Newspapers / North State Whig (Washington, … / Aug. 1, 1835, edition 1 / Page 2
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MR. GASTON'S SPJSEfcft A IN THE CONVENTION, On the basis f Representation, : nttanimn hplnrrlti Committee of the Whole, on the Articles reported for re Rppspniairdn in the Senate and House of Commons, Gaston rose and u. nr nther jrenlleinan seemed dis- posed at this moment t.o claim the amn ion of ihe Committee, he would avail himfcelfof 'the opportunity to submit nis views oniu deeplV inleresting.subject. Sensible as every inerober.of tins body must be of the grave and responsible character 01 me uiyy -j-e;nor in the Convention, of reforming the oo.;.;r,a nf the Siate. all must perceive Ihainopart of- their jjuty presented such difficulties as that of reforming Jihe bamof representation in the General Assempiy.-- ! we were now ciwpiyjr. mr. p hlh inur nolilical temple . had rested and Settled for morelhati half a- century ; and it will pot ue easy, w.u. a., n.ir skill and caption, -o execute this lnerr disturb the en- M:.0Arit and nerhans! eudancer its per- .- . rrii.. hoc nf inp nn- manonf Sa PIV. f I L IIB iUIUltuifiv- . deriaking were much (increased by intrinsic Underline Constitution, as it is, .. rn;.nt In iIip Stale, without distinc-i tVCljr wuuiii; ........ -7 i , ob in nnmilaiinh or wealin. Has tne same number of members in .the L.fcgisa- nm r-..i',L t.e lioon rallpn m- tUre. XllC UUVCmiUll! aa -rwv j to being by the votes ;of the freemen (of ihe State, but it was consiuuieu upon , iuy , ,inL nfpnnalnnwerin the counties.' A ma jority of the people had filled the Cbnven- . tion, but a majority of the counties wj3s . or. it.'! The delegates, said 4LL:;;n. f i.a npnnle was made, ana it . ucLiaiuii'- w ! t r - .; i ' i ,in.,Ki0H hut that thev brine into . y-i . I- nin inn: f OO 1 1 n fT C I II ests and prejudices entertained and felt, by their respective constituents. A large p6r- iha i nnvpn nn iiie uuimum, . wv.ih.wwi .- lion, a majority ; of uhem probabiyj nave come with a strong dislike of the dujly en jomed upoo them, arid under a settled ap- . I : ,u aWrl-l rr! irnnA Will t& preoensioii niai ii ,..v.j..v- & th result of its perforinance. Obligitions, nt to he resisted without cuilt; may com- rpi them to execute the allotted task, but it is impossible for them to do it otherwise man ruaguigiy p tu ,j u"p"w vt perhaps the greatest difficulty Jt ij hqto- ; rinns that the Stale, has-Jona oeen aisiracirr rl hv hittPr sectional jDarties. It is unne-: Aanrn 'r aniar -intnl si Htaiied history ot ': the origin and progress of these parties, but r LCSIQI T' IW illli ... w j I mf . it may neipius i uian.iiig i.cawvuwv... ihpmr nriefru to advert to the causes which -. brouglH them into being and : stirriulated nyni. I ThU first settlements of North'-Garolina werebiade on tfie seaboard, j whefe counties were from tiuiejto time laia bif bf such convenieni size as was demand ed by local caiisesJ As the popjiauoii swelled, Us tide flowed up into the iiterior to and even beyond the mountains; It be came necessary to form additional cc unties, which were of course milch more extensive than those to the East! because, of thesparse- note n r ihpir then nonulalion. At the time j. . - lminn. vVhen the exisiinb Con- Riiiutiori was formed.1 the, Slate was found tlistrihuted into counties small towa-ds the deaboartl and larire iowards ihe Wist, but T with no very marked! inequality in iljeiiurn- ! bers which they respectively contained. In :the Constitution the counties were regarded I as "equal, and to the inhabitants j of ea was f given the power to elect one member to. the i Senate and two to the Hou'se'of Co nraons of the General Assembly. The liirgd coun ties soon became mote populds, and for a -time there was no difficulty with the Legis lature n dividing theminto! counties of .! smaller and more: cprnpact size wljen the number and convenience of. their citizens , required it,; nor waf;lne Legislatue im portuned by peiilions for this purpt se ex ' cept wieri a reasonable cause existed for the application. Bul b lhe onslitul on 1,0 seat of Government, was established The. LeRislature held its jsession every Vear au;. 1 such affftace as the Legislature ot -the vious year appoihteti by Resolulipn. ie pre-' It inoved frrJin:ume To lime, ana me( p . iie t'litinnr became la aueslionVon wh ace ot ich ihe greatest excitement was leii, ue, meuiuer .. -w. ... . i v : 1 r 1 . rri. - L 1 i roin the counties embracing or con ifrt iHp tnivns which were solicitous m v m w to get the benefits of a , Legislative session, hprnselves with zeal in supporting 1 t exerted' ieir re- f spective preiensipns.4 This zeal wis com- mimirated to the members from the aujuiii' ing counijes many local parlies wjre thus 1 created and these hnaiiy setnea aowu into tivn. an Rastern and a, 'Western -.parly-; the one for meeting on the seaboard, the oiher for mpp liner in the interior. It is immaterial for what purpose ! combinations of . rtien are formed. - Unce tormea, men accusiomeu iu act together" on one subject will com nthers alsoi - This array of parties each other atiecteit all liie operations 01 me Legislature, and was telt in uie appoiui ments to otnce. and in very many even q the public laws. I