Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1852-05-26
26,77I
2I,6O6
5.l65
Majority,


1t is we'll known that under the old Constitution
the representation in the Assembly by Counties,
each County having one Senator and two Common
ers. This basis, which had no reference to either
numbers taxation, became in process of time I'M
just and unequal and bore heavily upon the Western
Counties. The West demanded a Convention for
the purpose of revising and amending the Constitu-
ton, and especially for the purpose of equalzing
representation in the Legislature and the East after
much heat and discussion the subject, yielded to
| the demand. No provision then existed for amend
ments by Legislative enactment and the subsequent
sanction of the people at the polls and indeed if
such provision had been in existence, it would
scarcely have been possible to have arranged the
ent basis and adjusted the balance of power in that
way. The Convention was called, two Delegates
from each County, and the body was expressly lin
tied a certain of action by the act which
called it. Fifty Senatorial Districts laid off, ard
it also ordained that the House of Commons
should consist for the future Of hundred and twenty
members; and the Commons was based on Federal
population, and the Senate taxation of whatsoever
character. This was the compromise established by
the two sections, in Convention, in 1885; and this
compromise, according to a calculation made by Mr..
CASTOR, gave the w est majority of six in the Com
mons, and the East majority of four in the Senate.
The Constitution, as amended, then put to the
people the polls for ratification rejection; and
as the above table shows. the Westcr1 Counties vofed
TO ratJy by immense mojorities, while the Eastern
Counties generally voted TO reject. The present
Constitution is, therefore, much Western it is
an Eastern Constitution, far the basis is con-
cerned and the late Democratic State Convention,
in planting itself the basis il is, took Western
we'll Eastern groundwork ground for the suhOle
CY,Ta ;teE
peas and sectional claims. The proposition of Gov.
Reid, which has been sanctioned by three-fifhs of
the Legislature place all the free white men in the
State equality at the baot-box, is not a Sec
tional but general proposition; and the of
this proposition is just important to the citizen who
resides the seashore it is the dweller the
mountains. The principle of Free Suffrage will dis
turb existing compromise, interfere with vested
right, injure interest which enjoys can
enjoy the protection of the Constitution the laws.
So far from this, is the just and legitimate result of
the very basis which the Senate is fixed for
The Senate is based and opportioned upon taxation of
aNsork ought all free t0hite men, aUho haze paid
tares, be entitled to vote for Senator'S.
The sages and patriots in the Convention of 1885,
who established this basis determined that their
work should stand; and with this view it was pro-
vided that in future Convention should be called
but by the of two-hirds of both houses
of the General Assembly, while it likewise or
daned-as if to render the call of Convention still
more improbable-that the Constitution might be
amended in its various parts, from time to time by
three-fhs and then two-thirds of the Assembly with
the subsequent sanction of the people the polls.
The majority principle, now strenuousy urged by
the white basis advocates, directly voted down
in that Convention. Mr.. Meares said it was "well
known that large portion of the people of the State
in favor of adopting white population The
basis of representation 'he believed the majority
principle, if engraed in the Constitution. would lead
to this result; and he declared that, to guard against
This, the object Of his annendement," requiring
thirds to call Convention. On the same occasion,
Mr.. CASTOR said, see Debates of the Convention,
pages 34s, $40:
This was of the most important questions
that had come before the Convention; for, whatever
benefits we may have promised ourselves from our
labors in this body in laying the foundations of our
Constitution equitable and fair principles, if we
put it in the power of bare Legislative maortes to
upset them all, then indeed have we toed in vain.
He was not only surprized, but filed with fearful
apprehensions. appears if this body Were going
rashIy from one extreme to another. Because diff