The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1860-03-21
sit was dane to Che falest extent Of he power

tlemen, addressed TO their Western brethren,
was substantially this: Your property con.
sists for the greater part in land. That IS
against unjust levies. by the power
of The landholder 10 elect the Senate. that
power we all agree is to be retained. But
we own the larger portion Of the slaves. I
Give US constitutional guarantee against
undue taxes upon slaves, and other matters
being arranged satisfactorily. we will 60 into
convention, and give you equal representa-
ton This was agreed to. The convention
was called. 1t ordained that slaves, under
twelve and over fifty years Of age, should
not be taxed at all and those between those
ages should be only subject 10 such poll tax
as should be laid on white men. Thus, one
half in number Of all the slaves in the State
is exempted by the constitution from taxa
ton altogether; aud the other half is exempt.
ed from all tax as property. but is liable only
TO the capitation tax imposed on white men.
Thus, the two great subjects OF property in
the State, lands and slaves, were placed
under the protection Of the constitution,
against unreasonable exactions BY the Iegis-
lature-the lands retaining their did defence.
BY means OF political power in the hands OF
/ kUtil Ohuflst hHlSU tutm ~ nav a
veto on legislation, in one House vi the
General Assembly-the slaves having a still
more efieetual shield, not by means Of po-
litical power in the owner, but BY positive
interdict upan the Legislature from laying
its finger upon the one-half OF them for any
le,ies Tor the support Of Government, and
upon the other half, only so heavily, or so
lightly, as it lays il upon the white man with
a vote in his hand. Aud now. sir. you pro.
pose by this " Free Suffrage" bill to take
from the landholder the protection which he
has had tram the foundation of the govern.
meni, and by reason Of the retention Of
which, protection was given TO the slave
holder IN 1885, and 10 permit the protection
then for the first time allowed 10 the slave
holder to remain. This looks TO me very
much like taking out the foundation, and ex
pectiug the structure to remain poised in
mid alr--sery much like taking out bal
ance wheel from complex machine, and
expecting II TO run on, as ii never disturbed.
Does any one doubt for moment, that il the
protection to land had mt been continued in
1855. the guarantee in favor Of slaves would
never have been adopteds was cuntinu-
ously member Of the General Assembly,
| from the ratification Of the amended consti-
tuition. until 1910; and ! am very sure, that
after the compromise Of 1885, down TO that
date, if a Western member had introduced
a bill ~ amend the constitution. by annull
! ing the guarantee in favor Of slaves, or ii an
Eastern member had proposed bill TO amend
the constitution, by abolishing the protection
Of lands. by doing away the qualification Of
voters for the Senste, either woald have been
charged with a breach Of faith; and from
which ever side the movement might ha,e
come, ii I'D have provoked retaliation on
the other.
But, | may be told, that Eastern and
Western parties have passed away. Be il
50; | shall be the last 10 attempt to revive
strifes merely sectional. But The great in.
teresis IL society exist now as they existed
IN 1855 ]; aud although men may be lndyidu-
ated, and act no longer in sectional masses,
the question still is Of as much interes: as
eyer-is there to be any check upon the
Legislature in the imposition Of taxes on
propeftys And if there is, on what species
Of property; shall land, the most important
Of I'LL property, be cat AWAY, and bear such
\ burdens Is NAV be imposed 81 pleasure or 81
necessity, while slaves enjoy the exemptions
nos alIowed: Sir, ] fear this subject 81
amending the constitution has been consid-
cred too much with reference to equality on
DAYS of election. Let us become a people
Of equal rights and equal privileges, saws the
Governor, - his message. The problem
really 10 be solved j. not one Of political
Y equality merely, but ~ taxable equality also
4 Aud whilst ! do not object 10 all free citi-
zens casting equal votes on DAYS Of election,
| must insist that along with that change in
I the constitution. there shall be security cor
as near an approach TO equality as possible
on the DAYS Of tax gathering, and, when the
sheriff makes his annual round. for the col
lection &c the revenue. that zach man shall
contribute according 70 his several ability
for the support n Government. II has been
treated a. 4 question solely between the
landhOlder anil the Ron.landhOl,ler. 10 regard
10 egnalil, uf votes. II is an equally impor.
tant question between the lindhulder and "a,
stakeholder. aud white poll. IN regard TO tax
alton. We must view things a. they are
What are lie great subjects Of taxation IL
the State. from which revenue Is to be de.
rse5 Lands, slaves, and shlte polls. Ynt
MA, derive something handsome from taIe,
% moneys al interest. and stocks in banks
or other corporations, aud pittance from
wat Is laid 90 suur daughters PAM. YOU
Wiie's silver spoons. q cefera, but your maii
reliance for revenue Is upon the three source,
Just mentioned. Those three interests wer,
al Represented IN The convention Of 1855
were parties t0ihe treaty then made, and AZ,
All protected against unequal burdens Bndsi
I the existing constitution. The land. BY III,
. power u its owner 10 select tie senator
! me white poll. By hi. power 70 select III,
House Of Commons, and the slave property
by the guaranty already mentioned. Tber,
l.. and was designed to be. between them, mu
taal checks against inequality Of imposition
BY this bill you destroy this system; yot
strike from the Iaadholder his power Il ,le
ientr, while YOU leave tie stakeholder hii
impenetrabie III eld. Yum set out with IL,
'QgiXgtic idea 81 establishing equal politica