J1 llOjo PS IQ
ANU NORTM-CAMOIiim GAZETTE.
ARK THE PLANS OP FAIR DELIGHTFUL PEACE, UXWARp'd BT j PARTY RAGE, TO LIVR LIKE BROTHERS'
VOLUME XXXVI.
3T
..-4
TUESDAY, JUNE 30, (835.
NO.
32.
r
V,, PVBtlKASIl KYKuT TtJKRaAT,
Ry Joseph Gales Son,
.' TERMS.
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'. STATE CONIHENTION.
j i' Pi,--
JCe nftnwortan'oProeeerfiij t ,
Tuesday, June 16, 18S5.
The Convention having resolved itself
into a Committee of the Whole, on the
Articles-reported by the General Commit
ter, in relation to the number of Members
in each Jlouse j and the question pending
being no Gen. Speight's motion to strike
out ISO, as t lie number to constitute the
-House ol Commons
Mr. fnison, of Perquimons, said, there
vias onejrreat difficulty to be encountered
in the adjustment of this question of Re
presentation, Iwhich might as well be met
at once. : It could, not be got round, and
he w n benefit which was to result from
delaying an examination of it This dif-1
ficulty i what t do with the surplus num
bers, after apportioning one to each coun
tj. Solar as the Arranging of 65 mem
ber goes, the task is simple enough j but
the Herculean labor is to appropriate and
locate ine' residue. The phraseology of
the Act of Assembly is different as res
recta its application to the Senate and
House '.of Coin mons. In the Senate, the
excess of taxation is to be.carricd to the
adjoining counties to make a convenient
district ; in the House of Commons the
excess is to be appropriate!! to counties
or districts, or both. On no question can
greater difficulties arise, than how to dis
tribute this excess. Various projets have
been originated and doubtless -have been
extensively discussed, out of doors as well
bs in this bt.dy, but the truth is, no plan
can be started which is free of difficulty.
The object of every one was toiproduce
the best? system of legislation for Worth-
Carolina. W e should therofnre examine
well, and take that plan most congenial
to the habit of our people, and which, in
I. iking it for granted that 120 would be
adopted for the House of Commons, each
county will be emitted, of course, to one
member, and when any county has an
excess, itis to b transferred to any ad
joining county which has a larger surplus,
4 . 'i J . a a a
i eimiie it, u practicable, to an addi
tional member. For instance : the coun
ties nf Orange and Rockingham, if 6,000
of federal numbers be agreed upon as the
ratio, would be entitled, the first to S
members with a surplus of S,000, and
ihe last to 2 members, with an excess of
2,500. But in point 'f practice, how
would tliis rule work? Why Orange, ha
ving the largest excess, would take the
surplus of Rockingham, and thus be en
titled to 4 members, whilst Rockinsham
would have but 2. Acainl in the Eden-
fon District, composed of the counties of
Lanitlen, l'asquotank, Currituck, Chow
an, Gates and Perquimons, a similar re
sult is produced. Camden Ws a surplus
of 700 Pasquotank 1,500 : Currituck
900 j Chowan S00 ; Gates 600 ; Perqui
mons 400 ; Here the effect would be to
give Pasquotank two members thus al
lowing; her the whole weight of all the
excesses of the other counties so that one
individual in Pasquotank will have near
ly twice the weight in the Legislature that
one in Gates or Chowan has : he would
ed, and not worth cultivation, contrast
ed with hundreds and thousands of acres
annually brought into market in tire
south-western States. None complain
so much of the want nf a market, he be
lieved, as those who have little or nothing
to carry to it. Gain is the principle which
prompts men to action, and so long as
these immense bodies of land are kept in
the market, it is impossible to check the
rapid tide of emigration which is depop
ulating the State.
