Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1852-02-11
rouaI. SUFFRAGE

I EQUAL SUFFRAGE.
AS the question whether Equal Suffrage shall be-
some a portion of the funda mental law of the State
will soon be presented to the people for approval o
tre ection we offer no apology for the few random re
hections which slight exam nation of this subiec
has enabled US TO make.
1t has been remarked by an eminent political phil
osopher,* who travelled over our country not many
years ago for the purpose Of acquainting himself with
our social and political condition., that the remnants
of astocratc institutions were occasionally to be me
with in the midst of our republicansm. And the
which he assigns for their presence seems lr
our judgment Just. No man. says he, " can en-
trely shake off the influence of the past" rever
ence for those institutions handed down to US from
our ancestors seems be inherent in constitution
This feeling is eminenty conservative in its nature
but it sometimes becomes too potent in its influence
and degenerates int savish devotion to the-exst-
ing order Of things. When it obtains this influence
we deprived CT its high prerogative. and
man becomes devotee of habit. The question then
is never considered, improve! but that other
ancestors done heretofore 1t is almost unnecessary
10 remark in this connection that this blind reverence
for things which find already established is ut
terly opposed 10 all progress. If ancestors had
acted this principle, where would have been ouI
civilization and where those noble institutions des-
tined by the force of their example to disseminate
publicahism throughout the world
But we do not mean to incuicate the doctrines oil
experimenting with the fundamental law of the land
We much opposed to experiments Of this char
acter as pre- udiced adherence 10 the past
When Phebus was about 10 give the coursers of the
Sun into the hands of Phaelhon, he said to him in
words of warning, You will go safest by pursuing
a middle course So say here, neither feeling an
irrational veneration for the past, nor advocating
change for the sake of experiment. Convince US
that we are wrong and we will try to 60 right But
90 not offer argument to prove us wrong the
fact that advocating change in the established
order of things.
We say with De TocquevIe, that the remnants OF
aristocratc institutions still amongst If we
49, th 0f ofN
State find it be " That all freemen of the age
of twenty lone years, WHO have been inhabitants of
any one county within the State twelve months i'm
mediately preceding the day of any election, and
possessed of a freehold in the county of fifty
acres of land for six months before and the
day of election, shall be entitled to vote for member
of the Senate:'' If turn back from this clause a
few pages, meet in the Declaration of Rights
preceding the State Constitution, the following
clauses
'sSEc. 1. That all political power is vested in and
derived from the people only.
Sec. 3. That man set of men, entitled
to exclusive separate emoiuments privileges,
from the community, but in consideration Of public
services"
How property qualification be reconciled with
these declarations Will any say that the right
of electing the members of the Senate of North Ca
rolina is not exclusive privilege, according to
existing Constitution exercised by class! And il
this proposition is conceded, ask where is the
sideraton upon which this grant of exclusive pri-
owning of fifty acres of land is public service 90
If SO, then to be the owner of one hundred acres
would be douby great service, and if the amount
of privilege be to the of service,
the legitimate result is aristocracy. Were there
two principles pronounced by the same body of
men in more direct antagonism than those embodied
in the quotations have made from the Declaration
of Rights and the Constitution The former breathes
the very spirit Of liberty and equality, whilst in the
clause we have quoted from the latter see the
suit of reverence for the past and timit unwiI-
lingness carry into practice, to their legitimate
sult the principles asserted In speaking thus free
ly the character of the clause discussing,
we would not be understood censur;ng the trainers
of our Constitution We know that they were tread
ing upon ground before then un,rodden. They were
inexperienced to the extent to which self-govern
ment may be intrusted to the people, and solic
tous Of seasoning the dish Of democracy with some
what of aristocratc SALT lest its freshness should
prove unpalatable. We have the light of longer
experience togude u.s. and cannot plead that the path
asked to take is unrodden one. Other
communities have pursued it and have not suffered
by the turbulence of the masses; why may not
do likewisel These few observations make as
they present themselves without much order regu-
arty. Perhaps, however, they may be found to an
objections which the over-cautious may be
disposed to entertain. But the length OF this article
admonished not to trespass further the patience
of readers. Hereafter We shall have more to say
upon this subject.
= De TocqueviIle's Democracy in America, p. A.
m.