WHEELER'S HISTORY.
Mr. Cameron, of the Argus, has done the
art of criticism up in the following lively and
witty manner. We feel infinitely obliged
to liim, as a North Carolinian, for this plea
"and defence of our native literature:
"The freedom with which certain critics
of the press (as well as private individuals
in our hearing) have handled this " impor
tant State work," lias kindled our indigna
tion to a degree; and we feel half disposed,
about the time of this present writing, to
give them the but-end of our mind for their
Momus-like propensities. A pretty come
off truly, that a native-born citizen of the
State cannot write a history for the glory
and honor of -'poor old North Carolina,"
but these "cut-throat bandits in the paths of
fame" must throttle him, overturn his ink
horn, and bedaub his manuscripts with their
malevolent observations!
"Bloody dissectors, worse than ten Monroes ;
He hacks to teach, they mangle to expose."
.Wo. will not stand it. We will raise our
weaver's beam but calm and dispassionate
reason is the weapon with which to meet
these ungenerous assailants. We propose
to examine their puerile objections and show
how really unsubstantial they are.
And firstly, it has been said by this gene
ration of vipers the critics we mean that
although there may be many useful facts
contained in the history aforesaid, yet they
are so blended with errors and mistakes that
no one can tell on what particular statement
to rely. And they maliciously quote the
maxim, Falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus, to
fortify their position. Now we object, in
limine, to this mode of criticism. The au
ihorof our history is a native North 'Caroli
nian; and no one has a right to apply to h's
book a musty British law maxim. Besides
tve are not sure if the book, being posterior
in the date oT its origin to said maxim, does
not repeal the latter. We should like to
hear some of the talented young barristers
of whom the history makes honorable men
tion on this interesting question : but this
by-the-by. We proceed with our remarks.
And let us admit for the sake of argument
that there are a few slight discrepancies and
very venial anachronisms in the work is it
not all the better on that account ? It will
afford the ingenious reader an opportunity
of correcting the errors for himself; and the
facts in question will be thereby the more"
indelibly impressed upon his mind. Our
schoolmaster (and he was one of the most
eminent bum-tiiwackers in the district)
used to say to us: study it out for yourself;
and when you get it it will stick to you.
Again: It is said that our author quotes
false latin. To this objection we answer,
The book was not written for latin schol
ars; and whether the quotations be good or
bad, they will be Greek to a great majority
of those for whose instruction the volumes
were put forth. But this criticism being
successfully disarmed of its venom, the ob
jector turns short about and tells us that
the history is not written in good English!
There it is again. We reply, however,
That makes no difference. It was written
chiefly for English scholars, and they - can
correct its false syntax for themselves. It
will afford an agreeable exercise for their
minds. The author was mainly concerned
about facts, and had no time to waste on
the frippery of style.
.Again : These sharp eyed critics (we
think they must be hostile to the work, else
they would not be so keen) have discover
ed that one of our most eminent Circuit
Judges, now on the Superior Court Bench,
was oorn three years after the death ot his
father 'according to the History: and this
thev sa,v was too Ions a time, regard being
had 4o ike ease of Radwell against Henry
pon of Beatrice, Trin. IS E. 1, in which
it was found by verdict, as the Lord Coke
hath it, "that Henry, the son of Beatrice,
which was the wife of Robert Radwell de
ceased, was born per undecim dies post ulti
mum tempus lesitimum mulieribus constitu
fern. And thereupon it was adjudged, quod
thefus Henncus dm non debet jiiius prcedtc
ti Roberti secundum legem et consuet-udinem
Jlnelim constitut." Now what we have to
say of this case is, that although Edward
the First was called the English Justiait,
and the case purports to have been tried
Coram Rege, yet it is well known that this
kins was more generally designated by the
epithet of Long Shanks, and that the Coram
JZeg-epart of the business is mere fiction, not
withstanding the tact that Lara tlaie, as
as well as Lord Coke, so reports it. ' The
truth is the case was tried coram j'udice and
not coram rege and of this we are ready to
put ourselves upon the country. And now
having shown this case is of no great au
thority any way, for the reasons above sta
ted, we remark further, that ultimum tempus
legitimum muheribus Jingha is not to be a
criterion for republican wives of the United
States. We scorn the poor beggarly idea.
Mecklenburg Declaration, the heights of
Bunker, and the plains of York lown, all
forbid it. But suppose the fact to be just
as the historian has stated it, was not that a
very good reason for putting it in th-3 book?
Had the child been born in the usual time,
would it bare been necessary to record a
circumstance of sneh frequent occurrence
in a grave and dignified history of die State ?
