Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-06-29
AFTERNOON SESSION,

The Convention was called to order at o'clock.
Mr.. Battle of Wake gave notice that he would, on
tomorrow, move to rescind the resolution for ad-
journing at o'clock tomorrow evening.
Sundry communications were received from the
Adjutant Generals office in relation to contracts
for equipments-read and laid on the table and or
dered to be printed.
The consideration of the adj Ualorem ordinance
was resumed.
Mr.. Wilson offered an amendment allowing the
Legislature to provide for taxing slaves their in
dividual value.
Mr.. Rufin opposed the amendment and explain
ed the reasons which influenced the committee on
this point.
Mr.. Wilson defended the amendment
Mr.. Speed objected to that clause in the ordinance
which connects the tax on white polls and on land :;
and also to the limitation of the State debt
The question was put on Mr.. Wilson's amend
ment, and it was rejected, yeas SO, nays 55.
Mr.. Foster of Randolph moved to strike out the
clause which makes the captation tax equal to that
on $500 value of land.
Mr.. Osborne said he had voted to strike out the
section relating to capitation tax not that he was
opposed to the principle but he thought the laying
of this tax ought to be left to the Legislature but
if the restriction is to be incorporated in the Const
tuIion there should be a maximum as well as
minimum. He thought the present ordinance no
better than the old constitution, because it ties the
and thus makes the whole public tax depend on the
white poll at last.
Mr.. Dick said, it was evident that more money
| must be raised by taxation than heretofore, and
public opinion said it must be raised slaves, but
this ordinance places the white poll and land BOTH
between taxation and the negro; he thought he
would prefer the old Constitution to this in its pre-
sent shape.
Mr.. Ruffn made some remarks in reply to Mr..
| Dick.
| Mr.. Thomas of Jackson said he had been opposed
to disturbing the compromise of 1885, but if cas-
tern men asked change he willing to grant it
| but he would warn gentlemen that change of basis
would inevitably follow a change of the mode of
| taxation.
Mr. Howard moved to strike out of the second
section the words mot less than" and insert "equal
| to,"-rejected
The question was then on Mr. Fosters amend.
ment, and it was rejected yeas 80, nays 70.
Mr. Sanders then moved to strike out the whole
ordinance and insert the substitute offered by him.
some days since.
| Mr. Graham objected to the substitute because 1t
was too complicated.
| Mr.. Sanders made few remarks in defence of his
| substitute.
The question was then put and the substitute was
rejected
Mr.. Barnes then moved to strike out the End Sec
| ton and insert the amendment introduced by him
! last week.
Mr.. Barnes said he had offered this amendment
to test the one single proposition shall negroes be
taxed equal to land; and to separate the taxation
on white poll from that on land and negroes Lei
the Constitution do this and leave it to the Legsla
ture to settle. the details.
The question was then put on the amendment
and it was rejected yeas "a, nays 65.
Mr.. Headen moved to strike out all but the frs
section of the ordinance, and the motion did moi
prevail. z
Mr.. Ellison moved to amend the third section BY
striking out the words "a majority" and inserting
"two-thirds" Sc
Mr.. Ellison said, in my humble opinion the con
tracing and accumulation of large and excessive
debt is productive Of injury, apd generally destruo