The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1857-02-04
MINORITY REPORT,



The committee on Constitutional Reform,
towhom was referred the bill to protect land
from undue taxation, having duly considered
the same, ana reported it back to the House
with recommendation unfayorabie to Its
passage; the undersigned respectfully begs
leave to dissent from the action OF the ma
iority, for the following, among other rea-
sons sit cannot be denied that the conven-
tion Of 1885 was called for the purpose OF
so amending the organic law OF the State, as
10 secure to the people more Just and equi-
table basis Of representation than was secured
to them by the constitution framed in Hall
fax, ON the l0th day of December, 1875. 1t
will be remembered that before the constitu
ton was amended in 1895, il gave to each OF
the coratles Two Comm0ners and a Senator,
and to the towns Of Halifax, Edenton, New
bern, Fayetteville, Wilmington, HILLSIDE
rough, and Salisbury, a Commoner each.
This apportionment was exceedingly unjust
and iliberal to the west, especially the ex-
treme west, and great and grieyous were
the expressions they lahored under for a
half century on this account, so much so
indeed that the east when it could no longer
frame or feign an excuse for resisting the
Just demands of an oppressed and down
troddea people for that justice an equality
in representation so dear to every freeman,
were reluctantly forced in 1885 to the call
of limited convention for the purpose Of
changing the basis Of representation.
But before the east would consent TO 60
into even a limited convention with their
brethren of the west, they were careful to
prescribe in the act by which it was called,
the terms upon which their slaves were to
be represented in both branches of the Legis-
lature. When the convention assembled in
the city Of Raleigh and entered upon the
discharge Of its duties, the most important
matter Of discussion was the adjustment OF
the basis Of representation. After weeks Of
discussion and mature deliberation, the con-
vention agreed with great unanimity that
three. afths of the slaves should be repre-
scented in the House of Commons as persons,
and the whole OF them over twelve years Of
age and under fifty in the Senate as property.
Ii will be observed that while the east mani
Tested this laudable jealousy TO protect that
species Of property in which they were most
vitality interested, the delegates from the
west, with equal anxiety and patriotism, in
sisted upon the propriety and necessity Of
having the land, the property Of the State
in which their constituents were most deeply
interested, protected BY some constitutional
provisions and guarantees, against unjust
and oppressive taxation. This protection
was gwen by that clause Of the constitution,
which required that before any freeman
should be entitled to vote for any member Of
the Senate he should be possessed Of free
hold Of at least ffty acres Of land. ltwould
be assuming too much for V to suppose at
the present day. that the solemn compro-
misses entered into BY those wise, patriotic
and conservative men who framed the pres
ent constitution Of our State, were unequal
or were not demanded by just regard for
the rights OF the different sections of the
State, and il the trainers Of the constitution
deemed them necessary, then it is clear that
their maintenance is equally important at
the present time. Indeed. if there ever ex-
listed any doubt as TO the propriety Of having
such guarantees incorporated into our funda-
mental law, the history Of the legislation Of
the State for the last few wears abundaatly
proves the sagacity and foresight of the
trainers Of our constitution and the wisdom
Of their work. While the bill to amend the
constitution Or the State 20 TO extend the
right Of suffrage as to permit every freeman
entitled to vote for Commoner, to vote also
for senator, was pending, the journals Of
the Legislature will show that various efforts
were made by different members from the
west, so to amend the bill as to give the
same protection to the landed interest Of
the state al is now given 10 il by the
existing constitution, bat every effort On the
part Of The friends Of free suffrage, VINO
were anxious TO preserve the compromises
Of the constitution in their integrity, while
extending the right Of suffrage 10 the free
men Of the State, was disregarded and
promptly voted down bY those who were too
true Is the interest which they represented,
ID permit any change in the provisions 81
the constitution protecting slaves from undue
taxation. These amendments were success
fllly resisted under the pretence that they
would clog aud impede the passage Of the
bill but. now that the free suffrage bill as
originally proposed has passed Its third and
last reading in both branches Of the Legisla-
tnrr. lie i.ad tie majority Of the committee
m Constitutional Reform, namely: Me.srs.
Settie. Hill 81 stokes, and Mason. promi.
nent members Of the Democratic party,
reporting against a bill ior the protection Of
land from undue taxation, which was simply
designed ike the rejected amendments to
the free suffrage bill 70 continue the conpro-
mi.es IL tie constitution, which will be de-
stroypd should the free suffrage bill be rati-
fed II ihe ballot box IN August next.
hi. matter assumes ! rDre alarming a..
peci II those whose property consists chiefly
Ia land, when We remember that the taxes
have been largely increased by each success.
siye Legislature for the last eight or ten
wears. aud that there Is an additional increase
I'll ii least 200, 900 demanded az the present
session. and mare especially when We con-
slider that the Financial Committee of the
last Legislature. composed chiefly Of INN.
eaiia and prominent memjfrs " be DeBio.