History, we take it is a record of remark
able events, as well as "Philosophy teaching
by example." Besides the Historian does
not say. in totidem verbis, that the judge a
foresaid was born three years after the death
of his lather; but the critics draw this infer
ence from dates given and circumstances
related in the history: the fact itself then is
related by the critics and not by our author.
Again: it is objected to our historian, that
he makes but slight mention, and in many
cases no mention at all, of the illustrious
lead of the State. While the very small
est of the living (on the Democratic side)
ere bedaubed with the most fulsome adula
tion, in his pages. Well, did any body ev
er hear of such an objection before ! The
book, we think it reasonable to suppose, was
ioade, in part at least lor the purpose of be
ing soW? and dead men buy no books. Be
sides the aarthor may - never have heard of
those illustrious citizens of the State whose
names he omits in his book and if so, the
omission is certainly e.xettsable. Of a num
ber of the dibti ngobked sons of North Car
olina, he says but littla, lit is true, ; as of
Jons STANLr, for eiale. But why
should lie have paused in bis narrative to
inform the people of the State -who Iahh
SrA'ty'was? They all know his history fey
heart. They "know that he was Lord'of tse
ascendant in the Legislature of the State Tor'
many years, .They know that he was em
phatically the. orator of North Carolina, as
I'atrjcx 'He.n RY.was of Virginia. There
re it. was not.iiec.ei?arf for the-; historian
to tell them these things.. But had he not
taken the trouble to inform the public that
many of those whom he mentions in his
book are great orators and statesmen, nil
person would ever have thought of such a
thing in the world. We want a historian
to tell us something we never knew before
not what every body already knows.
But lastly, and worst of all as we do seri
ously incline to think: our author is charg
ed Avith giving himself too. much promin
ence in his history: in fact the accusation
amounts to little less than a charge of ego
tism They say that he it particular not on
ly to inform the reader that he is a native of
North Carolina, but also in what, particular
part of the State he was born, to whom he
has been married, and of almost everything
that he has done, said, read or written, in
his whole life. And pray why should he
not impurt to the curious reader this impor
tant information? Shall a man not be al
lowed to sound his own praise in his own
book? We like to see an historian hold
himself up in his work. It shows a proper
self-respect. It shows that he is not be
neath his own uotice. Besides, if our au
thor had not given himself and his actings
and doings a place in his own history v he
might, out of a mere fastidious modesty,
have missed his only chance for Uiimortali
ty -it being altogether doubtful whether he
ever would have been noticed in any other
history upon the face of the earth. He act
ed wisely then 6 embrace the opportunity
that presented itself. No prudent man
would hive let so fine a chance slip. "A
spanow in the hand is worth a bustard on
tie wing. "
Thus have we-disposed of the most prom
inent objections to this valuable work that
have as yet fallen under our observation:
and we hold ourselves in readiness to meet
and grapple with all such as may present
themselves in future. "
One observation, only of our own, we
venture to make, and that is touching the
Tree a beautiful specimen of arborescent
architecture which the author has ingeni
ously slipped in between the volumes of
his work, as a sort of Map of the State, for
the instruction of the young. Springing
up in the East, where the first settlements
were effected in the State, it spreads its
flourishing foliage out Westerly, and the
counties are perched on its limbs or hang
to its branches, as they came into existence.
Standing at the starting place, at the root
of the Tree, with our backs to the salt sea
and our faces" to the going down of the sun,
it appears to us that Anson, Richmond,
Robeson, and all the other Southern coun
ties are placed on the Virginia side of the
Man. This, however, mav be only one of
those usual devices of the ingenious author,
to call into play the faculities of his rer.der
and to impress the more indelibly upon
his mind what every man ought certainly to
remember. And for the furtherance of this
object, the impressing of the facts of the
narrative upon the mind of the reader, it,
would perhaps be well enough for some
friend of the author (some intimate person
al friend we mean, for we are as friendly to
his book as any body can be) the propriety
ofbringing out his second edition in verse.
It is the opinion of many learned and inge
nious critics that verse can be retained in
the memory, especially of the young, much
better than prose: and it would not be the
first time in the progress of human events
that the Muse of History had ventured to
stalk across the stage on the stilts of lofty
rhyme as the success of the popular history
of Old King Cole and his. Fiddles three to
say nothing of the narrative of Mother Hub
hard and her Door as well as others that
might be mentioned) abundantly proves;
Every man to his own taste; but we go in
for a poetical edition.
PRESIDENT FILLMORE.
