The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1855-01-17
SPEECH OF THE
Hon. William A. Graham,
oF ORANGE,
On III, Amendment Of the Constitution

On tho Amendment oil the Constitution,
In tho Senate, December IL, 1854.
[The Senate having under consideration the
bill introduced by Mr.. Boyd, Of Rockingham,
ito amend the Constitution Of North Caro-
| lima" Mr. Graham moved to amend by strik-
ing out all after the words, "A Bill" and in
serting the provisions Of bill introduced by
| himself concerning Convention to amend
the Constitution Of the State" and said j
MR. SpEAKER:--It will be readily
perceived that the difference between
the two measures is, that the Bill OF
the Senator from Rockingham propos-
es to take the initiatory step for sim
gle amendment of the Constitution, -.
wit: the annulment Of the freehold
qualification now required in voters
for the Senate, and. after liltrating this
proposition through two successive Lee
gislatures by the necessary majorities
Of three -liiths aud two-t thirds, to carry
| it before the tribunal Of the popular
vote for adoption or refusal, without
allowing to the people, whose approba
tion is asked for il as an isolated amend.
menf, any power Of deliberation or
change in other parts Of the instru-
ment; but on the contrary, carefully
excluding them thcrefrom, with an eyi-
dent distrust in the wisdom or justice
Of their decision, on the Consultation in
general while propose to 90 at once
to the pcnple with the question, wheth-
er they desire Convention to amend
the Constitution, in this, or any other
particular, and, in the event Of the ex-
preston Of their will in the affirmative,
that BY their fiat a Convention shall be
assembled, without unnecessary delay,
and upon review Of the Constitution,
as ,choie, shall consider and propose
such amendments as may be deemed,
by it, to be required IN the present
condition Of the State, aud provide, BY
proper ordinances, for submitting them
to the sufirages Of the people, for rati-
fication or rejection.
need not remark that, in either as
pect, the subject is one Of the first
magnitude that can employ the delibe-
rations Of the Legislature. | regret
that il is difficult 10 discuss it without
being, to some extent, tcdiousand pains
taking, aud yet, in ny belief, discus
sion is necessary to its proper colnprc-
hensiun. II ] might be permitted to
borrow the language Of certain critic,
4 in relation to tie wnrks Of great Ora
| tor Of antiquity. aud apply il TO this
topic, ia the view presented BY the O.
riginal bill, ! would say, with entire
respect to all concerned, that il ha.
been "more talked abott than cunsi-
dered, aud cons dercd than under
stood"
| Having been member Of the Gene
| raj Assembly Of 1915, which enact
ell the law pruyi,ling for The ascertain.
mrnt Of the sense ol the people IN re-
gard to convention Tor constitutional
amendment III that day, by virtue oI
which they called into existence the
convention which assembled in the lat.
ter year, and having given my assent
Inns assent rather than appru,al-to the
adjustment oi the lung pending con.
test for refurm IN the constitution oI
the State then made, ! am frank to con.
less that | should nut thus early hay,
proposed new revision Of the cOnsti
iutiun, but for tire agitation for chang,
in the fundamental law, which has beer
waged for the last half a dozen years
When Mr.. jefferson, IN certain disqui
sitiOns on Government many year,
since, advanced the idea that cunsti
tuition should endure but for the gene
ration Of men Who formed IL; that thl
average duration Of the life Of man wa
Icighiucn years, after attaining the AZ
! of majority at twenty.onc; that thi
period should therefore be rc,koncd
political generation, and that 10 con
s,itutlon should last longer than on
such generation, without the assent 0
that which succeeded il, the opinion
was thought TO be bold speculation
which, il carried ont practically, migli
lead to inconycnieni, il not hazar,lUu.
results. But, sir, in less than thre
such generations since the annunciatiO
81 this doctrine, il has become lami
liar dogma, that there is no sacrednes
f; in constitutions, by reason IL whic
they are 10 endure longer than thOs
, who have tile pOwer T. change thin
proper to permit; and if not in othC
! States, certainly ID this, tile opinio
seems to be entertained aud acted upor
IL this original Bill, that no circum
stances 0l compromise or mutual col
!: cessiun which entered into tic settle
: ment uf yexcd aud excited contei
!. Cor constitutional reform, are TO be :,
]. .prcted by those to whom change
:, desirable.
After struggle uf more than thirl
years, III regard 10 alterations IN u
provisions 0I their constitution, u
people IL North Corolina came TO i
adjustment which Was effected thrOug
tie agency IL tie convention Of lss