1 l? ' " . 1
vol. xyii.
NEPfl4Yv;JIIll: 1833.
i . - 4
r. fi
pf Js.i
IMS
1 :.ns?A
w
PUBLISHED
BV THOMAS WATSON. t
TERMS, j
Three dollars per annum--payable in advance,
fto paper will be discontinued (hat at the dis
cretion of the Editor) until all arrearages have been
paid
ADDRESS
. ON
AMENDING THE ST ATE CONSTITUTION.
The People have a right to assemble to
gether, to consult for the common good, to in
struct their representatives and to apply to the
Legislature for redress of Grievances."
18$ Bill of Rights of North Carolina.
lo the Freemen of North-Carolina.
Happily we live in a country where no a
apology is required for addressing a free people
upon subjects connected with their own gov-
- w - .
eminent, it is an olhcc which any one may
assume withoutjust reproach or fair censure. A
recurrence UAhc proceedings ol a meeting held
in Raleigh during last winter will exempt us
from the imputation of vanity in addressing
you, and explain the character in which we
appear before you. A large portion, we bc
live a majority! of the People of North-Carolina,
are dissatisfied with the Constitution of .the
State . They complain, we believe with jus
tice, against evils proceeding from causes
which the people alone can remedy, and there
fore thev have through their representatives,
determined to call for an expression of the
public will upon their complaints. By the
18th section of the 44 Bill of Rights" the right
of the people to instruct their representatives
is distinctly declared and the friends of a
reform of our State Constitution, feel con
fident that - a voluntary declaration of opin
ion by the People or or against a change
of the Constitution" will be received as in
structions, and must influence the General
Assembly to accommodate in some way, the
unhappy divisions of the State, and provide
u remedy for the evils of a most unequal and
expensive government. In order to remove
the objections of some, to defeat the pretences
of manv, and operate as a recommendation to
all, the advocates for Reform have put forth
for discussion the changes which are demanded.
If the subject could clr.im that attention which
its importance merits, and no feelings of party
animosity were mingled with its consideira-i
tion, there would be no difference of opin
ion. UNEQUAL REPRESENTATION.
By the present constitution, the People of
each County elect two members of the House
of Commons and one Senator and even Bo
rough towns arc permitted to send each one
member to the General Assembly. Were
each county of equal population and did the
people of each, contribute alike to thesupport of
government, this mode of electing the Assembly
would be fair and just. Were there any near
approach to equality of population and taxes
in the several counties, there would not be 60
much room for just complaint. Surely a decent
respect for the fundamental principles" of all
popular governments will not allow us to argue
that one third of a community who pay no more
than one third of the taxes, can rightfully make
laws and execute them, impose taxes and ex
pend them, for the other two thirds. Yet such
is the rear condition of this Slate. Those
whom it affects may choose to deny it. We
confidently affirm the fact and challenge them
to a fair, manly, and candid investigation of
the subject. We may do no more than invite a
carclul examination of the last census and an
honest perusal of the Revenue list made out at
the Treasury of the State, and inienuitv itself.
may oe uenen alter tnis, to produce even a plau
sible appearance of equality in our Represen
tation. The white population of the State alone
boingtaken as a basis of calculation, one third
govern, andjax two thirds. Assume the Land
tax for a basis and it wil bring us to the same
result. Take for a basis the public taxes of all
kinds and the conclusion is not more favorable
to our present system. Let all or any of these
bo combined, and itwill stamp upon our coun
ty representation the same marks of inequali
ty and injustice. The whole white population
of the tate is about 472,000. Thirty-three
v"u"1" J ana the orher thirty-
one Counties contain 316,000, and yet these
thirty-three Counties elect a majority of the
General Assembly. These thirty-three Coun
ties pay annually a land tax of 8000 dollars
only, while they exact from the other thirtv
one a similar tax of 17,000 dollars? These
tamo thirty-three Counties this ruling minor
ity pav for taxes of all kinds 24,00 dollars on.