The present Administration has certain
ly wn the confidence and respect of a
large majority of the people of the United
States. It has been thus far an adminis
tration of justice, of right, and of common
sense. There has been no easy work for
he President and his Cabinet since they
came into power. Questions involving
considerations affecting the nation interna
tionally have been handled with that mas
terly dexterity significant of the broad and
comprehensive mind. Since the days of
our illustrious Washington we have not
been blessed with a President who has giv
en such universal satisfaction to the people,
both with reference to his private behavior
and his public acts. Called into the high
est position in our Government by the act
of God, he effectually suppresses that wild
Cuba invasion, and of late he effects the
redemption of his unfortunate countrymen.
He has been no less wise in his doings re
specting other subjects, which his position
has made it a duty to determine upon. In
fine, he has safely conducted thus far the
ship of State through one of the most stor
my periods, of our existence, added new
strentli to our institutions, acquired more
respect for them from abroad and more re
gard for them al home.
, Mr. Fillmore's character is of the
extraordinary cast. Prompt to discover
and. correct wrong vigilant in the perfor
mance of his duty determined and just
he nevertheless exercises that manly mod
eration which has conducted his measures
to such happy ends, and secured to him
eo many warm-hearted friends.
The rash measures of democratization,
which would have precipitated the country
into perhaps inextricable difficulties, have
been met with a masterly hand the em
bodiment of Whig doctrine, and lawful
principle, and moral right.
We are struck favorably with the appa
rent honesty and manliness of purpose
which have always been evident in his pub
lic acts, as well as in those of more retired
life.
Every bod' must know that , shortly af
ter Mr. Fillmork became President, a
series of measures were sanctioned by him,
giving universal satisfaction to the people.
N or ha he been less fortunate with regard
to the troubles in which we have been in
volved with other nations. His messages
unfold the true interpretation of the law,
aad he manifestly declares the.determina
lion of the Government to enforce H.
To Kossuth his behavior cannot fail to
secure him unbounded regarcL His recep
tion of that great man wa marked by that
true national policy which should be exer
cised by every republican government
viz,, a proper regard for the natural feel
ings of Jus countrymen and a just regard
to the rights of nations.
. Jersey Otty Sentinel and Advertiser.') '
; The Proposed Exhibition at New
York. The proposal for holding an in
dustrial and fine arts exhibition at New
Yorkf in the spring of next year, to which
we have previously referred, appears likely
to realize the best expectations of its pro
jectors. Although no steps have yet been
taken for ascertaining the number of per
sons in the United States who may wish to
avail themselves of the opportunity of dis
playing the varied products of (heir indus
try, upwards of one thousand applications
for space have already been received by
the agents in this country, mainly from
British and foreign exhibitors in the late
Great Exhibition. We are informed that
among the intended exhibitors are his Roy
al Highness Prince Albert, who has' signi
fied his intention of forwarding some . of
his farm produce and the Duke of Dev
onshire, who contemplates sending various
articles from his extensive collection of
works of art. Baron Marochetti has en
gaged to execute an equestrian statue of
Ufcneral Washington ; Mr. Carew, a col
ossal statue of Daniel Webster ; M. Mon
ti is engaged in the production of one of
his veiled figures, and Mr. Manning has
consented to send his Prometheus, a stat
ue of her Majesty and Prince Albert, and
several other articles of sculpture. The
building in which the exhibition is to be
held will, it is stated, cover an area of sev
en acres, and Sir Joseph Paxton is at pres
ent engaged in the preparation of a design
which he intends to submit to the promot
ers of the undertaking. The first of Feb
tuary is the last day for receiving applica
tions for space, and the exhibition is expect
ed to open on the 15th of April. Mr.
Riddle, the American commissioner, has
returned to New York, where the experi
ence which he has obtained in the man
agement of affairs connected with the
Great Exhibition will, no doubt, be brought
to bear m making the necessary arrange
ments for the proposed transatlantic exhibition.-
Liverpool Chronicle.
The Presbyteries Maoazine for
February. The Mecklenburg Declar
ation of Independence Our readers are
awaie of how much interest the matter of
the Mecklenburg Declaration of Indepen
dence has created in the minds of the stu
dents, of our revolutionary history. The
last Presbyterian contains a letter from Mr.
Samnel J. Baird , enclosing a scrap of his
tory" from Mr. McRee, who is represented
as a citizen of Summerville, Tennessee,
and "hi3 lady is a-daughter of Adam Bre
vard, to whom he attributes the Mecklen
burg Declaration of Independence. Mr.