He too, had a plan for settling this
question, though it did not originate with
him.' Appropriate, as the Act requires,
one member to each county ; then sup
pose we adopt 100 as the number of mem
bers in the flouse of Common, it will
be found that the ratio is between 5 and
6,000, which will give to, the East 46
members, and to the West 54 members :
Underpins plan, there; were but three
Easteri counties which would beenfitled
to two "members, viz : Wake, Granville,
and Halifax. The advantage of.thc plan
is, that, after having appropriated the
members agreeably to the ratio agreed
on, the several excesses are to be thrown
into a common mass, and the State is to
be divided into 20 districts, each of which
is to send a member. Of these districts,
12 will be in the West, and 8 in the East,
say nnthingofthe small county of Perquim- so that the West will have its fair por-
o us wincu lit- rrrccii(cii. 11 nc u rmeruou i iiuij, ninii uic cai w in get uiai w wnicn
the nature of this controversy between fit is entitled. In this wav too. we shall all
the East and AVest correctlv, the con - get i id of the rh alry, inequality, jealousy bility of tinitins: the
slant burthen of their song had been, that I and heart-burning which will otherwise ver with Beaufort Ha
population was not equally represented ensue. He had heard it said, though he
-sthat Pasquotank had twice as muchldid not subscribe to the doctrine, that
w e ism
quoianK nau twice as muennnu not suosenne to tne doctrine,
as Burke, &c. Now was this althe further a Renresentative was remo-
. . i . . . . .
grievance or was it not r It it was a ved trom the people, the better be serves
grievance then, is it not one now. ? What their true interests. These Districts
has .transpired since January last, to di- therefore will afford members of a n.uch
minish its objectionable features, or alter higher grade of talent than those usually
me principle so venemenuy inveigneu a-(sent. v
gainst by Western gentlemen ? He fori Mr. V. concluded by stating, that
one, as a utizenol North Carolina, would his object had been to show that the same
say, that he was unwilling to deprive any inequality which is now complained of,
portion of free men, of the right of repre- would still continue to exist ; and he ex
sentation, whether they were in the East pressed hU determination never to votp
or the West, the North or the South, for a system, the inevitable effect of which
If the grtat object of the West was to would be, to array the smaller counties
remedy this grievance, what have we ajrainst the larger ones.
gained by agitating the elements, if the Mr, Bryan remarked, that it was with
same inequality is still to exist not in much reluctance that he rose to obtrude
the East or the Wr est, but in evety por- himself upon the attention of the Commit
tion of the State ? Will not such injus- tee, but matters had been introduced into
tice excite the indignation of that portion this discussion, in which his constituents
of the community which is oppressed? were intimately & deeply concerned, and
Pasquotank, because possessing a little he therefore felt himself bound to mvke a
greater extent of of territory, is to be a few remarks. In doing so, he should be
birth-right county, and is to be favored brief, and with a single exception, should
with a. monopoly. Is it not wi:hin the confine himself to the immediate subject
uiscreiion oi tins Dony, so to irame its under consideration.
its operation, would work the least injus- amendments as to prevent collision and Mr. B. said he had been sent here from
,' - li . i ; a ifii i : i i I . 'r-.A i
tice. i neari-ourning r n .mis pian was auopieu, tan extreme nasiern county, wnose renre-
A good deal had been said in this dis- (as he remarked before, it would give jsentatives in the Legislature had general-
cusston, about the symmetry of the pro- strength to the strong, power to the migh- ly voted with the West. Whether in so
posed Article of amendment. He begged ty, and would shear the weak. doing they had truly represented the
leave f state one fact. When Hhe bill. Much had been said in this body, and views and feelings of the people of Carte-
which was the foundation of this assembly,! much would be said in the next Legisla- ret, it was not for him to say that was
was before the Legislature last session, ltlture, about the detects of the old system the adoption of a course of conduct, for
came irom tne nousr oi commons m me i oi representation. n a stranger nati I tne wiuuuy erroneous exercise or which.
