Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-05-17


improvement in North Carolina. Our State is ilns
fortunately situated having seaport being
the centre of trade, could
our efforts were nnconnected and desuito the
consequence of which was, much money was LOST,
and many errors were unayoida Il made. Bnt GER
tainly this unfortunate state of vii not De
remediedb by throwing the whole State into confu-
sion, and upturning the old settled foundations OF
the Government
The gentleman from Rutherford complains, and
perships justly that his section has been neglected
/ can sympathise with him in such complaints.
have the honor to represents people who know moth
ing of your Government except through the tax col
lector. We havea great work to be executed IN our
immediate neighborhood, which, if made, would add
intellectually to wealth, comfort and even health
and vet when come here for assistance, you refer
us to the General Government, and when we go to
the General Government and urge your agents there
to exert themselves in behalf we are met by
indifference, if not by positive hostility. We have
borne this state of things patiently for more than
twenty years. and have not even dissolved party
ties much less attempted to destroy those stronger
dearer ties which should bind us to the institu-
tons and memories of our native State.
Let not gentlemen deceive themselves by the sue
cess of Free Suffrage. That question did not raise
any sectional issue 1T had numerous partlsans In all
parts of the State and for years had been regarded
by many persons, odious Individual distinction,
that ought to be blotted from our Constitution The
basis of representation is very different matter it
involves the very security and protection OF much
the larger portion of the property which pays reve
nue. for the support of Government and 1t cannot
be abandoned by those persons to whose charge it
is committed, without admitting themselves
unworthy of the trust confided to them. If gentle
men wish a hobby, by means of which some Guber-
material asprant may ride into the Executive Chalr,
beg them to select something that will produce
less disastrous results to the best interests of the
State
AS regards the bill upon your table, which pro-
poses to consult the people upon the proprlety of
calling Convention, i'll addition to the evils OF
Convention already mentioned, this bill is liable to
very serious charge 1t proposes indirectly to
reach result, in mode directly opposed to the one
mentioned in the Constitution And this result is
urged by who, but few days ago, made this
hall ring with patriotic devotion to constitutional
law. Then, the very idea Ct consulting the people
upon matter deeply interesting to Them raised all
sorts of horrors in their minds now, 1T seems,
positive injunction of the Constitution can unhesitat
ingy be disregarded, when another Eavorte purpose
is to be answered.
Well, Sir suppose this bill passes, and majority
of the people, but not constitutional majority OF
counties, express themselves favorable to the assem-
bling of Convention; gentlemen will be nearer
Convention them than they are now, unless they
intend to get up Dorr rebellion, and after succeed
ing in popular vote, to march to Raleigh, capture
the Capitol, form Constitution, and install Gov
crnor &c 1 hope whilst they doing all this,
they will not forget to send to Rhode Island and
borrow that celebrated sword of the unfortunate
Gov. Dorr, that the play may he correctly perform
ed with all the appropriate costume. 1t remains for
this Senate to decide whether they will counenance
such proceeding in law-oving law-abding North
Carolina. Pass this bill, !sent from the House Of
Commons, and you array the two sections of the
State in deadly hostility to each other, and may
see, in few months, tumuituous assembly in this
Capitol, calling themselves the people, acting over
the same scenes, which but few years ago brought
the State of Rhode Island to the verge of destruction
and consigned the leaders and deluders of the peo
pie to prison and the contempt of mankind.
Since this table made, have the Register of
the 5th of February containing Address to the people
of North Carolina the subject CT Constitutional Reform.
This address signed by Members of the Legislature from
counties These counties nineteen out of
the 20 counties contained in this list nendi to illustrate
the unreasoableness Of the complaints made against the
present basis of representation This address shows
that the great grievance complained of by these
emen, the mode of adopted for the
Senate and that this only be got rid of by calling what
the address calls "frec Convention In this opinion
with the sgncrs of the address, and hope the
al counties will TO such Convention, but will
adhere to the compromise of the Constitution, and when
ever 1t needs amendment let it be done by the people Them
selves voting directly upon The subject matter and not by
politicians assembled in Convention.