Newspapers / Western Carolinian (Salisbury, N.C.) / June 11, 1822, edition 1 / Page 2
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.in it; Resolutions now lefore the committrt Mr. S. apologised for detaining th committee so long ; but would draw his remarks to a close. Ho would ob serve, that most of the oM States had held Conventions for the amendment of their Constitutions, and m every in stance the Constitutions thus submit ted to the people have been much im proved; and lie had no hesitation in belicung, that if the Legislature would consent to submit our Constitution in like manner, the people have wisdom enough to present us with a Constitu tion not inferior to any other in the Union. The people of this State are as watchful of their rights as those of any other State. When the Federal Constitution was presented to them for adoption, they did not embrace it at first ; but after due consideration and considerable debate, they finally accep ted it. They have, at no time, been regardless of the rights and liberties of freemen. The misfortune is, said Mr. S. that gentlemen will not be convinced by ar gument, because they have the power and are determined to keep it. No argument has any effect upon them. Political power to a Legislator, is like gold to a miser. He knew of no in stance of persons surrendering politi cal power without a struggle. Mr. S. concluded by observing, that it is very easy to introduce plausible objections to any measure, however .just and reasonable ; to alarm the feel ings of the timid, and lead them to ap prehend the destruction of their liber ties. When the present Constitution of the United States was first propos ed, a great alarm was raised, and much evil predicted. The Articles of Con federation were clang to. It was said that the States were about to give up ever' thing, and that the liberties of the people were about to be subverted. Yet the event has proved that all the predictions then made had no founda tion ; for no man can now be found who does not rejoice in the change, and feel grateful for the blessings which vc enjoy under the present govern ment of the Union. He hoped the committee would weigh the subject maturely and dis passionately, and decide upon it ac cording to the best dictates of their judgment. The observations which he h id made, were such as his duty called for, und which he believed to be found- ed in truth. Relying on the justice and magnanimity of the committee, he hoped they would allow this question to he submitted to the people ; and with their decision, whatever it might be, he should be satisfied. Mr. Hillman explained. Mr. Hawks. I have watched with pa tier. attention, Mr. Chairman, the pro gress of the gentleman from Hillsbo ro'.u,!i, (Mr. Smith,) in hi march over this wi k- fi lil of controversy. I have seen him, in the chivalrous spirit of reform, pr.3 hy no combatant who has yet appear ed i ". the contest, and, like Gulliver among ti.f Lilliputians, he has endeavored to throH- the pigmies who surrounded him, hither and thither, at his own will and pleasure. The humble individual who now addresses you, has not escaped his ani madversions, and therefore hopes the committee will pardon him for again en tering the lists. For himself, Mr. H. said, he thanked the gentleman for that ray of illumination he had thrown on the subject by quotations from Vattet on the laiva cf .Ycticns. The gentleman deserved credit for the correct ness of his quotations, and Mr. II. said he hud only to lament, that in his search for ituth, the gentleman had net proceeded far enough to discover the vltole truth This eminent writer had been represen ted to the committee as laying down the principles, that in republics, hs the power belongs to the people, the pecple have the right 4o make what Constitution they please ; and we, said Mr. H. are called on to adopt, as a fair conclusion from this principle, the strange position advanced yesterday, for the fust time, by the gen tleman from Fayetteville, Mr. Strange,) that as indviduaU in the great mass of the community, we are entitled to a vote on the subject, but when placed in legislative capacity, it is beyond the power entrusted to us. ' his novel idea should1 be answer ed by Vattel himeif ; he was too profound in his view to lay down as a rule i faction a proposition so indefinite as this ; it would therefore he found, upon consulting him further, th.it in all contemrlated altera tions or an established torni o; govern ment, the q 5e.:ion of expediency was ex pressly t.c:',inzed as a previous one,. . An i who should answer tie question The people, by their dclcga.es convened in supreme legislative council ; and when, ul Mr. II. thi General Assembly shall hue voted it to be Tfiuiitnty we will re tuii to the ranks of our fellow-citizens, ur,4 acting on the principle read from they presented, cx tpt bv a.i' p Vattel by the gentleman from Ililkbo rough, wi!l proceed to the exercise of our tights as private individuals. In directing the attention of the com mittee to the benefit which might be de rived from the history of the iter States in the confederacy, Mr. II. said he had yesterday stated what he had seen in Connecticut, at the time that State met in Convention for the amendment of its Con- stitution. 