Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-12-20
REMARKS OF MR.. BIGGs,

REMARKS OF MIR. BIGGss
OF MARTIN,
Dezissred in the Senate Of North Carolina, on tho
1Sh.f Decsn,b.T, 1854.
The Senate having under consideration the motion
of Mr. Graham, to strike out Mr.. Boyd's Free Sui
frage biIL and insert his bill concerning ConVen-
ton, Mr.. B1Gas said:
Mr.. SPEAKER: Since the adjournment yesterday,
a large portion my time being otherwise engaged,
/ have not had opportunity to prepare, as de-
sired a reply to the argument OF the Senator from
Orange Mr. IGraham) / shall therefore ask the i'll
diligence of the Senate to adopt modern practice,
and shall read to some extent from hastily prepared
manuscript.
III understood the Senator Alright, in the opening
of his speech he alluded to the opinion of Mr. Je:-
ferson as Objectionable; which opinion was that
new Constitution necessary every few years.
By inpl cation understood him as condemnlng the
doctrine, when he spoke OF the recent attempts 10
change our Constitution although in the sequel, AZ
propOse to show he goes far beyond the Suggestions
OF that distinguished know the apostle OF Ame-
rcan Democracy and liberty was wont to DC charged
with agraranism, with anarchy, and disorder as MS
admirers in modern times have been. II the Sena-
tor, by some new light, has been converted to the
political doctrines of Mr. Jefferson am glad to kno"
that the truth of those doctrines has made another
distinguished convert in the person of the Senator
from Orange; but beg him not to bring INTO disrc
putc as is too often the with new converts the
principles he has recently espoused. Thomas JET
ferson was for a constitutional Democracy He was
for the rights of the people, and for such mod'hca
ton of Constitutions as would suit the wants ana
condition of the people, securing to all the blessings
of life, liberty and property. The principles ne
taught advocated Constitutions which secured to
mini ant persons the same equality OF suffrage as
the adventitious circumstances surrounding mixed
or landed olgarchy. The aristocracy of wealth in
land or any thing clse gives higher qualifications
for the exercise of the elective franchise.
The Free Suffrage bill is under consideration.
The Senator from Orange proposes to strike out that
I haiti, 0nn he has which
provides first, to submit to the people the question
of Convention no Convention, and secon d!y II
majority of the people decide iii favor of Convention
tbs Governor issue writs for the election OF dele
gates Convention is to be organized and the dele
gates arc to have unlimited occr to alter and amend
the Constitution in any and every particular; and
this bill of his the Senator contends can be const-
tutioRally passed by a m4iorify OF votes IN each
house of the General ASSEMBLY
If never before, certainly the question Is fairly
presented between Free Suffrage and opcn nniini-
tied Convention, proposed by the Senator Mu n
has been heretofore said about limited conventions,
a nd excuses have sometimes been attempted f)r OPP
position Free Suffrage by the argument that 1t can
BE- better done by limited Convention than tcglS-
lltiYc enactment Such issues cannot now be made,
such evasons cannot now avail any thing. rms
Convention question is now placed antaSo.liStic 10
Free Sutfraga.
have said heretofore that the proposition of tn,
Senator a novel one. At its inception entere.
my solemn protest against it, to which alluSion ha
l,:Il il nearly copy of the act of 1884, which call
el the Convention of 1885 and is the same in Prin
ci2le; and if he is glt th.@ notwithstanding til
.Ith article of amend nents proposed by thtt Con
renton and adopted by the people, the General A.
semhy has and exercise the same powers Oh tn,
subject of calling Convention it possessed prior
to 1885. And does not this strike every one witt
surprise Let examine ana en1ui C whether Il
has before this attracted the attention of any Of
those who have written and spoken so much on the
subject of Convention. for the last few years First
l will call attention to the Message of Gov. Manly
in 1850 the first official paper we have on the sub
e;t, anil doubt soma of my Eastern friends par
;icnlary well remember that Message. read short
extract:
"Whcther a majority of the people are discon-
tented with the Constitution it is, and therefore
really desire to alter it in any or all of these mpor
tant respects, | cannot undertake to say; though
that is the question which II my judgement ought
to be settled and ascertained antecedent to any L.
gisLrtre enactments for altering the organic law OF
the State. n certain mode of determining the point
would be to pass law at for taking the S. n'c
Il the voters upon the question of changs or ne
chInge. You will then know what public opinion
is; but until something of that kind shall have been
done, any action that is intended to be based upon
the popular will, must rest upon conjecture. This
act may be passed by majority Of the Assembly.
If the result of the popular vote should show either
Indifference or hostility to the change, none ought
to be attempted by the General Assembly. II. ID,
the other hall it shall exhibit very decided popu-
lar feeling favor of the alterations any them,
the moral effect of this popular vote might suffice to
procure from Legislature the requisite cOnstitu
tional sanction to any desirable reform"
He agreed with the Senator, it is true, that MT
joritu of the General Assembly may submit the
question to the people, but after this Gov Manly
and the Senator parts company The Governor
thinks much moral effect by favorable vote may
be produced upon the General Assembly to induce
them to call Convention by the constitutional ma
jorty And what is that? 1.-TWO thirds of all the
members of each house of the General Assembly"
read also the resolutions of the Wing Conventions,
lrsid in 1850, 1852, and 1854, on this Convention
question. In none of them, however, is one word
said farordble to Free Suffrage:
1850.
Whereas large number of the people of the
State without distinction of political party, have in
Dictated wish to have the State Constitution
dad so as to give to voters for the House of Com
the right to vote also for Senators; A7d achere
as it is fundamental principle of popular govern
ment declared i'll our bill Of rights atall political
power is vested in and derived from the people only
Rcsotped in the opinion of this Convention that
the Legislature should adopt some mode, in accord
ancc with the provisions of the Constitution, by
which the sense of the majority of the people may
he clearly asccrtaned and their wishes carried in
reference to said proposed amendment of the Con-
stitution.
1862
Resolced, That in the opinion of this Convention,
whenever amendments to be made to our State
Constitution, they should be effected by Conven-
ton of the people elected the basis of the House
Of Commons land are in favor of submitting it
to the people to say whether such Convention shall
be called or not for the purpose of making amend
ments to our Constitution.
1854
Rssolccl, That Of opinion that the peo-
pie Of North Carolina desire change in the Consti-
tuition of the State; and that this can be most wise
y and safely done by Conve tion of delegates cleo