Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-02-21

WHEREAS the government of North Carolina affords equal
protection to all the citizens and every species property
y should be subject to equal taxation for the support of
the government and Whereas Under the present
no power to tax slave property equally with land and 9TH
property in proportion to the protection enjoys and
amended Constitution provides that the General Assembly
may alter the same the manner therein prescribed
SECTION l. Be it enacted by the General Assembly Of the
State Of No1 CarolnG and It IS hereby enacted by the
authority OF the SdTe That the 3rd Section of the 4h
Article of the amended Constitution be amended as
follows That all free white males the age of twenty
one years. and under the age OF foyhve years. shall be
subject to an equal capitaon tax, and other white per-
SEC 2 Be It further enaced, That all the free coored
inhabitants of this State shall be subject capation
or other tax < as the General assembly may impose.
shall be equally subject to taxation with every other spe
eies OF property and shall be taxed high but not higher
than land, according to value.
MI. Bledsoe spoke at length in favor of the BILL
MI Humphrey said he would not follow the Senator from
Wake in his argument, although there many points
in it to which lie could not agree. He opposed to
ofthe bill in its present shape and for the purpose
of perfecting it that he could support IT, he some
amendments which he would offer and would them to
the Senate as part of his remarks in order that his object
might be more fully understood. He opposed the
preamble to the bill and could vote for it,
maxins which he did not think true; seemed to
when his opinion there were classes Of property and many
interests which should not be taxed at all besides, ii it
passed with the bill could be Incorporated in the Con
tituon and as is not essential to the passage of the bill
To The second which reads follows 'sThat all
the negroes State shall be subject to such CAPT
tation other tax the General Assembly may impose
he would move to add the following:
"And the General Assembly shall have unlimited power
remove from the the free negroes and to change
and determine the of those who remain and to en-
act all in reference to said free negroes their
wisdom they may deem expedient and proper"
Mr. Humphrey said that he had during the last session OF
the Legislature and also this session. introduced bills the
object of which the free negroes from the
State in they choose remain permit them to
select their masters and become slaves His object was not
to Cypress this unfortunate class of population
he introduced those bills of his accord. They were
framed and introduced in accordance with the prayer of
memorial from many OF his constituents who regarded that
they disturbing element that the fostering
IN their midst and that justice to themselves well
reque ed their removal They thought there should
be but two classes of our popuation the white people
who should be equashavng equal rights and privileges
and entitled to equal protection under the Constitution and
tue other the coored who should be equals among them
selves, that is should all be slaves
The Judiciary Committee Of last session reported the bill
to be unconstitutional and the report upon similar
bill has been made this session. there several ap
pIcaons before the Legislature for special legislation
certain free negroes to ensave themselves he had
offered resolution which had been adopted by the
requiring the committee free negroes report gener
al law tor that purpose the committee reported bill
which had been referred to the judiciary committee and
na hey also report unconstitutional The object of the
amendment Was to give to the General Assembly unlimited
power over the subject of free negroes.
Mr. Bledsoe said had objection to the amendment
Mr. Humphrey then said he lad one other amendment
oher VIZ strike out the rd sectOn which reads fol-
lows:
That property slaves shall equally subject to taxa.
ton with every ether species of properly, shall be
as hi n if not higher than land according TO value and
subject
on and shall not be taxed higher than land, whether
capita or dd UdLOrtnl"
he amendments would have to be voted on separately
and therefore to begin with the first he moved to strike out
the preamble. He would add that the amendments were
offered IN good faith, and adopted he would vote for the
bill.
Mr. stubbs moved to amend the motion Mr.. Humphrey
by striking the remainder Of the bill his hill
Constitution.
Mr. Dockery not for the purpose of OBTAINING the
Senate but for the purpose of both sides
seemed to agree pass bill adopt the principle
appeared to be who should Claim the paternity Of the
proposition for the Senators from Martini OnslOw and Wake
were all in favor Of the principle of 0d Uat0rem taxation.
Mr. Humphrey said that the Senator from Richmond
about 70 put him wrong upon the recordhe Senator had
in favor Of adopting the principle Of dd UalOre taxa
ton upon every species OF property He was not aware
sing him advocate that doctrine. He was
opposed to It no unoIm ana unbendng rule OF taxation
some exemptonsAad that the position he occupied
and should bear higher than articles of necessity
Billiard tables bowling Saloons carriages and the like should
ing utensils and the like should exempt from taxation
Labor agriculture and the Industrial pursuits Of the people
the state should be fostered and encouraged ega
ton and not embarrassed by taxation. The Senator
mistaken In CHASING him with those who desired to tax
b eUery species Of property
from Richmond belonged in the late campaign that Propo
now, and should continue to oppose it,
His last amendment proposed to amend the Constitution
State to confer upon the General Assembly the
power to tax slaves equally With land He was Wiling and
would that the Constitution should be amended
that particular he would not stop to argue the question
whether slaves did already bear due proportion
OF the burdens Of the governments that not prac
tca question already evil had been the result the ag
taon of this question the political campaign; he dis
claimed any imputat'on to the motive Of Senators and
array one class of people aganstthe other Why what
l. appeals would be made IN the next campaign The dis
condition of this country Of the agitation
Of this quesonan appropriation of money to furnish
the people of the State 10 put them upon footing
made the session. and had already
threatened that therefore this property should pay big
Should this agitation continue and these appeals be
made the very institution itself will be endangered
Mr.. Humphrey wished to settle this matter settle il
and without stopping consider whether
should be taxed higher be would rather submit to the ad
dona taxation than to the agitation Of this question in
another political canvass
The following resolutions been offered in the South
ern Congress, and referred
Resooed That until otherwise provided, the several Off
collection