Senate with a range of numbers from 90 been present yesterday, and listened to j they were responsible to the people in
to 107. As is now customary, the members the discussion which took place, he would their sovereign capacity ; neither did it
vere, in the habit of discussing these mat- have-taken up the idea that North-Car- become him to question the purity of their
tersin their rooms., To the surprise of olina was the poorest, most degraded State motives, for he believed thev were influ-
the Eastern gentlemen, next morning,they I in the Union. The gentleman from enced by feelings of patriotism and a de
found fort the first time, that there was a Wilkes, (Gen. Wellborn,) it seems, sire to promote the general welfare. It
defection. in their ranks. The gentlemen J sometimes goes abroad perhaps to the was sufficient that they had materially
who wentNiver, did so, on condition that great State of Tennessee the State where aided the West in bringing about 'this
the number 120 should be inserted as the such evidences of public improvements compromise. Whether the great body of
maximvm and 90 as the minimxmu This are to be seen fine roads and flourish- his constituents were in favor of a Reform
number therefore did not come from an ling canals and when he gets across the of the Constitution, or not, Was a very
original advocate of the bill, but from an line,he is almost ashamed to tell wherehe different question he believed that they
opponent, lie nad yet to learn irom wnat came irom. ne nau never niinseu oeen were tiecuietny opposeu ion out a majo
order of Architecture gentlemen derived to Tennessee never enjoyed that exqui- rity of those who voted in the State, had
their notions of symmetry, who could per- site pleasure but he had been to Virgin- decided for a Convention, and they had
ceve sucn ueautilui proportion oeiweenjia, nou n mat. otatp is in a more tnrivuig acqutesccu in me proprieiy oi mis uou
50 andl20. If indeed it had been intend- condition than North -Carolina, the evi- stitulional expression of opinion.
ed by the Legislature that the membeH dences of it arc to be discovered. Range He wished to say a few words in regard
ol the Convention were to be bound to through any of the adjoining: States, and to our Coast, which had been so frequent-
that after that event, its attention was
turned to its improvement and fortifica
tion ; and that even now, a fFort of the
second class, upon which had been ex:"
pended upwards of half a million of dol
lars, commands the entrance of the har
bor, that wiH be enabled to bring one
hundred piece of artillery to bear upon
any blockading squadron that may
be sent against it. Thus had nature and
art both combined to give it importance
and security. There is no county in the
Slate whose resources are so little known,
and whose importance is so little appre
ciated as-Carteret. Its reputation of be
ing poor, arose jfot from a want of infer
nafresourcesj but from the fact, that the
ocean, its rivers and the souuds, would,
with the exercise of but little industry,
yield a bountiful supply of the delicacies
and luxuries of life, in consequence of
which, there was not that'persevering la
bor necessary for the acquisition of great
wealth. Carteret possessed within its
confines a body of land, not surpassed in
fertility by any in this Union. He had
heard this from the United States' Engi
neers, from distinguished Members on
this floor, and from substantial Farmer
at home. This county, in our Revoluti
onary struggle, contributed much aid and
support in the achievement of our Inde
pendence, and during our late war, fur
nished many brave and gallant seamen.
A late survey demonstrated the practica-
waters of Neuse Ri-
rbor an event which1
would make the port of Beaufort equal to
any in the Southern States. If then the
resources of the West and East are so
great as had been described on this floor,
they were not hermetically sealed with
in the. narrow limits of North-Carolina
fronv this port, they could procure access
to all parts of the world. He appealed
to the gentleman from Buncombe (Gov.
Swain) ho had recently visited Beaufort,
if in all his itavels he had ever before seen
a harbor of such capacity, so beautifully
landlocked, and so secure from the effects
of storm? These remarks he knew were
beside the question, but as they had been
luggged into this debate, and under a
M.' - ! a . f
misconception ioo oi ine true situation oi
his own county and town, he felt it a du
ty he owed to his constituents, to impart
j. : r i? ' t .
correct miormauon on tne sumect, and
that in case the sceptre of power should
tlepart from the East, and go to the West,
his brethren in that quarter might know
to what point in our State to carry into
operation their enlarged and liberal views
of policy with regard to Internal Improve
ments.