Baird states that Mr. McRee gave him the
following statement at his request :
Mr. M 'Bee's Statement. The Meek-
lenburg Convention, (N. C .) was com
posed of delegates from each captain's com
panv of militia, in the county of Mecklen
burg, perhaps two delegates irom each
comoanv. Dr. Lphraim JJrevard was a
delegate, and one of the committee that
was appointed to draw up a Declaration
of Independence, to be acted on by the
convention . Adam Brevard ras then a
student of law, living with his brother, the
doctor, who got hinrto write put the dec
laration. After it was adopted, Gen Thom
as Polk read it, at the courthouse door, to
the multitude that was standing outside,
when, after hearing it, they raised a shout
and threw their hats into the air. come
of their hats fell on the court house, and
thev did not get some of them off till the
next day.
All the delegates in that convention,
and nearly all the citizens of that section
of country, were Presbyterians, mostly
emigrauts from the north of Ireland.
Adam Brevard, whom 1 got my infor
mation from, told me that he took the
Westminster Confession cf Faith for his
guide.
The above I got from Adam Brevard,
and it is confirmed by others,
Respectfully yours, James P. M'Ree.
Rev. Samuel J. Baird, New Castle;
Tenn.
July 14th 1851.
THE AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY.
At the meeting held on the 19th inst. va
rious letters w-ere read from missionaries
and others in different parts of the pagan
and Roman-catiolic world, soliciting aid in
the distribution of printed truth in many
languages. The sum of $18,000 has been
appropriated to meet such applications for
the year ending in April, much of which re
mains to be raised.
The receipts for the month of December
were $38,207 99, and for the nine moASjTs
ending Jan. 1, $215,235 57, of which in do
nation's, $67,866 64. Gratuitous circula
tion for the same period, 35,370,000 pages.
The present indebtedness in notes for print
ing paper, payable in 6 months, is $42,074.
The Circulation oi ne meiicau ivxesseii
ger is now 2GC.Q00 copies monthly, and the
Messenger in German begins the year with
30,000 copies. " The Child's Paper," a
new and beautiful monthly, starts wrtn a
large subscription list. These periodicals
are self-supporting.
The daily issne of books and tracts is e
qual to about 35,000 eopies, requiring near
ly 300 laborers in the manufacturing depart
ment, and supplying some 400 colporteurs,
and thousands of voluntary helpers in their
circulation, by sale or gift. Few, if any, of
the useful institutions of the country, are
more enterprising in diffusing religious
knowledge among the destitute masses of
men, native and foreign. The uc sectarian
character of this agency renders it all the
more efficient aad useful, and commends it
to the eonfidence and support of all good
men. : -' ; '.- . - . . y ; " . ;'..':.-'
Alabama.- The Alabama House, have
by the vote of 48 to 37, postponed until
the 9th of February, the propositlw from
the Senate for the election of an V. S,
Senator. The term of the Hon. Wm'. R.
King expires on the 4th of March, 1853.
Kidnappers Arrested. We learn that two men,
known fta Beaeb and Banks, went to VYeldon
(North Carolina,) from Portsmouth, (Va.,) on the
27th inst., with two small negro girls. On the af
terncon of the 28ih, a telegraphic despatch was
received at Weldon, stating that - the men had
kidnapped the nepro girls, and requesting their
arrest. The Sheriff of Halifax County, being pre
sent, arrested and committed the whole party to
jtH. Richmond Whig.
. . HORRIBLE DISCOVERY.
We learn from the Philadelphia papers
that on Friday Afternoon about half past
4 o'clock, the District or fticnmona was
the scene of the most intense excitement,
caused by the finding of what is supposed
to have been the bod' of Jacob Lehman,
aged 17 years, son of Aaron .Lehman, a
German Jew Pedlar, who resides at ISo.
N. Seventh street, near Franklin, Penn
District. The boy has been missing since
the 8th of January, upon which occasion
his father sent him out to dispose of a lot
of jewelry, valued at some $200.
About 4 o'clock, on t naay artemoon,
some little girls who were playing near the
coal wharf No. 14, just above the iron
works of Messrs. 1. P. Morris, discovered,
frozen in the ice in the flats of the river
at that point, three sacks close together.
These children informed four young men
who were chopping wood on the shore,
and they cut out the bags with their axes.
They partially opened the sacks, when
portions of human remains became visible.
In one sack was a head, and legs and
feet; in another a thorax, arms and hands,
with the viscera of the chest; and in the
third the lower portion of the trunk, and
the hips and thigh, with the viscera of the
abdominal region. The portions of the
body in the different sacks were, with parts
of the clothing of the deceased, fixed and
tied together, so as to occupy the least
space.
