The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1853-03-02

p
No.-not even IL We are certain that il
is natural right. and the largest pro.
portion Of that glorious inheritance
that has been purchased for as BY our
gallant fare fathers and paid for ia IN
stalments af their psn blood--nay, not
IL convinced that the most Of il Was
forced from their mntilatrd bodies. by
th last throbs nj their patriotic hearts.
Iii in granting IL. il is proposed to do
il IN such way as TO break down and
destroy at once and forever all the
clerks AMI balances in the Govern
ment.
Let Us not forget that il has long ago
been said by republican, patriot and
sage. that where checks and balances
cease in Republic. there anarchy and
despotism begin. If this affirmation
be true, then II is no heresy 70 assert,
that the wild aud unbridled democracy
ofthe State can. and more likely would.
prove TO be a strong and many-headed
despot. What then win be the effect
OF this measure on, the government of
this State, should il unfortunately passs
Il will give free suffrage. but not equal
suffrage. But this is not all il will do.
Ii il was, | should not so seriously OBJ
ject to its passage. honestly believe
the extension OF the right Of suffrage
would not only add to the prosperity
and happiness Of our people, but to the
strength and lasting glory Of my native
land. Consequently | have long aud
consistently advocated the policy Of
extending, at once, Equal Suffrage to
all Of our citizens BY an open conven.
tion. This. however, in such way,
as not to destroy the maay checks and
balances Of our Government. which the
present bill will do beyond question,
if il is suffered to become a part and
parcel Of the constitution Of North Ca.
rolina. We have been informed with
considerable warmth and emphasis by
the gentleman, who has just taken hi
seat, that there is no other such a con
stitution in this confederacy as that o
our own. The constitutions Of all th,
other States grant every man the righ
of voting whether he pays tax or not
But here IN North Carolina we max,
the lawyer, doctor, divine, the mer
chant, mechanic, and soldier. pay a
much tax.as any other class of our cit
izens, but will not let them have tn
privilege Of voting for Senator, thong
our Senators are all elected on the tax
alton basis exclusively. Well, suppose
Mr.. Speaker, all this be true, which
most cheerfully do, what thenl Doe
il follow of necessity, that this bi
ought TO passf Not at all. For if
was now Instantly engrafted on tn
Constitution, il is fact that ought I
have powerful weight with us, that
would serve only to make it,decidedl.
more unlike every other Constitution
in the United States.
take this occasion to remind tn,
jealous friends Of this measure, that n,
State in this Union has ever yet givel
all the people in their borders the righ
to vote at all their elections, and, a
the same time, the further privilege Q
electing Senators and Commoners, a
the same time, by the same body or clas
ofvoters, and for precisely equal tern
Of years. They have been more guar
ded in the fancied prodigality, wit
which they have given the right Of Sui
frage to their people than to cloth'
them with any such power. The,
have given all their people the right t.
vote, It is true, but they say to then
that you must elect your Senator's TO
a longer term Of years. In many State
the term of one-third of the Senator
expires every years. Besides, tn
Governor in many of these States
where all vote, is clothed with the vet
power. Here our Governor has n
such power. and this bill proposes t
destroy all distinction between the Sc
nate and House Of Commons, and con
!, sequently, although the two branche
are retained, yet one has no check upo
the other. No State in this Union ha
given the right Of Suffrage to every Cit
: zen on the same terms and condition
sas proposed in the bill now on your ia
BILE. We will have approached neare
an Athenian Democracy here in Nors
Carolina, if this bill passes, than an.
State in this Confederacy has yet dare
to propose. The House will see fror
these remarks, | trust, that | am alto
gether sincere when | declare again
that it is not to the boon proposed to b
given that | object, but to the manne
in which the Democrats on this foo
;. declare it shall be granted, if it be CIV
. EN- at all, and to the results that a.
. likely to flow from this sad and deplo
! rahle mutilation of our venerable oil
. Constitution. Here is my difficulty
J. and confess it is one of such magn
tude in my own mind, that as an hor
est man | cannot so far get over it as |
vote for the project now before us. |
, speak, plainly, consider this leglsli
tive mode of amending the Constltutlo
: Of free people as direct violation
| all the republican doctrines and prec'
; dents bequeathed to US by our vener'
r~-hIo s;res In fact II is nreciaely III