Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-04-18
Gov, Ellis and Mr.. Pool.

Gov. Ellis and Mr.. Pool.
We give to-day, from the pen Of an esteemed cor
respondent an account of the discussion in Elizabeth
City between Gov Ellis and Mr.. Pool. The account
is full and no doubt a fair We learn that
Gov Ellis sustained himself remarkably we'll in the
discussion, giving entire satisfaction to his friends
and producing fine impression o1t those differing
with him in his views. ~
Mr.. Pool has certainly taken singular ground on
the subject of taxing slave property. He declares
that an ad calorem tax on property generally will
not increase the tax on slaves Is thiSso? We
think not. We know that the opinion of the ad
palorem men of both parties with whom we have
conversed is that the proposed change 'e increase
the tax slaves We merely assert the fact, with
out going ir to the argument as to whether the tax
ought or ought not to be increased; and we insist,
no matter what Mr.. Pool may say or promise, that
the tax soiU be increased The calculation of the
Fayetteville Observer is, if we not Mistaken that
under the operation Of the proposed change each one
of the three hundred thousand slaves in the State will
be taxed about 66 cents making the entire tax on slave
property S19S,OOO. The present tax is SllS,oOO.
No one proposes to increase the tax the Constitu
ton now stands, because the tax on white polls
must be the same as on black polls.
But if the tax on slaves is not to be increased,
wherefore the proposed change in the Constitution?
Will Mr.. Pool answer that?
But Mr.. Pool it appears this is the most ex-
traordinary of all his positons-lnsists on Con-
vention and restricted Convention at that to make
one amendment 70 the Constitution. Now, the pro-
position is selfevident that the Legislature Of the
State has no right to call restricted Convention
THERE'S no such authority in the Constitution That
instrument provides that Convention of the people
may be called by two-thirds vote of the Legisla-
ture and of course the meaning is that the Conven-
ton shall be full grown, unrestricted, sovereign
body. The servants of the people cannot limit the
people themselves. A power not sovereign, as the
Legislature is not sovereign, cannot impose lmita
tions on the sovereign power. Single or separate
amendments from time to time are provided for by
the legislative mo6e-that is by a three 6fths vote
of the Legislature at the first stage by twothirds
vote at the second stage and by the approving vote
of the people at the polls at the third; while Con-
vention is provided for when several amendments are
desired-a Convention invested with full power to
change alter, modify, or to abolish and make anew
the Constitution may seem test to the people
themselves acting through their delegates This
was the ground substantially taken by the Wing
party in this State in their Conventions in 1850
1852 and 1854. In 1850 they proposed Convcn-
ton to amend the Constitution so as to make nearly
all the State officers elective by the people; in 1862
they referred to ''amendaents'- to an amend
ment; and in 1854 they expressed the opinion that
the people desired change in the Constitution, and
proposed Convention to effect changes, the Con-
vention to be called and based to preserve only
from change innovation the present basis of rep
resentation in the Legislature. We heard nothing
then about restricted Conventions 1t was proposed
to preserve the basis of representation in the Legs-
lature, not by restricting the Convention, but by
calling it on basis which would render it highly
improbable that the interests represented would
touch the basis referred to.
Mr.. Pool, in his efforts to please both the East and
the West, will displcase both If the people of the
East should be disposed to change the Constitution
so as to tax slaves according to value they will moi
vote for Convention to effect the change, but will
do it by legislative enactment; and so far as the
people of the West are concerned they have no idea
of incurring the trouble and expense Of limited
Convention. When they vote for a Convention il
will De an open, unrestricted Convention. Mr.. Poo
may shrewd, but he notan experienced politician
He has not sufficiently studied and understood the
opinions, the impulses, and the habits of thought o.
the people of North Carolina Their pre-eminen
characteristic is sound common sense. They expect
reasons for propositions submitted by public men,
Their judgments must be convinced before Their
votes are cast They will not authorize Conven
ton to make but one amendment in their Consttu
ton; and they will not vote for Mr.. Pool simply
because he proposes to tax all property at the same
rate, without at the same time increasing the tax