Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1852-12-11


nnder The last seventh census she has federal popu
ation of $50 white while the ratio OF
under this decade is 3,702. y ct she has two Sen
ators and member in the House, DelaWare has
moi the ratio So we see that the rule. as claimed,
does not prevail in the Federal Government. nor
does it in the history of Legislature upon ms
point.
mr. Cherry here asked if counties recognizes as
such by the Constitution, amended in 1873 5, were not
TO be regarded as fixed, and not liable to De re-
pealed.j
pressly contemplates that counties may be erected
not having the ratio, counties were recognized In
that constitution which had not the rato-but being
recognised in that constitution, as countless does not
in the opinion of the Supreme Court in case of Mills
vs. Williams (XI IredelD prevent their repeal, for
there the Court held that the General Assembly had
unlimited power over the matter and can rePea d.
vide and consolidate counties al their discretion
But TO return to the point. The rule as claimed
has never been practced in the legislature of our
State. 1t has been urged that in the Convention of
1885, "a compromise was made' oy whlch IL was
solemnly agreed that new county should be erec-
ted not having the ratio of 120th part of the entire
population of the State. shall be very happy 10
see the record of this compromise. compromises
are the order of the present day, and when made
should be faithfully kept.
But if the matter is examined, it will be seen by
the debates thatths very question was before the
Convention in Is35.(page 1917 and that Mr.. Castor
/ fan Eastern member) and whose name and services
are inscribed the pages of his country glory stat.
ed that g from the information which the members
from Macon had laid before the Convention, 1t was
seen that it became necessary 10 make some provision
in their case'' Mr.. zGwinn from Macon had stated
that the land in his county was principally owned
by Indians, that in few years it would become the
property of the citizens the county would become
more wealthy and popufous, and would expect to
have larger representation in the councils of the
State. (See debates in Convention of 1885, page 1888
Counties them as now existed not having the ratio
and counties were expected be erected not having
the rato-for the Constitution expressly dec lare that
leach county shall have one member In the House
of Commons, although it may not have the requisite
ratio of population. - (Sec 1. art 81.
AS before stated, this county has larger popula-
ton now, than Haywood or Cherokee when erected.
and from the advantages of having convenient and
compact counties the population OF these have In
creased fifty per cent. Its territory IS larger than
that of Halifax, and as large the State of Edge
combe. When the Cherokee lands are sold the popu-
lation will treble. Theailroad from Charleston to
Chattanooga in Tennessee passes through Macon
county. The turnpike Road from the Georgia line
to Salisbury pass through Jackson county from
west to east. The North Carolina and Tennessee
railroad when extended, proposed by the bill now
before this House, will pass this county, and its
beautiful vallies will resound with the bound of that
iron horse. beautifully alluded by my friend from
Cumberland (Mr. Dobbin,) in debate Of this week
" whose warm breath would melt the icy difficulties
as he dashed through these mountain defles.' That
this House has the power to repeal this act. and thus
abolish this county,s not'denied by me. The highest
legal tribunal in State the Supreme Court, in the
case of Mills Williams Gin Xl IredeD settles the
point. This extraordinary power by this exlraordfn-
airy decision rests with us. The great poet of our
language the artist who Garrick has told us, paint
ed nature true, that his pencil was dipped in the
coors of the human heart, has said, that E" is ex-
celent have giants strength but it is fyrannous
to use it giant have disposition, if had
the talent, to controvert the decision of Supreme
Court bow to the majesty of the law, for was
early taught by great sage of the profession to re-
verence the science of the Law-for he told me that
her seat was the bosom of God, and her voice was
the harmony of the world.'' With Percy 1 believe
that " it is for the Divnes to convert by faith it is
for the soldier to by force; and the potc
to circumvert by art and intrigue. But TO the
LAW, it especially belongs to prevail men by
reasons which their judgment comprehends, their
courage does not disdanand which their honesty mnst
revere" In an evil hour Polk county, by the Leg
islature in 1916, repealed The will of the peo-
pie was violated. and their rights outraged.
The deed was done, but not one of the who were
here in 1916, from Rutherford county has been
allowed by the voice of the people darken the doors
of the State House since To represent honest peo
pie is difficult task. IL requires only to know
clearly their will and to carry that will OUT with
clear head and honest heart. They know and re- |
spect faithful representative. If unbiased by selfish
considerations, unseduced by blanshment. the repre-
sentative faithfully reflects their will his home
is return of Joy. The well known voice of the |
people will welcome the good and faithful servant,
and he will receive in addionto approval of his
conscience, this proudest paudit of earthly praise
But If on an important question that representative
has deceived his constituents and betrayed his rust
how can he look the honest man in the face, whose
rights he has forfeited Shame will sit on his brow
and heaviness on his heart. The very honors that
he may have worn only degrade him, and press him
down with tenfold power to the vile dust which he
degrades while he treads upon it, and he falls
g. like Lucfer,
Never to rise again."
The General Assembly in 1916 blotted from your I
statute book, the county bearing the time-honored
name of Polk-the name of the only native son of !
North Carolina, who had been honored with the Su-
Preme Executive authority. We have been too near /
the Colossus to admire its beautiful proportions. /
But when the mists of party have been dispersed by
the of truth, and the calm verdict of posery
deed the name, thus blotted OUT will add ustre to
the brightest page of your nations history. t
And now it is proposed to bio. cut the
Clarum ct venerable nomen,'
of Jackson whose name has been written with his
iron hand high the cliffs of fame,'' whose name
has been inscribed by the prowess of his the
hacked, broken armour of his country's invaders
and heard amid the thunders of triumphant bat
ties. Even now when his venerable form lies be-
meath the clods of the valley is the aisman that rail-
lies party still to political conflicts and leads to
glorious victory. Can you do this? By the act
establishing Jackson you have solemnly given the +
pghted faith in all the forms of law to this people,
and they possess under this faith, the conveniences
and security of d county.
Character is as essential to State as to indvid.
uals. Your word has passed. 1t stands on your (
statute books, it is inscribed on your maps. Will
you repudiate your word of honor .W:ll you tarn.
sh the fame Of State, proverbial for her fidelity and
as unstaned and as pure the upon the top of
her mountains When I heard the other day INV |,
friend from Orange lMr. Turner) speak 8. in words