Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-05-26
For the Standard


Mr.. HOLDEN: 1t was the object of my last num-
Der to show that the Eastern counties in giving up
the power which they held under county represen-
taton, had the right to insist they did insist on
constitutional protection against legislative op-
preston and security for their slave property This
they thought they had secured in the principle
which they had adopted of the basis of federal pop
ulation for the Commons, and of taxation for the
Senate, with the farther restriction on the Legsla
ture, that negroes should not be taxed under the
age of twelve years. nor over fifty, and then at no
higher rate on the black polls than the white At
that time we had but sixty five counties in the State
OF these, thirty-SiX Granville and Wake inclusive
were ranked as Eastern counties, with slave popu-
laton of l56 905; whilst the West had twenty-nine
counties including Cumberland and Robson. with
a slave population, shown by the census of $780,
of IS, 6TS-making difference in favor of the East
after charging Cumberland to the West of sixty
three Thousand one hundred and seventy 1t was
both right and just that the East with this large
number of slaves in their favor should have received
the guarantees provided for in the Constitution.
Has anything occurred since to justify the change
now proposed to be made, and for violating the
compromises of 1885? We think there is nothing
to Justify it. The thrty-seven Eastern counties
Qor only one new county has been created) have
according to the census Of 1850, Sxty-four thou
sand six hundred and thirty slaves more than
have the forty-six Western counties. As to the
federal basis in the House of Commons, the poll
tcians say they do not ask for change but so far
the tax on slaves is concerned, they do ask that
the restriction the Legislature shall be taken off
and that Convention shall be called to adopt the
principle Of al UalOrem. 1t is true that under the
arrangement as adopted by The Legislature of 1852
the thrty-sevcn Eastern counties have twenty-seven
Senators and the forty-six Western counties but
twenty But this arises from the fact that the
East pays 30 much larger an amount of taxes into
the public treasury. For example, the county Of
Granville, for the year 1858, paid in taxes the
polls, S., $50, and she has but one Senator Gran
vile has 9,9S6 slaves, whilst the eight Western
counties composing the two Western districts have
two Senator's and eight Commoners, with slave
population of only 7,034,-Granville having near
two thousand more slaves than these eight counties
The eight pay poll tax of S5,Sl3, but fraction
example, and see how the matter stands between
Wake and Gu(ord, one of the largest Western
counties in point Of white population. Wake in
1850, according to the census, had 9,419 slaves
paid in 1858 poll tax Of So, 451, whilst Guilford
had but 8, lS6 slaves, and paid poll tax of S2SSS
Thus, whilst Wake has G233 slaves more than Gull
ford, and actually pays a poll tax, at present, of
So SOB more than Guiford yet the latter county is
amongst the strongest and oudest in It's cry for
nd rdlOrem, or, in other words for making Wake
pay more and herself less. And yet Messrs Rogers
Battle, and Russ trying to persuade the freemen
of Wake that this is all proper and just Save us
from such advocates of equality.