Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1855-05-02
T9e StanSarb,
RALEIGH. SATURDAY. APRIL %. 1855.
FOR CONGRESS:
GEORGE w. THOMPSON,
Mr.. THOMPsON-FREE SUFFRAGE.
OF WAKE COUNTY.

H.
The Raleigh Register attempts to manufacture
political capital out of the fact that Mr.. Thompson,
the Democratic nominee for Congress, voted at the
session of lS4S,49, when a member of the State
Senate, against Free Suffrage That paper announ-
ces the fact as great discovery -and dwels
upon it as one deeply aggrieved. The concern
thus manifested is at least questionable, seeing that
the Register has uniformly opposed the measure,
rdiculed it, and rejoiced at various times over
prospects of its final defeat The Register has i'm
parted no information-has made no discovery not
known to Democrats The people of the County,
Mr.. Thompson's constituents remember well
this vote, and the circumstances under which it
was given and if they have not censured him for
it heretofore, they will not follow the lead of the
Register in doing so now.
The question of Free Suffrage was started by
Gov. Reid in the canvass of 1s4s. 1t had not
been formally incorporated into the Democratic creed
at the time Mr.. Thompson gave this vote but this
was subsequently done, and that gentleman not
only voted for Gov. Reid in 1s4s, but he has uni
formly since cast his vote for Free Suffrage men.
He was never opposed to the principle of Free
Suffrage but he thought that Constitutional amend
ments ought not to be hastily made and he
not prepared in 1s4S to sustain the measure, mas
much as, in his opinion, the will of the people in
this respect had not been unmistakably manifested
In 1850 that will was most clearly made known !;
and Mr. Thompson, if he had been a member Of
the Assembly at the session of 185O,5l, would
no doubt have given the measure his warm sup
port. Four Democratic Senators voted with him
in 184S'49 and FIVE Democratic Commoners ; and
one Of these Commoners, Gen. Thomas ]. Person,
of Northampton, was the Democratic candidate
for Congress in the Ninth District, in 1s49, and
received the united and enthusiastic support of his
party. He is now, like Mr.. Thompson, and has
been for years, firm and decided advocate Of Free
Suffrage.
The Register lugs in the names of Messrs Ed
wards and Eaton, of Warren; and says that Mr..
Thompson is honored while they are "ked off,
on account of their opposition to Free Suffrage
The Register well knows that Messrs. Edwards and
Eaton have opposed Free Suffrage from the first
and oppose it now, on its merits. as well as because
they are ayerse to changing the Constitution in
any particular, and because they apprehend evil in
the end, as the result of discussion of this any
other proposed alteration; and this position is oc
cupied by them in all integrity and honesty Ir
common with vast majority Of the party, we diff
fer with them but we have freely accorded them
in this matter good motives and an honest convic
ton of right. Their position is different from tha
of Mr.. Thompson; and besides, how could they
have been "kiled off" when they were not press
satisfied, from our knowledge of the men, that the,
did not wish the nomination and there is stron,
probability that neither would have accepted il
We are also satisfied that they will cordially sup
port the nominee.
The Register will take nothing for the motle
crowd it represents, by this movement. Its croc
odile tears are shed in vain. Mr.. Thompson soil
be elected over any and all opposition. This lttl
trick Of appealing to Democrats to vote agains
him, because, as is falsely alleged by insinuatior
he is opposed to Free Suffrage, will recoil upo
the heads of those who are resorting to it. Tel
the whole truth, gentlemen, and Mr.. Thompson
trends will have nothing to apprehend; and j
you do not tell it, hundreds of honest men viii
and the people will then judge for themselves
Good Democrats will not be apt to make UP thei
opinions on Wing testimony. Neither this move
ment, nor the falsehood which is in, circulation i
certain quarters, that Mr.. Thompson is Kno,
Nothlng, will benefit the opposition. It will re
o0und in the end to his advantage, and to the ad
Sancement OF the noble cause he represents,