Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1852-05-22


ever it is brought to an ISSUE the great law ofself
interest, Which, when enlightened, is the greatest
security for any people, will combine both the rich
and the poor against plan which is, in truth, moth
ing more or less than scheme for legislative plum
der and extortion. -.-.--- --s'
To convince the Senate what little cause there is
for complaint against the working OF the present
Constitution, will state remarkable fact drawn
from the public records ..-
The following counties, viz: Burke, Cabarrus,
Caldwell, Catawba, Cherokee. Ceaveland, David
son. Davie Guilford, Haywood, Henderson, lredell,
Macon, Mcdowell, Montgomery, Moore, Randolph,
Rutherford, stanly, Stokes, Surry, Wilkes and
Yancy paid taxes into the public Treasury, in 1850,
amounting to $27 ,957 only, and received during
the same year from the school fund.- $31, 1878. Here
are twenty-three western countless entitled to some
fifty membersin the Legislature, receiving from the
Public Treasury exclusive of the expense of Judges,
Members of Assembly, &C., over 5000 more than
all their payments for the support of government;
and vet these counties represented by the very
members that complain most of injustice done them
by the present Constitution
Mr. Speaker if gentlemen will permit me to
tender them any advice upon this subject, would
say to the with the greatest sincerity and respect,
do not raise the cry of Convention or no Conver-
ton with the hope of organizing party upon that
issue in North Carolina. Should you succeed, it
will have no other result than to divide the State
geographically to embtter the two sections against
each other and for years to come, to place an in
surmountable barrier to all udicious practicable
schemes of improvement. Wait until the objects
of Internal Improvement which have been COM
menced, are finished and matured if they are sue
cessful they will be extended by the intelligence
of the Legislature to the remoest parts of the State
Neither our Constitution or Legislature, can be
fairly blamed, that so little has been done for the
cause of Internal Improvement in North Carolina.
n aI hov1n
port which, being the centre of trade, could con-
centrate Improvements; our efforts were unconnec
ted and desultory the consequence OF which was,
much money was lost, and many errors were I'M
avoidably made. But certainly this unfortunate
state of things will not be remedied by throwing
the whole State into confusion, and upturning the
old settled foundations of the Government.
The gentleman from Rutherford complains, and
perhaps Justly, that his section has been neglected
can sympathise with him in such complaints.
have the honor to represent people who know
nothing of your Government except through the
tax collector. We have great work to be exc
cuted in our immediate neghborhood, which, if
made would add intellectually to our wealth, COM
fort and even health and yet when we come here
for assistance you refer us to the General Govern
ment, and when we go to the General Government,
and urge your agents there toexert themselves in
behalf we are met by Indifference if not by positive
hostility. We have borne this state of things patti
emily for more than twenty years, and have not
even dissolved party ties, much less attempted
to destroy those stronger dearer ties which should
bind us to the institutions and memories of our
native State
Let not gentlemen deceive themselves by the
success of Free Suffrage That question did not
raise any sectional issue it had numerous partisans
in all parts of the State, and for years had been
regarded by many persons, as odious individual
distinction, that ought to be blotted from our
Constitution. The basis of representation is very
different matter it involves the very security and
protection of much the larger portion of the proper
ty which pays revenue for the support of Govern
ment and it cannot be abandoned by those persons
to whose charge it is committed, without adj
hitting themselves unworthy of the trust confded
to them. If gentlemen wish hobby by means
of which some Gubernatoral aspirant may ride into
the Executive Chair, beg them to select some
thing that will produce less disastrous results to the
best interests of the State.
AS regards the bill upon your table, which pro-
poses to consult the people upon the propriety of
calling Convention, in addition to the evils of
Convention already mentioned, this bill is liable to
very serious charge. 1t proposes indirectly to
reach result in mode directly opposed to the
one mentioned in the Constitution. And this result
is urged by men who, but few days ago, made
this hall ring with patriotic devotion tc consttu
tional law. Then, the very idea of consulting the
people upon a matter deeply interesting to them,
raised all sorts of horrors in their minds; now, it
seems, a positive injunction of the Constitution
can unhesitatingly be disregarded, when another
favorite purpose is to be answered.
WE'LL Sir, suppose this bill passes, and majority
Of the people, but not constitutional majority of
counties, express themselves favorable to the as
sembling of Convention gentlemen will be no
nearer a Convention then than they are now, unless
they intend to get up Dorr rebellion, and after
succeeding in a popular vote, to march to Raleigh,
capture the Capitol, form Constitution, and install
a Governor, &c. I hope, whilst they are doing all
this, they will not forget to send to Rhode Island
and borrow that celebrated of the unfortunate
Gov. Dorr, that the play may be correctly perform
ed with all the appropriate costume. 1t remains
for this Senate to decide whether they will coun
tenance such proceeding in law-loving, law-abid-
ing North Carolina. Pass this bill, sent us from
the House of Commons, and you array the two
sections of the State in deadly hostility to each
other, and we may see, in few months a tumult-
uous assembly in this Capitol, calling themselves
the people, acting over the scenes, which but
a few years ago brought the State of Rhode Island
to the verge Of destruction, and consigned the lead
ers and deuders of the people to prison and the
contempt of mankind.
IN. B. Since this table was made, have seen
the Register of the 5,h of February, containing an
:. Address to the people of North Carolina the
subject of constitutional REFORM This address is
bu Maphera IF he TeUiSl from nnateen