The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-07-18

sent of themselves or their representatives, II
general assembly, freely given, that the PEG
/ Die have the right to assemble together e
consult for theircommon good, and to apply
to the Legislature for redress OF grievances
and that, for redress OF grievances and
amendingthe laws, elections ought to be often
held. YOU Law down series Of fundamental
principles that now support the claims OF the
| black as we'll as the white A wise states
manship would seem to require Of us, to an
ticipate danger by providing against it, to
allay discomfort before it swells into convul-
sion, by providing a gradually ascending
scale of political right, which will disarm
clamor, encourage the. black race, and also
strengthen the State.
But, Mr.. President, it may be, and think
so, is, that the people are not yet prepared
for this change in our organic law.
Assuming, then, that the right of suffrage
will be denied to the black, and, therefore,
that he taunot justly be made basis of
white representation, it is easy to show that,
by the present basis, the political power of
the State is vested in minority of the legal
voters, and in minority of the white popu-
lation.
The greatest contrast is presented in the
extreme Eastern and Western Counties, les
sening as you approach the centre, where it
almost disappears.
will submit few illustrations, first as to
| the House of Commons:
| 1. Pitt has population OF 1880, and 2
members of the Commons.
Randolph has a population of 14,916, and
| 2 members of the Commons.
One voter in Pitt is equal to two in Ram
| dolph. %
2. BERTHE has a population of 1876, anil
2 members.
Daoidson has a population of 1876, and
2 members.
Two voters in BERTHE are equal to five in
Davidson.
s. Haltas has population of 5000, and
members.
Yadkn has population of 9,100, and 1
member-10.615 in Buncombe.
One voter in Halifax is equal to 3 in Yad
kin and Buncombe.
f. Take a Counties, viz: Halifax, North
ampton, Warren and Jones, with popula-
ton OF 1862. They have Z members of
Commons.
Take BuncombeN and Yadkin, with a
population of 1915, and only 2 members.
Here 2 voters are equal to Z.
This great inequality of political rights is
not altogether sectional, and | do not lay
any stress upon the fact that it generally sub
sists between the East and West. The diff
erence between Caswell and Lincoln is
great as between BERTHE and Buncombe; be-
tween Arson and Watauga, as between
Craven and Cleveland. So one voter in Cas-
well and Arson is equal to two in Columbus,
Carteret or Tyrrell. The objection lies to the
inequality wherever it exists, East or West
or centre
we find this unequal distribution of political
power still greater:
1. The eight extreme Eastern senatorial
districts contain a population of sc, 1893, and
are entitled TO eight members of the Senate
The eight Western districts contain popu-
lation of 201 ,75S white souls, and only an
equal number of Senator'S In other words,
5000 men in the eight first districtsare equal
to 25,219 i'll the eight last districts
2. Again: Hartford, with population
of 3,947, has one Senator. Buncombe dis
trict, with population of near 10000, has
one Senator, or one voter in Hartford is equal
to seven in Buncombe
3. Martin has 5,435, and one Senator,
while the Haywood district, with 3O,372,
whites, has only one Senator or one voter in
Martin is equal to six in Haywood. And so
of BERTHE, Northampton and Warren, con-
trasted with Rutherford, Iredell and Surry.
4. Take the aggregate population of Hert-
ford, BERTHE, Northampton and Martin, and |
it is 21,097, with four Senators, contrast it |
with the districts of Buncombe, HAYWOOD, |
1redell and Surry, with a population of 49, |
2O6, and four Senators, and it is 1000 to |
10000, or nearly to 6.
1t will thus be seen, Mr. President. by a
careful examination, that much less than one
half the white population has the controlling
power in the House of Commons, while one |
third Of the white population has the con-
trolling power in the Senate, and that the
entire government an North Carolina is rested |
IN minority Of the people.
As to the House OF Commons, which is sup
posed to represent population, 1 have en-
deavored to show that. unless we allow negro
suffrage, the white basis must be adopted |
shall pass that over, and, in the next place,
affirm that white population should also be
the basis of representation in the Senate.
agree Mr.. President, that government is
not theoretical only, but, also, a practical
Institution, and that natural Justice must
often yield to necessity and policy. agree
that you cannot measure, divide, subdivide
and distribute the powers of government
with mathematical exactness, like you can
an orange or cube. But our constitution
declares that a frequent recurrence to funda-
mental principles, is absolutely necessary to
preserve the blessings of liberty. and the first
section of the bill of rights lays down the
stone of all republican and rep
'esentative governments, to be "that all po-
itical power" is vested in and derived from
The people only.
1t is admitted that the people, in organic
ng government for themselves, may limit
heir natural rights thus clearly asserted, and
mat they may, perhaps vest the powers of
government in minority of the people, if
hey so choose, but, in now revising their
it is our duty to survey the
whole field, and especially that part which
,ontradicts the time-honored maxims of rep
'esentative government, and denies the poll
,ical equality of men.
Upon what principle is it that man in
,ne country has the vote and political power
If seven men in another county, and that
rom no merit, but the accident of place p
Providence planted the hills and the vallies,
'he barren mountains of Stokes and Surry.
md the fertile plains of the Roanoke. Why
should one vote at the mouth of the Roanoke
De equal to six at the source of its tributary
he DAMP The friends of the present basis
II the Senate, place its claims upon the
ground that one branch of the Legislature
hould be the representative and guardian of
property the other of the people, and that the
equilibrium of government is best preserved
~ these mutual checks.
1t is admitted that property must be pro-
ected, but how does this prove that the poor