Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1853-04-30
MIR. EDWARDS ADDRESS.

I
bly, in regard to the Free Suffrage" Bill in with
!holdino nv vote from it its final reading, have
been arragned at the bar of public opinion for dis
LOYALTY to the principles of Democracy and the most
unsparing vuperaton has been dealt out to me
nav many would consign me to the block-and de-
mand my political life Of as little value it is-as
an atonement for what they arrogantly denounce as
an offence against the majesty of party. Whether
am an offender to this extent will appear in the
queI of this paper. 1t will be seen, that, for my
political principles, have looked the example and
precepts of the sages and Fathers of the Church
and not to the crude views of the younglings If yes
terday-noT to the teachings OF modern political
Doctors, who claim the right to prescribe aEtic-
les of fdith-as tests of Or;hodoxy-and, by au-
taority-to prescribe and excommunicae all who do
not subscribe 10 them
Now, so far as we are concerned we have "deat
out no "vituperaton on the gentleman. We
have uniformly spoken of him with respect and
though we disapproved his conduct as public man
on this question, have neither impeached his
motives nor questioned the soundness of his De-
mocracy other issues. He says he has been
" arrogantly" denounced as an offender against
the majesty of party reply is, that it would
be strange if all the Democratic members of the
last Assembly were wrong in voting for Free Suf-
frage, and Mr. Edwards alone right in refusing to
sustain it. If therefore, any arrogance has been
exhibited, it has not been by those who differed
unanimously with Mr. Edwards. An arrogant :"
person is defined to be a d" Connected person-tbat
is one who is right though every one else may be
wrong-one, Of body of friends and associates,
who deliberately takes his own course in opposition
to the entire body, and then censures them for DIFF
fering with him That is g arrogance"
Mr. Edwards says, l." for my political principles
have looked TO the example and precepts of the
sages and fathers of the Church, and not to the
crude views Of the younglings of yesterday-nor to
the teachings Of modern political Doctors, who
claim the right to prescribe new articles of faith. "
NATHANIEL MACON was one of the " sages and
fathers" referred to-one of the purest and safest
Democrats that ever trod the soil of America.
Well, what was has opinion in relation to Free
Suffrage? We quote from the " Debates Of the
Convention of 1885, page SO, as follows
"The President mir. Naconl said, he did not ap-
rOUe Of the land QuahactiOn for Uoters. Suppose two
respectable neighbors had each son-that one Of
thep had fifty of land, perhaps not worth more
than twenty five cents acre, and the other had no
land, but was good blacksmith shoemaker, and
his standing in society irreproachahle, c0hy OH
GllOtr one 10 cote and not The other ?''
Did Mr.. Edwards ever read that to his constitu-
ents, and attempt reply to it? Are these the
" crude views" of "younging OF yesterday y {?
The masses Of the people Of the State, in de-
manding Free Suffrage stand upon the Macon
platform, and their position is impregnable.
Mr.. Edwards rather contemptuous alIusion to
"younglings " and to "modern political Doctors "
is neither well founded nor in good taste. His
party, in two Conventions composed of young
men not more "arrogant than others, and of old
men, who can produce quite as long record of
Democratic service as he can-deliberately and
unanimously announced themselves in favor of this
Constitutional amendment and placed themselves
upon it before the people, trusting not to "crude
views" nor to the suggestions of "younglings, ="
old as free government ITSELF and sanctioned by the
sages of the party in this and all the other States
and they would have succeeded in their efforts at the
late session, but for the opposition of Wings, and
of one, elected as a Democrat, and who was in
dcbted for the place he occupied as Speaker to the
Eberality and kindness Of the very men who are
now held up by him "younglings," or as "mo-
dern political Doctors, claiming the right to pre-
scribe new articles of faith" We say, therefore,
that the alluson is neither we'll founded nor in
good taste; N Mr.. Edwards be surprised if
his blows have brought, not only heat to the sur
face, but fire from the flint. The advocates of this
great principle of free government not the men
to submit tamely to epthets and to- course of at
tack designed and calculated to bring odium on
their cause; they have the spirit not merely to
carry this question to its consummation no matter
who may oppose it, but to defend themselves in
the meantime against the assaults made upon it
and them.
More hereafter.