I o terminate it, as 11 was loadly hoped lorever a Kesoiuiioo was pas eort ronmmfnriint? to the Convention of the bvu www m - : cm . , :" People about to be called to deliberate on llC 1,'CUCiai wno.....".. ,- i T- I nent seat of Government tor tne orate. Al ter severe contentions, and by a very small majority, the pot ' oa wUicn tnis ouy was been since built, was selected for the pur pose. "Complaints of management, intrigue and bargaining were; preferred against be majoriiv oy me uiun5"' f- v Tj passed by before the necessary laws coiid. hp Pnaried for carrying! iota execution tie judgment of the Conferiiion J-and after- they were passed, lears were expresseu auu indications occasionally made 01 a purpuse by another Convention to change the seat of Government. It is not wonderful thai tinder these circumstances, la mathematical or ideal line running through the State a' little to the West ot this City was regaroeu as dividing it, into two sections wiin iiissim. n-ar interests, opposite purposes and almost m ! . . . Milt hostile tilings. ine mosi uniouimeu hirinns anrf ' Jealousies - were enteruioed on both sides Who does notknovy ijiaiwhen anv rlnss of men is ODDOsed by otiers as a class, whether it be la sect in religion or a party in politics, the vilest slanders ana uie most stupid falsehoods arefmutuilly circu hiied and accred ited ? Who that has long been in public life, and calmly reviews his course, does not leel remorse lor the injus- , lice which he has done to 1 the motives ot ins adversaries f. If under any circumstances the West aoolied for! the admission of a new county 6r for lhe division of an old.one, the East had no question but Adiat the sole mo tive was a solicitude! for more power. The tresi noi iiavuig iiieir iair jbuare ui puTiyn, werei anxious to increase it jin the only way by which, under the! Constitution; it could be augmented, and sometimes bressed for - , ; , a M " j 1 1 ; , . the creation of counties when the wants of their people did not peremptorily require it. out neht or wronc, necessary or unne- cessary. it became a maxim in party noli- tics that no hew county should be made in ' the West unless it could be balanced by a new county also in the East. With'a grea : snnpriorifv nf ntimhers nri their side., the West the decided majority of the people!' ".:' III. II ' 1 . I were tnus coniroiiea ana Kept aown in -this nartv warfare bv a minoritvof lhe Deo- 1 mf ; Die in the East. ' It could moi but haDoenV aa II lias llaupcucuf wioiuuomi ajui i iv giiuuiu Decome aeepty ujssaiiueu wuu lucpoiiucai insiithtinns nf iheir countrviavid vehement! demand such a change in them as would correct this artificial inferiority Nor cold Lt well be' otherwise.' ihat those whoXad so long struggled with i success byneans of " these very institutions, t against misjmajori- ty, should feel an almost pmc learnt being called on to surrender the sceptre of power, barren and proniiess as 11 nau oeen, 1 rue it is. that the oricinalcauses of difference have disappeared. phe permanent seat of Government is. unquestionably fixed, and there is probably not a man in the State who entertains a wish or an apprehension that it . will ever be disturbed. But the fears and mistrusts of eachiother the mis-. erable jealousies and suspicions thus engen dered and ions entertained cannot be im mediately (banished. When He who gave J to the sea his decree mat true waters tnereoi slionld not nass his commandment, bids it A" be. still it quails at his voice qnd instant- iy sum iihws" f u slumber of a hushedj infant.! But ordinarily, the agitations of human passion, like the billows of the .ocean, coniinue to swell- and to rage long after the storm has subsided which lashed them ' into fiiry. We know not each other as we ought, andwe meet not here wilh ihe dispositions which we should have. Children of j the same com mon couniry, having, in truth but one and the same interest, and alike desiring only. what is rightj we ought to meet as members :df the same family consuhjng for l be good of all. But is there not reason to fear, that ;-inn mnnv n us herei come! rather as nptrn. .-.w,,. , . - D ;ciators for conflicting parties, charged with the duty 01 upnoiaing tneir respective pre tensions and of resisting to ithe utmost those -which may be advanced om the oiher side r The most perplexing difficulties do then attend theVtask of saiisfaciorily, adjusting this vexed question. Bui the-path of duty is always obstructed by obstacles, and be who because of them, shrinks from the' performance of what4 he owes either to his -God, his fellowroen, or himself, adds cow ardice to gujit. The difficuliies are suca as to call for the exercise of wisdom, moderj alion, justice,- candori I an firmness as should nerve us for high efforts, intellectuil and moral, and keep down as far as the frailly of our imperfect nature will permit, every prejudice, passiori and" unworthy in fluence.; But they are riot insuperable. They can be overcome they ought to be overcome and we shall fail, miserably fail ' in what buir country demands and bur con sciences enjoin, if we do not overcome them. An omission to settle this s question now, in such a manner as to tranquilize the public mind, he should regard as no. ordinary ca lamity. A He did