Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-04-25

OF The Eseeutire Committee Of the Democratic
0arty of North. Cdrot~a ON the objection TO an
I'D salorsm system Of taxation.
at we're good therefore, that in their Innovations
would follow the example IF time ITSELF which indeed in
novstsh greatly but quietly and by oerees scarce 10 ee
perceived It ia good also not to try exper ments IN
hases except the necessity be urgent or tue nty es
DENT: and well 10 beware that il be the reformation that
aveth On the change and not tie desire OF change that
prstendsih the reformation ,-Aacon'
To THE FnrEAEH or NoRTn.C CAROLINA:
!. The Opposition party of North Carolina, which
assembled in Raleigh. on the 22d and 2Sd of Febru-
arv. have seen fit, at time of peculiar danger to
the South and her institutions. to endeavor to dis
tract the councils of the State and divide her people,
upon domestic question of constitutional REFORM
Not content with general and harmless denunca-
ton Of the only party in the Union that is capable
of preserving, and anxious to maintain, constitu-
tional union Of the North and the South-they. in
their anxiety for power, and rash grasping after
place endeavor to carry out their petty plans and
selfish projects for getting possession of our State
government and expelling the Democratic party
from the control Of federal affairs. flor they can
have no hope Of succeeding that party in the man
agement Of the federal government by proposition
ut this most inauspicious time to call convention
upon the federal basis for the purpose of striking
out article 4, section 8, Of our Amended Constitu
ton, which commands that
"s1. Capitation tax shall be equal upon all indi-
viduals subject to the same.
"All free males over the age of twenty-one years,
and under the age of fortyve years, and all slaves
over the age of twelve years. and under the age Of
fifty years. shall be subject to captaon tax, and no
other person shall be subject to such tax; provided
that nothing herein contained shall prevent eXemp-
ton Of taxable polls heretofore prescribed by law
in cases of bodily infirmity."
Their platform of principles promulgated at that
convention, declares that
"Whereas, great inequality exists in the present
mode of taxation, and il is just and right that all
property should contribute its proportion toward
the burdens of the State:
/. Resolred, That we recommend convention of
the people of the State be called the federal basis
a. early as practicable for the purpose of so modi
flying the constitution that every species Of property
may be taxed according to its value, with power to
discriminate only in favor of the native products of
State and the industrial pursuits Of her citizens"
This proposed change, inopportune as it is in time,
impolitc it is in the mode in which it is proposed
to effect it, dangerous as it is in its tendency ard
unjust as it must be in its operation and effects,
the Democratic party Of No.thCarolina have felt it
to be their duty to resist; and therefore the
ton of this party, which assembled in Raleigh on
the 9Th Of March, in their platform Of principles,
declare:
"That we are opposed to disturbing any Of the
sectional compromises of our constitutions State
National, and that we especially deprecate the in
PRODUCTION at this time by the Opposition party of
North Carolina into State politics. of question of
constitutional amendment affecting the basis uron
which our revenue is raised, believing it to be pre-
mature. impolitic, dangerous and unjust; at the
same time We deem it the duty of the legislature
when passing acts for the raising OF revenue so to
adjust taxation as to bear as equally practicable
within the limits of the constitution upon the var
Gus interests and classes of property in all sections
of the State"
Remember, fellow-citizens this controversy is not
Of our own seeking; it is not from choice that the
Democratic party agitates at this time the topics in
volved in its discussion; the issue is thrust upon
us we are compelled, if We would preserve sacred
and valuable compromise contained in our organic
law, to take issue with our opponents. And it is
under such circumstances that we appeal to the
People, the highest political tribunal known among
men, to preserve our constitutional temple from de-
secraton, feeling assured that to your convictions
OF common interest to your sense of justice, to
your knowledge Of the fundamental principles of
our popular governments, we shall not appeal in
van if this controversy to be decided by the rules
Of candor, patriotism, truth and justice. We make
no appeals to prejudice or passion convinced that it
is due both to you and to those in whose behalf we
act as we'll as to ourselves, to give "a round un.
vanished statement of facts, figures and argu.
ments, in discussing so grave an ISSUE involving in
it as We believe it does, the faith honor and negri.
ty Of the State, and the present success and future
advancement of this commonwealth
We allege thatit would be ciolation of pliqhted
faith to make the proposed amendment in our poity
and it will not be necessary for us to go great
way back into antiquity to make this assertion good
and rescue from perversion, perhaps from oblivion
facts of our political history, which must be known
to thousands of living witnesses, which are authen
ticated by our State archives and contemporaneous
records OF current events, and which ought at this
time to be as familiar household words" to the
young men OF our day, if we would decide rightly
IN this contest The constitution, framed sat ,
Congress of the representatives of the freemen o
the State Of North-Carolna assembled at Halifax
the seventeenth day of December in the year of ou
Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy six
Just at the beginning Of the turmoil, danger ant
hustle of coming war with the most powerful ma
ton then upon the face Of the globe, adopted coun
tics as the basis of representation in both the Sc att
ana House OF Commons, allowing member eacl
TO certain enumerated boroughs; probably becaus
this was pretty much the basis of representation il
the House of Commons in the mother country o
because it was the one which had been in use unde
the colonial government. 1t denominated this Sen
ate and House Of Commons assembled for the Dull
pose Of legislation, the General Assembly 1t CAV
the General Assembly the power to elect by join
ballot of both Houses, the Governor, Judges Of tn
Superior Courts of Law and Equity, Judges of AZ
miralty. Attorney General, and indeed ali our hig
Civil officers, as we'll as the generals and field off
Gers Of the militia and all the officers in the regula
army Of the State This system answered very we
so long As the small counties on the seaboard an
the large counties in the west differed but little
wealth and population, and common extern.
danger united the interests of extensive territory
the county basis Of representation, without regar
but shortly after the peace of 1885, it was seen tbs
TO the size, wealth or population white or fedora
of each county was exceedingly defective, and ur
successful efforts were made to remedy this defec
In short time, as our population increased an
pressed towards and beyond the Blue Ridge an
the number of counties-greatly preponderating i
the east. increased but slowly in the west, ION a,
count of an unfortunate difference which had grew
up between the two sections with regard to locatin
the seat of govcrnment-wh lille the white popu,
ton greatly predominated in the western counties
the Old county basis became oppressive. and te
more than Quarter of n cenf,,rv artor;o. tn 90