1 his statement has oeen ques tioned. The change had been called by the centleman from Hillsborough, a con test between Church and State, in which the latter obtained the victory. Mr. II-j said, that a vei-y slight acquaintance with i the State of Connecticut, was sufficient ; to shew that this was not the case. That j Church which was represented as so ob noxious, contained within its body a ma jority of the people; in the struggle, therefore, it must have been triumphant. The fact was, it was a mere contest for power between those who had it, and those who wanted it, but who had no Constitu tional right to it. The demon of faction there stalked abroad, and its track may now be seen by the mournful vestiges of desolation. The wisest and best men in the State stemmed the torrent in vain ; they could only mourn over the calamities of their country, and the remembrance of its condition almost wrung from them tears of blood. It might not be amiss, Mr. H. said, here to advert to another fact in the history of the adoption of the Constitution of Con necticut, as it might, perhaps, convince gentlemen that those Stales which had in this debate been applauded for their inde pendence in demolishing the fabrics rear ed by the hinds of their fathers, were not in all things worthy of imitation. The Convention of Connecticut met, formed its Constitution, "sent it forth to the peo ple, and called upon them with insulting !ias:e to decide after ihe deliberation of a fortnight on the adoption of an instrument under whic h they and their posterity were to live perhaps for centuries. Changes in government were not to be made for light ana transient causes, and whenever j any change should be attempted in our Constiution, Mi II. hoped it would be done with wisdom and deliberation. To make a Constitution, is not the work of a day, nor ought it to be entrusted to com mon hands ; but no gentleman could say that in the present temper of the times, the timid haste of those who might fear the loss of power, would not force upon us the precipitate course pursued by Con necticut. The attention cf the committee had been called, by the gentleman from Hills borough, to the Constitution of the Uni ted Suites- We have been told, said Mr. I i 111.. I. H 1.UI UVt J J i t I I W sentation, it is necessary, in order to equalize political power, to take into view- both th population ana property oi a community. This is the principle which I recognized yesterday. The Constitu tion of the General Government embra ces this principle, and so docs our Consti tution ; hut to make representation per fectly equal, is, as was remarked by the gentleman from Granville,' Mr. Hillman,; impossible; and therefore the Federal Constitution, so far as representation is concerned, was formed in the spiirit of compromise. And however gentlemen may ridicule the idea, there must have been a principle of sovereignty in our coun ties ; and when these several counties a dopted the Constitution, it w as done in the same spitit of compromise. Hut it is objected against the present system, that the Legislature appoints the Governor and Judges, and in this objec tion the real motive of opposition was de veloped ; here w as seen the hand graaping for poii'cr. lie thd not think the gentle men from the West had any cause of com plaint against their friends from the East, on this ground. The West had certainly enjoyed its full share of honorable ap pointments ; and from the county in which the gentleman from Hillsborough lives, no less than six members of the bar had been taken, within a few years, to grace the bench of our superior courts. The gentleman from Granville had yes terday called upon the friends of the reso lutions to place their fingers on any actu al grievance growing out of the present system. None had been shewn. The evils complained of, said Mr. II. exist on ly upon paper; and we are asked to alter our Constitution because the delicate cars of hypercritical gentlemen are offended with its phraseology. But this morning, the gentleman from Hillsborough tells us in general terms, that our Constitution will be greatly improved by a revision, and at the same time admits that the new system will probably he stamped with the impress of human lahrmity. Sir, I than him for the admission, for on it we may build. I had thought, from the remarks of the other friends of these resolutions, that wc had reached that era of intelli gence, when we could not fail to better our Constitution ; but if the labors of the pres ent ctdigl.ted age, like these of the last, ae to be stamped with imperfection, I would submit it to the understanding of those who hear me, whether it be not bet ter to bear the evils that wc have, than fly to others that we know not of." We know what are the present defects in our government, tut we cannot foresee what