Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1852-06-19
& f & E T
THE ATTACK ON THE BASIS!

IL
of North Carolina, that when Governor Reid first
proposed Free Suffrage, he was met by Wing lead
ers with the cry that Free Suffrage, in itself, was but
a shadow, and that something more substantial was
due to the w esterh Counties 1t argued by these
leaders, in $780, that the Senatorial basis unjust
to the West; that the taxation feature, in which
slaves have their due weight because they taxed,
ought to be modified totally changed; and that in
fine, the West which already has the control in the
Commons, should likewise, the result of this pro-
posed change in the taxation basis be enabled
troll the Senate. Free Suffrage by legislative enact
and the sanction of the people at the polls,
treated humbug in one breath, and held up in the
next as popular issue TO be used by these leaders
to strengthen their demand for Convention; and
the object Of this Convention then as now, was bold
y declared be to alter the Senatorial basis. In proof
of this need only 10 refer to document put forth
the last session of the General Assembly, entitled
s. an address TO the people of North Carolina on the
subject of Constitutional Reform and signed by
thrty-six Wing members of that body, as follows:
| John Gray Bynum, Calvin ]. Webb, Jesse B. Sloan,
N. w. Wood6n, Marcus Erwin, w. B. Lane, G.
NJ. A. Drake, Jesse Thornburgh, Jno. A. Ellington
A. H. Caldwell. o. G. Foard, Stephen Douthtt, G..
+. Davidson, &. G. Mckoy, E. NJ. Campbell. ]. NJ
Boyle, Francis Locke, A. NJ Foster, John A. Gilmer
D. F. Caldwell, c. II. Wiley, Peter Adams, Rufus
Barringer, J. w. Scott, John Shimpock, A. G. Fos-
ter, James Nj. Leach, A. B. Mcmillan, D. w. Sier
John Hayes, John Fl. Haughton, A. R. Kelly, z.
Russell, H. T. Farmer, T. R. Caldwell, and T. G.
Walton. The object of this address to convince
the people of the State that unrestricted Con-
ven,ion - was the Is only proper Republican mode
of altering amending the Constitution -; and the
burden of the document attack of the bitter
est character upon the present Senatorial basis Is this
denied Does any Wing orator press demand the
proof2 Here it is, then-we quote from the address
itself, which says:
Equally opposed to this principle is the rule by
which political power is measured by the basis Of rep
resentation TN the Senate To place it in its most
favorable light the Senate represents property, and
not persons-money, not men-matter, not mind.
But its odiousness does not stop here. You all ia
mar with the subjects Of taxation, and these
represented-not you, the people. All white
males between the ages of 81 and IS subject
poll and all slaves, male and female, between the
ages of IL and SO subject to the like that
threefths ofthe negroes represented in the House
of Commons, and all the negroes between the ages
above designated, represented in the Senate but
your wives and children have political rights.
Pedars, Billiard Tables, Bowling Alleys, Circus
Riders, Playing Cards, Retailers of Spiruous Liq-
uors, Brokers, Merchants Watches and Carriages
all taxed. They have their Senators in the State
Legislature. But your wives and your daughters;
your old men who have served their country; your
y
stay and your poor men, upon whom misfortune has
laid its heavy hand-have one there to plead their
cause and protect their rights. Is this liberty Is
this freedom! Is this republican equality!
Your Bill of Rights says THAT all political pow
er is vested in and derived from the people onI'' Is
power in the Senate of North Carolina derived from
" the people only? Let ii not be said that taxation
and representation go hand IN hand That principle
has application here. 1t is that our ancestors
fought the battles of the Revolution upon the princ
pie that they not 10 be taxed by body in which
they not represented But who represented
Certainly the peopie-ihose who paid the taxes-not
the taxes themselves. Our ancestors never claimed
that their property should be represented They claim
ed, and justly too, that they should be represented
In the Senate, property is represented and not the
people and the principle which prompted
our ancestors to that glorious contest, and sus-
tanned them in it, which terminated in the achieve
ment of our liberties, should prompt against
tocracy by Which The people taaed By body (Which
they are not rep, esened.''
Can there be any doubt to the meaning of this
Ianguage' Again the signers of this address say:
"Apply the principle and see its injustice. Ten
men in any one county, own much property and
pay as much public tax five hundred men in anoth-
er county. They all the species of proper
y. Each of the five hundred is equally interested in
the preservation OF his little mite either of the
Each one has perhaps made it by the labor of his
hands. and by the sweat OF his brow. 1t is all he
has. by means of which to maintain and provide for
bis family. II is the dependence OF his children for
educaon-for susenanee. And yet, by the present
system, n ten equal to the fire hundred. Is this
justice! Is this liberty
Save US from such freedom-save US from such
downrgh ut tyrannytyrarny tn its most odious form.
The few grinding into the dust the many under tho