Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-12-10
Defeat of Free Suffrage.

1t is with sincere regret that are forced to
nounce the defeat of the Free Suffrage Bill in the
Sena of North Carolina on Friday last upon which
day it came up on a re consideration moved by Mr.
Hoke, of Lincoln, who had voted against it 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 the
Bill with the exception of Mr. Speaker Edwards
It appears that six Wings and twenty seven Demo-
Gratis voted for the Bill and fifteen Wings, and
Democrat against it. The Democrat is Mr.. Ed
wards.
We had hoped that this amendment, evidently de-
sired by the people of the State, would have been
passed ntoa law by the present General Assembly !;
and on its ratification by the people at the next cleo
ton, would have become portion of the Constitu-
ton of North Carolina We have been disappointed,
The whole question is again at sea, and unless
something can yet be done at the present session,
all the progress that has already been made will
have been lost and the whole question have to be
gone over with alb iniitio.
The responsibility of the defeat rests with those
who produced it and the people will hold them ac-
countable for the consequences of their act and sub
iect to that dispeasure which they have incurred
by palpable disregard of the wishes of their con-
siituents. AS party, the Democrats have done
their duty in the premises. Their opponents
could have passed this bill, thus closing an agita-
ton which they affect to deprecate, but they have
nots and they, party entitled to the credit,
or amenable to the which the voters OF
North Carolina may choose to award to the killers
of Free Suffrage. ofcourse, Mr.. Edwards must feel,
that in his solitary position, he stands isolated from
his party, and in direct antagonsm to its principles
and policy upon this point. While the public at
large will hold the Wing party responsible for the
defeat of Free Suffrage, Mr.. Edwards will be held
to an especial account by his own party whose par
TALLY has awarded him position and honor only to
receive opposition and defeat in return.
It is not our wish to indulge in feelings expires
sons of bitterness at this time, and therefore sup
press much that might be in accordance with the
dictates of impulse, and perhaps also in pursuance
of strict party duty We presume Mr. Ed
wards motives were disinterested, and that he was
sincere in his opposition to Free Suffrage. He has
no doubt committed himself at some time against
the measure perhaps without due examination, and
with the pride of fancied consistency the stub
bornness of Old Fogy prejudice he still refuses &c
see with any other spectaces than those falsely col
ored and distorted ones through which he received
his first views and impressions of this subject. We
do net want to censure Mr.. Edwards of Warren, bui
it seems to us unfortunate that Democratic and
Free Suffrage Senate should have chosen him its
head and front by electing him TO the Office of Speak
er. Any person has perfect right to be Democrat
or Wing, Free Suffrage man or Anti.Free Suffrage
man as his feelings and Judgment may dictate, but il
seems to us hardly fair for man to claim to be q
an organization and not citt ito receive its hon.
ors and preferments and yet thwart its objects
Sueh. however. is MIR. EdMards nosition. He claims