The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-06-07

Spiiit IL ScCllOI1dIISt1l was
AZ developed out of the I'M
TM equal representation Of
HR the new and old counties,
which continued until the
formation of the State
Constitution in 1776. This
gave one Senator and
-0t two Representatives to
each county. It was soon found that
the numerous small counties OF the
East dominated the Legislature which
elected the Governor, Council, State
Officers, Generals and Field Officers O.
the Militia, Judges and A~ttorney-Gen-
eral. The Governor commissioned
Justices Of the Peace upon the recon-
mendation Of Representatives IN the
General Assembly. The Justices ad-
ministered the county affairs and held
tha County Courts. The people were
allowed to vote for members or the
legislature, Constable and Sherlffs.
In 1892 the large counties OF the
West had little power and many OIL
their citizens were much
enced BY the distance and ln~accessl-
bility of the county seats. Eastern
counties. unwilling to surrender their
predominance, refused to create new
counties in the West, unless new
Eastern c~ountie were also created
to preserve the balance or power.
ttDiN seventeen he" COu11liSS "tiN
created in fifty years, 1782-1S32.
These conditions were so in~tolerable
to the West that trouble was Immi-
nent; and the Legislature submitted
to popular vote the question or q
limited Convention to amend the Con-
tutiOn-eac membe being sworn
that he would neither directly or in
directly evade or disregard the duties
enjoined or the limits fixed to this
Convention" 1t met at Raleigh June
4th. 1895, with Nathaniel Macon,
President.
The first article of the amended
Constitution provided for fifty Sena-
tors to be elected from districts to
be laid off by the General Assembly
tn proportion to the public taxes paid
into the treasury of the State; and
one hundred and twenty Representa-
tives to be elected by counties accord
ing to their federal pOpulauon-each
county to have at least one membe
Nine new Western counties quickly
followed this change.
Among other important amend
nents, free negroes were disfran-
chised. The Legislature was deprived
of authority to grant divorces, TO al
ter names of persons. to legitimate
persons not born in lawful wedICck
or to restore to rights Of citizenship
persons convicted of infamous crime.
The election Of Governor was sub
InltIeO TO popular VOTE 1neSe dH1ellO-
ments were adopted by a sectional
vote. Person and Robson counties
on the dividing line, with. Moore, a
border Western county. opposing
Granville, an Eastern county, faVor1ne
the amendments.
Many supporters OF President Jack
son were estranged by his proclama-
ton against notification in 1882, "and
associating with those who adopted
the doctrine of notification, formed
the nucleus OF the Whig party IL
North Carolina around which those
holding federal opinions gathered, ano
presented the party completely form
ed" IN 1886 at the first election I'M
der the new Constitution, Edward B
Dudley, the Wing candidate for Gov
ernor. defeated Governor Richard
Dobb Spafght. the Democratic can.
o1date. and in 1888 defeated Ex-Gov
ernOr John Branch.
Law and Legislation.
Among the important Legislative
measures Of the decade was the Ac
of 1888, for the revision of the public
statute laws of the State. This wa:
committed to James Iredell, William
H Battle, and Gavin Hogg. Mr.. Hogs
soon retired and was succeeded b.
Frederick Nash. They gave us the Re
Vised Statutes, a new form Of revision
In this State, and it became tht
model for all subsequent revisions O
our laws. 1t was a noteworthy intro
ductiOn of Judge Battle to our people
He was the of tn.
Commission, and then but slightl,
known outside his profession. It wa!
little imagined then how large a plac.
he was destined TO fill in the conf
denCe and affection OF the public.
Many relics OF a ruder age were re
tanned in our law. Among them ben
efIt OF clergy" and branding with
hot iron in the presence Of the court
IN cases of bigamy the offender wa.
branded on the left cheek with tn.
letter B. In manslaughter with al
M. upon the Drawn Of the thumb: il
any other felony with a T. on tn,
same place Of the thumb. It had beer
the law that a father was entitled t.
the custody of his children. but tn,
Legislature authorized the courts il