not anticipate indeed, in that event, the result predicted by tbe dis-, tingurshed gentleman from Buncombe, (Governor Swain,) a gentleman for whom' he took pleasure in testifying the highest affeclion and respect. That genileman,noi in the language of menace, for he was peri fectly sure no menace was' intended, but in earnest language had predicted, that if a satisfactory arrangement were1 not now made, the People of the West would rise like the strong man in his unshorn might and pull down the entire political edifice. Sir, said Mr, G., the strong man of Zorah, 'the son of Manoah, was brought from his do honor to the impious feast and to make Ibort for the enemies of his&countr3'. Bow- . . . .. , it i ; i j ing dowtt wim an nis iuigui, c luggeu auu shook the massy piiiarsi wnicu upueia me ponderous Toof till he buried all beneath one hideous ruin. It was a glorious deed. He fell a martyr and a hero ' victorious a m'orig the slain But should pur brethren of ihe West, . in a moment of excited pas sion because of deferred hope or blasted ex pectation, violently upturn and overthrow the existing Constitution the . mad triumph will be a triumph over order and law, over themsel ves 'and their friends and their coun try. This, surely would be their very last resort, their ultima, ratio ,! which noihing but hopeless oppression- could excuse, j and. which they will never adopt while other means of redress are attainable. It is im possible to deny that they have cause of complaint. It is impossible to insist that on any principle of free government, the pre sent distribution of political powef can be no longer upheld. They have urged their complaints almost as one man, and have as sented to terms of adjustment, moderate, and reasonable, the rejection of which now must exasperate resentment, aud raise yet higher their demands. No government on earth can be long Insensible to the rooted dissatisfaction of a large number, and still less of a majority of its citizens. The des bot sometimes. . and often to hisiown de- - striiclion, attempts to keep it ddvynj by ; the bowstring or the sword ; but. in a moral and free government it must beallayedland it can be allayed only by concession;. We are not only urged to complete; the prposed adjustment by every consideratioji of7 patriotism, but are bound by the obliga tion of a solemn oathi ; It seems slrange that there can be a difference of opinion, in construing ther explicit injuncitions of the Act which was ratified by the. People, and .which called this body into being,7 Some - gentlemen are disposed to think, that in calling this Convention, lhe People (iave done no more than to say to us, you shall consider certain proposed amendments to the Constitution, and you; may consider others. Sir, they have done a great? deal1 more. The first part of this act, provides a mode for ascertaining! whether it be the will of the people that a Convention shall be called for amending the Constitution in the particulars specified ; and the next directs! how the Cbnvention shall be called and constituted, in the event that a majority oi the People shall have demanded one. The act then declares that no delegate shall take his seat in Convention, until he shall have solemnly sworn that he will not directly or . indirectly evade or disregard the duties en joined or the limits fixed; to the Convention VYliat are the duties which he is thus bound to execute, and the limits which he is for bidden! to trauscend f iThe 13ih section declares that in voting jfor a Convention, the People shall be understood as having pronounced their will that the Convention shall frame and devise amendments by which ' the members of the Senate shall be reduced to a number not less than 34, nor more ihan 50, to be elected by districts and ac cording to the ratio of taxation, and shall frame an amendment' whersby to reduce the members of the House of Commons, to hot less than 90 nor. more than 120, to be . elected by counties or districts or both, ac cording to federal numbers. If the People command this to be done by the Convention, js it not the duty of the Convention to obey ' this command, and of course the duty of each delegate, honestly and in earnest to contribute his exertions lo the fulfilment of this command f Should he act otherwise, does he not evade and disregard the duties enjoined on him ? This section then pro-' ceeds to point out several other proposed a mendments, which thel Convention, may or, may not, at i is discretion, make in lhe . Constitution. - The 14th section designates the limits which the Convention is forbidden to transcend, and which, therefore, no mem ber iStoevade or disregard. The limits might perhaps have been fairly collected from other parts, of the. act, but for greater certainty, are in this section expressly set forth. It declares that the People by rati fying the Convention act, shall be regarded as having conferred on the Convention a power to make amendments in the particu lars therein enumerated or in any of them, .but in no others. The power extends to all and each of the amendments proposed' the duty is enjoined as to some discretibn allowed as to others. The oath commands the performance of the duty as explicitly as it forbids lhe transgression of the