ly, and yet they levy taxes from the other thirtv-
one Counties to the amount of 48,000 dollars
annually! The expenses of bur State govern
ment (including none but such as are necessary
being about 80,000 dollars per year and the
State being divided, into 64 Counties, the pro
portion of .each county in this expenditure
is 3125U. these same thirtv-three Counties,
this ruling minority,, thereforerdo not contri
bute their own expenses to the government un
less tneir taxes amount to $ 41,250! and bow
is the fact They pay no more than 24,00
dollars ! and nearly one half of them do not
contribute taxes sufficient to pay their own
members of Assembly! What! a majority of
two thirds of the people taxed by one third to
pay the minority for exercising this control ?
incredible as ft might seem to be It . is true.
There are 40 counties in the State which do
not contain an average population, and more
than 40 whose people do not pay taxes equal
to their average- share of publick necessary ex
penditures while trier elect nearly two thirds
of the General. Assembly! One of the least
counties in this 8tate contains White popula-
JS?i0fPSe Urrt stains 17,600 and,
e the former pays a tax of 600 dollars! the
..e? la rjmrci tansOOOoHais! yetfcotb
these arealike represented. Another County,
with a population of 3,300, and an annual asses
ment of only 430 dollars elect the same num-
her of representatives to our General Assem oi
with a fourth county whose white population
Us 16,000 apd whose taxes aie 2,307 dollars
annually. ! And another countv with a white
population little exceeding 3,00(0, uho pay no
more than 300 dollars for taxes, is allowed to
send the same weight into our councils with a
sixth county whose white population is 13,000
and whose taxes exceed 2000 dollars. Compar
ing these six counties together what will be
the result? Forty-six thousand six hundred
people who contribute a tax of 6,600 dollars, are
allowed no larger share in a free government
than Nine thousand members of the same com
munity, who pay a tax of only 1,300 dollars.
The smallest number, and they who contribute
least to the support of our government, are in
vested with all its powers. There are in
the State Twelve counties whose people pay a
tax of 5,400 collectively the compensation of
the representatives they elect, exceeds this
sum more. than i;000 dollars ! These counties
partake equally with others of all the benefits
of the government, and they elect nearly
one fifth of the General Assembly, yet they
compose but little more than one tenth of the
population and pay very little exceeding one
T
"include no more than 25; then what bar joritrbf the People. , Omer States have' o
been the fruits bfxrarhtiftles policy t We ted it,.and it has-been found to neitheVw
nave consumea over ana beside, vKi
vrlinmr ' viiTimiA, ylHA AAA -J - 1 1 - i.
ui u i iiun . i c i en uc, t w,uw iioiiarsin the ne
cessary expensesrof the government; Had we
adopted this reform 25 yearsiago thd funds of
our StateTreasury, would ntrtir excoed a mil
chievous nor defective. : p -J- vd .-v-t?
While few men, Fxllow-Citizexs, can be
found who hare the temerity to deny, that out
representation As unequal, and the legislation
of the I State -extravagant and unwholesome,
lion of dollars! Defer it 25 years Ion sfer, and' vet. : some will a rpfrpt hhind the nosi-
the end of. that period, will find the State yet tion, that it is imnossible to arrive at nerfection
thanshe is. i WearenOt com- in. anf overumeut.5 This, is a positional
thirteenth ot the pubJick expenses I i hey pay
5000 and cost 15,000 dollars ! These thinesarfe
- j
so. But is it just Is it equal? Is it republican
that they should continue? Must they be en
dured forever with no better reason for it,
than that they are evils which a patient people
have already submitted to for many years ?
Are the maxims of freedom reversed and shall
usurpation establish right? long usage justify
oppresion?
The interest of the whole State requires, and
her necessities demand reform in our Legisla
ture.
