The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-07-18
RALEIGH n. C., WEDNESDAY, july IS, 1866

wood district was then assessed 1882. So
that one white man in the Martin district
pays as much towards the expenses of the
Government as three white men in the Hay
wood district,
Fourth allegation. The population of
HEREFORD, BERTHE, Northampton and Martin
distr cts is 81 ,097, and has four Senators.
The population of Buncombe, Haywood,
lredell and Surry. is. t19,206, and hay, four
Senators nearly one to six.
Reply.-The aggregate population of the
said eastern districts is nearly one-half of
that of the said western districts The taxes
assessed on the said eastern districts in 1860.
amounted to $42,219. Those then assessed
on the said western districts amounted to
S38,000. SO that one white man in BERTHE.
Northampton and Martin districts, paws
more taxes into the public treasury than six
white men in Buncombe, Haywood, Iredell
and Surry districts.
But, says Col. Bynum: "It is admitted
that property must be protected; but how
does that prove that the poor land of Hen
derson is not entitled to equal protection
with the rich land of Hyde That the poor
mans little is not as dear to him as the rich
mans much, and that he is not as anxious
to protect it by wholesome laws"
To which reply, in the words Of great
statesman and great master of the Eng
lish language. l read from the works of
Edmund Burke, who, speaking of the true
rights of society, says: i" In this partnership
all men have equal rights, but not to equal
things. He that has five shillings in the
partnership has as good right to it as he
that has five hundred pounds has to his
larger proportion. But he has not right
to an equal dividend in the product of the
joint stock; and as to the share of power,
authority and direction, which each indi-
vi(iual ought to have in the management of
the State, that must deny TO be among the
direct original rights of men in civil society;
for have, in my contemplation, the social
man and no other It is thing to be set
tied by Convention"
commend the whole beautiful essay from
which the above extract is taken to the con-
sideration OF those who hear me. 1t is en-
titled Reflections on the Revolution in
France" ask for nothing that is unjust
l desire to give the West that due weight in
the councils of the State to which her num-
bers are entitled, but I ask for the East that
protection to which her interest is entitled.
protest against the principle which would
place that interest at the mercy of the mere
numbers of the West. If white man in
Henderson pays tax of one dollar on his
land, and white man in Craven pays two
dollars on the like quantity, it is revolving
to every mans sense of justice that the white
man in Henderson should not only be equal
ly protected in the enjoyment of his proper
ty, but should also have the right of dispo-
sing at his will, of two dollars belonging to
the white man in Craven for every one dol
lar of his own.
I was greatly edited by the movements of
the gentleman from Rutherford in his intro
duction of the amendment under considera-
tion. An amendment which deprives the
East of all representation of her property,
and all protection save the generosity of the
West! The air of sincerity with which he
enunciated his political dogmas was admira-
BILE. He was actuated by desire to pro-
mote the interests of the East he desired,
for her own sake, to rectify her own mis-
takes; he hoped that the West would be al
lowed to come to her; and he was SO very
affectionate, that thought he would open
Ills d'Lio oilt elNC 10 OIC lOllS, dull IOVlHg
embrace / watched his countcnance, under
the impression that might detect smile
lurking around the corners of his mouth
but no, he was as calm as summers. morn
ing.
envied his cOnsummate composurc. l
have not had time to examine the benevo-
lent provisions which the gentleman's ordi-
nance would make for us, as the printed
copy was placed in my hands only a few
moments before I got up, but / take an ex-
ample therefrom almost at random
To Halifax and Northampton united the
delegate proposes to give one Senator, and
to the County of Yadkin he proposes to give
one Senator. Those counties have white
population of 1850, and an aggregate pop
ulation of 1884, and were assessed in the
year 1860 by way of taxation, $33,095.
Yadkin has white population of 9,106,
an aggregate population of 10,714, and was
assessed in 1860, $4,43S. So Yadkin, with
alittle over two-thirds the white population
of Halifax and Northampton, not one third
the aggregate population, and not one-sev-
enth the taxation, would, under the dele
gates amendment be entitled to an equal
representation in the Senate. The remark of
the delegate, that should his purpose to
serve the east, as well as the west, be defeat
ed, he thanked God he had done his duty,
can now be duly appreciated It reminded
me of the Quaker's prayer:
"God bless me and my wife,
My son and his wife, sfsH-
Us four and no more,
Now and forever more,
Amen" 7f
"God bless Rutherford and Polk and Nc
Dowell and Burke and Yadkin, but let Hall
fax and Northampton stand out in the cold.n
But notwithstanding the delegates placidity
of countenance. could not help recalling,
during the delivery of his speech, the old
song,-
"Will you walk into my parlor, said the spider
to the fy?'
We all know the fate of the fly had she ac-
cepted the invitation-delega can make
the application.
will now proceed to examine the COM
plexion of the House of Commons, under the
report of the delegate from Lincoln, appor.
tioning the representation on the white basis
Edgecombe with white population Of
6,879, an aggregate population OF 1875
and taxes assessed in 1860, to $24 ,349, is al
lowed one member.
Watauga pays an aggregate tax of 81 ,493
anil with less than two-thirds the white pop
ulation of Edgecombe, with little over one
fourth the aggregate population, and with
less than one-sixteenth the taxation, is al
lowed one member.
But it may be said that the sources of taxa
tion have diminished in the East; to which
1 reply that it is reasonable to suppose they
have diminished in the West in a like ratio
But to meet this objection will add the ia,