Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-07-03

State as it is to political communities corporations
and individuals, by restricting the full enjoyment OF
their Independence BY exciting distrust and lealou-
sy, by the imposition Of unequal burdens upon the
people and by the enailent Of wrong and injustice
upon Succeeding generations without their control
or assent -
l insist therefore that every reasonable guard
should be thrown around its excessive power, more
efectualy curtailing its use within just and Ger.
tain limited bounds. conclude that the contracting
Of anv large State debt should, by the organic law
Of the land be placed entirely and securely beyond
any doubt Of its receiving the sanction OF the peo-
pie by at least two thirds vote of their represen
tatves. - ~
Mr. Ruffin opposed the amendment
The question being put the amendment was re-
jected.
Mr. Smith of Macon moved to strike out the
third section, and demanded the yeas and nays.
Mr.. Graham moved to strike out of the End Sec
ton after the word Taxation" and all Of the third
section and insert and all property on which taxes
shall be laid shall be taxed according to its value to
be ascerained by law" but withdrew it for the
present
The question was then on the motion of Mr.
Smith to strike out the third section, and it was
adopted-yeas &C. rays 40.
Mr. Bachelor moved to reinsert that portion of
the third section which limits the amount of the
State debt to twenty millions Of dollars.
The amendment was opposed by Messrs Barnes
and MeareS, because it would cucumber the simple
question of equal taxation.
Mr. Christian said he was surprised to see what
a change had come over the spirit of the dreams Of
certain gentlemen within q few weeks. When this
Convention had under consideration the ordinance
for adopting the permanent Constitution of the Con-
federate States and 1t was suggested to incorpo-
rate declaration of the right of secession in the
dnance, 20 no. said they, "t will not do to clog anc
cucumber the ordinance with anything of the sort!'
but now when the friends of at ralorem wish to put
that question upon its merits before the Convention
and before the country gentlemen are for attaching
to it other provisions that will cucumber it, and
perhaps induce the people, on account of the con.
nection to finally reject it. He thought gentlemen
ought to act up to the mark in this matter, and not
cndeavor to do at time what they SO solemnly
protested against at another.
MessrS. BggS Rayner, Venable, Ruffin and Batch
eor favored the amendment, because they thought
it just and proper to limit the Legislature in laying
tax for internal improvements.
The question was then put on Mr.. Bachelors
amendment, and it was rejected-yeas A., nays 81.
Mr. Graham then renewed his amendment
After some debate, Mr.. Smith of Johnston, offer
ed an amendment to the amendment, providing that
the Legislature may lay specific tax on carriages,
gold and silver plate and State bonds. Some furth-
er debate ensued, and then the amendment was re.
jected
Mr.. Riggs moved to amend by substituting the
provision the Constitution of Texas in regard to
taxation.
Considerable discussion ensued, pending which,
Mr.. AShc moved to postpone the further consider
alton of the subject until Monday, 10Th November
next
Mr.. Graham demanded the yeas and nays, which
being ordered, resulted-yeas So, nays &c. as fol-
lows:
Yeas-Mr. President Messrs Arlington, Ashe
Bachelor, Battle Of Edgecombe, Biggs. Brown, Bum
ting, Cunningham Darden, billiard, Durham, Foy
Fuller Henkel, Holmes Howard, Mcneil of Cum
berland Mcneil of Harnctt, Moody, Mosely, P. n
land, Rhodes, Shaw, Smith of Halifax, Switzerland
Strong Thomas of Jackson, Thompson, Thornton
Tracy, Walton, Ward, Williams, Williamson and
Winslow-3G.
Nays-Messrs. Allison, Armfeld, Barnes, Battle
of " AXE, Berry, Brodnax, Bond, Caldwell, Cannon
Christian Council, Dick. Douthitt, Eler Ellison,
Ferebee, Foster of Ashe, Foster Of Randolph Gilmer
Gorrel, Graham, Green. Green!ee Hamn, Har-
grove. Hearne, Headen, Holden Houston of Union,
Johnston of CASTOR, Jones of CALDWELL Jones Of Ro-
wan, Kittrell, Lander, Leak of Anson Leak of Rich
mond, Long, Mann, Mcdowell of Burke, Mcdowell
of Baden, Merritt Miller, Myers, Osborne Patter-
son. Pcttigrew. Phifer, Rayner. Royser, Rufhn,
Sanders Satterthwaite, Ship, Smith of Johnston,
Smith of Macon, Speed, SproGse Spruill OF BERTHE,
Spruill of Tyrrell, Stewart. Turner Venable, War
rem, Washington and Woodtin 80.
Further discussion ensued on Mr.. Biggs's amend
ment when the question being put thereon, it was
rejected-yeas Al, nays 3d.
The question then REQUIRED on Mr. Grahams
amendment, and it was reccted-yeas 80, nays &c.
MIR. Gilmer moved amendment in lieu Of the
second Section-rejected yeas So nays 65.
Mr.. Bond offered substitute for the second Sec
ton, rejccted-yeas %, nays II.
Mr.. Merritt offered an amendment to submit the
ordinance for ratification to the people. Rejected
Mr.. Foy offered verbal amendment to the Sec
ond section. Rejected.
Mr.. Thomas Of Jackson, moved to amend by add.
ing a clause to tax bank stock, State bonds and
moneyed interest as high but not higher than land
| and negroes according to value.
An irregular discussion ensued thereon and the
amendment was rejected.
! Mr.. Sanders offered All amendment that this or.
dnance shall take effect from and after its ratifca-
tion-withdrawn there being standing rule to that
! effect, unless when otherwise ordered.
| Mr.. Smith, Of Johnston, offered amendment re-
qurng the Courts Of Pleas and Quarter Sessions to
lay tax for county purposes taxable property &C.
cording to value. Rejected.
The question required OIL the final passage of the
ordinance as amended, and it passed-yeas So, nays
II; the yeas and nays being ordered on motion of
| Mr.. Biggs.
| The title was then amended and the ordinance Or
dered to be enrolled.
MIR. Brown offered an ordinance providing for the
! submission Of all amendments to the constitution to
the people for ratification Lies over under the rule
The Convention then adjourned, it being 1890,
! p m.
! ['rhe Reporter would state that he could not in
the hurry of the proceedings, procure copies Of the
various amendments that were offered to the ordi-
nance, even if this had been practicable, they
would have swelled the days report beyond
able limits. For the same reason, it was found al.
solutey necessary to condense the debates into the
smallest possible compass
WEDNESDAY, June 20, 1861.
The Convention was called to order at o'clock.
| Prayer by Rev. Thomas E. Skinner.
The journal of Tuesday was read and approved
| Mr. Smith, Of Halifax, asked and obtained leave
to record his vote in favor of the adj aalorem ord
nancp nassed on Yesterday