The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1854-11-29

~ q laIali0n begins nine years earle
sF. and continues fYe years longer, on
the latter. Thas Il will appear that.
bN. taxing balh sexes. the amount 81
revenue collected from the tax on
slaves is double The amount collected
On white polls. in proportion to the en-
tire population of the two races; and
the difference in the duration Of the
period Tor which they are taxed. is
equivalent To one hundred per cent.
more. Ii is, therefore. sbyt0os. that
in proportion TO the whole number OF
each race. che poll tar paid on slaves
Is three times as much as thar paid on
the white population. So il will be
found that this provision Of the Con-
stitution has imposed tax on slaves
in the two fold character Of persons
and property. and that an al pai0rnm
tax cannot be imposed on that species
I OF estate.
Persons and property being the prin.
cipal objects Of taxation. they should
bear n fair and just relation TO each
other in a system Of revenue. Ii is
believed that after excepting slaves.
zach persons estate, real and person.
al, including money. whether al inte-
rest or not. ought 20 be taxed alike. ac-
cording To value. This would require
every person 10 contribute in prupor-
ton 10 the value of his or her estate.
and would equalize the public burden
between the various classes, upon prin-
ciples of justice. know Of no better
rule to ascertain the ability Of the own
err TO pay. or the degree Of profession
bis estate requires from Government,
than BY resorting TO the actual value
Of such estate. This system need not
interfere with taxing certain employ
ment and the income of certain pros
fessions, as is now done. Such per-
sons as do not possess personal estate
of the value of $50 ought 10 be ex-
empt from property tax. and an ex-
emption of like amount might be
made in favor Of all others. Ii is be-
lieved that a system OF revenue based
on these principles. is demanded by
public policy.
In conformity to an Act passed at
the last session of the General Assem-
bly,. appointed the Hon. Thomas Ruff
| fin one of the Commissioners to revise
and digest the public statute laws Of
the State. but he declined TO accept,
and the duties of the commission were
completed by Messrs. Moore and Biggs,
who have bestowed. upon the subject
much labor and investigation. The re.
suit will, in due time, be communicat.
ed to the General Assembly. This
subject will require careful examina-
tim, and must.necesssrily protract the
length of the session.
The charters Of the two principal
Banks Of the State will soon expire,
aud it becomes the duty Of the General
Assembly either to recharter them oil
to establish others to supply the def,
cheney in the paper circulation, thai
would result from closing the bushes.
of these Institutions. The amount o.
banking capital best adapted to the con
yenience and substantial prosperity o
| the State. is a difficult question TO de-
termine. 1t is believed, however, tina
the amount at present employed isino
adequate to the wants Of the public
Banks or branches are needed at some
points where, at present, there ar,
none, aud at other places where the,
already exist, an increase Of capital
and, in some cases, an addition to Oh,
number Of Banks, would seem to b.
demanded. Undue contractions an,
expansions of the amount Of the pape
currency ought, as far as possible, /,
be- avoided. The circulation of notes
Of u less denomination than three o.
five dollars. should be prohibited an,
] wholesome restrictions imposed, /,
protect the public against the evils o
a deprecated currency.
i A well regulated judiciary system
is necessary to the security of tn,
rights Of persons and property. Nortl
Carolina has been pre.eminently bless
! ed in the administration of justice il
I; her courts. This has doubtless beef
more the result Of the integrity an,
, wisdom Of her Judges, than of the per
! fectiun Of the system itself. 1t is be
lieved that the Supreme Court ough
, to consist of four Judges, instead .
! three. With the. present nuRiber
], when the court is divided, and the ma
jority are for overruling,th decisiol
| of the court below, counting the judy
who tried the case. the weight of an
thority as far as the number Of Judge
is concerned, is equal on both sides
, Yet, in sach cases, the decision beloy
is reversed, aud Important legal ques
! tons finally adjudicated. Ii the cour
! cnnsisfnb r,f fnur l,tlvac tlon az, a,