The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-07-12
sprEcH OF EDWARD cosIGLlND, ESQ.,,

N. EfEpVoe0'1'" W ''U"''
the aohite population Of the State, the so
basis Of representation.
MIR. PRESIDENT 1t was not until tn
amendment of the gentleman from Ruthel
ford proposing to base representation, in tn
: Senate, and Commons, on white popuiat1o
alone was submitted to the Convention, o.
Monday last, that abandoned the hope O
avoiding the discussion of this subject. be
lieve that it ought to be allowed to sleep, ant
desire that it should. This Convention wa
called together for certain specified pur
pose, which purpose it has already fulnlled
It never occurred to the people OF the State
that we would arrogate to ourselves the po"
er of entirely remodelling the Constitution
But, notwithstanding this general power was
never delegated to us, we are forced into con
sideration of a proposition, radically to
change one of the most conservative features
in our system of Government. We are not
permitted to avoid the discussion of the
question, if we would, and, l trust, as it has
been forced upon us, that we will meet it III
spirit of frmness as we'll as calmness and
moderation, with the purpose solely of en-
tightening our minds, that we may be better
enabled to form correct judgment.
I beg, in the outset, to acknowledge the
courtesy of the delegate from Lincoln in
submitting his statistics to my examination.
I have so thoroughly considered them, since
the adjournment of the question, have been
tempted to wish that figures were banlshed
from the world became, however, sensible
of my error, on rejecting that figures are my
main defence against the delegate marching
down upon us at the head of his "whlte le-
gions." The realization of the expression of
my Impotence would place me somewhat in
the situation of the young lady, who, over
wearied by the pertincity of a sutton, wished
hot
nervous system became exceedingly shocked
by the consideration, that if taken at her
word, her matrimonial prospects must be for
ever blasted. Let the delegate from lincoln
marshal his hosts. l am prepared to meet
him-not indeed at the head of an army
with banners, but at the head Of an army of
figures, in solid array-so powerful-so over
whelming, and of such formidable aspect to
the gentleman on the other side, that the
delegate from Rutherford himself-notwith-
standing the easy placidity with which he
discharged this bomb shell among us, stand
ing aghast, will, in his terror, exclaim
"Angels and ministers of grace defend US ~
But before proceed to consider the statis-
tics of the delegate from Lincoln. beg to
be allowed to examine some OF the princi-
piles enunciated by him. l gather, from his
speech, that his chief ground of complaint
is the apparent inequality, in political pow
er, between the white population of the
East, and the white population of the West
He desires that each white person in the East
and each white person inLhe West shall have
the like political power in the Legislature of
the State, and he proposes to effect this poll
teal equality by trampling upon the repre-
sentation of property, by placing the weight
of political power in the hands of a numeri-
cal majority, and that the majority of one
class of the population only, and that, the
class which predominates in his own sec
ton. The bare statement of the question is
of itself, sufficient to prove that if carried
out, it would be unfair, oppressive and I'M
just.
When the delegate from Lincoln speaks of
population, he must always be understood as
meaning white population. When represen-
tation is to be considered, the negro is with
him of a nature so impalpable, that he can
not be counted, or even seen but when taxes
are to be levied, he is always found to pos
sess the form and substance of man. But
it is alleged, that representation cannot be
accorded to the negro, without admitting
him to the right of suffrage; why then did
he have representation among US as a slave !
In a state of slavery he was represented as a
person and not as property. And why, let
me ask, if this be the reason of his exclusion |
that, by the delegates system of apportion- !
the right of suffrage is denied to them. If !
this right necessarily follows the right of |
representation, how can the delegate answer !
the question! Besides, if the numerical ma
Jorlty of whites must also have the political |
why does the gentleman deny to !
white females all expression and exercise of |
political power The white females in
North-Carolina outnumber the white males
by majority of 2,576. And they are ex
cluded from the polls, and denied all voice
In political matters. 1 am not the first to
submit these questions and considerations,
but often as they have been submitted. they
have never yet been successfully answered
and can not consistently with the delegates
position. The truth is, that in no state of
society IS suffrage accorded to a majority of
the represented class
L am, [ confess, somewhat surprised to
hear the doctrine of equality so earnestly
1rged In this Assembly. Whence did this
ioctrlne take its rise, or rather when was it
ully developed? 1 answer, in those dark
and terrible days, when the cry of g equality"
10 tne mouths OF. an Infatuated populace,
caused to be torn down all the barriers erect
I'd to protect property and civil rights, and
caused to be enacted those scenes of blood.
It which, even now, the world stand aghast!
from the philosophers whose writings
brought about the French revolution, most
'f the arguments enforcing the equality of
man have been drawn, and wherever thev
have been reduced to practice, in the govern
nent OF State, by comforting the whole
political power on a mere numerical ma
ority, without regard to interest, the State
has engrafted in its system principles which,
sooner or later, will carry it down to de-
'truction
We, Mr.. President have no popular excite
nent on this subject-the people scarcely
eem to be aware that we are considering it.
% little do they seem to be interested there
n. But even if popular clamor did prevail.
stand not here to bow to it. I will not be-
ome an idolater even at the shrine of the
dol which the populace may erect and COM
nand me to worship. hesitate not to saw.
nat scorn and repudiate, as dangerous and
Unjust, the doctrine, that a mere numerical
which does not embrace, but 10
to majority of interest. shall
'e the sole governing porer And even
when majority of numbers is the sole GOV
rnlng power, it is upon the principle. that
UGH majority is supposed to represent -
majority OF interest. But when it appears
nat majority of numbers does not repre-
emit majority of interest, as it appears that
majority of white numbers does not in
to adopt it as the sole gov
rnlng power would be suicidal to our best
interests and oooi,cG