Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1859-03-16
ment for this State shan BE- sstab,ishsd in name.

ment for this State shan Be established IN manner
and form following"
| think Mr.. Speaker. that have shown conclu-
svely from the constitution itself that the govern
meut of North Carolna was established By the peo-
pie; that they had the right to establish It and that
| they intended, and did frame . constitution most
conducive to their happiness and prosperity. II
have succeeded in showing that the constitution was
framed under the authority Of the people for The
purpose of promoting thea' happiness and prosperi
ty, it is only necessary to show further that the
| freemen of North Carolina were not only equals.
but had right to equal participation in the ben.
eits, and were equally subject to the burthens Of
government in order to establish the position that
the restriction in the amended constitution d m
compatible with, and repugnant to the great prnci-
pie Of democratic repx6lieaa equality upon which
cares upon its face that it was framed by the ire
representatives. Of the fteemen Of North Carolina un-
der the authority of the people" And Is there %
no line of distinction drawn in the consttution but
| on the contrary, an express declaration, "thae no
man or set of men shall DO entitled to exclusive or
separate emoluments, or privileges from the commu.
nity but in consideration Of public services -uat
all the treemen Of tie State were on perfect poiit
zeal equality in reference to the benefits and bur-
thens which were to flow from the organization Of
the government But If the constitution had not 30
explicitly declared it. we know that our fathers all
aided in the achievment Of our liberties and the
| Enlistment Of the government Every Senator,
who knows anything Of the history Of his country;
knows that the freemen of North Carolina were all
equals in that time Of privation and toll which
tried mems souls that they were politically
equals on the forum and in the field, and that they
equally suffered and bled and died for their country.
Was not Mr.. Speaker, the blood Of honest power
ty offered upon the altar of patriotism acceptable
sacrifice to the God Of liberty IS that which flowed
from the heart Of the purest the proudcst and the
noblest in the land? II and the political equality
of those by whom and for whose benefit assume
the government was established be admitted and II
cannot be successfully controvertcd are We not drv.
en- to the conclusion that it was organized for the
equal protection and 6enst of all who had aided in
the achievement Of liberty and the establishment Of
the government?
Well Mr.. Speaker. if the people of North Carolina
had the right to organize q government for their
mutual and equal protection, and did, in the exer-
else Of their sovereign power, n free and indie
pendent people, frame constitution "most coniu.
Give to their happiness and prosperity" did they not
frame constitution protecting equally all the eifi
gems and all the property in the State, and subject
ing all alike to the burthens Of supporting the gov.
eminent? When it came from the hands Of our
fathers, whose hearts were glowing with love Of
liberty and swelling with emotions Of patriotism il
contained no discrimination in favor Of or against
any particular class Of citizens property. nor any
such restriction upon the Legislature as that which
the bill under consideration proposes to strike out
If the constitution, when It came from their hands,
contained no discrimination in favor Of or against.
any particular class Of citizens or property nor any
such restriction upon the General Assembly, whence
came this subsequent discrimination in our constitu.
ton, so wholly inconsistent with al of our ideas Of
equality and justice and so utterly repugnant to
tie principles of our government
Mr.. Speaker, the discrimination sought to be
stricken down by the bill under consideration, il an
annexation upon the constitution libel upon the
principle Of Democratic republican equality, and an
insult to the intelligence sefrespect and patriotism
OF our fathers as well rs Of ourselves.
II these things be true should We not, inspired BY
an unaffected reverence for our ancestors and .
sense Of justice to the people, remove from the con.
stution restriction SO ieconcilable with the great
principles OF equality and justice upon which il was
framed, and without the observance Of which the
government cannot exist?
A just appreciation Of the principles Of our gov.
ernment and due regard for them, alone furnish
sufficient reason for the passage Of this bill.
But there are other and more urgent reasons for
its passage at this time in view of the financial con-
dition and revenue laws Of the State
IS well known that the public debt has been
rapidly increasing for the last few years on account
OF the various schemes Of internal improvement in
which the State has embarked.
BY reference to the very able report Of the public
treasurer, made to this General Assembly Il will be
seen that the present and prospective liabilities Of
the State are over twelve and half millions of dol.
lars - WV
While the resources Of the State are .mn,v sniff.
Gent, under proper system Of rerenue to meet the
demands upon her treasury, It is nevertheless
very large debt for people so little accustomed to
heavy taxation. But however large the debt NAV
seem, and however onerous the taxes NAV become
the debt must and will be paid, and the esith and
honor Of the State protected and maintained Il Il
just and honest debt and the people win
State; by refusing to pay it But this debt,
Tor the payment Of which the faith ind honor
OF the State are pledged was made for the bencf,,
OF oil the citizens and property in tho State for the
purpose Of promoting the general iate,e,t and
property OF the State at large
NOW, Mr.: Speaker, If the public debt was incur.
red for the benefit of all the citizens and nrnncr,
in the State should not all the citizens and nrpr
g in the State contribute to its payment, Can snv
good reason be assigned Why all for WHOSE bcnsG,
the debt was made should not contr;butc ~ ~.
payment OF It? The only resource of the Stat. ~
pay its debt and support the government is the o.s
sr Of taxation; and if the government WA cs,.h.
sneo oy az the eitisens and for the protection ana
oe.,ent Oh a should not all the citizens and pro-
| UeC6&S3YH
the government and pay the debt Of tSs SUI, pr
| enjoyedi -'s p'''ee''0"
n. say now, Mr.. Speaker, what have s.;d b.tors
snat tne revenue laws Of North Carolina have he.,,
framed upon no sound principle Of political conn ~
my and therefore their practical operations in detail
tSs osea aca:s and unequal Take for example
se son OF the present law in the eollect;on r.
revenue for Ssats and Countv puno..s Es' Ss 2.
purposes thousand dollars worth Of land I. "o~
a4ea one dollar and fifty cents, while a ssx. 10Th
one thousand dollars is only taxed fftv cents xnd
save mechanic worth two thousand doll,rs j.
@aea no more than an ordinary or infirm field hand
n ~Ur'a only nve hundred dollars Interest on mo-
cent ~ - m1ed about onefourth Of one per
sand dollars leaned while the same r., oC,
Inc oc carriages or other vehicles, is taxed ten So
IN or one per cent upon their value. thousand
aenals employed in merchandise is taxed ooe.thir