The General Assembly is bound by our pre
sent constitution to meet annually. When
the Constitution was ratified the State was di
vided into 39 counties and the General Assem
bly was composed of no more than 115 mem
bers, but the number of counties is now in-
creasea ta u4ana the memoers ot the Assem
bly to 199. The annualexpenseof the Assembly
alone is now 40,000 dollars andjthis sum falls
very little short of what the whole crovern
ment of the State once cost the People. By
the proposed amendments of the constitution
it is suggested that the assembly) shall not be
required to meet oftcner than once in two
more depressed
plaining of extravagant compensation toour
public officers ; they are ; faithful workmen,
"worthy of their hire. -The true evil is that
the laborers of the viney ard are too rnatfy the
work of the people maybe better don, arid
much more economicaliy performed by 1271a
bourers, than by 199 ! The responsibilities of
Legislatures fori this State, are too much divi
ded to be felt properly, and the honour" of suc
cessful public exertion is unwisely diminished
by a partition among 199. Who has not heard
complaints, our laws are fluctuating, that our
General Assembly sets too lonsr, and our pub
lic expenses are4ncreased? These evils exist,
and have been folsely attributed to a want of
virtue in the people of the present generation,
and a defect of talent amontr those who
we do not deny. It is irue,of Jthr exertions of
human cf Matures in their lives, as well astheir
eovcrnments, that they cannot attain perfection.
uut ishall this prevent them from coming as
near to it as they can? It; av very satisfac
torily; account for the gross inequality in the
government, which has arisen from a change
of circumstances that U could not be certainly
toreseen; it does excuse the in miction of this
injury upon the rights of a majority, but it can
not e , successlully urged as a reasonforits
continuance. r Is he regarded with approbation
by good men, who withholds theacknowledffed
right of another upon the sophistical subtletv!
that he cannot do him perfect justice, and;
therefore, he must be excused from attempt-
ihg to do him any at all! Are bad laws to be
- - - - - ' " J O j - - - vmjk wm o v
serve, them. We have no hesitation, i'rt saying j tolerated, are they tolerated without change
.1 i 111 .1 1 .11 iL . A M. ll . J
years, and that their number shall be reduced the People.
that thpV will hp rpmntoH rliminicififr KpI
----- ' - - - ..wvu Y uillillliainij; niv
number of representatives, establishing a fair
basis of equal representation, and making the
Assemblies less frequent.
In the 32id Article of our Constitution, there
is an odious
Restriction uroN Conscience.
By excluding j from public trust, all persons
who deny the protestant faith. We are pro
testants, and therefore we can have no perso
nal interest in the abrogation of this restric
tion. But will it be expected of us at this day
to offer arguments in favour of religious tol
eration, we hope and believe not.
It is a disgrace to any free people, to tyranize
over the consciences of others. It is gross
oppression, and an undeserved imputation
against the patriotism and public virtues of the
Catholicks of North Carolina, to preserve any
longer, this badge of our father's prejudices.
The article itself, is in conflict with our Bill of
rights, when itdeclares That all men, have
natural and unalienable right, to worship Al
mighty God, according to the dictates of their
own consciences."
The friends of reform, here also propose an
amendment to the Constitution, which will put
(the election of ;Goverxor, into the hands of
from 199 to 127.
In the early period of our independence, be
fore the States of America : had j formed their
" more perfect-Union," before the people had
become settled into habits of self-government,
the annual meeting pf the Legislature was both
wise and necessary ; but in our day it is a most
unnecessary tax upon the publicJi, and a seri
ous obstacle to wholesome permanent legisla
tion ; for the people are barely informed of the
acts of one Assembly before the succeeding
law-makers have repealed or modified them.
The reform that is here proposed will diminish
the expenses of the State more1 than 25,000
dollars annually. A clear saving of 25,000
per year is equal to a reduction of the taxes
one third, and yet some have put their
resistance to a reform of the constitution
upon the real or pretented apprehension of
an increase of the taxes. It is astonishing
with what tenacity men will sometimes adhere
to power in opposition to their own interest
as well as against the just rights of oihers.
