The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1855-01-24

! upon new stipulatl0ns. G0 TO the pe0'
pie with the question, whether they
desire a Convention to amend the Con
stitution; not by mutiIating part, but
by a calm consideration Of the whole
or if you fear to trust Convention
with the whole, propose limited Con.
yention, with power to act on certain
kindred subjects. II the decision be
against it, there is an end Of agitation.
If for it, then it is proposed that de-
legates should be at once elected,
who shall assemble at an early day
and frame and propose such amend
ments as may be desired; that these
amendments shall be submitted to the
popular vote, and, if ratified, shall
become part OF the Constitution.
Thus, before another election for the
General Assembly, the whole subject
will be disposed OF, and at that election,
the people, if they will it, can have
Free Suffrage, and what it seems they
never had before, a restoration to " the
fundamental principles ofliberty." And
permit me to say, that whatever you
may do here, | doubt whether they
will ever attain in any other way. 1t
may answer as very convenient theme
on which gentlemen may make up Jour.
nails, with which TO endeayor to bother
each other on the stump. by showing
that one man was more or less friend
to the people than another, but as an
isolated amendment, in my belief, it
will never receive the popular sanc>
tion.
Sir, if you call Convention. the
right of suffrage can, and | hope will
be, extended. At the same time, |
desire that property shall be allowed
all proper guarantees against unequal
and unjust taxation. Both of these
objects can be attained, and have been
attained, in other States, where the
whole constitution was open to reyi-
sion, and was not dealt with by piece
meal as you propose to do here. Thus,
in the new constitution of Virginia,
where the right Of suffrage was extend.
ed, there is this provision, namely:
"Taxation shall be equal and uniform through
out the commonwealth, and all property other
than slaves shall be taxed in proportion to its
value, which shall be asccrtained in such man
ncr as may be prescribed by law.
Every slave who has attained the age Of 2
.,am.. hall 10 ae1aaenI fax an,aal -
not exceeding that assessed on land OF the value
of three hundred dollars. Slaves under that age
shall not be subjected to taxation and other
taxable property may be exempted from taxa
ton by the vote Of a msjority Of the whole num-
ber Of members elected 10 each House of the
General Assembly.
!" capitation tax equal to the tax assessed
on land, Of the value Of two hundred dollars
shall be levied on every white male inhabitant
who has attained the age Of twenty one years
but nothing herein contained =..l =L... S;---.t the
exemption Of taxable polls, in cases Of bodily
infirmiiy.
"The General Assembly may levy tax, or
income salaries and licenses" &c, &c, &c.
So in Tennessee and Louisiana, the
constitutions Of which Mr.. G. here
read.
II you intend to act on this one sub
ject intelligently, justly and fairly
YOU need convention TO arrange Il aud
its cognate parts Of the constitution.
But. sir, do you not see that this bill
is but the entering wedge into the con.
stitution: From the source Of its origin
you are urged farther TO amend, so a:
10 provide for the election of the judge:
by the people for short terms, and justi
cesof the peace BY the people. Why moi
Treasurer, Comptroller. Secretary ol
Statei When you once begin to change
the organic law by acts Of Assembly
there will be no end to propositions L
change, atleast 50 long as there is any,
thing left TO ofier to the people in the way
OF more aud more votes. Is itnot, there
fore, the wiser aud more conservative
course to 90 at once to the people {,
Il 70 at first where in any event you arr
compelled TO 20 at last, to ascertain il
change is desired, and, il 50, that they
may take the matter into their Ow !
hands, and provide to effect it, by de.
lcgates elected for that purpose and no
otherf A large part OF the constitu
ton was superseded by the adoption
OF the Federal Constitution, another
considerable portion was annulled by
the amendments Of 1885, but they az,
still incorporated with that which is il
furce. A revision would lup on these
or modify them into compact and in
telligible shape, aud give Us an organi,
law corresponding with that revision
Of the Statute Law on which the Gene
raj Assembly Is now engaged. an
aware, that much Of the opposition I,
a Convention arises from an apprehen,
sion that the present basis Of represen
tation may be lost. In my opinion, tii
is mistake. think there Is no gene
raj disposition to disturb il III the re
gion OF which | am bcstacquainted. An,
i propose a free convention IN which
the people OF the State (they are con
seryativc people, may amend the CON
stitutlon, 50 a. to adapt Il generally I,
what they believe to be suited TO thei
| ran,Iit.a,, ,,nt. Has "A 10 abanlJ ,,l...s,