Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-05-27


and make absolutely rofd and Greet that clause
which provides a means of reforming ana altering
the laws witoont distur thout needless ex
peise or agitation and by the egl.lmaee d far
what? WHY to substitute in its stead an extraordi-
nary and revolutionary proceeding as the approprl
ate remedy for every trivial discord in the harmony
of government. If this dangerous and dlsorSahHi"S
poicy be approved by the people, then shall we nave
no Constitution We will live, not under the saluta
nv checks and balances which such a scheme proPo,
SEES but under system or Constitution prescrloeo
from time time, by majority of the votes In Con-
yention. That is if that can be called system OF
constitution of government which has no better na,
sis than the arbitrary will of numerical majority land
is constantly exposed uct uate with the whlnlS OF
their caprice Sir, profess to have some venera-
ton for the Constitution of my country L would
approach to it's defects to the wounds of parent
would not, if could, expose Its limbs naked ana
defenceless upon the highway Why, Sir, in 1901,
the wing party protested most notable apprehen-
sion that the suggestion of the doctrine of Free
Suffrage would drag this sacred charter of our
liberty into the arena of party conflict; and we
heard great deal said about the dangers which
would ensue from that alone, but it their present
views to be received sincere, not only do they
no longer fear any danger from that source and Will
help 10 drag the charter into the arena, but they
would willingly tear it all to peices They would Of
fer premium to agitation insecurity and disorder
they would make universal. The imprisoned winds
they would let loose; the Government itself they
would change from its representative character found
ed upon concurrent and mutually jealous majorities,
and checked and sustained in harmonious action
and credence by compromise and Cancellation, into an
arbitrary despotism, usurpinS our rights and pla-
cling them at any time under the control OF bare
numerical majority of the people In such state Of
affairs when every succeeding convention whose re-
solves may happen to suit, the public would over
turn the action of the preceding, what will become
of the rights of minority, to protect which is the
only legitimate purpose of a just government
Sir, deny therefore, that the change which it is
now conceded the people of North Carolina want,
can be either most safely or most wisely done by
Convention of delegates elected by the people, as
stated in this Resolution, while every feature of the
Wing platform Acknowledges the covert danger
which attends the proposed Convention, for if Wes-
tern Wings had no desire or purpose to overturn
the basis of35 why is it cautiously proposed that
the Legislature in taking order for its call, shall pro-
vide that the members of the same shall respect
and preserve it For my part, Sir, l do not
believe that the Legislature of North Carolina have
the power to prescribe laws to Convention of the
people 1t is true, that in 1885, the Act of Assem-
bly, calling such body together, did prescribe linn
its which they could not transcend, but different
state of facts then existed.
1t will be recoectcd, that old Constitution did
not contain any provision for its amendment
The public voice and the interests of the State how
ever, and the vast range Of alterations proposed
made great many changes necessary; the ordinary
powers of legislation were 'nsufcient to the emer
gency, and means of bringing them up in some
lawful way, the Legislature particularly disclain
ing all poseer to act an the premises submitted
take into consideration certain prescribed alterations
and amendments. This adopted by the people
in their primary capacity, and in that shape it be-
their act and not the act of the Legislature.
The limitations the instructions not of the Leg
isative body, but of the people, who in the absence
of all power i'll the then government TO propose |
any change or to call any Convention, the
" authority in the State competent to call or to
limit Convention. Now, however, under the pre- |
sent Constitution the power has been delegated to
the Legislature, and they must call the Convention !
upon their responsibility if one be called at all
The people have no longer power to do so, and hence
they cannot beforehand restrict their delegates by
any proceeding known to our Law, the Leg |
slaure for the authority to do has not been del
egated. They must either call an open Convention,
or none.
But, Sir; assuming for the sake of the argument
that the Legislature the only power in the State
oy means of which Convention of the people
De lawfully called, may restrict the delegates to
tain limits, and in the language of the Wing Con-
fention, 80 provide as to preserve the present ba
lis of representation" in the Commons proceed to
show, that from the history of the former Conven-
ion, we haze warrant assurance for the belief
hat the delegates will feel themselves bound by
heir action. In examining the law adopted by the
people in 1885, l find that among other subjects
which were recommended by them, at the instance
If the Legislature, to the favorable action of the
Convention, was the repeal or modification of the
hiry second article of the old Constitution
ng qualifications for Office which was justly sup
posed by many to conflict with religious liberty
vas member of that Convention, from the county
If Richmond Pursuant to their instructions from the
people several propositions introduced on the
'art of the liberal members of the body to that end
Among them the following, on the part of Mr. |
Edwards of Warren:
"That all men having natural and unalienabe
light to worship Almighty God,. according to the
ctates of their own consciences all religious tests
qualifications for office, incompatible with the
principles of free government"
This proposition WAS VOTED DOWN by Gen
)ockery and his friends; and to show that it was
he principle he opposed and not the particular form
f words in which it clothed it is only necessa-
y to remark that he voted also against FIVE other
mendmentS emb0lying the same republican doc
rine. It is true that Gen. Dockery after an expla-
alton by the late Judge CASTOR Of the character of
he Catholic faith, which he declared had satisfied
i'm that the members of that pcrsuauion might
-ithout great danger, be safely entitled to office
aid, he willing to obey his instructions to amend !
he article but he refused t. do so upon the ground
nat its adoption would endanger tie ratification of
lie amended Constitution by the people. The amend
tent was, however made, and the Constitution was
arried by majority gilmore than five thousand in
he State-only forty three persons in Gen. Docke-
US own county voting against it. !
Mr. President, Gen. Dockery also opposed the re-
cal of that part of the Constitution which gave to
lie free negroes the right of suffrage The repeal of
lis feature also the subject of special notice
the part of the Legislature and the people now
SIX Sir, if gentlemen felt themselves at liberty in
1885, thus to disregard the will of their constituents
nd the express direction of the Legislative body,
hat guaranty have the people of the East that the
invention the Wings propose to call to enact Free
rapp into tha ItJtiO E,il1h o