Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-04-21

=, -sudsoslessas Spcfest9 TaratseEe HI EiiE54n | |
- tti were good therefse.hat IN fhss innsa,iqns
.,s ssS s stgs; ss W s @Ss;" I'd be
e, ssisRs IA RsEsETE III % Pa;
Jrsweh on change, and u ne dcseiSf ohsligehat
preterdeth thsypf'SF~i''S --t'"eet.
To THE FREENEN OF N0Rf4I.C ARoIINA
The Opposition party Of North Carolina, which
assembled in Raleigh. on the 22d and 23d OF Febru-
ary. have seen fit, at time of peculiar danger to
the South and he 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 denuncia-
ton Of Fhe'ony party in the Union that is capable
of preserving, and anxious to maintain, constltu-
sionai 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 expelng 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
at this most inauspiciouS time to call convention
upon the federal basis for the purpose of striking
out article T. section 8, of our Amended Constitu-
tion which commands that
"s l. Capitation tax shall be equal upon all indi-
viduals subject to the same
"All free males over the age of twentyone years,
over the age ofetwelYes and under the age OF
ty years shall be subject to capitaton tax and no
other person shall be subject to sHch tax provided,
that nothing herein contained shall prevent exemp-
ton of taxable polls as heretofore prescribed by law
in cases of bodily infrmity."
Their platform Of principles promulgated at that
convention declares that,
"Whereas great inequality exists in the present
mode of taxation and it is Just and right that all
property should contribute its proportion toward
the burdens of the State:
/. Resolred, That we recommend a convention OF
the people of the State be called the federal basis
rs early as practicable for the purpose Of so modi-
fying 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
our State and the industrial pursuits of her citizens"
This proposed change inopportune it is in time.
impotc as it is in the mode in which it is proposed
to effect it. dangerous it is in its tendency. ard
unjust as it must be in its operation and effects,
the Democratic party of North Carolina have felt it
to be their duty to resist; and therefore the
ton of this party, which assembled in Raleigh
the 9Th of March, in their platform of principles,
declare:
THAT we are opposed to disturbing any Of the
sectional compromises of 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 aqueston of
constitutional amendment affecting the basis uFon
which our revenue is raised, believing it to be pre-
mature, impotic, dangerous and unjust; at the
same time we deem it the duty of the legislature
when passing acts for the raising of revenue, to
adjust taxation as to bear 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 seeking; it is not from choice that the
Democratic party agtacs at this time the topics in
volved in its discussion; the issue is thrust upon
us we 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 appeal to the
People, the highest political tribunal known among
men, to preserve orr teAfle 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
yain if this controversy is 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 ga round un-
vanished statement of facts, figures and argu-
ments in discussing grave an issue involving in
it as we believe it does, the faith honor and integri
ty OF the State, and the present success and future
advancement of this commonwealth
We alege that it would be riolati0u of ,1;1Btcd
Jath to make the proposed amendment in our poity.
and It Will not be necessary for us to 90 a great
way back into antiquity to make this assertion good
ana rescue from perverSion, perhaps from oblivion
facts OF our political history which must be known
10 thousands OF living witnesses which are anthem
ucated 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 would decide rightly
= IN this contest. The constitution. framed .at n
congress OF the representatives of the freemen of
the otate OF North-Carolina assembled at Halifax
the seventeenth day of December in the wear Of ur
" Lord one thousand seven hundred and seyentr-S;x
just at the beginning of the turmoil danger and
buste OF coming war with the most powerful ma
ton then upon the face Of the globe adopted coun-
Ties as the basis OF representation in both the Sc ate
anu Louse oi commons allowing member each
10 certain enumerated boroughs; probably because
TINS was pretty much the basis of representation in
Inc house OF Commons in the mother country or
because 1t was the one which had been in use under
1.-The colonial government 1t denominated this SEN
= late ana House OF Commons assembled for the pur-
pose OF legislation, the General Assembly It gave
the General Assembly the power to elect bv Joint
oallot OF both Houses the Governor Judges of the
=; superior courts OF Law and Equity JUDGES of Adj
s''mraty, Attorney General and indeed ali our hiob
Civil officers as we'll as the generals and field Off
GERS OF the militia and all the officers in the regular
army OF the State This system answered very we'll
so long as the small counties on the seaboard and
the large counties in the west differed but little in
wealth and population and a common external
danger united the ntere Is of our extensive territory
we county basis OF representation without regard
shortly after the peace of 1888 it was seen that
10 the size, wealth population white or federal
Al Of each county was exceedingly defective and un
successful efforts were made to remedy this defect
Fl, IN short time as population increased and
..rPressed towards and beyond the Blue Ridge. and
number of counties.greaty prenonder.fin, IN
80 the increased but slowly in the west ION ac
count OF an unfortunate difference which had crown
between the two sections with regard TO Locating
rs4helssat of gOvernment)-while the white popua.
noa greatly predominated in the western counties,
H. I plI county OASIS became oppressive, and for
a.: more than quarter of century anterior 70 1ss5
sl tie State has been divided in her legislative councils
and excited by sectional strife uron the question Of
:feforRihg old constitution of 1776 The cbiot
ground of complaint was the unequal representa-.
ZION OF the people, and every other topic which was
subsequently engrafted upon it, was probably in.
trndtfHa for the purpose of giving aid to the main