Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard., 1853-01-12
REMARKS OF Mr.. REID,
OF DUPLIN,

on the subject of the Senatorial Districts:
The bill to lay off the State into fifty Senatorl"i
districts being under consideration, =,
Mr.. Reid of Dupln, said he would ask tue tue
indulgence of the Commons for few moments
only, to explain the plan which he IN oehat OF
himself and others had submitted. He was aware
the session was drawing near its close, and all were
prenared to act and vote understaadngly, yet II
was due him and his friends that their course should
be understood.
It was we'll known that this subject, at an early
period of the session, had been reterred to JOINT
select committee raised by both Houses. Cireum-
stances beyond their control, and which would be
improper to notice in debate, had delayeda report,
and each wing of the committee agreed to submit
to your consideration, the conclusions to winch
they arrived. OF the two plans are before you that
which is more in conformity with the requirements
of the Constitution, and meets out more even JUS
tice to all, should be adopted.
The gentleman from Richmond, Mr.. Mcintyre
who has inst taken his seat, insists that in arrang-
ino the Senatorial districts, we have the right to
transfer the entire excess from county paying
above the ratio to an adjoining county, which IS
deficient and then transfer the thus created
to the next adjoining county; for example, the
county of Wake having a large excess, Is transfer
cd to the county of Chatham, county requiring,
only small amount, thereby creating an excess
which is carried to the counties OF Moore and
Montgomery, thus indirectly carrying the en-
cess from one county to another which do not
adioin each other In this he speaks the senti-
ments of his political friends. Upon the same Prn
cipe the large surplus from the county OF New
Hanover may be rolled to the county of Buncombe
n principle, said Mr.. R., as he believed, in direct
centravention Of the Constitution, and never could
receive his sanction. Indeed We have been told
by the gentlemen Mr.. Intyre) that the Convention
which met in 1885, the trainers OF the present
Constitution and who are presumed to be the
best Judges, adopted this course in laying off the
Senatorial districts. 1t is to be recollected that
that Convention governed by no organic law;
their action was restrained bv no superior rule,
there was no power that could say to them, :" thus
far shall thou CO. and further 1t is true they
consented to act only upon those matters which
had been submitted to them by a previous Legs-
lature, and while they considered only those sub
iects which had been submitted to them, their &C
ton on the manner in which they should act upon
those particular subjects was left to their sound
discretion. Our rule of action is different; we are
governed by supreme law, which we cannot dis
regard each one of us has taken oath to main
tain, support and defend that Constitution which
has been prescribed rule of action ; we dare
not, having regard for ourselves and the duty we
owe our God, and our country, disregard it. When
the Constitution is disregarded to effect party ends
or accomplish conceived notions of expediency or
right, there is no security for the rights Of the
citizen, and the government, which, in theory pro-
fcsses to protect the persons and property of ALL
will become machine of oppression and wrong.
Mr.. II. referred to the course pursued by the
Legislature in 1912, when the Senatorial districts
were arranged under the present Constitution. The
rolling system as it is called, was not then adopted,
but the Legislature, regardful of the plain pro-
visions of the Constitution carried the excesses
from counties paying above the ratio. only to one
adjoining county or counties, which were def
cient.
Mr.. Mcintyre. Was not the excess, from the
county of Hyde carried to the county of Curri-
tuck
MIR. Il. 1t was. lie was then member of the
committee to lay off the Senatorial districts. and
was informed at the time that the counties of HYDE
and Currituck adjoined bv slip of land living
along the coast, between the sound and ocean. If
there be an error in this particular it was an error
in fact. The committee then construed the Const-
tuition, as he construed it now and which he hum
bly, hoped would ever be considered its true mean-
ing.
The next consideration which induced that por-
ton Of the committee, in whose opinions he con-
Cured, SO to arrange the districts as to unite
counties having community Of interests, and
when county or counties, being deficient adioined
county having the largest excess was to niye the
Senator to the county paying the largest amount
OF taxes, at the same time dsposng of the excesscs
and corresponding deficiencies as nearly as could
be. That excesses must be lost, and like defciers
cles created is inevitable, but that the bill under
consideration approximatcs this point nearer than
the amendment proposed on the other side, there
can be no doubt, if We except some of the extreme
western districts, which were laid off as thcv are
In consequence OF the want of intercourse amonG
the citizens in several of the counties in that sec
tlon created Uy the mountains which separate them
and ald off at the request of gentlemen represent
ing that part of the State.
There is another ground Of difference, and which
may DC considered as the real cause of disapree-
ment, as stated by the gentleman who has lust re-
sumed his seat; the fact cannot be disguised. the
two political parties looking scrupuously upon
the effect which the arrangement of the Senate
nal districts may have in future upon the respec
tive parties. Upon this view of the question dis
trust myself | am now and ever have haen an
unWaverng Democrat conscientiously believing Nd
on their success depended the perpetutv of our
civil and religious institutions but am prepared
to meet gentlemen of the opposition in the spirit
OF compromise and conciliation to concede TN tbem
20 districts and claim for ourselves 25 districts
LhiS Is fair and just, as each party claim the ascen-
dency III the State beyond this we neither can or
ought to go; here he desired to stand, and ap-
Peaiedsto liberal gentlemen on the other side to
meet.
Here Mr.. r. called over the districts in the nlan
submitted by himself, and showed their political
complexion to be 25 Democratic and 25 Whip-I
and 10y the plan submitted by the other side til ere
were 20 democratic and 27 Wing districts he