may be the defects in any new Constitu tion which mar be formed. Mr. II. said he would point them to the wisdom of these latter days as displayed in tne new Constitutions formed by Alabama, Mis souri, New-York, ice and he afcked to be shewn any one of them better than ours. He had asserted yesterday, that if rep resentation were to be regulated by num bers and wealth, there was no inequality. His honorable friend from Beaufort, (Mr. Blackledge,) had repeated the sentiment, and declared that the revenue paid into the public coffers, from the towns on the ea-board, exceeded all that was furnish pd hv th Western counties. This had been contested, and considered as totally irrelevant to the present question. Mr. II. thought it had much to do wi'.h the subject. North-Carolina, viewed as an independent State, possessed the same common interest ; and that which tended to diminish the wealth of individuals, in habiting any portion of her territory, tend ed at the same time to the common injury, for individual wealth was the foundation of national wealth. The Eastern section of the State, interested in shipping to a vast amount, and continually importing goods subject to duty, poured into the treasury chest of the Federal Govern ment, a sum which, superadded to the revenue furnished by the East to the State Treasury, made an aggregate, compared with which, the amount of revenue raised in the West was small indeed. But some gentleman had been pleased to say, that the Treasury of the United States was not the Treasury of North-Carolina. True, said Mr. H. it is not cur Treasury, Sir, but it serves in various ways to protect a portion of our territory, which furnishes part of the funds in the State Treasury, and thereby insures the permanency of those funds. Mr. H. said that a comment on the remark of his friend from Rock ingham, (Mr. Morchead,) would illustrate his idea. That gentleman had said that our countrymen of the West were ready with their thousands of armed men, to de fend us in tim of danger. Tor myself, Mr. H. proceeded, I thank the gentleman ; I am sure that our countrymen in the West would act the part of brethren ; but, Sir, with a defenceless sea-board of great extent, unprotected by a naval armament, (which armament the East now contributes to support,) our Western coadjutors would find on their arrival, the vestiges of a vic torious enemv, in our desolated towns and smoking villages. They would find, too, that they were deeply interested in our weal cr woe, because in the body pol itic, as hi the natural body, the affection of any one part will be felt by the whole system. But the gentleman from Hillsborough, aware that the revenue furnished by the East to the General Goverment, is in its consequences advantageous to North-Carolina at large, attempts to evade the con clusion drawn from the fact, by telling us that these revenues arc paid by the Wes tern people, the consumers of the articles, and not the merchants. Mr. II. said it was t.'ue that the consumer paid the duty, but it was also undeniably true, that the tax did not fall on the people of the West, for a very small prop6rtioi) of the importa tions of the East ever passed to the West of the spot cn which he stood. When I reflect, Mr. Chairman, said Mr. II. that these resolutions are but an invitation to us to sit in judgment upon our ancestors, I am forcibly reminded of the lines of a great poet, alike remarka ble for his knowledge of human nature and for the sarcastic powers of his muse : " We think our fathers fools, so wie we grow, " Our sons in future times will think us so." Sir, were this nothing more than an in vitation to charge with folly those who have preceded us, I would now resume my seat ; but I see in it something more, our assistance is asked to unbind and let loose upon the calm surface of that polit ical sea on which we at present ride in safety, the angry winds of faction. That surface may be lashed by those winds in to billows, on which some few may float in safety to office and to honor, but when we would fain see its turbulent waves once more at peace, we may look around in vain for the mastsr spirit who can " ride upon me wr.inwmu anu aircct me storm ot a political tempest. One word more. In my soul I do be lieve the proposed measure inexpedient ; and I beg ray countrymen to bear in mind, that to make' a Constitution is one thing, to make a good one is another. Our pres ent Constitution is a fabric reared by our fathers, and within its walls we have lived for many years in safety ; in tearing it down, to erect a more modern edifice in its place, we may be overwhelmed in its ruins, we may sow the wind only to reap the whirlwind. I A gentleman who courted aladvof th name of Miss Lloyd, suddenly left her for one whose name was Take. After bein mairied to her. he was accosted by an ac quaintance with," So I hear your are mar ried to Miss Lloyd, hey " Indeed," an swered he, it was a Miss Take, I assure j you, sir. The Liverpool papers mention the death j of a man said to weigh 1300 lbs.! who was lowered into his grave with a wind lass! INTELLIGENCE. lie comes, the herald cf a noisy wcrU, News from all nations lun.b'ring at hit back. FOREIGN NEWS. Our London dates arc brought down to the 12th April. War between Russia and Turkey is still undecided. Some cf the journals doubt whether the Turks had given in their rejection of the Russian Ultimatum. The London Courier of the 10th, however, speaks of 4 the peremp tory rejection of the Russian Ultimatum being communicated0 to the rnirjsters of England and Austria. The .