The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-07-08
WESTERN DEMOCRAT.
40 CHARLOTTE %"
Tuesday Morning, July 8, 1850.
FREE SUFFRAGE.

A friend 10 neighboTing county writes
US, REQ uesting statement as TO the exact
condition OF the Free Suffrage bill at this
time-some of the people in bis locality
not being fully informed on the subject
We answer a. follows:
The Free Suffrage act passed the last
General Assembly by majority of three
fifths of all the members. The act is now
being published in the newspapers, pur>I-
ant to Il provision OF the Constitution. If,
at the next session of the Legislature it
should receive Il vote of two-thirdS Of the
whole representation in the two Houses, it
viii then Ee submitted to the people for
their approval or rejection. If they should
approve it, voting upon it at the ballot box,
it will then become part OF the State Con-
stitution; aHd in loj6, al persons who are
now entitled TO vote for members of the Com
mons will also be entitled to vote for mem
beers of the Senate. If it should be reject
rd-which we 20 not fear-it will again be
passed By u vote OF three ffths, and again
put on its course towards becoming a part
Of the State Constitution. Such u measure
may be defeated, but it can never be des
troyed.
join: 4. Gilner, the Known Othing can
didate for Governor, has uniformly voted
against Free Suffrage while member of the
Legislatures; and he is one of the bitterest
and most insi.Iious enemies which the mea-
sure has. He * not willing that persons
who do not own a. much as City acres of
land shall be allowed to vote for Senators.
unless they will agree to weaken the slave
holding influence, and also to consent to
an increased Tar on StGceS. We assert what
we knO1c to be true, and what we can prore,
by undoubted documentary testimony, if
denied. We challenge contradiction.
Gov. Bragg, on the contrary, is e Free
Suffra &c man, and has always been So He
occupies on this question, the sane grounds
occupied by Gov. Reid. He Is for the pre-
sent act, and is opposed to tsmpcring with
slave property by Withdrawing it from the
basis oe representation, or by increas-
ing the taxes upon it. He is in favor of
protecting alike al the great interests of
the State, and is opposed to unequal taxa
ton. He thinks it best that all property
should bear its due share of taxation, and
will never consent to discriminate against
any particular sort of property, as Mr.. Gil
mcr proposes to do. Gov. Bragg told the
people, two years ago. that the surest way
to obtain Free Suffrage was to continue the
Democratic party in power. The people
took linn at his word, and did so. The
Free Suffrage act was passed by three
ffths vote, as he promised them it would |
be, and it is now on the high road TO COM
plete success. The surest way TO defeat |
Free Suffrage and increase the demand for
a Convention, is to vote for John A. Gil |
mer; and the surest way to obtain Free |
Suffrage is TO vote for Thomas Bragg. Let |
the people, and especially the non-freehold-
crs, know these facts. John A. Gilmcr |
votes all the time against Free Suffrage, |
and then when he is called to account for it |
to the people, he goes about looking up ex-
cuses for his votes. Such man cannot be
depended on. He is on enemy to the mea-
sure, and will defeat it if he possibly can.
Rdteieh Standard.