The North-Carolinian. [volume] (Fayetteville [N.C.]) 1839-1861, 1852-06-05
Voc. 13-No. 6e3.

1vox. 13-No. 6o3.
some time past engaged public attention.
and it Is believed that . large majority of
the people demand This Cons.itaiiona1 re-
form. The subject embraces the plain
proposition. whether che right 20 vote fc:
the senate shall be extended to such
persons as are at prescott entitled TO vote
for the House of Commons. Il i uos
doab'ed but such voters are fully com.
petent TO exercise the sight OF suffrage in
choosing both branches Of the Genesel
Assembly. To withhold this invaluable
privilege from those whom it is proposed
TO place upon terms Of equality at the
ballot.box. upon the ground that il they
enjoyed the right they might abuse It., IS
an unjust reflection uron their virtue and
intelligence. and is denying the funda.
mental principle upon which sll free
governments are based. This question
| embraces no proposition to encroach on
the rights Of the landho!der, but to extend
to numerous and meri:orious class Of cur
ftllow-c citizens one of the dearest rights cf
American freemen. 1t il gratifying to
know that this question Of extending the
| right Of suffrage has not arrayed the land
holders against the non n-landholders, for
such is the love Of liberty and Of equality
among our people, that both classes are
found actively Co operating in their efforts
| to carry out this question Of Constitutional
reform. Efforts have been made to con.
meet with this question a change cf the
basis Of representation. I do not think
that either justice or public policy demands
| such change. The Convention of 1885,
| in spirit Of compromise and conce ssion,
adopted taxation az the basis for the Senate
aud federal population as the basis Of
representation for the House Of Commons.
The Abolitionists at the Nor til wish to de-
stroy the basis Of federal population upon
which We are represented in Congress,
Their curse on this subject is viewed as
dangero Gus and mischievuus and regarl
similar movement in rela tion to our
representation in the State Legislature,
however well int ended, as iraught with
equal mischief and danger. The federal
basis consists Of three-f fths Of the slaves
added to the whole number Of free persons.
The white basis would exclude the com.
putation Of slaves in representation. Per-
sons other than voters are properly repre-
sented. Although federal population pre-
walls as basis. yet slaves do not vote, nor
do white females and minors still they
are represented. Slaves, although proper
ty. are persons. and subject to legislation
r
Every county in the State IS interested
in the slave question, and the State should
have but one voice on this important sub
ject. Experience has but too recent "
ehown US the sad cOnsequenc es resulting
from the agitation Of the slavery question
between the different States Of the Union.
Are these exciting scenes to be brought
nearer home to us--to array one section of
the State against another, and destroy the
good feeling. the peace and friendship
which It is SO desirable to cultivate be-
tween the various portions Of the State
Let Us forget that we are partizans, and
bury this dangerous element Of agitation,
with the determination to unite our excr-
tions to promote the honor and prosperity
Of the State. Engrattins tho white basis
: on Equal Suffrage would be All indirect,
but a most certain and eftectual mode of
defeating the latter question. This must
be obvious to every rejecting mind. Equal
: Suffrage, connected with change Of the
basis. must TAIL standing by itself, it
must prevail. This amendment to the
Constitution may be passed by the present
and succeeding Legislatures, and SUBMIT
ed to the people for ratification in the
manner provided in the Constitution. with
out incurring the expense of calling Con-
ve"tion. In the ini,atory step. it requires
a larger numher u the members VI The
Assembly to call Convention than to pass
the anne endmcnt. The Conventional u.ode
Of effecting this reform weakens the ques.
tion. while the Legislative mode does not,
and therefore the latter is preferable. 1t
is believed that the success Of this measure
will be promoted by being submitted and
voted upon as an isolated question, with
ou, being connected with any other Con-
sttational amendment.
The election Of Judges and Justices Of
the Peace by the people. and for terms less
than for life. are questions Of Constitu-
tional reform, which recommend to the
favorable consideration Of the General
Assembly. There are other amendments
to the Constitution that have attracted
public attention. to which doubt not, you
will give that degree Of consideration
which their Importance demands.
In conciusi"n. permit me to remark that
the Genera! Assembly may rely upon my
hearty corporation III such measures as
may tend to the prosperity and happiness
Of the people Of the State.
Hnyningion and Manchester Rail Road.
r L.: 4.