With these pteliminary remarks, he
would turn his attention to the subject
under debate. He would premise, that
he knew nothing of these sectional differ
euces, of which so much had been said.
and was ignorant where the line of deinar
cation beiween the East and West com
menced he did not know where the Ru
bicoh run. He regretted that it had
been introduced ihto this Convention,
like an apple of discord, to put to flight
our unanimity oi council ne would baft
isn u inrever, anu meet on tms nonr as
brethren, and would cheerfully join with
the V est, in the adoption of such mea
sures as might tend to elevate the charac
ter of the State. He proffered his aid
his honest aid to do this, whether the
proposition came frnm the East or tlu
West. He d issented from the proposition
as laid down by the venerable President
(Mr. Macon) that there was no necessity
for concession of opinion, and that there
by a part ot that which was correct might
be lost ; this in the abstract was true,. but
but all Government was the offspring of
compromise and concession. A spirit of
concession was indispensable here, and
certain numbers, they would have said in if gentlemen are to be believed, North ly mentioned in tltis discussion, and about although sometimes, there might be a
express language, if the number 50 be Carolina possesses as much Commerce, which the Convention seemed to be in
taken as the basis of the Senate, then 120 and the general lace of the country is as the possession ot so little information. The
.Shall be taken for the House of Commons, prosperous as that of her neighbors. In j venerable gentleman from Warren (Mr.
e would ask, then, where was the ob-lsome lavoreu sections oi Virginia, per- Macon; nau expresseu ine opinion, mat
ligation to conform to these numbers. I haDs; she excels North-Carolina, but take in consequence of Cape Hatteras. Cane
when it was expressly stated that the the whole face of the State, and the supe- Lookout, and the general character of
power ot agreeing upon any particular f rionty is ours. II xsortn-uarolina had our oeaooard, it? was . dangerous to ap
numbers was discretional ? Ihere was a declined however, it was perfectly obvi- proach our Coast, and that we had no
direct variance between, the words of the lous that it did not spring from any de- Port whence oar great agricultural pro-
Act nf Assembly and the position now fects in our .svstem ol government, but ductions could be shipped immediately to
assumed, and, according to his construe- resulted from our focal situation. foreign countries, and that we had no
lion of that instrument, if any other nuin- have no sea-port to concentrate our wealth hope from that source. Mr. B. said, the
ter could be agreed on, calculated, in the and enterprize no Jargc city to give very great respect and authority, . which
estimation of members,to produce a erreat- tone to the State. Much has-been said opinions emanating from so high a source
er amount of benefit, they were at per! here about our Inlets j but no one can carried with them throughdut the State,
- . .- I . . . m Am ' m m . . a . t l - . . ' .
lect iioeriy to adopt it. I believe, that it we had the best inlet in compelled mm to hazard a correction ot
The antiquity of this sectional bicker-1 the world, that we could, in the present the errors into which that gentleman had
ing had been enquired into, for what re- state of thins, build up a large Commer- been manifestly and unintentionally led.
a . t . I.. - . t I v i . a.
son he was at a loss to perceive. We jcial town. No sir, the very approach to He resided at Beaufort, a town which for
had been told that the sectional strife ori-lour coast, is attended with hazard. the salubrity of its atmosphere, the beauty
floated in 1746. and had continued ever! In; answer to. ihe gentleman from I of its barbor, and the excellence of its in-
since. Why then was the Convention Wilkes, who thought that if a Rail-Road fet, was not surpassed by any South of
caUfdinirr6? Was it not to settle the were constructed from tne, sea-board to the Chesapeake. Ofd Topsail Inlet, which
grievances complained of in 174$ ? Why the West, that the mountains would beis the mean of access from the Ocean to
Kien Was this nnnnit. matter intrmltirxl r linvurt.il inA rich fililc snd htnmninor i tUt harbor, affords an Uniform denth of
we have Wen told, sir. aisiin & a-nin, I Hardens, he would tell him that he would water ct from twenty to twenty-two and
concessionof right, unfortunately, in mat
ters of opinion, there was no tribunal to
determine between right and wrong. If
respectable authority was to be relied on.
our present State Constitution, as well
as that of the Federal Government, Vere
obtained by concession and compromise-
If we refer to the origin of all Govern
ments to a State of nature we .shatf
behold the strong yielding up a portion of
his power and natural right! submitting
to be bound by the same ligaments, and
acknowledging the same authority with
i he weak, in order that he may enjoy the
beneficial influences of society and the
wholesome exercise of salutary and hap
py laws. We must either resolve 6ocie
ty into its original elements, and regulate
every thing by brute force, or we must
make concession. Mr7 B. aliuded to the
plan under consideration as one of com
promise. Each countff whatever its po
pulation might be, wasto have a member,
although the number of its inhabitants
might not equal-the ratio agreed upon.