On putting the mutilated parts of the
body together, and laying the whole out
in the coroners' ice-box, they formed the
perfect corpse of a youth about 17 years
old the exact age of the lad, Lehman.
At one o'clock on Saturday morning the
iurv rendered the following verdict : "That
tne lad Jacob ivenman, came to nis aeam
by the hand or hands of some person or
persons to the iurv unknown."
The proof of the identity of the body
was complete, and the family ot Mr. Leh
man who are plunaed in the deepest dis
tress are fully satisfied that the mutilated
remains are the remains of the missing boy.
The Chief Rabbi of the Jewish Church
to which they belonged, was called in to
examine the body with a view to discover
ing the peculiar mark of the race. It was
discovered.
'Philadelphia, Feb. 1. The investi
gation is still progressing, and there is
strong circumstantial testimony against
three Hungarian refugees, who occupied
a house m the vicinity where the remains
of the unfortunate youth were found. The
deceased was last seen about entering this
house, and had previously stated that these
men had fooled him by pretending they
desired to purchase jewelry from him to
present to their sister. Before moving a-
wav the Hungarians sold their goods, and
a quantity of geese feathers resembling
those fount! m tne eacKs witn tne remains.
The Legislature of Georgia has adjourn
ed sine die having previously posponed in-
. t I V. ' C . 2 '
definitely tne resolution in iavur oi nomi
natiner Hon. James Buchanan for Presi
dent and Gen. Wm. O. Butler for Vice-
President.
The Best of the Seasost. Mr. Mc
Carty, the editor of the Paducah (Ky.)
Journal, has a fine young son of some six
of affe. In a late number of his
journal, the proud father thus speaks of
rr r . ''.'r-- .
nis onspnng:
"IVTr.Cartv. Jr. does not meddle much
in politics, and is silent upon most vexed
questions of the day , but from present in
dications we are inclined to think he is not
for Si-.ntt. In fact, after we filled for him
the other night a tin cup of whiskey-toddy,
which he emptied with grace and dexteri
ty, he cocked up his eye, and said as plain
ly a vonth and asre could sav Fillmore."
Boston, Jan. 29. The anti-slavery
Convention which assembled here to-day,
tvmumL resolutions declaring Kossuth's un
called foi slight of anti-slavery, principles,
and his endorsement of the Mexican wrar,
and yielding to the influence of the slaves
power, as fatal to his pretensions, and trea
son against human ngnts.
The Southerh Star, published at
Jack, Miss., contains the following:
"The Horrors of Slavery." On
Christmas day our streets were perambula
ted by a procession of "darkies' number
ing from fifty to eighty, and dressed in die
regalia of the "Sons."
We could not help admiring their mar
tial deportment and particularly the ar
rangement of colors, Yhich presented a
rich jet ground work, in beautiful contrast
to the tri-colored stars and spotless insigni
as, more honorable to the taste of the au
thor of ibis movement than to his head.
We learn that the party took of a sump
tuous repast which had been duly provided
for the select number aad nothing occur
red to mar the festive scene, from the re
moval of the cloth toils final termination."
Gold in New South Wales. Advices by the
Asia give the most flattering accounts of the qsian
titv and quality of the gold in the country about
Ra'tljiii-al- Svdnev is nearly deserted. The re
ceipts of iti princips! towns average from 20,000
to 25,000 weekly. Tbs government armed es
cort brought about 10,000 per week. The New
Zealand and Sydney steamer of the 18ih of August
brought 12,000 in gold and 28,000 value in dia
monds from the newly-discovered mines. It is re
ported that in Frederick Valley the miners are
reaping rich harvests.finding lumps of gold ol 12
and 1 4 value. Two men had produced 250
worth of gold in two days. The gold is found in
large quartz veins.
The Three Ceht Pieces. E. C. Dale, treasu
rer of the United States Mint, contradicts the state
ment that the coiuageof 3 cent p'eses bad I een iir
pened.or was delayed in consequence of a defect
in the law of Congress on the subject. The mint
has already issued over six millions of pieces ,and
is now ready to supply all demands for them in
surra of $30, $60, or $150, or their multiplier, the
bags of the mint containing those amounts.
New Orleans, Jan. 28. We have ad
vices from Brownsville, Texas, to the 17th
inst. The papers report all -quiet, while
private letters announce that aa attack ap
on Matamoras, by Caravajal, was then hour
ly expected.
&- It is said that the Secession move
ments in Mississippi have put that State to
an expense of forty thousand dollars.
