Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-10-05
For the Standard.
p! RALEIGH, N. c., Oct. LIST, 1859.

For the Standard.
z--l- j RALEIGH, N. c., Oct 1st 1859.
To Willis Whitaker, Esq:
DEAR SIR: Your article addressed to me, in the
Standard Of to-day, signed Wake, is before me, and
avail myself Of the earliest opportunity to respond
to all Of it except the last interrogatory, to which
will reply at my earliest convenience. f.z
While fully recognize the right of my constitu-
ents 70 call upon me for my opinions, OF explana-
ton OF my course in reference to any question upon
which have been or might be called to act as their
representative, you must excuse me for expressing
the regret which l feel, that by addressing me
through the columns of public newspaper instead
of by private letter, you have imposed upon me
the disagreeable necessity of giving to the public
over my own signature, opinions and explanations
which my Constituents alone have right to demand
and in which it is to be presumed, they and only,
are interested
Upon the question of ad ualorem taxation, "its
bearings and probable incidental or collateral conse
quenceS," cherish no sentiment, and entertain no
opinion which wish to conceal from people who
have honored me with their confidence and support
and to protect and promote whose interest prosper
ity and happiness it has ever been my pleasure as
well as my duty as a representative. will, there
fore, proceed, in the order in which you PROFOUND
them, TO answer your questions with that candor
AMI fsankness which should ever characterize the
intercourse between representative and his constit
uents
First I think your assumption that "slaves can
not be taxed adj ralorem, without modification of
the constitution" is partially if not enrey, errone-
GUS but to all doubt to the right Of the
legislature to lay equal tax, all edlOre,a upon all
the property in the State, think the constitution
ought to beaered; and think that alteration ought
can, and will be made, without abolishing the
present federal basis representation in the House Of
Commons, and substituting in its place. free white
hoSiS rhara &c mott ho conceivable
nectien between the basis of representation and the
revenue laws of State; and therefore, change
in the basis of representation neither be sin
cidental or collateral" nor "a certain or probable
consequence of the adoption of general system of
all calOrem taxation in North-Carolina"
The cry of sohite basis was urged with much
vehemence and much ability against free suffrage
it now is against ad ualorem taxation and those
| who urge it now are likely to meet with the same
success did those who urged it then. The expe-
ricncc of sister slave States, Georgia. Florida
Alabama and Tennessee affords the most conclusive
proof of the correctness of my opinion upon this
question, for Georgia and Florida have adopted the
federal basis, and Alabama and Tennessee have ad-
opted the free white basis of representation in their
legislatures, and yet all them have adopted "a gen.
eral system of all ralorem taxation" which proves
beyond all controversy that dd galorem taxation is
not incompatible with either the federal or aohite
basis of representation and therefore, the "adop-
ton of general system of ad ualorem taxation y
cannot disturb the federal basis of represention in
North Carolina.
Secondly As the constitution may be altered
and "a general system of ad ralorem taxation ad
opted" without changing the basis of representa-
ton, "the distribution of the school fund of the
State in proportion to white population. in place OF
federal numbers, as is now the rule" aoiU not follow
as consequence of the adoption and imposition o.
general system of at ralorem taxation in North
Carolina" And as neither a change in the basis o
representation, nor the distribution of the schoo
fund will follow as consequence of the adoption
and imposition of general system of ad Ualoren
taxation in North Carolina, therefore,
Thirdly. 1.-THE adoption and imposition of gen
eral system of ad ralorem taxation" will have n
"effect upon the mineral strength of the delegation
to the House of Commons" in the two sections o
the State respectively East and West of the counte
of Granville, Wake Cumberland and Robson, bu
these two sections would continue to be Represented
by the same "numeral strength" to which g the,
arc now entitled under the Federal basis"
F0urthly. As " the distribution of the School fun
of the State, in proportion to white population il
place of Federal numbers" uW not ,tollou a
sequence "of the adoption and imposition of ger
eral system of ad ralorena taxation of North Care
!; na," deem it unnecessary to go into calculatio
which sustains no relation to- and can have no Unfit
ence in determining the justice, expediency or pIat
ticability of ad ralorem taxation.
Filthy. As l have shown that "a free white basi
for the apportonment representatives of the Hous
of Commons aoiU not "be certain or probable cor
sequence Of the adoption and imposition of gene
al system of dd rdloren. taxation in North Carolina
therefore my opinion is, that Wake county will los
, none of its members of the House OF Commons no
any portion of its School fund by the adoption an
imposition of general system of nd ralorem taxatio
in North Carolina"
In my next article will give to you such of m
views, and make such explanations Of my motive
: and the course which have pursued and dcss
t pursuing upon the question of ad ralorem taxatio
as the circumstances and my duty my constit'
ents and myself may require. have addressed m
d reply to you because you informed me that yo
, were the author of the article signed Wake, and
il ORDER that the public might know that had bee
called on by a gentleman whose knowledge of publ
affairs, whose position in society," and whose ntere
n in slave property, fully entitled him, one of m
! constituents, to my opinions representative
MOSES A. BLEDSOE.