(He totally disagreed with the gentleman
la m . a . .
that the true form of Government is re- be 9orely disappointed in his calculations, j a half feet, and opens to merchantmen of last up, in his notion of taking the excess,
presentation t,f nronertv in the' Senate But he was reall v "obtiired to the gentle-1 the largest class a bay of sufficient cana
d I r c I f :o O V, I C i a
Ol pers'.rtv in ihp HmiftA nf rnmmnn man Inr stmbinv hu IitiJ Tf turn nut I rit v Ann (tenth, wlipre one thntisnH 4Kin
Had this arrangement prevailed hitherto, (now, that the West want the power in j heavily laden, may be safely anchored and
Mnuer our oiu Constitution r .If not, what theihainds, not because Lincoln, Orange, handsomely landlocked, in perfect secu
h to be gainetl now by changing the sys- &c. VireuflequaUy represented in the rily from the influence i storms. Sriper
'n r He had heard of a proposition on Legislature, but -because they want to added to this, remarked Mr. B. of so much
a ... . r ----
, e J'cf, which had beea mentioned.
puusible on the face of it, but the direct
Hect of which would be to strengthen
the strong and diminish the energies of
tat ftreak, it; was ia subataoc this:
construct
Rail Roads. Canals. &c. to (importance Was this port deemed by the
give thero. an outlet to the ocean. But I General Government, during the last war,
what benefit would accrue to theHVest, I in consequence of jts easy access, and
if they had an outlet ? Very little sir, 1 the perfect security which it afforded to
for aiuf-teuths of their land is exhaaitlor privateers. mercanUU marine, &c t
or portion of the excess, of a large coun
ty, ana giving u 10 tne county dencient in
number, in-order to make it amount to
the agreed number this construction was
a violation of the act. He believed that
the future tranquility of the State depen
ded on the harmonious action of this bo
dy. The basis mentioned, would not,
he was, certain, be satisfactory. The West
might, and the East would object to it.
" Like the onsanctified ministrations of
the idolatrous sons of Aaron," it would,
light up the torch of discord throughput1
the State. Concession therefore must
take place on every side, if we were anx
ious to bring this much vexed question
to a peaceful and happy termination. The
basis of Representation, as laid down n
the Act, is taxation in the formation of
the Senate, and federal numbers in the
Commons. The tabular statements, with
which we have been supplied by the au
thority of this Convention, clearly de
monstrate that the East will have the
power in the Senate her rich lands, her
slaves, her store tax, &c. re sources of
revenue to the State, which swell the a
mountof taxation paid in by her, to such
an excess above that of the West, as -will
entitle her to a majority of four in that
botly, if the Senatorial branch is consti
tuted of fifty members.
A greater difficulty however occurs in
the formation of the House of Commons.
Any number between ninety and one hun
dred and twenty, the two. extremes as
specified in the Aet, will give the prepon
derance to the West, and the East will
have at last to deppnd upon the magnani
mity of the West a magnanimity which
he hail not the right, nor did he feel dis
posed to question. The Act of Assembly
was the chart by which they had to s.til,
anil as he had just remarked, adopt what
number they chose within the range of
their powers, and the West would have
v a.- . . .
a maioruv. ne read two letters to the
a 4 ;
Convention, written by Gov. Johnston,
luring the sitting of the Convention ot
1776, Irom the deliberations of which, Mr.
ft. said, he was excluded, notwithstand
ing his acknowledged worth and talents,
on account of his aristocratic notions.
