Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-01-30
REMARKS OF MR.. SPEIGHT,

On the amendment altered by the Senator from
Gui!ford, to the bill calling It Contention Of the
people IF this State. delirered en- the Senate Of
North Carolina, JanHary l7M, 1861.
Mr.. Sreight sad it with reluctance he arose to
address the Senate after the delivery of the eloquent
speeches to which it had just listened. But he
promised not to detract from their subnlity by at
tempting ITO reap from field which had been
nicely cleaned" Those Senators who had just pre-
coded him, had spoken very eloquently on all col
lateral questions but had failed to argue the merits
of the Immediately before the Senate. lie should
conine himself in the remarks which he about to
submit mainly to the consideration of the amend
ment offered by the Senator from Guilford, and
state briefly the reasons why he could not support
it. The amendment proposes Ito open polls of
election at the various election precincts throughout
the State in the manner and under the forms therein
specified, on the I'D Monday in March next, for the
purpose of ascertaining the sense Of the people,
whether they desired to have a Convention or not,
and if majority Of the votes thus polled were cast
in favor of Convention then, and in that case the
Governor. BY proclamation, is to order an election
of delegates in the manner prescribed, to assemble
in Convention in this city on the day designated, 10
take into consideration Federal affairs State
Constitution, and any and all other subjects which
they in their wisdom and discretion may think pro-
per- In other words, it is to be open, unlimited
Convention To this proposition Mr.. s. said he
entirely dissented. 1t had been conceded 10y every
Senator who had spoken upon this question, that
there two modes by which Convention could
he called. First, by the General Assembly, accord
ing to the mode prescribed by the Constitution;
and, secondly, by majority of the people. the ex
erciSc of an inherent or natural right the former
peaceably, and according to the Constitution
the latter torciblv, and hy revolution, when the
peaceable mode is refused them. Now, as to the
first mode, which is the one propose to adopt?
The Constitution expressly declares that "no con-
renton of the people shall lie called by the General
Assembly unless by a concurrence Of two-thrdS Of
both Houses of the General Assembly" What
does the amendment now before the Senate propose?
To call Convention by majority of twothirdS of
each House of this General Assembly provided
in the Constitution. Not at all But it proposes to
pass law by majority Of two thrds, mot to call
Convention directed,) hut simply to give the
people right to call one by mere majority, or
rather plurality, of votes. This is nothing more
nor less than legazing revolution. And if that
was all Senators wished to accomplish, he could not
perceive why majority Of the Legislature could
not pass that Law as we'll as others. The trainers OF
hat instrument certainly never intended that it
should he altered or amended by bare majority of
the people en- masse. 1t was established upon
more firm and enduring basis. Instead of confer
ring the power to call Convention for that purpose
upon a meagre majority, they made an alteration of
IL
the peoples, If may use the plural noun here,) in
two-thirds of their separate and distinct organza-
tons as divided into counties and senatorial districts
throughout the State. But Senators tell they do
not wish to vote for Convention, unless they knew
"a majority off the people wanted it What people,
the people of the whole State or just that portion
of them whom they represented upon this floor !!
He for one as Senator here when the question of
calling Convention to amend our State Constltu-
ton was introduced felt it his duty to consult only
the wishes and views of that people whom he had
the honor to represent. He thought he knew their
views, and should endeavor to faithfully and honest
ly represent them lie should therefore vote against
the amendment.
He confessed he was rather surprised at those
! Senators who advocate this amendment Especially
| that portion of it which looks to an amendment of
our State Corsttution) upon the ground of gno-
rance of the public will, when the fact stares them
in the face that recently August last after that
| question had been thoroughly discussed, from Cur
rituck to Cherokee. the people decided by upwards
of six thousand majority that they did not desire
Convention for that purpose. Then for what pur-
pose are we trying to call Convention? Certainly
not to amend our State Constitution for as before
stated the last expression Of public sentiment which
we have is decidedly against it. This fact being
settled, what motive induces IFS to moot this Ques
| ton Of Convention at this time? 1t is in con.
sequence Of events moinentous in their character
| which have TRANSFERRED since that time A crisis
has arrived in the affairs of this nation which in.
wolves the rights and equality of North Carolina in
the Federal Union in connection with the other
fourteen Southern States Her people have become
alarmed for their safety and happiness, and hence
free people, jealous of their rights they have
assembled in their primary meetings in almost all
the counties from the mountains to the seashore
and told us by their resolves that they want us t.
call Convention for them, to take into considers
ton the nature and extent Of the grievances under
which they labon and to determine for themselye,
the mode and measure Of redress. That is it ant
nothing else. For that purpose they want o Con
vention, and that purpose alone. But it is argued
that the General Assembly cannot limit Conven
ton. He admitted it could not, within the scop,
and range Of the purpose for which it is called bu
when the people in their sovereign capacity speak
l and they declare they want . Convention for . Ger
tain purpose, and for that purpose alone, what righ