Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1853-05-25
TIKI. STANDARD.
RALEIGH. WEDNESDAY,. MAY IS. 1853.
MR.. EDWARDS ADDRESS.

Mr. Edwards dwells at some length in his Adj
dress, upon what he deems gross inequality between
the Senatorial Districts; and he arranges the fig
ures to show that 1T takes four or SOe voters in
some Districts to make one in others that is,
Onslow, for example, with 961 voters, 5,005 white
inhabitants, and 7,o4O federal population, has as
much political strength as Wake, with 2,663 vo-
tiers, 14,I77 white inhabitants, and 21,12S federal
population. Again, he shows that, according to
the present Senate basis, the West, with As Coun-
ties and ,720 white inhabitants, has but %
Senators, while the East, with 81 Counties and
but 215,754 white inhabitants, has % Senators.
This is the old Wing argument on the subject, as
advanced in 1913. 1t is no argument against Free
Suffrage but only an excuse for not sustaining it.
Onslow has Senator, but her people, non-land-
holders as well as fifty acre men, pay the taxes
necessary to entitle her to it-or she may obtain
it by a surplus of taxation from New Hanover or
some other adjoining County; and Wake, though
she has but one Senator, pays nearly enough taxes
to create three Senators. Mr.. Edwards is well
aware of the fact that the surplus of taxation is
transferred from County to County in assigning
the fifty Senators, and that the whole amount of
taxation forms the basis of the Senate. Taxation
being the basis of that body, and the Eastern
Counties paying more taxes than the Western, they
have of course more Senators. Is Mr.. Edwards
disposed to complain of this arrangement? He
says he is not, but then he uses it against Free
Suffrage. Wherefore! What has it to do with
Free Suffrage? Will the establishment of equal
ity between free white men at the ballot-box, in
crease the disproportion between Onslow and
Wake? Will it give the West more Senators
Certainly not. It will give to all classes in the
community the same rights at the Senatorial box
which are now enjoyed by the fifty acre men at
both boxes and it viii but carry out the principle
that taxation and representation should go togeth
er. How? AL classes are taxed to create Sena-
tors, and yet but class is permitted to vote for
these Senators. Representation in this case, so far
the ballot-box is concerned, is confined to ia
yored few. What right has a taxpayer, not the
of fifty acres of land, to instruct Senator
What might Senator say to such person if he
were to attempt it Sir, you have no right to
control me- l am chosen for the District, it is
true, because you, and Others like You, have paid
taxes upon real estate negroes, and money at in
terest; but you could not vote for me, and I am
not, therefore, responsible to you. Instruct the
Commoners." Well, he turns to Commoner, and
he may reply, also, that he is very much obliged
to the person for his support and will do the best
he can to carry out his wishes but he adds, 1
am responsible, too, to the fifty men, for they
gave me large vote and 1 must, therefore, look
somewhat to their views"
Mr.. Edwards appears to be alarmed at the idea
of establishing equality between taxpayers at the
ballot-box. He indnlges many forebodings on the
subject and says if the friends of Free Suffrage
should succeed in their efforts, " they will have
uncaged the lion, with the vain hope of arresting
him in the work of destruction" The Senate ba-
SIS, he thinks, must nevitably be changed if Free
Suffrage is established indeed, he argues to show
that if Free Suffrage shall become part of the
organic law, the same marked disproportions in
the population of Distncts-the same manifest ir-
regularities in the allotment of power will be found
to exist in regard to the Senate as existed in re-
gard to the Commons before the reform Of 1885,,
We have already shown that the basis has no con-
necton with the question of Free Suffrage except
IN this, that as all are taxed to make up the basis,
SO all ought to be allowed to vote; and we cannot
perceive how demand by sectionfor an increase
OF political posger, can be at all strengthened by
the mere extension Of suffrage.
=. Another view of thesubject however, will show
now idle Mr.. Edwards fears are in this respect
No bill to alter the Constitution can pass the Sem
ate nor can bill calling Convention pass with
out the concurrence of tOo-tAiyds Of that body
and Mr. Edwards has himself shown that those
most interested in efecting this change, have but
u Senators. Twelve Eastern Senators must,
therefore, desert the interests and msrepresent the
wishes of their constituents, before there can be
any danger whatever on this score.
One of the leading features in Mr.. Edwards,
Address is the Importance of securing protection |
to property in the organic law but he seems most
strangely to overlooked the fact, that nro,or
IS amply protectedin our present Constitution One
branch of the AssembIy-the Commons-is es-
'aoiisned on both persons and property-sIaves
and the other-the Senate entireIy o., DroDertv
OF rather on taxation, whicis the surest evidence
OF property. What greater Or better protection
could property have These things are the. cO,z,erl
't0nes-the Foundations four gogernmsnt Thev !