Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-06-26
REMARKS OF w. F. LEAK,

On the proposition to refer the election Of Delegates
to the People, as also, the number to be elected
rise, Mr.. President and gentlemen, for the pur-
pose of occupying the attention of the Convention
for few moments, and for stating some of the rea-
sons that control my vote upon the question now
before u.s.
No man admits in broader sense than do that
all political power emanates from, and belongs to
the people, in truth, it is the very basis the foun
dation Of our political structure-and it is this and
this alone, that pre-eminently distinguishes Demo-
cratic or Republican America, from all nations that
have gone before it. While admitting this to its
fullest extent, do not think that it by any means
follows, that the democratic feature has no just and
proper limitation. Ours is not democracy proper
in which the people are to pass upon everything,
but it is representative Democracy, in which they
should pass upon all that they safely as we'll as
conveniently can pass upon. If it was a democracy
proper, as seems to be assumed by the argument of
some Of the gentlemen who have joined in this de-
bate, why then you must have every thing elective
from the appointment of constable or an Oyerseer
of road, up to that Of the Governor of the State
The reasoning advanced in support of submitting
the question of the election Of delegates to the
Southern Congress, necessarily leads to this concu
sion; you cannot stop short Oft. -
Now, nv position is this: That while admitting
the broad principle that the people the rghtful
source of all power, yet there is proper and ne
cessary limitation to its exercise and that limitation
is to be settled by the previous question: whether
they can as safely and conveniently exercise the
power in question, as those who now represent
taem upon the floor of this Convention. | affirm
that they cannot and that for the few reasons will
now submit .
In the first place. start out by saying that the
people do not in the present disturbed condition of
the country, desire to be bothered with this cleo
tion for the period of its duration is short only
for some six months, Ghe Provisional Government
expires in February next that feel warranted in
supposing that they cannot be jealous of the exer
else on our part, of such "modicum' of power, as
the power which it is said We now wish to usurp
infer likewise that they do not desire It, for the
reason that time will not DO allowed to cast about
and select their most suitable men; for recollect the
| Confederate Congress meets on the Goth of July,
and that it is the 9Th Gay Of June and suppose
you give the election to the people, ask how long
will it take the Governors proclamation to reach the
extreme western counties 1t must take to do this
at least 10 days, which will bring you about to the
Goth of the month. Will sufficient time then,
ask, be allowed the people in many of the Con-
gressona Districts, (Or some of them are over $50
miles long to interchange opinions to who is the
| proper candidate to represent them! Certainly,
such time will not be allowed them for proper de-
Liberation and consultation, and consequently, you
lessen the chances that they will be able to secure
ScINlCCS vi IuOSI dDc anu QlSLlnguSneQ men
Of the State-for such, and such only, should now
! be sent
| If ever there was time that we should send men
of our best talent and Of tried patriotism, is
| that time-for new direction is now about being
given to the vessel of State and able commar dels
are required. Beside this, sir, we have been told
that important alterations in the organic laEsot the
Confederacy will be required, and who, Task, iss
well calculated to do this? the men selected by the
people, in their present confused, agtatcd and scat
tered condition, or the delegates composing this
Conventions body admitted to be the ablest body
that ever assembled in North Carolina since the
organization of the government | say again, Mir,
that the people do not desire it. for the reason that
the election must necessarily come of early in il y,
and at busy season of the year. when their atten-
.tion can be better given to their farms, to their
making support for the soidiery, and to making
something to contribute to the support Of the war,
in which we are now engaged, and which will take
all their industry and no little of their patriotism.
say again, that they do not desire it-for judg.
ing from the little interest that is now manifested
in elections. do think they have become tired Of
elections Of late in this, think am fully jnsti-
fled from the returns just made and now on your
table, for supplying the places Of some designations
4 in our body Why, sir those returns show That
not onethird Of the people Of those counties have
voted. 8 ,,.,,,e55 ~. ,.,..,gs J
Again, sir: One of the strongest reasons why il
should not be submitted is the fact that before the
election take place. you will have at least some