Jacob Gooding has been appointed Post
Master .of Newbern in place of Wm. H.
Harvey, resigned..
RALEIGH TIMES
f y-Aiw&t.na
4 mil eJ lir
i! r-i:--1!
1 1 : ' --d
iiitiiii
I!
R A LEI G II, N. C.
FRIDAY FEB. 6, 1652.
I' PROPERTY QUALIFICATION.
The discussion of this subject is compar
atively recent in our State. The limited
Convention in 1835, was forbidden, by the
act which called it together, to make any
change in this respect ; and therefore, ever
since the formation of the constitution at
Halifax, in 177G, this aristocratic feature
has remained a part of our fundamental
law. It was adopted, when self-government
was an experiment; when the demo
cratic principle was comparatively untried;
and our fathers, used to the checks and bal
ances of the British constitution, restrict
ions upon the right of suffrage, and the priv
ileges accorded to landed proprietors and
the wealthy classes, may well be commend
ed for the extensive progress they made up
on the old systems rather than blamed for
not going farther. That constitution, we
know, encountered the warm opposition of
some of the ablest and purest statesmen of
that day, because they thought too much
power had been given to the people -the
democratic principle had been carried too
far. For, said Samuel Johnston, writing to
Judge Iredell, on the 9th Dec. 1776 :
"Every one who has the least pretensions
to be a gentleman is suspected and borne
down, par ignobile vulgus,9. set of men
without reading experience, or principle to
govern them." At that day, he objected to
the constitution on account of its radical
ism although it contains the high aristo
cratic features of property qualifications for
voters and members of Assembly.
We are free to admit, that, until the
craft and cunning of the demagogue who
is our present Governor, had opened up this
subject, no call had been made by the peo
ple for a change. They would probably
have borne, for long years to come, the dis
abilities which they suffered, rather than, for
such cause, to open up the fundamental
law to amendment. When, however, they
are called on to abolish the property qual
fication in one respect, (namely, for vo
ters in the Senate,) what more natural than
that the inquiry should arise, "Where is the
need of any property qualification at all?"
There is hardly a free government upon
earth that requires it for offices and honors.
Under the constitution of the United States,
any citizen may hold any ofice of trust or
profit, without owning a cent's worth of real
property, He mny be a member of either
House of C'ni-refs, n Judjo, Member of
the Cabinet, President or Vice Predent of
the United States no property qualification
being required. And so may the citizens
of almost every State in the Union hold
anv office to which they may be elected or
appointed, whether they do or do not own
property.'
Bui in North Carolina, an honest citizen
cannot vote for Senator, unless he possess
es 50 acres of land he cannot be a mem
ber of the House of Commons, whatever
may be his intellectual or moral worth, un
less he possesses 100 acres he cannot be
a Senat'ir unless he possesses 300 acres,
He maj be the most distinguished for talents
and virtue in the State ; his learning and
reputation may be world-wide but a man
who can neither read nor write, owning 300
acres of land, can hold offices, which the
statesman and scholar has every qualifica
tion to fill except the land. Strange -indeed
! that the constitution nowhere re
quires a law-maker to read and write ; but
makes it indispensable that he should own
a eertain quantity of land ! And this is a
free country, in the enlightened Nineteenth
century ! in the 76th year of the indepen
dence of North Carolina ! "Is' he hoiest,
is he capable, is he faithful to the consti
tution?' these are the tests elsewhere, and
the only ones. But, in North Carolina
to these must fie added, for Legislators, the
truly democratic inquiry, " Does he own
100 or 300 acres of land?" If not,though
he maybe honest, capable and faithful,
in the highest degree, he cannot be a mem
ber of either branch of the Legislature.
This feature in our constitution is direct
ly opposed to the 3d section of our Decla
ration of Rights, which declares, "that no
man or set of men are entitled to exclusive or
separate emoluments or privileges from the
community , but in consideration of public
services." Are not the men in the State
who own 300 acres of land, erected into
a "set of men entitled to exclusivje or sep
arate emoluments of priyileg.es V Are not
the men who own 100 acres erected into a
"set of men," ccf1 Are, not the freehol
ders of the State another "set," entitled to
"exclusive privileges ?" What an out
rage upon equality of poliu'cal riglits,which:
we are taught belongs to the free people of
a free country !
When this subject comes to be examin
ed dispasionately by the freemen of the
State, it would be an insult to their under
standings to suppose they will not sweep
awav this old remnant of .aristocracy ! It
serves no useful purpose at the present day.