The minority are now striving td maintain it in
North Carolina while its exercise is subversive
of the rights of two thirds of the people and
costs that minority infinitely more than, it is
worth. Uunder the influence of some cabalis-
deceived into
qritv are de
-tick partv phrazc, they are
apprehensions that that this maj
manding their rights for the mere purpose of
practising oppression on others.! But it is im
possible that this majority in a fttate shall op
press the minority of the people by taxa
tion. If two thirds impose a bin den of one
hundred dollars on the minority it will be a
tax on themselves at the same time of two
hundred dollars. And a reform of our consti-
tution must dimmish the expenses oi me gov
ernment and of necessity reduce the public bur
dens of the people.
We wish an intelligent people! to mark these
acts: that fopi5 years, our General Assem-
bly has cost 40,000 dollars per year- Here is
an expenditure of one million, when half the
. : . T 1 J "A.i f i
amount, misnt nave Deen saveu; manor
years to come, this expenditure must again .be
incurred ; and yei, a prudent foresight will en
able us to diminish it one half ; that the Treasu
rer of the State in his last annual report,
states, that for manv years, the ordinary pub
lic revenue of the State, has not been adequate
to the purpose of defraying the necessary ex
pense of the government, butlthe deficit has
varied from 12,000 to 17,000 dpllars per year;
that the sources, which have supplied this de
ficiency, have been fluctuating and temporary
in their nature, and of late, are nearly discon
tinued. AVh at Statesman, what intelligent
man will say, that this can be prudently al
lowed, or safely continued in a State? : But it
has been allowed, and must be continued, un
less the expenses of the Legislature, are de
creased, or the taxes of the People increased.
We may leave it for you to determine which
course preferred. Unless the people
shall do the one, their Representatives, must
do the other. Policy may induce them, to
put tnis .curden on the people, in some dis
guised form, and to conceal the application of
their only remedy for the disease that has been
hidden for so many vears, but that it must be
imposed, is inevitable, exceptjby a reform of
lhe pPfJstiiution. The necessary expenses of
a.iwise government, sfcould be met bv her of di
nary revenue. A people who are" properly
vigilant of their rights, cannot permit it to be
qth CTwt?e. Assuming that these many yeats
The Executive chair of this State, ought to
be the highest post that the people can offer to
he most patriotic of her citizens: It is not so
esteemed. But make the station independent,
by putting the election with the people; and we
shall have done much towards it. Custom has
now made it a reproach to the Governor, not
to be re-elected after his first appointment, and
hence, the high independence which properly
belongs to a co-ordinate branch of our govern
ment, is sacrificed to a desire lor popularity
among the members oi" the Assembly. We do
not uffirm that jit is always so, but it has that
tendency; lor he must be more or less than a
patriot, who is not afraid to incur public dis
grace. Is the pfhee ot Governor, ottener
coveted for its own honour's sake or as a
stepping stone to other stations of preferment,
in thegiftof the Legislature i Does it comport
with the dignity I of the office, that the incum
bent shall be forced to win it by personal elec
tioneering, amohsr the members of Assem-
blv? Our fathers have wisely thought, that
the " executive j and legislative departments
the government! should be kept separate of
arid distinct," arid what evil can arise, from
not observing this fundamental principle, that
has not been felt in our own fetater More
Over, the time of thjb Legislature is unnecessa
rily consumed, in canvassing for the office, and
the harmony of our councils is disturbed by
the frequency of this contest. And why may
not the People elect their own Governor? ' ei
is their servant, and should be directly accoun
table to them for the faithful execution of his
trust. They have not clothed him with patron
age, that he can use to corrupt their elections
they have not invested him with his power,
the independentldischarge of which can be, in
any way, incompatible, with their right to pass
upon his course.
In obedience to the real, or supposed wishe
licks is sanctioned by the very charter offfieir
libertj&: .1 .!) r... v,-.