-.'ra'i Ob frv;r, on the other hand, the cracle of that court, still preserves an impenetra ble silence. The London Morning Her ald, of April 12, at 1 o'clock, declares the accounts from Constantinople are very contradictory ; "one party- pcnijrcly as serting war inevitable, and the Ithcr fa vorable to the continuance of peace- Indeed, when we recollect what wonder ful accounts were put out by s to; ; jobbers during the invasion of Naples tf depress the funds, and how almost a'l Europe was convulsed by a dash of thi pen, we should be careful how we bclici all the "rumours cf war." Wc hj.e given place to very copious extracts! from the news, in this day's paper but e follow ing summary in addition, if mded on facts, is too interesting to be wf.hheld : RUSSIA AND TURKEY. It is stated, that on the 12th of March, the Turkish squadron gave chase to three Russian ships, in the Black Set, of which they captured two, under ,;f ence thai they had Greek property on bo.rd. The Ottoman fleet appears to have sailed for the Isle of Candia, with 16,00f troops, to make a descent there. An armv entire ly composed of Asiatics, ?nd i hich is es timated at 130,000 men, wasimoned in the vicinity of Constantinople w hich cap ital, according to accounts frm Odessa, was perfectly tranquil on the ;fh cf March. Subsequent advices, receiver iu London, of the 15th, say, that the population were to be immediately armed ; 'hat r;n order for a levy en nc&sr had been issued, and that the foreign ministeis lad been ofli cially advertised of the rejection of the Russian ultimatum. In censequence of which, the greatest enthusiasm prevailed in the Turkish capital ; snd the orders which the Divan despatched in rapid suc cession to the army, did not permit a doubt that the Turks wcuU be the first to attack ; and it was generally thought that hostilities commenced on the 1st of April at the latest ; for, on the departure of the courier, the Turkish army, about 160,000 strong, and perfectly equipped and sup plied, was but a few days march from the Danube, and was about to effect imme diately the passage of th: t river. If, as is supposed, the Russians had been inform ed of this movement, they would them selves have advanced ; from whence it would result, that the first blow would take place between the Pruth and the Danube. This intelligence, the London Courier says, is considered authentic. Late accounts from Smyrna corrobo rate these statements, and add that the roads in the vicinil? of Smyrna were crowded with troops, proceeding towards Constantinople. A' great number of ex tra caravans had bt en employed by the Turkish authoritiev, for the purpose of transporting soldieVs and military stores towards the headquarters, cn the banks of the Pruth. The same advices also confirm the accounts of the issue of a Pirman by the CraJid Seignior, for em bodying all males from the age of 18 to an advanced time of life. For some months past, the inhabitants of Smyrna had been kept In a state of great ignor ance as to thef relations of Russia and Turkey, but the preparations to which we have alluded, had produced a strong sen- sation, ana war was looked upon as cer tain. The Turks had shewn no disposi tion of late to molest foreigners, but great fears were entertained that the commence ment of hostilities might lead to fresh ex cesses. The strictest orders had been sent to all the Pachas in Europe to arm and exercise all the young men in their Pachalk ksJ In proportion as they had ac quired torre knowledge in the use of arms, they v.ere to be sent to one of the two armies cf reserve, which these Pa chas were ordered to form. Other Recounts say, that no idea could be forme.! cf the " infatuated exultation of the Turks ; all classes cry to arms!" and. unhippily, signalize their enthusiasm by the if as sac re of the Greeks. As soon as a ba tie shall have taken place, the Grat.ii Seignior quits Constantinople to head tee army in person, and the famous standard of Mahomet will be displayed. I A. 1'. Com. Adv. extract the following from the Me morial read lo the Cortes in the Public Sittifgof the 3d March, by the Secretary for ti.e Dispatch of Foreign Affairs : " The ratifications of the treaty of am ity lur adjusting differences and limits, concluded on the 22d February, 18 19, be tween hit majesty and the United States, were exchanged on the 22d February, 1321. In conformity with the stipulauon in article 4th of the said treaty, the King has appointed the Spanish Commis sion of Limits, which, in concert with that thesen by the