The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1860-03-21
rren Us r.ye,terll!e ob.etvsr.
ruE STATE CONSTITUTION.

ct reverence for the sacred Constitution 81
our Smte, and objection TO disturbing the
compromises agreed upon IN 1855, BY the
Convention which amended it. But that
surprise 10 vastly Increased when we see the
Democratic Convention held last week.-al
BODY 90 much more intelligent than the body
Of Democratic extraordinarily resolve,
THAT We are opposed TO disturbing any Of the sec
sionai compromises &c our Constitution, State % Ma
snna and tina. We especially deprecass the introduction
at this time Wy the Opposition party V North Carolina
into our Stats politics Of question Of constitutional
amendment affecting The basis upon which our revenue
Is raised believing il 10 be premature, mpotic dan
eerous and unjust"
Now as to the editors who have harped
upon this matter of the compromises Of our
State constitution, very few of them are ia
miliar with the history or purpose ct those
compromises hut that the intelligent body
OF native and generally elderly gentlemeH
who composed the Democratic Convention
should have set up such bald pretence, in.
dicates either an ignorance Of which we did
not suspect them, ar recSlessaess by no
means creditable To their integrity.
We propose TO show that the compromise
now insisted on was destroyed by the Demo
crais themselves, and is Of course no longer
binding in one part. the other being abro-
gated. And we propose 10 show that when
II was 50 destroyed, il was with solemn
warning of the very result now impending
We cannot do this in more clear and forcibe
terms than are presented by speech OF Gov.
Graham in the State Senate in December,
ls54-a speech which was Published al the
time in the Observer aud other State papers,
and in pamphlet, and we have no doubt was
listened TO and read BY many Of the very
persons who now profess to he shocked IL
the idea Of " disturbing" compromise
which they were then warned. toniy live
years ago. they were about TO destroy by
passing the Free Suffrage bill.
We ask particular attention to some pas
ssges which We have italieised in the follow
ing extracts from Gov. Graham's speech, and
indeed 70 the whole Of the extracts:-
Sir, 10 the most casual reader Of the
Act Of 1855, il Is perfectly manifest that the
retention Of the freehold qualification in
electors of the Senate was as wei. defined
and secured an object in the adjustment,
then made. as taxation for the basis uf repre-
sention in the Senate, aud federal population
of representation 10 the House, aud much
better secured object. than sny nther proyis-
ion Of the amended Constitution, save those
two. and, as that adjustment was com
promise Of contention for thirty wears, lit
orally treaty Of peace, tie parties 10 II, and
all Others, tciH be erOnerateL from its further
observance so soon as this one Of It's ftnda.
mental articles has been abandoned and an
nHlled. wish this TO be known Gnd remem.
6ertd By those Who have such dreadful appre-
tensions from the call of a Convention. and
Whatever changes The Constitution may be
destined 10 undergo. that ars may htar no
complaint 81 breach Of pighted faith, and 3
departure from he Terms Of compromise
This original bill sets The compromise al
nGugat, and leaves every man TO take part
in regard TO amendments Of the Constitution
as NAV seem right in his own ewes, Sir
there Is no escape from this conclusion. You
propose, b. this bill. plain and palPable
violation Of the compromise Of 1855, and
vet you esince very salutsry lear Of losing
the benehis ot that compromise IN other par
ticuars. If there be, as you, think, SaInlg
apprehend, a serious or general disposition
10 disturb the basis Of representation, YOU
will have lost more Than hall your power OF
resistance e. il, when sou have broken the
faith which binds the moral elements OF the
world together
But. the change ID the Constitution pro.
posed bs this Original bill j. not only 4 VIC
laiion II tie compromise. but ii il be made
and nothing more De dome, il will destroy
The balance between conflicting interests
then established, and will be an act Of gross
iniastiee 10 the owners Of landed property,
as contra.disiingBshed from the owners OF
property IN slaves. This may not be obyiou,
1t lr.i sight. but think il can bs made per.
fectiy apparent. We have already seen that
a Construction of free government il Tin,
the human system, compounded Of various
parts, harm0niZed IN one whole; and iha
such is the naion Of these parts with eaci
other, that one cannot be d disturbed without
affecting Others. Il might be supposed BY !
superficial observer, that the human bant
would be Improved By cutting Of The finger
Of equal lengths, and ihe operation would ),
20 simple inal any chdd anD could hand,
IN axe could perform il. And ut We knos
thar tals cutaliment Of the exirrmlis aOu.t
wound nerves and blood vessels euDuectin.
Nth the brain and the heart, the very vita,
81 tie sy.tem. So this apparently simple
Topping or from the Consultation VI lh'
STATE what i represented a. mere e1cres
ecnce. aHdet the captivating idea Of poli,i
cal right, would, from the connections an
dependencies 81 this provision, produce 81
fleets reaching ilr beyond a mere question ,
equality IN voting, 10 which aspect alone ]
). treated by the Executive. and has usual.
been considered by the psblie. ! have al
ready demonstrated that The freehold quail
hration required IN the electors Of this bod
va. tie landhglders defence against uneqBa
TAXATION % III. property, that far tbs pur
pose i "a. nfd.insd by our fathers IL III,
hr.t Constitution, that fpr the same p1rpDs,
ii va, revised and re ordained by their emil
drcn ID 1855, and tia, tie compromise Con
stilallun then gwen u gs W.. 10 other 81 IL,
parts built upon this provision a. upon 4
foundation stone. Being a member VI the
Legislature both 10 1858 aud 1854. and taxing
an humble mart Among the advocate. Tor 4