Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-10-25
For the Journal.


Suffrage.
Messrs Editors North Carolina is the only State
in the Union in which elector is required TO pos
sess freehold of fifty of land to entite him to
vote for member of the Senate; and why retain this
old British aristocratic feature in our Constitution
The poor is called upon to shoulder his musket
in defence of his eountrys rights, as well as to per-
form various other public services and why not vote
for Senator as well as for President and all other
public officers elected by the people? Nor is the
poor all who has right to complain about this
fifty qualification. A. may own forty mine acres
of land we'll improved and worth fortynine hundred
dollars B. may nnetynine half acre lots in the
town of Wilmington, all we'll improved, and worth
ninety mine thousand dollars c. may own one hum
dred negroes; DIS stock in merchandise may be
worth twenty five thousand dollars; E. may have
twenty-five thousand dollars loaned out interest
and F. may have twenty-five thousand dollars nves-
ted in Cotton Factory; yet neither of these men
vote for Senator Notwithstanding they liable
for such heavy taxes-the Senatorial districts are
laid off entirely with regard to taxation, and the
Senate intended to protect property-tax-payers Is
it fair that these men, who have much at stake
shall be dsfranchsed, and nobody else but the land
owners be allowed to vote for Senator when but lit
tie over one-thrd of revenue is received from
taxes on lands? 1t is not. Now, if l understand
the opponents of free suffrage they do not object
the principle-to every free mans voting for Sena-
ator 1T is the difficulty which will be encounter
ed in extending to him this privilege, which they
fear, as we'll the danger of the Eastern part of
the State being imposed upon by the Western part
But for my part l apprehend neither difficulty nor
danger about the matter AS for the difficulty in a.
mendng the Constitution, the approaching Legisla-
ture can pass the amendment by two-thirds vote
advertise it, and the next Legislature pass it
q gain by ths vote. and then the people can
ratify it at the succeeding election without either
difficulty COST And for the danger of the East
ern part of the State losing anything by the amend
ment aboshing the fifty qualification in cleo
tons for Senator has to do with the
ment of the Senatorial districts than it has to do
with that abominable section called the 32d 1t is
also asked that if every is to vote for members
of both branches of the Legislature, why have but
one branch! The reason is very obvious. The SEN
ate is intended to represent property, and by this
rangement- mean by laying off Senatorial districts
with regard to taxation-the Eastern part of the
State will hold the balance of power in the Senate
as long she contributes the most taxes into the
public treasury therefore she will not consent to
alter the basis which the Senatorial districts are
laid off; will the Western part of the State con-
sent to have taxation brought into the account in
distributing the members of the House of Commons
for under the present arrangement the Eastern part
will always hold the balance of power in the Senate
e., so long as ste pays the most taxes, and the
Western part will hold the balance of power in thu
House of Commons i. e., so long she outnumber
the Eastern part in population. The fact is, accor
ding to my understanding, this is a plain, simpl,
proposition, which involves but one single question
and that is whether the owners of real estate shall
be entitled to exclusive privilege the ballot boz
over the personal and pcrishabIe property
for there is but few men among us who do not pos
sess property of kind other equal in value
= fifty acres of sand hill A. o. G.
:, Duplin County, 18th Oct, 1850.
Revenue Law.
AS the act of the last Legislature to increase tn
revenues of the State has been the subject of
praise, much denuncations, we'll much cain
l. discussion and considerations peep at the amour
K raised by said act will not be unacceptable to on
N readers We thank certain friends of ours for tn
Is following information derived from the documents
rs at Raleigh.
g. The amount brought into the Treasury by tn
m new law, will be little up,vards Of thirty Mousan
is dollars.
The aggregate amounts paid in upon the follow
ing heads of taxation, Qeaving out the counties
Currituck and Alamance from which returns ha
w not been receved) are annexed:
Us Interest. $Zf, 4J0 10