Unless we choose to mdaJge'a degree of sii
picion that is? alike dishonorable1 to ourselves
and subversive to all those principlci of tay
"UH.wBica anFeirom; ADservauon na expert
ence i remedy for these 'evils is neither 3 iffictiU
nor aaqgerousj By your votes at the.Icction5
in August; fcionounce your determitliti'btt wpoa
c 4uCSfion wrtetntra change is wide tut
the Consfttaiionw-Uthatexpssiono your Witt
being sent to your Representative!; theVhrilt
be boundfto proviui'a!temcdv. :or:ta5mA.
law by which you shall 'be enable drto effect D
yourselves. If this obligation does not -ansA
frorh that article in ihc Bill bf tRight iWiictk
secures to you the right of petitioning' th
legislature for redress Df grievances" ten it
was a privilege far too Vrifliilg td be Tctaincd
in so solemn a 'chirter. This ex nressinn rm
your will, will, be instructive' to ybur repre
sentatives, .and if they do hot obey it, then iir
deed a period has arrived in the historv ' o
the Institutions' of this country, wHen tkcl1
ple are bound by the Constitution anfl:.tbcrt
servants alone are exempted from it9; obliga
tions. But you need 'not fear such t a result.
The right "of representatioti-of ' fair aml
equal representation of the People has fcecomv
iti our day, hut another name for civil freedom,
and success has crowned the exertibnsxsf $iose
who have struggled for it, in the lhriri
States of America; There is riot IfcSS repub
licanism, nor less justice, nor- less liberality
among the people of North Carolina' than alf
others. 'Let but the voice of a decided majo
rity speak and the work is done.' It is not .
possible for the most zealous and eloquent
partizan to force from the minority pf North
Carolina a, denial of the great democratic rr
publican principle tba a majority mu$i govern .
The ; general, , practipe ,ol the States; lias dfc -terminel
that the most ordinary and tnefeo?o
perhaps the most appro nriatc rcinedv or Con-"
stitutional evils, . (where .the existingcoristit'u
tion contains no provision for' its amendmenj)
is through the mediuni bf a State!, CpiVBN-
l lOIN, authorized apd ,m its, incipient steps
regulated by law. Whether ? jhiSj copventiptk
shall be limited, and to what bounds, 1,3 a raeijc
question of expediency for the previous deter
mination of the people. We do. not stop to
argue with those who feel or affect to foci
great fears of a Convention without limit to
their powers. The friends qf reform are not
the advocates of revolution or disorder they
are as solicitous to maintain the great prin
ciples of the old .Constitutionals any others ;
they only desire to see ja change of pur sys
tem of Representation which in the lapse of
more thaq fifty years has comp in conflict Ytitfi
these pnnaples to restore to the people tle
right oft electing their Governor to diminish
the expenses of the Legislature down to thai
standard of economy whicH is commended by
the practice ot pur fathers, to reconcile the
Constitution with our declaration of Rights, by
rernqving restrictions upon conscience and to
establish a safe plan of future irpform. , Hence
they meet their objections on this point with
a distinct avowal that no unlimited convention
is aaknd. If a rnnnpntinn sbnll b r?pmpH vn-
dispensable, let it be limited to these subjects'.
ana the advocates tor iclorm asKnp more; Ipt
tutions, and do. we find that we are more happy, J them be even restricted to these speciiic amenfl-
upon the pretext, that no system of human
laws can perlect: Are all governments
abolished because men cannot frame one with
out a fault? , ..
But it has been said, that the objections
againstour present Constitution, are theoretical
only rthat the State labors under, no practical
evils that 4he majority suffers rr practik
cal inconvenience. f And is it no practical evil
to the State, that her councils are divided by
sectional strife 4hat by the form of her Con
stitution, the expenses of the Legislature have
doubledt and that our expenditures exceed the
ordinary revenue? Is it no practical eviU that
in 25 years, she has expended one million of.