power. Some things we must do. Some things we -may do. There are others which we cannot : do. We swear to do what is commanded, and to abstain from what is forbidden, j v But while gentlemen 'have admitted that there was an imperative obligation Ion them to carry out into execution the command of the People, as lo the reform of representa tion, they have at the same time protested sirbngly against the principles upon which this reform is based the principles! of com promise as they are termed, between the Eastern and Western claims. Asia friend to peace, he! greaily regretted tlat they i should have indulged in such: a course. It led to the re-opening of the fountains of strife which i it was the purposefof the Con vention act io bury forever. ' This was not. its i only mischief, jtioweyer sincere these gentlemen "mightbe Inlheir delerniinatlon to obey the command of the People, potli ing was better calculated to weakenilthis re solve than to find fault with the command. He who enters upon a prescribed task' with a strong repugnance to it, seldom performs it faithfully, and noihing more effectually increases this repugnance than dwelling up on the objections which can be made against the undertaking. Although, therefore, the j duty imposed on us is the same, whether the terms of compromise be equal or une qual, yet it may not be immaterial as re gards the zeal with which the duty should, be: performed to shew that in truth, the terms are fair and equitable. I J A captious criticism may perhaps: censure some details of the plan of representation, but it appeared to him difficult! kto find fault - with the great principles on which it was based. There were taxation a the ratio of Representation in the Senate andj federal numbers as the ratio of Representation in the other house. The gentleman from Green (GeneralSpeight) hadi objected to the first as notgiving its due weight to the' East, and had objected to the second as not givihgus due weight to the West. This re ally seeped to be in the very spirit of fault-' finding, for even were it well founded un lessthe supposed wrongs were unequal, they counterbalanced each other audi left the arrangement fair. ' If equal weighis be taken out, or put. into opposite scales of the same balance, the equilibrium is not disturb ed at all. As there is then no uufaipness ishown of a sectional character, let us seeif there be any departure in it from the prin ciples of free government. . j "-'I- :The necessity of two housesbf legislation as checks upon the ha-ste, Jmprovidence, sudden impulse, and intemperate excitement of either,! is so universally admitted, that it ma,y be regarded as a political axiom. In the constitution of these, two houses it is desirable that they should in truth operate as checks that they should not be liable to feel at the same moment that impulse or ex citement which leads to haste and improvi- . deuce. In the federal Constitution, one branch of the Legislature is chosen -by the respective States, as co-ordinate members of the Union and lhe other branch is cho sen by the People in the different States ac cording to population. Thejpropriety of this arrangement arises from the peculiar na ture of ihat Constitution, which, binds to- kit ituiv.o u a ill Gj.l CUJJIC UI merica. Il i3 to many purposes a confede racy of the Stales, aud to all dlhersj it is a government operating directly upon the cit izens of ihe-Uniied Slates. To keeri up the' balance between its federaiive and national - character the Senate is framed as fitted to .protect the former, and the House of Re prcsentaliyes, constituted so as to secure the latter. To erery law the concurrent action of these bodies is indispensable and thus . the two great principles of the Constitution are upheld, as checks upon each other- hi the Constitution of a Stale, all the operations of whose government ' are not only direct upon its citizens, but wholly confined to matters of interior concern, the only interests likely to be often arrayed agamst'each oth eti are those oUproperty and of periohs. Such a government is formed for the pur pose of protecting: property and oersnnsl and would be inadequate to its end, if left either at the mercy of the other, li can never indeed, be the true interest of any ii:r dividual, or of any body of men, to oppress or to injure others ; bul every day's! obser ation, and it is io le feared,! that) every day's experience, most convince us, that a fancied immediate advantage, magnified by the mists of passion, often tempts us tL fore go our permanent good, and 1 wropg our fellow men, under the delusion that we are benefiting ourselves.- It is right that govern ment should be so consiituied las to bring the steady influence of interest in aid of the commands of duty. The "Senate in our Le gislature, is intended especially, to repre sent and protect property. He had heard it ''objected to the constitution of this body, that a poor man was often as estimak le as a rich man, and that it was a departure from Republican principles, to allow the latter to i vote for a Senator and not permit the former J
North State Whig (Washington, N.C.)
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Aug. 1, 1835, edition 1
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