The experience we have had in self-government,
has sufficed to put at rest the
fears and prejudices of our fathers upon
this subject ; and the people of North
Carolina are prepared for every improve
ment called for by the progress of the age.
and sanctioned by the spirit of liberty.
DISTRICT DELEGATES.
There are some Whig papers, we are
pleased to see, who agree with the views
we expressed last v.-eek upon the subject of
Conventions in tba different districts for
the appointment of Delegates. Any plan
is preferable to the eternal mode of having
everything cut and dried and arranged in
Raleigh, and sent out for endorsement by
the people of the State. The prejudices
thus created, whether justly or unjustly,
have cost the Whigs dearly enough alrea
dy ; and we should think no one here
would be anxious to bring to Raleigh any
more of the responsibility of the business
of -distan t districts th.m can well be avoid
ed. Let us act our own parts well let us
organize as perfectly as possible let us see
that, proper steps are taken in our own di
strict for carrying out the popular system in
the appointment of delegates, and urge the
same upon the people of every othor di
strict we can reach, and then tie all in our
power to elect our State and National nom
inees and Electors and our whole duty
will have been accomplished. No odium
can attach to us then for cliques and cau
cuses in which we never dreamed of par
ticipating ; and the cry of Central dicta
tion will either be hushed altogether ; or,
having not even a shadow to rest upon,
will be as harmless as it has heretofore
been insane.
We trust this freedom of expressing our
views will not be blamed by any one.
If, "in the multitude of counsellors there
is safety," surely it is only by a free inter
change of opinions that the best mode of
accomplishing a desirable object can be
ascertained : and we desire no weight for
our counsel unless it is proper and sound
We conversed with a Whig friend
from the Eastern part of the State a day or
two ago, who, after expressing his pleasure
at receiving our paper, remarked that he
wa3 very much opposed to the call of a
Convention for amending the Constitution.
Very well of course all our Eastern friends
are free to think and vote upon that subject
as they please. We only hope they will
allow us the same liberty, as there is no
reason why they should not.
- We are not putting this issue into the
Whig creed by any means, bat 'et some
choice must be made upon the subject.
There are thousands opposed to any amend
ment of the Constitution, and who will
vote against Reid and free si mage, and nil
amendments, one by one or' collectively ;
but they will be voting that way all their
lives, if they allow the legislative mode of
amendment, to prevail;, and see the consti
tution of the State degraded by being bro't
into the political canvass every two years
for a fresh tinkering, Is it not wise to end
this thing at once, and oppose Free Suff
rage by a Free Convention? The Whigs
of the State have the decision to make.
They can, if they choose, cut loose from
their Whig brethren in the West, and give
the State to the Locofocos rather than car
ry it themselves. For us, the farthest
Whig is nearer and dearer to us than any
Locofoco and his schemes ; and we. shall
support our Whig brethren, whether we
are destined to triumph or defeat,
HON. W. H. WASHINGTON.
We leam that this gentleman has pub
lished a letter in the Newbernian, desiring
that his name should not be brought be
fore the Whig convention in connection
with the office of Governor. As we have
not yet received the Newbernian, we have
not seen the letter.
WHIG NATIONAL CONVENTION,
The Slate convention of Maine, on Jan.
28th f adopted a resolution recommending
the holding of the Whig National Conven
tion at Philadelphia on die 17th of June
next. We hope both time and pjace will
be approved The Democratic Conven
tion meets in Baltimore on the 1st of June ;
and we should then have the advantage
of knowing who are to be opposed for the
Presidency and Vice Presidency.
f-We are indebted to the Hon. James
T. Morehead for a copy of the new edi
tion of Webster's letter to Hulseman ; and
also for the Report of the Superintendant
of the census ; for which he will please
accept our thanks.
A Democratic Meetib q was held at
Kenansville, in Duplio, on the 0ih ult, ajt
which James Buchanan was nominated for
President of the United States, and Robert
Strange for Vice President, subject to the
ruling of the Baltimore Convention, pel
egates were appointed to attend a District
convention in Wilmington, on the 23d of
April next,
SUPERIOR COURTS,
The Judges of the Superior Courts will
ride the ensuing Spring circuits, in the fol
lowing order:
1. Edenton, Judge Battle,
2 Newbern, Judge Settle,
3. Raleiph, Judge Dick, .
4. Hillsboro', Judge Caldwell,
5. Wilmington, Judge Ellis,
6. Salisbury, Judge Bailey,
7. Merganton, Judge Man'y.
A PLAIN STATEMENT.
