Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-01-28


valuable public documents
North Carolina Legislature.
Reported Expressly for the Journal
Our Raleigh letter of the 18th LAYING failed to reach
u.s. we have to avail ourselves of the Standards report
of the proceedings of the Legislature Tuesday last
49,. RALEIGH, Jan. 18th, 1859.
SENATE
The following bills and resolutions were introduced
and appropriately referred
By Mr.. Ashe bill to incorporate the Dawson Steam
boat Company.
Mr.. Poole, a bill to amend the 29th sec. 45th chap
Revised Code.
Mr.. Lane, bill concerning mortgages and deeds of
trust.
Mr.. Mcdonald bill to punish thieves.
The resolution relative to prison charges for poor
debtors was laid on the table.
The bill to increase the sinking fund was taken up,
and after remarks from Messrs Ashe, BeCsoe and
Thomas the subject was further postponed. The bill to
regulate the Militia was made the special order for
Thursday next.
The bill to amend the constitution so to establish
the advaorem system of taxation being the special
der for IL o'clock, proceeded with, the question
being the amendment Of Mr.. Gorre, providing for
free and open convention The amendment was dis
cussed by Messrs Gorrel, Steele Edney, Turner and
Bledsoe, it rejected ayes II, 30 Thobil was
then rejected ayes 10, noes 81
The Roanoke Navigation bill was then taken up,
amended and passed its I'd and Sd readings and order
to be Engrossed.
The Bill to provide for special terms of the county
courts of Cumberland and Duplin, was so amended on
motion OF Mr. Flanner as to embrace In its provisions
Craven county, and then passed its third reading, and
was ordered to be engrossed.
The Bill prescribing the duties of executors and adj
mnisratOrs also passed. EngrOssed
The engrossed Bill relative tojustices process passed.
and was ordered to be enrolled.
Also, the Bill making husbands liable for debts Of
their deceased wives Adjourned.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.
Several reports from standing committees were read.
After the appointment OF magistrates for Hyde cOun
ty, message received from the Senate announcing
the passage of sundry private Bills Several private
Bills were then intl oduced, when the Revenue Bill was
taken up. The clause levyng dollar and twenty-five
cents on every dirk bowie knife pistol, sword cane
dirk cane, and rifle cane used kept for use worn
about the person. caused considerable discussion. The
words used kept for stricken out, which
leaves the tax to be paid only by those wearing them
about the person. The 18th section, evying tax of
three cents every distler for each gallon of sprtu
liquors made and sold in this State also strck
en- out. These the most important changes made
in the Bill to the Goth section which under discus
sion at three o'clock when the House adjourned.
RALEIGH, JAM 18th, 1859
SENATE.
Mr.. Humphrey introduced three Bills to incorporate
mining Conpones in the Western portion of the State.
debate, by vote of q to l9y0te forwarded yester-
| terday.
The Bill to amend the charter of the Wilmington,
Charlotte & Rutherford Rail Road made the special
| order for Monday next.
The resolution to authorize the Governor to receive
Chinese flag trophy of wary from Lieut. Guthrie, late
| of the q. Navy, passed its second reading
The Bill to authorize a Company to drain Hunters
Greek Lake passed its second and third readings
Gves them the lands under water to the of
| I miles by 3 to 4
The Bill to amend the 10th Sec 34th chap Revised
Code to provide for the removal of Superior Court
Clerks passed its second reading The Bill to enlarge
the powers of married their property in Ger
tain cases, also. And the Bill to authorize Pilots at
Ocracoke to pilot vessels at Hateras inlet Also the
Bill to authorize Notaries administer oaths in certain
cases. Also, the Bill to protect purchasers judicial
sales.
The Bill to amend the chapter of the Revised Code
entitled Marriage, was rejected.
Several other unimportan Bills were disposed Of and
4 the Senate adjourned.
i HOUSE OF COMMONS.
i In the House. no Bills Resolutions of any general
interest. A Bill to amend the charter of the French
/ Broad Railroad.
/ The Revenue Bill was taken up and considered for
about three hours, when the Merchants tax came up
MIR. Sparrow moved to strike out the words in Or
from the clause taxing merchant, produce dealer or
| commission merchant "one-half of one per cent.
on the total amount OF his purchases whether made in
| VI ooC VI Cne OtaCe' nAeoSls Sparrow, McAay, anu
Bryan, of New Hanover, spoke against the Bill as it
stood. Mr.. Fries defended it.
Mr. Bryan, of New Hanover, after expressing his re-
greet that he compelled to differ from the able chair
of the Finance committee this question: went on
to defend the commission merchants from any mputa-
ton that they had failed to list purchases under the ex
listing law He showed from the reading OF the Act OF
the last General Assembly, that in portion of the
1 Act merchants were taxed such, and in different
part OF the same secon distinct tax was laid upon
commission merchants The inference was very rea
soCabe one that the intention not to tax commits
sion merchants more than once. He contended that
tax of oneha OF per cent the purchases of COM
mission merchants was onerOus and unequal. Their
whole profits only q per cent on the amount of
their purchases and Sales If this tax now proposed
came out of the merchant it onetenth of his whole
profits If the other hand it out of the produ-
Ger consumer then it amounts to indirect tax upon
the people, who already heavily taxed upon their
polls their lands, and other capital used in the making
of this produce The tax merchants into the State
/ Treasury already amounted to nearly $4,000. This
was much ought to be paid by that class It was
certainly than their just proportion, taking into
consideration the amount invested in mercantile opera
ions and comparing it with the amounts invested in
other kinds of business. This tax, he said, would be
especially burdensome to his constituents The imports
and exports of the town of Wilmington were not much
passed through the hands OF merchants A tax eff one
half of one per cent on this amount would be 100000
Was it possible that the Legislature intended to impose
this additional tax upon the mercantile community al
ready heavily burdened with taxes He argued further
that this tax would operate nurousy to our own sea-
Iport towns If as had been contended this tax falls also