The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-07-18
an aggregate of 4,O4a, an aggregate taxation
of 81 500, and tax on real estate of $73S,
and in polls of $3.50, andis allowed one menu

So Halifax with nearly twice the white
population of Polk, more than four times
the aggregate population of Polk, more than
twelve times the aggregate taxation six
times the tax on real estate, and more than
twelve times the poll tax, has only the same
representation in the Commons.
Beaufort with one and one-half the white
9 population of jackson, nearly three times the
aggregate population, nearly nine times the
aggregate taxation, four times the taxation
on real estate, and seven times the poll tax,
( is entitled only to the same representation
in the Commons s,s
BERTHE, with white population of 5,s06.
an aggregate population of IA, $40, assessed
for taxation in 1850, ,$11,272, in real estate,
member in the Commons.
s Allegheny with two-thirds the wtite pop
uiation Of Berthe sae-fourth the aggregate
population. one-ninth the aggregate taxation
one-ifth the real estate tax, and one-nlnth
the poll tax, is-allowed one member.
But lest it may be said that cite extreme
cases. will select three among the smallest
counties in the east in white population, and
compare them with some counties in the
west. 1t must always be remembered, in
this argument, that the proposed amendment
tothe constitution apportions the Senate, as
well as Commons on the white basis
Jones, Hertford and Warren, have an ag-
gregate white population of II ,074, whole
population of 20,960, an aggregate taxation
of $27 ,954, on real estate $G,396, on the poll
$3.50 and are allowed three members.
The three counties specified are equal in
aggregate taxation to Yancy, Wilkes, Polk,
Macon, Haywood, Cherokee, Buncombe,
Henderson, and as Clay, Mitchell and Tran
sylvania were formed from those countie,
since the assessment, add them also. The
counties are allowed thirteen members.
One white person in Jones, Hertford and
Warren pays more taxes than five white per-
sons in the counties specified
New Hanover, including Ellington, which
has ever been established, was assessed $33,-
276 in 1850 in aggregate taxes, and is allow
ed two members.
Iredell, Davidson. Yadkin, Wilkes and
Union are allowed ten members, and pay
nearly the same aggregate tax of New Han
over The white population of these coun-
ties is 56,823, the white population of New
Hanover is 10,617. One white person in
New Hanover pays as much tax as five
white perons in the counties specified.
The delegate from Lincoln selected parti-
cular cases for comparison. have been far
more general But to put the matter beyond
doubt, beg to submit that the white popu-
lation of the east IS almost tw0-thirds that of
the west, while the aggregate population is
about equal. Giving to the west the centra,
counties each white person in the east pays
about $1.50 to the head, in the west about
rs cents Dividing the aggregate taxation
! of the east by the aggregate population, it is
discovered that each white person, negro.
mulatto and quadroon in the east pays more
to the support of the government, than each
white person in the west. And yet it is
seriously proposed here to exclude the whole
colored race from representation, not only
depriving the east of the representative ben
efits to be derived from one-third of her pop
ulation, but also depriving her of all repre-
sentation for her taxation. To consummate
such measure would violate every princi-
! pie of justice.
We have been cited, Mr. President, to the
example of other States. Does my friend
from Lincoln desireto follow their example
Would he exchange the Old North State to-
day, the general contentment and happiness
of her people, their public and private vir-
tues, for any one of them in her wealth and
/ prosperity? Can he, looking to his poster
ity, ask fo- them any better fate than to live
in a land such as North Carolina, with con.
servative principles which preserve her peo-
pie from the moral leprosy of those States
whose example we are asked to emulate q
Yes, Mr. President, many of them have given
up the conservative principles OF their con.
stitutions, and, with them, their public vir-
tue also Politics with them is now job
and the public servant has become the pub
lie peculator. Does he desire to see implan-
ted here those principles which have there
contaminated the body polite know he
does not. / know he has an eye single tC
the honor and interests of his State. Of all
men in the western delegation noted for theil
conservatism and ability, it is to him would
have appealed to stay the progress of radi
! calism. But when even he approaches, with
uplifted dagger, to strike the life out of the
constitution, in an agony of despair an
forced to exclaim " Et tn Brute !'
have no purpose to cripple the resources
of the west My bosom never glows with q
warmer feeling of patriotism, than when con
templating her unbounded treasures and the
| generous character of her people My voice
shall never be raised against any practicable
and honest effort to aid her industrial ener
gies and l hope to live to see the day when
starting at Weldon with my children ani
friends can go on picnic excursion tt
the Blue Ridge, there to enjoy the hospitali
ties of its people and inhale health from it
invigorating atmoshere. The whole Stat,
requires our whole exertions- section
of it needs our aid in its further develope
ment While picture to myself the subli
nifty of the mountain scenery of the west anC
her exhaustless mineral resources, when l de
sire to aid her people by every advantag
that internal improvement cangive, / turl
my eyes also to that section of the east, fo
which comparatively little has been done
! lying on the shores of vast inland sea- il
terspersed with fine rivers, the lower Roam
oke, the broad and deep Chowan, the Per
quimans, the Pasquotank and the Nortl
River, all capable of floating ships of heav.
burden, flowing into the Albemarle Sound
and yet almost shut out from the ocean. LIE
me hear the echo of the steam whistle in tn
tunnels of the mountains; but let me SCI
also, the commerce of the Albemarle regio
make its way in ships and steamboat
through a magnificent canal, into Norfol
harbor, and pass the capes across the broa'
Atlantic.
! Let us unite our energies, let us do equ,
justice; but let us spare the Constitution
/ spare it, beg you-touch NOT a single col
sentative feature, and ere q generation pass
away, you will thank God that you resiste
temptation and retained those principl
which, in their operation. preserve this goc
old State from the demoralizing radicals
of the day.
! 80 y l. : . i r