Dollars for her annual assemblies, when a
prudent economy, would have saved more
than half the sum and that ior all time to
come, the same exhausting operation, must be
experienced, and yet endured? Is it no prac
tical evil that a majority of the People are dis
affected towards the Constitution that they
are complaining, and will continue to oppose a
system, which is ruinous to the whole State,
and obliges two-thirds of the people to submit
to a taxation imposed by otic thirdl Is it no
practical evil that those taxes are,and must
continue to be expended, not for the common
good, but mostly in paying the delegates of a
minority for exercising this control over the
rights and property of a majority? If indeed,
these are not practical evils, it will be difficult
to find them in any free government. They
arc those evils which have mainly contributed
towards keeping us back in developing the in
ternal resources of the State, and shall we put
forth no efforts to cure them ? They ar,e those
evils which haye destroyed the harraqny of the
State, and if not remedied by liberal conces
sions of power to the just demands of right,
must probably, rend the peace of North Caro
lina. And will not moderate men, in all sec
tions, come, forward in a spirit of amity and
conciliation, and help to remove them? They
are evils similar to those which induced our
sister States to revise and reform their Consti-
more prosperous, more free than they are ?
Alas! it is, but too melancholy a truth, and but
too evident to the senses of us all that WE
ARE NOT.
I Thev are evils which a MAJORITY of the
PEOPLE have a RIGHT to REMOVE.
To deny' this right is to argue against the
very foundation principle of all popular gov
ments, and the friends of reform will be satis
fied, and the people will be so likewise.
CONVENTIONS MAY BE LIMITED ! .
They possess no inherent power they exer
cise that only which is delegated, they arc
servants of the PEOPLE who only are sov1-
ereign, to whom alone all power belongs
who, and who only can confer power at their
ernment. It is retained in the tront rank ol pleasure anu xo tne extent tney may wui it. A
our own Declaration of Rights, and in that rof Convention is nothing but an assemblage of
every other State in the Union, that in the delegates elected by the people, and how can
concerns of this life all power and sovereignty it be affirmed that a sovereign my not create a
reside and of right ought to reside in the Peo- limited delegation ? ' . Have the whole people
pie. They can alter their government when less power even than eacKiudividual? Aman
they please, whenever indeed the happiness may create a limited agency ' for frahsac
and prosperity of the larger number imperious- tion of his business ; and must the people rre-
l.r slmnnrl oKon rro Uoroin thev oro tKo crtt r.ftssarll v cloth thoir nnrpnts with 14 n.71 Tvn'rrr""
rulers and iudffes. No limit has been set to their I for the performance of their business 1 -
authority but that which the Almighty has im- The Genera) Assembly is composed of Re
posed, that they shall exercise it in Justicejand presentatives, to whom certain powers are delt
Equity. This may be denounced but it is gated by the people, and their .limits are pre
the doctrine of free American Institutions It scribed' by" the written Constitution, wider
is the doctrine of the Revolution It is the which they assemble this is their power of At
I Republican doctrine of this country. When- torney,&, they are sworn tomaintain it. Experi-
-- i v.ii , f. " i i ii.r A n r!nnahle
ever tne I eopie snail consent to rcpuuiaie it I euce nas proveu, iiiat mis nuuv?
of the people, they have been allowed to as- tQ ey wfli cast away lr,e great check they have f security to the rights of property and persons:
sume the right lot electing men ouenusdim r ... ol1 thn iiaiirnntinn nf thr rnlD Sn tho Ppnn o mnv convoke any oiaer uoiry
Clerks, and why should they be refused the I Let us not be 'misunderstood or misrepresen- of their Delegates, define the boundaries oHAcz r
power to elect their Governor? No good rea- j . , Wu:ist wp namestlv mnintain tbU f,ir. nower. and imoose on (hem, (the same solemn
son can be assigned for it. damental principle" we heartily deprecate sanctions for their strict" oMrvance of them.
