Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-08-21
SENATE.

The Senate met at 10 o'clock, Mr.. Speaker Clark
in the Chair.
Journal of yesterday being read, was corrected
and approved.
Mr.. Sharp presented memorial from Iredell,
praying that tax be laid upon dogs. Also me-
mortal asking that all the soldiers which may
be called into service he exempt from poll tax.
They were read and referred to the finance CON-
mittee
A message from the House was received, propo-
sing to raise joint select committee of five from
the House and three from the Senate the militia.
ConcuTred in.
The resignation of j. NJ. S. Rogers, of the 9Th
Senatorial district (Northampton,) presented
by the Speaker and read,
On motion of Mr.. Outlaw, a writ of election was
ordered
Mr.. Hall from the judiciary committee reported
resolution in favor of suspending that part Of the
ordinance of the Convention, which relates to the
disbanding of the twelve months volunteers.
Mr.. Bledsoe introduced the following resolution:
Res0lued That the committee on finance be and
they hereby instructed to report bill, provid
ing for the collection of an al UdlOrem tax accord
ing to the provisions of the amended Constitution,
upon all slaves hereafter listed for taxation.
Mr. Thomas of jackson, thought that the ordi-
dance referred to was not in force that there was
an understanding in the Convention that the ordi-
nances were to be submitted to the people for rat-
hcatiOn.
Mr. Brown said that there certainly was an I'M
Outstanding to that effect, and that they were not
binding until so ratified.
Mr. Gather wished to know how it was that the
ordinance of secession binding Them if the
ordinances amending the Constitution were not
He conceived that if one was binding without such
ratification, all must be, and that therefore it was
the duty Of the Legislature to act upon the resou
ton.
Mr.. Thomas reoined, re-afirming his former de-
claraton.
Mr.. Brown said there was a wide difference be-
tween the ordinance Of secession and that of al
loren. One a particular duty assigned them
by the people; the other was an amendment to the
Constitution, upon which the people had not in
structed them. He thought that there a gen.
eral understanding in the Convention, that the
amendments to the Constitution would be submit
ted to the people.
Mr.. Gather rejoined, reviewing and enforcing his
former position.
Mr. Barringer wished to know, if an ordinance re-
moving Jewish disabilities was passed by the Con-
vention.
Mr.. Brown answered that it was.
Mr.. Barringer then wished to know, if a Jew
had been elected to fill a vacancy in the Senate,
would he in the face of the ordinance, be refused a
seat? He contended that the ordinance upon al
Ualorem was precisely similar and the fact that the
Convention had not ordered their submission to the
people, whatever might have been the understand
ing, cannot render them null and that therefore,
the ad ralorem ordinance was binding, and it was
clearly within the province of the Legislature to act
upon it.
Mr.. Brown declared that the Jewish disability or
dnance was not yet in force; that the Convention
had not adjourned sine die that its action still
ncomplete-that all the ordinances still in the
power of the Convention TO change, modify or re-
scnd and that of the ordinances of the Conven-
ton amending the Constitution were binding, until
they had been submitted to the people and ratified
by them The safety of our Republican institutions
depended upon frequent reference of the action of
representative bodies to the people. The Conven-
ton was creature of the people, and he held that
all its acts should be submitted to the people for
their approval or disapproval.
Mr. Bledsoe was surprised to hear the statements
of his friend, the Senator from Caswell He sup
posed there could be difference of opinion as to
the duty of the Legislature in regard to al UalOre
That the ordinance had been adopted by the Con-
vention with the view and for the purpose of having
early action upon it by this body and that there
fore it was the intention of the Convention that it
should be in full force and effect from the time of its
passage. The Convention had placed the RESPONSE
bty of providing for soldiers upon the Legis-
ature and had therefore passed the al ualorem or
dnance for the express purpose of enabling this
body to provide amply for them from this source,
as we'll as from others heretofore existing He con-
tended that the Treasury empty, and it was i'm
peratively necessary that it should be early repen
ished, and that tax on our slaves was needed to
aid in replenshing it.
Mr.. Brown arose to explain. He said that as
large tax on slaves as could be desired could be
laid upon them under the old Constitution and
that he would go far any other Senator in sup
| plying the means to carry on the war.
Mr. Bledsoe admitted that Mr. Brown was right
as to the operation of the old Constitution, but he
was opposed to that method, because in increasing
the taxes slaves under the old Constitution, 1t
must be increased upon poor white men also, and
might lay onerous burdens on them, which he was
not willing should be done. He showed that unless
the Legislature at this session, made provision for
the assessment of this Gd uaLorem tax, that three
years nearly must elapse before it could be done
On motion of Mr. Hall, the resolution was made
the order of the day for Wednesday ~ o'clock
Mr. Barringer presented resolution to raise q
upon the table, ="
nj. outlaw presented bill to enlarge the hat