Government of the United States, is to trace out the divisional line between the territories of the two powers. The Spanish Commissioners charged to execute the delivery of East and West Florkjci, within the time fixed by article 7th &r the treaty, have experienced some vexations on the part of the American authorities appointed by those provinces. The King tsts that the Government of the United States will readily give the satisfaction which has been asked, for a proeerdu.g so little conformable to the re lations of friendship existing between the two powers ; and will thus confirm the hepes conceived by his majesty, that the conclusion cf the last treaty will draw close the bends of friendship which unite the two nations." The memoiial gees on to state certain " impending differences" with Portugal ; which it hopes, however, will be settled kt in a conciliatory manner." Nothing is said of the President's proposition about the recognition of South-America his message not having reached them on the 3d of March. Richmond Enquirer. nOMKSTIC. WINCHESTER, VA. MAT 25. Daring Outrage On Sunday last, as two young ladies of this neighborhood were passing through a piece of woods on their return home from a visit to a friend's, they were met by a negro, whose rude be haviour evinced the.most brutal intentions. As if determined on accomplishing his purpose, he severely beat them, tied them to a tree, and compelled them to endure his loathsome cai esses. After much strug gling one of the ladies freed herself, and flew homewards. She was immediately overtaken, struck to the ground with a club, and dragged again to her compaion On recovering from the blow, she suc ceeded in untyingthe other, who also made an attempt to escape, but was in like man ner brought back. Finding himself una ble to succeed in his designs, the villain at length desisted, and made off. A horse being stolen the same night, a few mile from where the outrage was committed, it is supposed he may have been guilty of this act also. All endeavors to apprehend him have proved fruitless Republican. Melaiichcly. We understand that two persons (a girl about 15, and a child about 2 years of age) were struck with lightning and instantly killed, in New Salem, Ms. during the continuance of the thunder storm of Wednesday last Greenfield pap. TEA. Since our last publication we have been favoured with the receipt from Charles H. Hall, Esq. of New-York, of a small quantity of Tea Seed, brought to this coun try in the ship Savannah, lately from Chi na. Whether it may succeed in the Southern climate of our country we know not, but the enterprize of some of its in habitants may at least be gratified in ma king the trial. Amer. Farmer. AMERICAN INGENUITY. It is with pleasure we inform the pub lic, that a new mathematical instrument has been recently invented by Mr. Wm. Holies, a ycung man of Griswold, in this State. It is called a Trigonometer, and consists of three straight graduated rul ers, and two graduate arches, so adjusted as to admit ol solving all the problems of plain trigonometry without calculation, and sooner than the mathematician, pro vided with tables, coufd turn to a sine, tangent, secant, or logarithm of a num ber ; and the result given by the instru ment quite as exact as any travers tables extant would give it in case of right an gles, and all obtuse angles are solved by it with equal facility. Indeed, if well graduated verniers were applied, it must be as exact as calculations by the tables in common use ; and enable the sailor, engi neer, surveyor, architect, or carpenter, to solve all the problems in plane trigonom etry, without studying the art, or having more learning than is necessary to keep a mechanic's book. Let the wiseacres of Europe hold de bate whether man in America degener ates, and labour to prove the position bp quoting an Archimides or a Newton ; still, let us glory in the fact, that considering the means and opportunity, the inventive genius or Americans of the sixth or sev enth generation at least, equals that of the people of any ether country, old or new. Connecticut Courant. British Travellers The mawkish sen sibility of some of our editors was pe'eu liaily agitated, when Mr. Adams, in his oration, ventured to lash the presumption and falsehoods of British Travellers and Reviewers. It was considered a cruel at tack, as a revival of old hostilities, and as such, was severely deprecated. A work has lately appeared, entitled Travels in the United States, by a .Mr. Iloxi'iscny which, for pitiful falsehoods and disgraceful malignity excels even Ash and the other hired writers of former times. If at the present day the British public can patronize, and the reviewers applaud, such libels on our coun&y as these travels, they merit all that has been recently said of them, and feelings of ill will and asperity must and will prevail. A. F. Aaf. Av.
Western Carolinian (Salisbury, N.C.)
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June 11, 1822, edition 1
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