senate. While every trade, pro-
lesson and calling by much tax as they pay, are
represented by the Senate, yet by of those mex
plicabe instances of oversight which wisest con-
stitution makers sometimes Afford these classes
not represented in the Senate. The small PROPOSE
tions by and here used, of significant import
in this connection For while every interest is legs
lated upon by the Senate, thereby representing those
interests yet only htty and-hoders are repre-
scented in the Senate.
This view of the question will he rendered still
plain by matter of fact illustration gentle
man, living in Wilmington, told me few days ago
that he pays annually hundred dollars to the
collector but that, not owning fifty acres of land, he
had no vote in the Senate. Now the tax he pays
tiers as large item into the amount which forms the
basis upon which Senator is elected from his dis
trct and. strange say. he has voice in the seec
ton of that Senator. gentleman living in the same
district. (New Hanover,) owning fifty acres of land,
worth dollar and quarter per has vote Tor
Senator, when the IDh0ie UaiIe of his land amounts
not to SO much as is paid by the Wilmington gentle
man in taxes. Here, it will be perceived. the man
paying large tax is by much represented by his
Senator, but the man paying mere trhing tax upon
fifty Of very Indifferent land is represented in
the Senate. Is not this unjust! Is it not unfair
Does it not call for redress and reform!
How may it work adversely to the wishes Of those
paying the large taxi Suppose that there were ten
paying taxes in proportion 10 the amount paid by
the Wilmington gentleman, and there tie vote,
or within or Of tie between two candidates for
the Senate now if A.. be the Objectionable candidate
the large payers, he might still be elected
by the preponderance of FIVE land holders paying
small and almost Insignificant tax, voting the OPP
posite side, for A., while if the ten had the right
consttuionaiy vote, b. would be elected, and the
sentiment the district represented in the Sen
ate.
AS the constitution stands, those paying much
the largest proportion of the may be represented
by the Senator elected. but those paying the smaller
proportion may be represented in the Senate. In 9TH
er words, persons Of one party may pay more than
moety of the upon which a Senator'S seat is ba-
sed. while another party in the minority may fl that
seat with man of their views. The majority may
thus, as stand, be both represented and
misrepresented by the Senator occupying the
while they have had voice in being represented in
the Senate.
But enough. In another article, we hope to be
able show that the large tax payer, though suffer-
ing by Constitution it is, has nothing like
much serious cause for complaint as the small tax
payer, who is present debarred of the privilege Of
voting for Senators. CLIO.
THRowN OVERHEARD AGAIN. There time
when MIR. Clay's voice was all potential with the
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