The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1855-01-17

ry kindred subject, and one of whicl
cannot be removed, without carryin!
with it others, or deranging and de-
stroying the balance of the whole.
Sir, of this we need no more strik.
ing illustration than that offered bv The
amendment proposed by the bill Of The
Senator from Rockingham, to establish
what is popularity called Free Suf-
frage." And here, to prevent miscon.
ception and misrepresentation, | desire
to say at once, that ! have no objec-
tion to extending the right Of suffrage,
50 ,aat every man may vote in the
Senate, who has now the right to vote
in the House Of Commons, provided
the Constitution be re-adjusted in 9th
er parts to suit the change thus made.
But your system is built upon the free.
hold qualification in electors for the
Senate, as upon foundation stone.
Taking for granted that that was TO
remain, other important provisions
were engralted into the Constitution,
which would have found no place there,
but for it to support them. Before,
therefore, you prize this part of the
foundation of your edifce, it may be
well to examine the condition in which
it will be left after the operation has
been performed. This will require
some examination of the causes Of the
introduction of this feature into the
Constitution by our fathers, aid its
retention until now. Previously to this
examination, however, permit me to re.
mark upon the somewhat extraordinary
course Of argument by which this change
has been urged upon the people for
their appreciation. In the act of the
Legislature proposing it four years
ago, and which, after being gazetted
for six months in the newspapers, was
rejected at the last session, by the OPP
position Of Mr.. Speaker Edwards, there
is the following preamble: Where
as, the freehold qualification, now re-
qulred for electors of members of the
Senate, conflicts with the fundamen>
tai principles Of liberty, therefore be
it enacted" &c. The fundamental
principles of liberty Why, sir, is
liberty the only element in the con-
stithtion of Government Of Tree peo,
Pile: In the sense in which these
terms are here used they mean any
inequality in political power, no mat
ter in iciat policy founded, is contra
ry to the fundamental principles Of
liberty, and in that sense, il is rather a
French, than an American idea. In
France, whenever, in the mutations Of
affairs, the Government professes to be
republican, we hear OF liberty, fra
ternity, equality" need not say what
has followed their last proclamation ot
thase captivating principles. First, a
President for three years, with free
! constitution next a President for ten
years, with power to form consti;u.
tIon; and then, an Emperor FOR life, with
authority TO toappoint his successor, and
no constitution; all the while, there hal
been perlectequality in the right to vote,
and millions against onlya few hundred
thousand did vote for these successive
changes. And yet, according to the
logic Of this preamble, the iundamen-
tai principles Of liberty are quite well
preserved in France, for every man
has his equal right in voting, but they
have always been violated in North
Carolina. The American theory oI
Government is mt quite so snblimat.
ed. While il guards liberty with un.
ceasing vigilance, il looks to other ele.
ments necessary TO be united with il
in any frame Of Government worthy
TO be called free. In that constitution
proposed by Washington and his com.
peers, and adopted by the people Of the
United States in l5s7, what do they
says I've, the people Of the United
State, in order, &c, 70 establish justice
insure domestic tranquility, provide fol
the common defence, promote the gene
raj welfare, aud to secure the blessing,
olliberty to ourselves and our posterity
do "ordain and establish this cUnstitn,
tion,' SC. And the provisions ofeverS
State Constitution, in this Union, show
a like regard for justice, domestic tran
quality, aud the promotion Of the &c
raj welfare, as Tor any theoretical idei
oI the blessings Of liberty. Why, sir
how can you justify in the sight ol thes
de,otces liberty, which, 10 their sense
means equality, thuse other regulation
Of the constitution, which apportiOn pu
: litiCal power, IN this branch ol the Leg
is!ature, according to the taxes paid il
districts, aud in the other, arconlin
: To black as well as white population
} every live negroes counting as thre
white men, which render ineligible {
: the Oilicc Ui Governor, Or to a seat il
either House ol the General Assembly
! any man who has not q freehold inte
rest OF greater o. lessguantlty or ,alu
ia land, as well as others equally i
. conflict with their notions Of the iun
: damcntal principles of Iibery; Whc
= this course ot reasoning shalt have ha
I is fall effect, what parts of your con