Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-07-15
FREE sUFFRAGE-THE REGISTER.

come the advocate of Free Suffragef That paper
has been opposing it since 1846 declaring that
it was agrarian-that it would array the poor against
the rich and that of ITSELF it would amount to moth
ing substantial It supported Gov. Manly, who rid
iculed it in all conceivable ways; it supported Mr.
Kerr and urged that he was s better Free Suffrage
man ~ than Gov. Reid, not because he was for the
issue by ITSELF but for change of the basis at the
time and it has lost occasion, while Justl-
flying the Federalists of the last Legislature for de-
feating it. to hold it up humbug" and as
Reds hobby" If the Editor has at last become
convinced that Free Suffrage is just and right, and
that the people ought to have it. let him say so frank
ly-let him express regret for his opposition to it
heretofore and take his stand boldly with those who
are struggling to establish it.
But the Editor wants limited Convention. How
is such body to be called? The Constitution pro-
yides that two-thrds of the whole representation in
the General Assembly may call /" a Convention. "
Well, then what is " Convention "? Is it not, ne
cessarily, embodiment of the sovereign power;
and who can limit the sovereign? Can the Legisa-
ture, which is subordinate in power to a Convention,
and not sovereign do it? We cannot see how. But,
replies the Register the Legislature of 1884 limited
the Convention of 1886. We deny it; the people
put limits to that body and not the Assembly Under
the old Constitution provision existed eitherforcall
ing Convention or for amending the instrument by
legislative enactment; and act passed calling
that of 1885, with limits prescribed in the act which
act, having been submitted to the people, ap-
proved by them. In the absence of'power, the Legs
lature consulted the sovereign and the sovereign
pended approving the suggested by that body
The Convention of 1885, s:eing the Inconvenience
which had existed under the old instrument, prov-
ded in the new for amendments in two ways-one
by the Legislature and the popular sanction, and the
other by Convention. But, says the Register, the
people having, according to your admission, prescr
bed limits in 1885, they can do it again: Let
how this is: bill passes providing for such bo-
dy with prescribed limits, but calling it only in
the people it at the polls. What would the
people say? Would not their to the As
semby be, who authorized you to consult in this
matter? We have not bound ourselves by organic
law to vote upon any such propostion-it is Irregular
and not warranted by the instrument it is your du-
ty, if you think fit to call Convention as we have
authorized you to do without limits restrictions;
zoe haue already, an the Legislature, limited Con-
UentiOn, for if not content with the amend
ments you may make, reject them; and in
asmuch have provided for a Convention, aoith-
out saying it may be limited kuoo Of right IN
you to propose to u.s. aohen meet souereigns to
set bounds to our poaoers We reject your pro-
postion-it is unconsttutional-it is dsrespectful,
because it proposes to tie up and take of us
it shows disposition your part to evade respon
sibility; and warn you, by regard for our
repose and by the high Importance attach to our
organic law either to call Convention, to pass
measures of amendment by three-ffths and two
thirds vote and submit them to US, that organic
law provides, these movements looking to
limits and restrictions on
Suppose, however, the Legislature should autho-
rize directly limited Convention, without submit
ting the matter to the pcople-woud not the lack of
power be still more apparent? Will the Register
contend that the inferior po,oer restrain the s-
perior9
We have no idea that even "Free Suffrage can be
secured by Convention composed OF decided |
majority of Federalists. The only hope of obtain
ing it is by legislative enactment and through the
of the Democratic party. If Gen. |
Dockery should be elected the will be great
ly retarded but if Mr.. Bragg should be- as we feel
quite confident he will, it will be placed once more
on grounds which will ensure it in Constitutional time
to the people of the State
W@ The Fayetteville Argus is pleased to make
comparisons between Mr.. Cngman and Gov. Reid and
Mr. Badger to the dsparagement of the former gen.
tlemen. Mr.. Badger is profound lawyer, a fluent
and graceful speaker and his mind is deeply imbued
with spirit of the classics ancient and modern but he
deals quite much in language in ideas, is more
IF sophist than logician; and though he has been
engaged in politics many years, he is yet sadly de-
icient in the information, sagacity, and sound COM
mon sense essential to statesman Governor Reid
md Mr.. Clingman statesmen. Mr. Clingman's
powers of analysis stronger than those of Mr.
reasons more connectedly than Mr. B. does
he is better acquainted with the nature of our
government entertans sounder 'views to its
objects and the limits of its powers, and he sustains
himself with more force and success public man
han Mr.. Badger has ever shown himself capable of
Icing. Gov. Reid has reason-Mr. Badger has inn
gination Gov. Reid grasps ideas, and forms judg-
nent which is seldom at fault-Mr. Badger deals
ten the illusory, and is less unsustained
n his opinions by the events with reference to which
hese opinions are formed Gov. Reid is discreet and
Eise-Mr Badger is cautious artificial, and rarely
p with the requirements temper of the times
Dr. Badger is the meteor, which coruscates and daZ
les-Gov. Reid, by his actions and the manifes-
atoms of his mind, is like the steady beams of the
un which dispense light and at the same time give
fe to what they touch.
The Argus is mistaken in his estimate of these
len. We know something of them all !; and we feel
ure that neither Gov Reid Mr.. Clingman will
uffer by a comparison with Mr.. Badger. Their
lends, it is true, have claimed less for them than
[r. Badgers have uniformly claimed for him; but
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