The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-07-12

y
minority in each branch of the Legislature
That representation should be based on
majority of interest and majority of mum
bers combined, is fortified by the authorit
of the best writers on government. beg t.
refer to the essay of Mr. Calhoun entitled
"a Disquisition on Government" vol. list o
his works, pages %, 30 and 80, edition o
1851.
| A majority of numbers and of interest,"
| combined, or, what is the same thing,
union of persons and property, is the tru'
basis of representation. What is the basi:
of civil society2 I answer, property to as
great, nay to greater, degree than persona
security. I have never read of any state o.
society, how rude soever, in which the pro
lection of property did not form a constitu
ent element. The Indian in his wigwam
claims as his own the culver of arrows
| which his ingenuity has fashioned, or the
buffalo robe which he has acquired by his
skill in the chase. The Icelander, in his hut
of snow, appropriates to his own use the seal
which he has captured. and the Laplandel
| cherishes, with solicitude, the sled and rein
deer which form the principal share of his
| worldly goods. In every period of the worlds
history-in every place where men congre-
| gate, and that is in all places where they ex-
ist, from the days when Abel was a keeper
of sheep and Cain tiller ofthe ground, until
this day, the acquisition of property has
been the main stimulant of mans energies.
and the infringement of his right, to what
he claims as his own, the surest means of
evoking his passions and resentment. In the
more refined nations, what is the main sub
ject of elaboration in all legislative assem-
blies9 Is it personal security? No, but the
protection of property-the means of secur-
ing to every man what is justly his own.--
And yet, at this late day, we have propo-
sition here, which ignores the right of pro-
IN ~,
the State, and proposes to place it in the
mere numerical majority of white persons
which would place the East at the mercy of
the West. beg to say that prefer to have
the distribution OF my own property in my
own hands. l am not willing to place it in
the hands of Others. A white man in the
East pays one dollar tax, while two white
men in the West pay only the same amount.
Is not the Eastern man entitled to protection
in the appropriation of his dollar against the
numerical majority composed of the other
two Can there be palmer proposition
And yet, the proposition before the Conven-
ton would deprive the Eastern man of all
power of appropriation and disposition over
the fund which he contributes, and while
bearing the larger share of the expenses of
the Government, would make him but
cipher in directing their disbursement
In further support of my position beg to
refer to the debates of the Convention of
1885. read from the speech of Judge Gas
ton, page 1872:
- In the Constitution of a State all the
operations of whose government are not only
direct upon its citizens, but wholly confined
to matters of interior concern, the only in
terest, likely to be often arrayed against each
other are those Of property and of pers,ns-
Such Il government is formed for the purpose
OF protecting property and persons, and
would be inadequate to the end if left either
ut the mercy OF the other. 1t can never in
deed, be the true interest of any individual,
or of any body of men. to Cypress or iniure
others; but every days observation, and it is
to be feared that every days experience, must
convince us that a tancicd Immediate advan-
tage, magnified by the mists of passion, often
tempts us to torcgo any permanent good and
wrong our fellow men, under the ,lelus;on
that we are benefiting ourselves 1t is rirht
that government should be so constituted as
to bring the steady influence of interest in
aid OF the commands of duty" And, saws
Alexander Hamilton: THE best writers on
government have held that representation
should be compounded of persons and pro-
perry" vol. II, page 49, l also refer to the
Federalist, No. "a.
Having thus endeavored to prove that the
true basis of representation in every well re-
gulated government should be persons and
property. L Will now proceed infinitely to
examine the argument of the delegate derry
eel rom statistics. shall first consider those
relating to the complexion of the Senate.
First allegation. The eight extreme East
ern Senatorial districts, with population of
50,39S, are entitled to eight members The
eight extreme Western districts. witha poDu-
latlon Of POI, 7S5, have eight members. $500
voters Ill the Eastern are equal to 25,219 in
the Western district
Reply. The population of the Eastern dis
trlcts Is, IN fact in the aggregate, one-half of
that of the Western.
The eight extreme Eastern districts were
assessed in 1860 for State taxation to the
amount of S96,004. The eight extreme
Western districts paid tax of sos. TAO. So
that one white person in the Eastern paws as
much to the expenses of the State govern
ment as three white persons in the Western
districts.
Second allegation. Hartford has popu-
lation of 3,G47 and one Senator Buncombc
district has population of 10000 and one
Senator. One voter in Hartford is equal to
seven in Buncombe
Reply. The aggregate population of Hert-
ford is more than one-fourth of that of the
Buncombe district.
The taxes of Hartford assessed in 1860
were 81, 1874. Those of the Buncombe district
were S14, 1892 So that one white man in
herttord pays as much tax as four white men
in Buncombe district
Third allegation. Martin district has a
population of 9,02S and one Senator. Hav-
wood district has population of "A ,694 and
one Senator, one voter in Martin equal to -
in Haywood.
Reply. The aggregate population of the
Martin district is more than two-thirds of |
that of the Haywood district. Martin dis
trict was assessed in 1860, S11.G57. Hav-
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
H!ertford, Bertic, Northampton and Martin
iistr cts is 81 097, and has four Senator's
The population of Buncombc, Haywood.
lredell and Surry, is 1926, and have four
one to six.
Repiy.-The aggregate population of the
'a1d eastern districts is nearly one-haIf of
hat Of the said western districts. The taxes
on the said eastern districts in 1860,
amounted to 1920. Those then assessed
On the said western districts amounted to
53S, 900. SO that one white man in BERTHE.
Northampton and Martin districts pats