i ;c cr. nrnnnP(). TO ABOLISH i: ....,c,e wo , vk,lA r.tDy. I To OnneiJintinn derives its authority lrpmthe
BOROUGH REPRESENTATION. co-operation in all parties in our beloved State people; it is expressly declared m that charter,
m .:.,;i0 ia no mKi5nrT- hut. rather a 4ii .oncocs nf miti. i I AJ7 Political ppwer is -Tested in, and e-
curse to the towns which possess it, or to r-ost j can produce it, but which are now too iutifia- rived from the people pni iney tnereiore
nf thom It is a Inuhlic burden, from which the i Ma tM hp ftintpmnpfl. nnd tnn nhiAM K created a Jitnite-1 delegation
people derive no corresponamg oeneni. Anu ; harmless And why may it not be hoped for?
it is grossly unjust that a nunarea peopie, oe- ? c profess to venerate the fathers of the Re
cause of themerd circumstance, that they reside volution and the principles ther established.
within the bounds oi a viuage, snomujue per- arl1 call that great leading principle of the
mitted to send a Representative to the Assem- Revolution that "representation and taxation
blv, who may out vote the organ of thousands shan 0 together" be excluded from the charter
rp;dihr in thp ironntrv. Co mmcrci al cities
may have a population, that would, when taken
of our own government ? We have demanded
oi Congress an abandonment ot the jrroi
e gTeai
we
be
in "connexion with their peculiar interest, tariff system, because it infringes thi
tifv ibis p-rrlnsive riffht. But insome of the f rr;n.;r.ioe f nnt;,'i j,;. and shall
Borough towns there are not many more than Jeaf t0 the caljs of a majority of our people tor
100ro?ers,andastheyenjoynocommerce,they; Justice at homer ' We triumphed at the ad-
cannot lay any claim to its peculiar rights. j vancement of free principles when tnequwuui.
11 will agree that this should be made cer- of England against bis House ot i.oros ; and
tain, and economical, and few will dissent can a rferria'nd for e'gual repeseniaiion in xvorw
from the propriety of so modelling it, that ! Carolina e' denied? When Ireland ha won
while itdoes not! invite a spirit of innnvnii it!. .fiSf'Vesioration of her rights bjr the re-
may not exclude the hope of Reform. Such j motal ofn odious i restriction i upon her Cartip-
cohsiderations recommend the amendment that
has been proposed, viz. that amendments to
Pvnarinis h a : ripimnn ct ratfto tnatsomi mndp
jjvi' .vi.i w,m..j i it rt ntnrrn 1
of AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION, f form Jihe
snouiu oe poimeu oui dv tiienihiruineni usen
jcj- people we witnessed af flow of generous
.tification from the hearts of North Carolirii-
the Constitutions shall first hft sanctioned bykns s and will theylurn from 'ds" witb' iridiffe
two thirds ot hotn-hnnKpC oTth General As- rence wnen 1 we rentintr1 tljefn trial : the ' same
'semb1y end fubsequentrjt ratified b btiD?3C9W;
when by that
charter, they clothed the General Assembly
with the power oi maKing jaws.ot unquestiona
bly, the same sovereign power may originate
any other body, with any other delegatib!)o
power their discretion may suggest, ana tneir
wisdom approve. To argue that it must of
necessity, be unlimited, is to contend that
the sovereign power itself, is limited, which is
absurd, and is to aflSrm-that" the: General As
sembly was not rightfully constituted. . lhe
fact that our first and earliest conventions.wcre
not usually: limited, -militates' riothing against
our position. For let it be remembered, l?at
the people vere?'then, vrithoul.any organized
government; and in electing Delegates to de
liberate -on the subject, and to. devise the best
forms they' might not have believed it crpedi-
nt tol limit fhem. .: rTheaim they M'"
avoid rf rtotynitely46fl'"t
inh their delegates, S
practicable, to imp ose a Jftw m
rT?'" Poes .any ohP dfciry that
it cam jrr, .. v 1 5 '