The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-07-14
TEE FRnn suFFRAan Acr.


passed at the last session of the Legisla-
ture to amend the Constitution of North
Carolina, and also the supplementary Act
to take the sense of the people of the State
on the first Thursday in August next rela-
tive to the proposed amendment. All per-
sons qualified to vote for members of the
House of Commons can vote on this aues-
ton.
By the supplementary act it will be seen
that it was the luty of the County Courts,
at their first term after the first day of
April. to appoint Inspectors for the Free
Suffrage box. Certain duties are also en-
joined on the Sheriffs, failure to perform
which, subjects the officer so neglecting to
forfeiture of one thousand dollars. But
we suppose all the requirements of the law
have been and will be complied with by
the Courts and Sherifa.
Those desiring to endorse this Just and
equitable measure will vote a ticket with
the word approved" written or printed
upon it, and those opposed, ticket with
the words Not approved"
1t is unnecessary for us, at this late day,
to enter into discussion of the merits of
the question, or to show the propriety of
ratifying the Free Suffrage Act, by recur-
ring to the many incontrovertibl4 argu-
ments that have been heretofore brought
forward by the friends of the measure.
The proposition is plain and simple one,
easily understood, and incapable of mis-
construction except by designing politicians
who desire to defeat the measure because
it was originated and mainly supported by
democrats.
The fact is patent and has been demon
strated time after time that the free people
of this country are capable Of self govern
ment, and can exercise the rights of suf-
frage without endangering the body polite
The Free Suffrage Act proposes to extend
rights to a large, worthy and respectable
class of citizens who were heretofore denied
them--it proposes to allow qualified per-
sons who now only enjoy the privilege of
voting for members of one branch of the
Legislature, the House of Commons, the
right to vote also for members of the other
branch, the Senate-it proposes to do away
with the freehold qualification of fifty
acres of land.
Now, to say that extending the right of
suffrage in this particular will subject the
landed interest to oncrous taxation is moth
ing more than raising an objection without
the least possibility of sustaining it. For
the members themselves are required to be
free holders as they have ever been, and
they viii be pecuniariy interested; SO they
will not be more liable 10 burden the land
with taxes because they are voted for by
non freehOlders than they were when elect
ed by freeholders alone. We can see no
force in the objection that the landed
interest will be injured by adopting the
measure proposed.
Four times have the people of North
Carolina demanded that their Constitution
be amended III the manner proposed by
the democratic party. Through the fac
tious opposition OF our opponents in the
Legislature their will has been defeated
until recently; and now that they have an
opportunity of confirming and approving
the measure at the polls, we hope they will
do so by an overwhelming majority. Let
not its friends be over confdent-there
are those still opposed to the amendment,
not from any valid reason, but from an in
stinctive hatred to anything originated by
the democratic party. Let our friends see
to it that while members of Congress and
Clerks of the Courts are being voted for on
the first Thursday in August, that Equal
Suffrage also receives the attention its i'm
portance demands, and that a majority of
twenty thousand crowns the Act with sue
cess.