Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1852-12-15
DEFEAT OF FREE SUFFRAGE.

1t is with sincere regret that We are 1oTced 10 an.
nounce the defeat of the Free Suffrage Bill in the
Senate OF North Carolina on Friday last, upon which
day il came up on a consideration, moved by MI
Hoke of Lincoln, who had voted against 1t on Tues
day preceding. BY The vote as given In the letter
Of our Raleigh Correspondent, It will be seen that
every Democrat in the Senate voted In favor OF me
Bill with the exception of MIR. Speaker Edwards. II
appears that six higs and ,wen,y-seven Democrats
voted for the Bill; and fifteen Wigs and one DEM
ocrat against it. The Democra. is MIR. Edwards.
We had hoped that this amendment, evidently de-
sired by the people Of the State, would have been
passed into law by the present General Assembly
and OH its ratification by the people al the next eec-
llon would have become portion Of the Constitu-
ton OF North Carolina. We have been disappointed.
The whole question is again at sea, and unless some
thing can ye, be done the present session, all the
progress has already been made Will have been
lost and the whole ques ton have to be gone over
with ab inilio. .
The responsibility of the defeat rests with those
who produced it; and the people will hold them ac-
counable the consequences Of their act, and sub
ec, 10 that dspleasure which they have Incurred by
a papable disregard If the wishes of their conslu-
ents. AS party the Democrats have done their du-
~ in the premises. Their opponents could have
passed this biI thus closing agitation which they
affect TO deprecate, but they have not and they, as
narv are entitled to the credit or amenable to the
censure which the voters of North Carolina may
choose to award to the killers of Free Suffrage. vi
+.
posi,ion he stands isolated from his party, and In
d,rec, antagonism lis principles and policy upon
this point. While the public at large WILL held the
MhIr party responsible for the defeat oil Free Sui
frape Mr. Edwards will be held 10 an especial ,ac-
count by his parry, whose parlailty has award
ed him position anu honor, only 70 receive opPos'o"
| and defeat in return.
is not our wish to indulge in feelings or expres.
s;ons Of bitterness this time, and therefore sup
press much that might be in accordance with the
dictates of impulse, and perhaps also ~ pursuance ol
strict party duty. We presume Mr.. Edwards mo-
ives were disinterested, aEd that he sincere in
th;s onnos,ion to Free Suffrage. He has doub,
mn,i,ted himself at some Time against the measure,
nerbaps Without due examination and with the pride
of fancied consistency or The stubbornness OF Ord
Fouy prejudice, he s refuses TO see with any other
enec,aces than those falsely colored and distorted
ones through which ne received MS hfst views and
imnressions of this subject. We do not wan, TO
sure MIR. Edwards of Warren. but i; seems to us un
for,unate that Democratic and Free Suffrage Senate
bould have chosen him its head and front by elect
ino him to the office of Speaker. Any person has
nerfect right to be Democrat or Wing, Free Suffrage
man or An,i-Free Suffrage man as his feelings ant
Indictment may dclate but it seems to Us hardly fai
Tor man to claim to be of an organization and no
with ito receive its honors and Prefermens and ye
!, thwar, its objects. Such, however,'s MIR. Edward
, nos,ion, He claims TO be of the Democratic party
and vet refuses act with it upon question whic
has formed prominent and distinctive feature in it
State policy. gs
We hear great deal about Independence. freedor
from dica,ion and all that sort of thing; nineteenth
of wkch spreached up for she purposes Of humbos
II The whole thing is species of political banknptc
or repudation--a anemPt'o grasp me rewards an N
honors of party without honestly discharging I'll
q corresponding obligation thereby incnrred-to iab'
;. for its success, and strengthen its organization.
= IfMr. Edwards could not act with the Democrat
s. party, he should not have allowed himself TO acce
an election at its hands.
We learn from Raleigh that the Wing membe
I'd had held in regard to the course of that par
ID ,oward Free Suffrage. Was il part OF the plan
rive it lust sufficient votes throw the responsible
10 iof its defeat upon the Speaker!
Wikmington Journal.