These letters speak in terms not very
complimentary of the general character
ot that Convention. J This Convention,
he said, was composed of very different
materials trom that described in the let
ters he had just read. The members ofi
this body had been selected by the unso-
. a v .
uciteu suitrazes of their constituents.
without the slightest regard to their poli
tical opinions they had assembled with
no ungenerous leelinga, and presented an
array of talent, surpassing any previous
assemblage ever convened in North-Ca
rolina. He felt no disposition to lash the
ocean into a tempest, to waft a feather
or to drown a flv" to excite one portion
oi tne community against the other, to
bring about results which he deprecated
from the bottom of his heart. If the un
pleasant feelings which these differences
engendered, were to terminate here, it
would not be so bad ; but they would be
carried home by each member, infused
.into the people, and felt at the Polls.
He did not say this with a view tomenace
the We9t, or hold out improper induce-
mentr to the East: but simply because
he wanted that ideal sectional line oblite
rated, which as effectual!;, destroyed a
community oi iceiing Deiween tne isast
and West, as if a Chinese wall separated
them. There should be no concealment
of our views antl policy in regard to this
important matter, but we should disclose
them with the spirit of frankness and can
dor. He had given to the subject of re-!
presentation in the Commons, a strict and
diligent investigation, and he'was sorry
to find, that if any number between nine
ty and one hundred and twenty, were as
sumed as the baH of representation, hi
own county (Carteret) could in no event
be entitled to more than one representa
tive, its federal population amounting on
ly to five thousand nine hundred and fifty -nine.
If the number ninety is assumed,
it will require a federal population of six
thousand six hundred ami thin sen to en
title a county to a representative ; if the
pumber one hundred, should b : adopted,
the ratio will be seven thousand five hun
dred and sixty-seven, to give to a county
a representative ; and if th Convention
shouidresoive that the House of Commons
should be constituted of one hundred and
twenty memberlj, that number will ren
a feIerai population o five thousand three
hundred antXiinefynine, to entitle a
county to"a representative in that body,
and this latter number will leave an ex
cess in the county of Cartere ,after de
ducting one representative, of five hun
dred and sixty votes. fThis excess wfculd
give to his county a right to vote for a
district member, and he thought, -under
these circumstances, if he did not com
promise the great interests of the Eat,
that he shouldgive his preference for that
number, lhishedid, tearless of the con
sequences, as he knew that he should be
sustained'theretn by his constituents.
Mr. H. said he had given his serious
M 7 1 I A 1
attention toa calculation made by a dis
tinguished member of this House CMr.
Gaston) which had assumed 'as its basis
the numbers nfty, and one hundred and
twenty. Here, Mr. B. went into a Ion
and detailed statement and examination of
the plan, shewing its practical operation
upon the Bast and West, and the correct
ness of the data upon which it waslbund
edj The prudent caution and remarka
ble correctness of that gentleman, in ar
riving at conclusions and satiafying his
mind as to the truth of his results, before
he gives to them the sanction and autho
rity of bis bninions and character, will
weigh macfi wHfr this Mouse. This cal
culation win give to Xlii West a majority
of from six to eight, and Jf from that Jat.
ter number we dedact the majority of four
which the East will have in the Senate,
the rsuJt will be. that upon joint ballot, i
the West will have a majority of four.
He was for producing an equalization of
power, and should give to this plan his
hearty concurrence, if the ?Wet would
M?rrfo (n triva tn f h. I? c f T) nrrtu rrK m.mJ
her from each of the towns of Edenton,
Newbern and Wilmington." JTIiis adjusts !
