The North-Carolina standard., 1850-07-13

IFrom the Carolina Watchman of juno, 1881
To the Freemen Of North Carolina.
[PUn1,saEn RHaursr.l
Happily we live in country where no apology il
required for addressing free people upon subjects
connected with their own government. 1t is an of
flee which any one may assume without just reproacf
or fair censure. A recurrence to the proceedings O
meeting held in Raleigh during last winter will ex
empt from the imputation Of vanity in addressing
YOU, and explain the character in which we appeal
5etore you. A large portion, we believe majority
of the people of North Carolina dissatisfied witt
the Constitution sfthe State. They complain, We be
lieve with Justice, against evils proceeding from
causes which the people alone remedy and there
fore they have, through their representatives, deter
mined call for expression of the public will up
on their complaints. Bv the 18th section of the
"Bill of Rights the right of the people to instruc
their Representatives is distinctly declared and the
friends of a reform of our State Constitution, fee
confident that voluntary declaration of opinion by
the People s. against change Of the Consfitu
tn' will be received Instructions and must infu
ence the General Assembly to accommodate, in some
way the unhappy divisions of the State, and provide
remedy for the evils of a most unequal and expen
sve Government. In order to remove the objections
of some, to defeat the pretences Of many, and ope
rate recommendation to all, the advocates tor re-
form have put forth for discussion the changes which
are demanded. If the subject could claim that atten-
ton which its importance merits, and no feelings Of
party animosity were mingled with its consideration
there would be no difference Of opinion.
UNEQUAL REPREsENTATIoN.-Byth the present Con
stituon, the People Of each County elect two mem
bers of the House of Commons and one Senator
and seven Borough towns are permitted to senc each
one member to the General Assembly. Were each
county of equal population, and did the people OF
this mode of electng the Assembly would be fair and
just. Were there any near approach to equality OF
population and in the several counties, there
would not be much room for just complaint
Surely decent respect for the " fundamental Princi-
ples' of all popular Governments will not allow US
more than one third of the taxes, rightfny make
laws and execute them, impose taxes and exPend
them, for the other t,co thirds. Yet such is the real
condition of this State. Those whom it affects may
choose to deny it. We confidently affirm the fact
and challenge them to fair, manly, and candid In
ves,igation of the subject. We may do more than
invite careful examination of the last Census and an
honest perusal of the Revenue list made out at the
Treasury of the State, and ingenuity itself, may be
de6ed after this, to produce even plausible appear
ance of equality in our Representation. The white
population of the Stale alone being taken as basis
Assume the Land tur for basis, and it will bring US
to the same result. Take for basis the public ares
Of all kinds and the conclusion is not more favorable
to our present system. Let all or any OF these be
combined, and it will stamp upon our county repre-
sentation the marks of inequality and injustice
The whole white population of the State IS about
472OOo. Thitythree counties contain l56, 600, and
the other thiry-one counties contain $4,000, and
yet these lhiry-hree counties elect majority OF the
General Assembly. These thirty-three counties pay
annually land tax of 5000 dollars only, while they
exact from the other thirty-one similar tax OF
dollars! These same thirty-three counties-'hls ru-
ling minorty-pay for taxes of all kinds, 1000
dollars only, and yet they levy taxes from the other
thirty-one counties the amount of 49, 600 dollars
annually The expenses of our State Government
(including none but such as are necessary being
about 600 dollars per year, and the State being d-
vded into 64 countless the proportion of each county
in this expenditure is 1850 dollars. These same
thirty counties-ths ruling ity-therefore
do not contribute their own expenses to the Govern
ment, unless their taxes amount to Al $50 dollars
and how is the fact1 They pay more than "a 900
dollars! and nearly half of them do not contrib
taxes sufficient to pay their members 9 the
assembly! What! majority of t'co thirds of the
people taxed by third to pay the minority for ex-
ercisng this control2 Incredible it might seem to
bet Is true. There 40 counties in the State
which do not contain average population and more
than 40 whose people do not pay taxes equal to their
average share of public necessary expenditures, while
they elect nearly two thirds of the General Assembly,
One of the least counties in the State contains a
white population of 2,700-the largest contains
1900, and while the former pays tax Of 600 dol
iasf the latter is required to pay 1900 dollars! yet
both these alike represented. Another county,
with population Of 800, and an annual assessment
Of only $3.50, elects the same number Of represen-
,aiyes to our General Assembly with fourth coun-
y, whose white population is l6, ,0O0 and whose tax
es are 2,3O7 dollars annually. And another county,
with white population little exceeding 5000, who
paw no more than 5000 dollars for taxes is allowed
to send the same weight into our councils with a
sixth county whose white population is l3, 900, and
whose taxes exceed 1900 dollars. Comparing these
six counties together what will be the result F"
y-sir thousand sir hundred people who contribute
tax of $500 dollars are allowed larger share in
free government than nine thousand members OF the
community, who pay tax of only 800 dollars
The smallest number, and they who contribute least
to the support OF our Government invested with
all its powers There are in the State twelve coun.
ties, whose people pay tax of 54O0 dollars collec
tiveIy-the compensation of the representatives they
elect, exceeds TINS sum more than 1900 dollars =
These counties partake equally with others of all the
benefits of the Government and they elect nearly one
fifth Of the General Assembly, yet they compose lit.
tie more than one tenth of the population, and pay
very little exceeding thirteenth of the public ex.
penses! They pay IS, 900 and cost $4,000! These
things Butts it just-Is it equalI Is repub.
lican that they should continued! Must they be en-.
dued forever, with better reason for it, than tha,
they are evils which patient people have already
freedom reversed, and shall usurpaton establish
nght!Iong usage justify oppression! The inter.
est Of the whole State requires and her necessities
demand reform in our Legislature. fs.sls (.
n The General Assembly is bound by our present
constitution. to meet annually. When tho Constitu
aon was ratified. the Statewas divide into3 36 coun
ues and tho General Assembly was composed Of M
aofe than ll5 members, but The number Of counties