Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1852-11-20
THE STANDARD.
SS=|::::::::7N4AaaSb$
= VVkSSEA 4EsS&S[.s
RALEIGH, SATURDAY, NOV. 90, 1852.
FREE SUFFRAGE.

majority of the Committee on CONSTITUTIONAL A
mendments of the House of Commons OF this State
have reported against the passage of the Free Sut
frace hill. and that a minority of the Committee
have reported in its favor.
We have before US the majority Report signed
by w. S. Harris, w. H. Trip, Willie Perry, and
G NJ. Stiles; and the name of Mr.. Stiles, it will
be seen, is also signed to the minority Report We
have never read weaker document than the ma
iority Report We shall take it up in next, and
show to the people of the State the object of the
opponents of Free Suffrage, and the tendency of
their present movements.
The last Raleigh Register goes into fit of he
roles over recent article of ours, in which we SAID
the people of the State have demanded Free SUI
frage, and THEY SHALL HAVE IT." That paper at
tempts to create the impression that we are seek
inc to dictate to the Legislature and it calls upon
that body to give an " indignant rebuke." We
assume to dictate to no one AS one of the organs
of the people claim the right to utter our hon
est thoughts. We have exercised this right here
tofore and we expect to continue to do so, " III
spite of lamentations here or elsewhere" We
have proclaimed it, and we proclaim it again-cer-
tainy with all Difference and respect for the mem
bers of Assembly-that the people of North Carroll
ma have demanded Free Suffrage, and that the pres
ent bill ought to be passed, in obedience to that de-
lnand, and submitted to the people for their appro
val at the ballot-boX.
But we do not propose to-day to go at length
into the su6ject, having taken up our pen merely
for the purpose of calling attention to the bill in
troduced by Mr.. Avery and the Reports of the
Committee. The bill and the minority Report are
given below. We take occasion to say that the
minority Report, though brief presents the lead
inc points in a strong light and must command the
approval of an immense majority of the freenen
of the State
"a BILL to amend The Constitution of North Carolina.
WHEREAS, at the last session of the General AS
sembIy A. ID. l95O-'5l, Preamble and Bill pro-
posing amend the Constitution of North Carolina,
read three times in each House, and agreed by
three-ffhs of the whole number of members CT each
House respectively. and has been duly published for
six months previous to the election of the members
TO the present General Assembly And, Whereos, il
is the purpose of this Bill, re-enac and agree TO
the alteration proposed in and by The Preamble, and
the first section of the bill aforesaid, in The precise
words and figures thereof, by the concurTng of
thirds Of the whole representation in each House
of this General Assembly, after the shall have
been read three times three several days in each
House;
Now Whereas the freehold qualification now
required for electors for members of the Senate,
hlcls with the fundamental principles of liberty,
Therefore,
l. Be it enacted by the General assembly of the |
STATE Of North Carolina and it is hereby enacted by the
authority Of tie same, Two-thirds Of the whole rep
Iesentauon in each Honse concurring, THAT the |
second clause Ct the third section of the first article
OF the amended constitution ratified by the people Of
North Carolina, on the second Monday of November
A. d., 1885, be amended by striking the words, |
q" and possessed of freehold within the same dis
tct, OF fifty of land for six months next before
and at the day If election so that the said clause
OF said section shall read follows: 3. All free
white men OF The age of twenty-one ears, Except
as is hereinafter decared who have been inhabitants
OF any enc district within the State, twelve months
Immediately preceding the day of any election, and
shall have paid public taxes shall be entitled 10 vote
Tor a member of the Senate.''
IL. Be ii further enacted, That the forepoipp
amendment to the Constitution of this State as en-
bodied IN the preceding section, be submitted by the
Governor to the people, the first Thursday of Au-
gust, D., 1853, thirty days notice having been Civ
that The polls be opened by the respective sher-
ms and kept open for day, from the hour of ten
O'CLOCK In the morning, 10 the hour of o'clock in
The afternoon at the several election precincts in each
and every county in the State, under the same rules
and regulations as now exist for the election of mem
OeTs to The General Assembly: That the said sher-
ms be required to compare and certify the results of
the elections before the Saturday following
ano transmit the same in twenty days thereafter to
N"'eii'ol Vi Tic Stdle: mat all persons quail
NED 10 vote for members of the House of Commons
snail vote Tor against ratification of said amend
ment: Those who wish a ratification of said amend
hen'' voting with printed written ticket ap
Tored; nose OF contrary opinion, " not aDproUed"
furher, That 1t Shall be the duty of the sheriffs to
make duplicate statements of the polls in their res
rect'Ve counties, sworn TO before the Clerk of the
Hounty Court; one copy of which shall be desposi-
ea In SAID clerks office, and the other copy trans
United 10 the Governor of the State, at Raleigh
III. BE further enacted, That when the returns
aforesaid shall have been received the same shall be
opened by the Governor, in the presence of the Sec
rotary Of State and Treasurer; and in case MAORI
" of the polled shall be in favor of ratfca-
uon OF said amendment, the shall be forthwith
made known by proclamation of the Governor to
me people of the State. And thereupon The Cover
nor shall cause to be endorsed the said amend
ment' as enrolled by the Houses of this General
assembly,, shall annex lhereunto certificate I'M
Ief hls signature declaring that said amendment has
Ieen ratified bv the people of North Carolina and
; e secretary of 'S@te shall countesign the said
and annex thereto the great seal of the State
,;e su 'he SAID amendment enrolled, with the
chiraS aforesaid, shall be forever kept among the
aforesaid " " ~ " WV '
Tbo MINORITY REPORT
tee ~ ueis'gned, members of the Select Commit
The b;u "s"'utlona Reform, TO whom was referred
do NOT c aneno The Constitution of N orth Carolina
that comn; IN lhe report submitted by majority of
ifeJ dssen, " ana beg leave their unqual-
approva r e'eto' and TO express their most hearty
of the mode ,ho,ni proposed by the BILL and