We indulged the hope that no one who
reads our paper could misunderstand our
position on the Convention question; as we
also tiusted that it would not be the- inter
est of any person to misrepresent ; it. We
will endeavor to make it plain, j
Our's is a Whig paper; and we found
the subject of Constitutional Reform agita
ted among the people, first by Gov. Reid
and the Democratic party, as to one feature
of the Constitution, which they proposed
to change by Legislative enuctrnent. In
common with the Whig party, we opposed
him and his humbug, and, for the time,
both were defeated. He was again nomi
nated by the Democratic party, and, be
sides, free suffrage, another plank was add
ed to the platform, namely, the election of
Judges by the people for a term of years, -both
these amendments to be made by Leg
islative enactment. We are opposed to
this mode of amending the Constitution.
If extensive reforms arc needed, it is wea
risome, complicated and annoying ; but
more, because party trickery has been its
mainspring, and not an honest desire to per
fect the organic law, and secure tho rights
of the people. Gov. Reid succeeded; but
the result of these struggles has been a de
mand for Constitutional Reform, springing
up among the. people themselves; and the
following amendments have been proposed
to the organic law of the State: j
1. The abolition of the property qualifi
cation for voters in tho Senate. I
2. The abolition of the property1 qualifi
cation for members of the Legislature.
3. Election of J udges by tho people, for
a term of years. j
4. Election of Magistrates by the people
for a term of years ,. .
5. Election by the people of State offi
cers. ; j
G. Annual sessions of the Legislature,
instead of biennial, as at present.
7. Election of Attorney and Solicitor
General and Solicitors, by the people of the
respective Judicial Districts. j
8. To create a Lieutenant Governor to
preside in the Senate, to be elected in the
same manner, and for the same tenn as the
Governor. j
9. A change in the basis of representa
tion in the Senate, from taxation to froe
white population and taxation combined,
10. The white basis in the Senate.
In view of all these ainendmcts, which
find more or less favor among the people
throughout the Slate, and all ofjwhich
nothing less than insanity cotld expect to
incorporate into. the fundamental law by
Legislative enactment a mode anti-republican
at the best, as originating with the
! government and not from tlje people, the
1 source of all political power, we lay down
' the proposition That tho only proper re.
: publican mode of amending or altering tjio
Constitution is by the people themselves. ia
Convention assembled. j
And we are therefore in favor r fan open
and unlimited Convention for reforming
the Constitution,
Our reasons have been heretofore, and
will be hereafter laid before out readers:
we speak now of our position, . j
We have been charged' with advocating
the free white basis for the Senate. We
do not advocate it. Whether any change
ought to be made in the basis, like every
other amendment, we are content to leave
to the people. Our columns are open to
discussions upon the general subject and
upon all the specific amendments which
have been or may be proposed. And for
ourselves, we shall advocate such as seem
to us reasonable and proper. No man will
question the power of the people, however,
to change the basis; nor do we believe such
change would take away the rigfits of any
portion of the State. It is a matter of pol
icy whether property shall be represented,
or the people who own the property.! As
a general principle, perhaps it ought to be
the latter but we do not urge any change
in this respect to the white basis. I
This question .of Reform will perplex fha
State, until it is finally settled constantly
recurring, it will disturb every'election ; .
mingle in the deliberation of the Legisla
ture; harrass and embitter the minds of the
people; engender sectional strife and ani
mosity; and thus destroy the peace and re
tard the prosperity of "the Stale. A Coii
vention will most effectually and speedily
dispose of it. And we hold it tq be the itir
terest of the people at once to take, it vpr
deal with it as becomes freemeti, to. whpm
the duty alone belongs, and settle for thenK
selves ikeir own organic law, taking this
trouble out of the hands of meddling dem
agogues and officious party ppjiticiansf '
These are our views sutii our position,
We hope no Whig will proscribe us for the
free and independent njaintainance of wbat
we think right especially when we prefer
the Republican iothe Locofoco ground ijp
on this subject and choose rather to stand
wjth our Whig friends than to cut lqse
from them and vote with our opponents,
To us, this is the path of duty, ' j
03- ,At a meeting of the Dirrctors of fh.e RJeigll
and Gafton Rail Road Company, hi jl at GaMon,
on the 29th lilt., Jot,Ern B. G. RouLHfc, of Ra
leigh, was nnanimouf-ly appointed a Director, in
place of W. W. Vass, resiinpd.
A dispatch from Washington nn the IJon. fr.
Merrick, late Senator from Maryland, is to suc
ceed Lewis Cass. Jr , as charge at Rotue, The
titter will be transferred.