ment of the nulifir! arnica, wnhftl Inava
the balance of power in a fluctuating con-
dition, and they might be caused to pre
ponderate, on the one side or the other,
as the high considerations of honor, ho
nesty and integrity might dictate. H
said that there was another branch 6! the;
proposiiioii, which is said te emanate frora
that distinguLshed gentleman, to which,
as the representative of a small emmty,
he must beg, with, due deference, to dis
sent4. He could not consent to take thu
excesses ot federal population from thos
counties containing the smallest excesses, ;
and give them to those counMe contain
ing the largest excesses, and thereby en
able the largest counties to send to the
General Assembly the representatives ot
those excesses. This would vynrk gross
and manifest prejudice to the small coun
ties, and he believed was a violation, of the
letter and spirit of the Act. Here Mr,
B commented at large upon the construc
tion to be given to the Act." He would
suggest to the Committee a plan, ,whiefc
seemed to him to obviate these difficulties?
and inequalities. Let the gross amount
of all the excesses to which each county
is entitled, after deducting the number,
of representatives which the established
data may give them, be ascertained, and
then divide the State into districts, cdnw
posed of those counties that contain ex
cesses, and let each countyvote for the
district member or members. His own
county, and every small county, ifould
not thereby lose the power and influence
wnicn us excess wouhi tnus entitle u to.
A difficulty of precisely the same natar-
and character, was suggested by Mr. Jef- .
lerson, in nis ixotes on Virginia, as to tne .
distribution of this inequality of power,
and much of thattdifficulty was removed
by a plan formed by Judge Tucker, and
to which he begged leave to call the at
tention of the Committee pHere Mr. B .
read from Tucker's Blackstone, add eem-
mented at length upon the system of the
distribution of powers, arising from the
excess of population above the. ratio' con
tained in counties Mr. B. remarked
that" the same difficulties arose in the for
mation of the Constitution of the United v
States, as to tbe basis. of representation,
in the House of Representatives there .
were small and large States the former
jealous of the latter, and the latter by do'
means disposed that the small States
should be permitted to enjoy an equality
of power. The effect of this produced sv
compromise, and resulted in the distri-
l .. : -r i . - j .1 . .
uuitun ot power, as laiu uown in ine se
cond and third articles of the Constilu-.
lion, which Mr. B. explained and com
w a " . a m
mented on. tie romarKed that here, if
f la
we shall ever agree upon an amedrftL
Constitution under this At,we must make
a compromise. The East is compelled
yonder this Act, to surrender her power
jupon any apportiontment of represents tioa
me west cuniains a mucn larger icae-
ral population,, and in yielding to this ne
cessity, he wag not disposed to produce
an unnecessary excitement, or to array
one portion of the House against the others
for ' . i ''
Ohts are thv plans of fair dlihtfal peae
Uii warped by party rage to lire l,ke brother.
IT 1 I I f !.L it A il i
ne inouiui pursue wnn nruiness max
course and policy which he conscienti
ously believed would, so far as the Act
give Kim bower, and hi was bound to
obey that by his oath, promote the honor
and weiiare oi nis constituents.
darned to be
prHojlices-aTfcranimosities which were the
offspring of ignorance and stupidity. He
thanked the Committee for their patient
attention, and in conclusion, -hoped that
we should all go haod and heart for Our
country, our whole country, and nothiug,
but bur country. 7
Gen. Wellborn thought that if ISO were1
agreed upon as the number-of the House
of Commons, it vt-.iM make 'but little
difference in a joint ballot ofbpth Hous
e. The Governor it was probable the
Convention would decide shall be elec
ted by the people j and tho (eoeral As
sembly. may pass an act for choosing Sen
atrs for the U. States, by a concurrent
vote of the House, as had been suggest
ed by the gentleman from Buncombe, and
no serious contest could reasonably be
expected for the other officers elected by
joint vote of the Legislature. .The West
had not complained on this score There
was no possibility of making the Eastern
ana western, interests 'precisely jai,,
and (i it were ever effected, wotild be
liable to constant change. Great liberal
ity and spirit of concession had governed
the agreement, mads at the last Lefeisls,
ture, and he trusted the same spiHweeld
prevail on the presen t occasion ia .carry
ing it into eflRset. , : , i-.:.
Daniu said, he wdojrjl I20;tor)
lapa m nil lflhr n (rr u nan for the Hoe SO
ot Upmiaons out iwww iw;fwr
dtrjestice to tbt West - U rs wepui
n