Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1852-05-19
REMARKS OF GEN. SAUNDERS,

i REMARKS OF GEN. SAUNDERS,
is delivered ( substance) the late Democratic State
Convention, May IA, 1853.
/ Gen. SAUNDERS said the Resolutions which had
Just been adopted, presented three points embracing
the main questions issue between the two parties
lst The question of revenue and expenditures 3D.
Slavery and the Presidency; 3D., Amendments Of the
State Constitution to what extent and by what means
He had but little TO say to the two first points, as
his friends who had gone before him had fully dis
cnssed them. The Bank had been buried BY Gen.
Jackson, and Tariff of President Polk had settled
the question in favor of free trade against protection.
He should only advert to single fact to show that
the Wings of this State had surrendered the Tariff
question: Resolution had been passed by the last
Legislature in favor Of the present Tariff by
of rs to lS-the Democrats voting for it and only 19
Wings against it, or lodging the question. He also
alluded the fact that the Wings in 1910 pronounced
an expenditure of thirty-two millions grossly ex-
travagant, and that now they approve expenditure
of J5ty-t,oO millions
Gen. Saunders said the issue presented by the late
Wing Convention against any amendments of the
Constitution through the Legislature and for open
Convention to be called at the aciH Of majority, was
an issue which he accepted; and he challenged their
to the charge. He stood ready to pro-
claim his opposition to this majority principle. If
asked if he did recognize the right of majority
to pass laws, he answered yes-to prevail at the ball
lotbox in elections, yes-to change compromises and
checks in the Constitution, he answered emphaticay
no. These compromises and checks had been placed
in the Constitution by solemn compact for protecting
the rights Of minoritiss-majorities could protect
themselves. The Wings claimed to be conservative
| he wished they would show it. The Constitution
of 76 had stood for nearly so years, when in 1885 it
was amended by Convention called by majority
of the Legislature, being the only mode then author
ized County representation in the Senate was changed
to the basis of taxation, and in the House of Com
mons TO that of white population and Saves the whites
counting their full number, and three-hfths Of the
slaves being added. Phis amended Constitution had
been voted for and accepted by the Western Counties,
with the exception of four, and against by every Coun
ty east of Raleigh.
! In the Convention Of '35 it was proposed by Com
mttee that in future, amendments should be made to
the Constitution the majority principle, through
the Legislature, and only recurring majority of one
Legislature to PROPOSE and that of succeeding
to approve. This was amended on motion of Mr..
Meares, from the East, to require three-6fths
in the Legislature to propose, two-hrds to approve,
and majority of the people to ratfy. So in regard to
| amendments by Convention-no such Convention
could be had unless by the of twohirds
of both Houses OF the General Assembly. These
provisions inserted in the Constitution,
strctions, By rOte of LOG to I8-they supported
| by Meares, Branch, Daniel. and CASTOR from the
East, and by Swain and Fisher from the West. With
out these restrictions the will of majority, Mr..
Castor said " he had been deceivcd'' in agreeing
call Convention, and that the West would have
'' bound the East, hand and foot" He Gen. S., now
charged the Wing Convention, composed Of two
thirds of Eastern men, with making proposition
which, if carried out, would in the language of Mr..
CASTOR, bind the East hand and toot,'' and would
place the property Of the saveowner at the mercy of
majority. whether slave-owners or not
This restriction on the will of a majority, and of
amending Constitutions by legislative enactment,
to be found in the Constitution of the United States,
as amendment can be made to that instrument
less it be the vote OF twothrds of both houses of
Congress, on the application OF two-thirds of the
Legislatures Of the States, and then to be ratified by
three-fourths of the State Legislatures, by Con.
ventions Of the like number.
Gen. S. then examined the question of Free Suf-
rage which, as he said had been fully discussed by
D111o No. H. Co.
the former was elected and the friends Of the meas
ure returned to the Legislature. This measure had
been passed by vote OF three-hths, and it only
required the vote OF two-thrds Of the next Legisla-
ture, and then the approval of majority of the peo
PIE; and yet the Wing Convention was silent
The subject of :heii Presidential candidates
wished TO be on the question Of Slavery.
Gen. S. then referred to acts Of the Wings of the
last Legislature in their endeavors defeat the
and to obtain open majority Convention. lst,
1t proposed to call upon the people say wheh-
eF they desired Convention, 10 be restricted to this
subject alone; I'd, whether they desired open Con-
vensien Sd, that the question of Convention no
Convention should be submitted to the people, and
the result Of the vote comm nicated to the As
semby.
Gen. s. next examined the principle of freehold
and Of free suffrage voting. He said the former had
been abandoned in 1885, when the Convention chang
ed the basis Of Senatorial representation that the
taxation by which County District is entitled to
Senator is founded on land alone. but includes
this time pays the highest in The State which had
thus been increased by the town of Wilmington and
yet the people Of the town, who paid the tax which
gave the County her Senator, and large overplus,
were entitled for the Senator unless they
also had the fifty acres of land. The Free Suffrage
principle bot carrying out the taxation principle
of representation in the Senate and for this reason he
was opposed to changing that basis. So to the /
basis of the House VI Commons. Gen. S. here read |
from table, as prepared by the Comptroller, from
which it appeared that the whole number of taxable
polls in the State, 194,920; of which 6O,557 |
were whites, and 1872, 1892 slaves-more than
two to one and yet, said Gen. S., this Wing Con-
vention of Eastern men, were willing to go for an
open Convention in order to defeat Free Suffrage and
to gain political victory for Governor. He ventur
ed say there had been stronger case of po
Itcal infatuation. He then said the security which
offered, of electing the members Of an open Con-
vention according to the basis of the House of Com
mons, was cheat and calculated to deceive-for ac
cordng the present apPortionment. whilst the East
had majority of four in the Senate, the West
had four six majority in the House; and this ma
jerity would be certainly nearly, if not quite doubled
after the next Legislature. I
Gen. S. next examined the numbers Of whites and
slaves in several Counties, claimed be Wing
ties, and asked if it possible these Counties could
be blinded by party spirit to sustain the advo-
Gates of this majority principle for Convention.
According to the late census, /
Arson County had, whites, 6.556
slaves, $3.50
Richmond County, whites, 1880
1" IS slaves, 4,7O4
Chatham County, whites, 12.i64