The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1852-06-16

serVlaSi--of Ne right e hat majsrity
70 eeiaand tist ht epcstioltioh khall
Be aliefei IN conIbgnity Hith he VII
q be peDplef IGa. IN view Of iny
Accountability Ia Gen. SAUNDERS.
and the aHe sish rhich some Of his
queries inspire sAe. | say, tlsat ! believe
the people to BE- die legitimate scarce
of all poatf-zll authority, IN the Co.
xrrnmsut. l believe IL Is their right
70 poll down 80 old Government, and
establish a new one. when they are dis
satisfied with that Goyernment.- and
that the right TO alier il. rests eth
them. alone. Any other view IS not IN
conformity with the we'll established
principles Of Republieanism. II the
people have not the right, none others
have. The right Of The majority is Re-
publican doctrine. The right Of mi
nofity. the doctrine Of Aristocrats.
Whether the defect alleged 10 exist in
Government. be real OF imaginary, If
that Government does Got salt them.
theirs is the right to alter. But that
alteration shoold be in accordance with
Republican usages. No physical pow
ershould accomplish it--Ba revolution.
airy principle Of Dorrism SHOULD effect
IL. NJ il be well understood TO be the
opinion Of the people Of North CARROLL
ma. that the Constitution should be al
tered BY Convention, that opinion
should be concurred in. These are no
views &C mine. l have learned them.
years ago. frorn our forefsshers--from
the Republican Fathers Of the country
land not only from these. but from the
so-styled Father Of Democracy. him
self-Thomas Jefferson. There has
been no man. of any prominence, in
this State. who has not been committed
upon that question. The question OF
Constitutional change has been agita-
ted frsm an early period in the Safe.
with considerable Interest. lie then
read extracts frufn an address. signed
BY VIM. III Haywood, Richmond M.
Pearson. Romuhs d. Saunders, and
others. declaring the right Of the majo-
rity TO effect any change in Govern.
ment.-that all authority resides. and
ought to reside in the people that
there is no limit to their authority. bus
that which God. himself, interposes,
and pronnuncing all other doctrine
wrong. And vet, Gen. Saunders chal.
ilengcs me to an avowal of doctrine,
which he then advocated, but which
now. with consistency characteristic
Of the man. he shrinks from, as reyolu-
tionary and dangerous. Before he meets
me, he had better meet far more for
midable competitor-himseF Difficult
as he NAV find the task of enconntering
others, he will find il still more difficult
TO encounter and conquer himself. In
the face of what he then advocated, he
and his party now dcnouncc Conyen.
ton as revolutionary. What is re,o.
lution but a change OF government
fphrn a majority offhe people make up
their mind 10 ckcnge their Gorernmenf,
IL is the duty Of the constituted author
tiles to take the necessary steps TO ef
feet that change. nv dnotrine is, thai
The majorfty htlce fhe right 10 rule. But
says Gen. Saunders, there is danger
Of an open Conscntion-and then the
basis Of representation will be changed,
and the Constitution is ruined. Ere
We in danger Of being ruined BY the
success of this Convention question
IL so, WIN is responsible for that dan
gers Who cot us into itf Did any
person ever hear the Wings complaint
tuf the Constitutions Of che Siates Pre-
sious tn the agitation Of this Free Saf-
irage question by Gov. Reid, eur peo'
ple'were the most happy and content.
ed that the sun had ever shone upon.
We had the best government upon
earth--the character OF our State stood
proudly exalted for honesty and intcg-
trity. Look at our judiciary system
the pride Of every citazcn- the best
and most dignifed in the country.
Did any persen eve. hear of oppression
being exercised by tiffany popular
complaints made against il. until the
For what purpose has il been sprung
upon the peoples Gov. Reid had gwen
advent Of this free suffrage question
no evidence of his zeal for the interest
Of the people, previous to his noniina.
tion for governor. lie had been a mem.
Der Of the Legislature Of North Carroll.
ma, and participant in its enactments,
yet VIC never heard ei any movement
being made BY him then, in favor Of the
right Of the war-worn veteran to vnte,
or the extension Of that right to the
poor Of the State. We heafd-it may
be as an idle rumor, only that among
Democrats, in Washington. The quea.
ton had been asked, " How is it that
yon always allow the Wings in North
! Carolina to elect their Governor !" The
answer was simple enough, !" Because
we can't help it," :" 1t might be avoid.
ed was reclaimed. /" Why, YOU don't
allow every man 10 vote for Senator
your judges are not elected By the peo-
pie" And Immediately after out
comes Gov. Reid as Canaidate, with
the Free Suffrage issue.