Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-03-13
SPECIAL ORDER-REPoRT OF THE COMMITTEE
ON FINANCE

made for paying the old debt of the State.
He offered as section 4, provision to the
effect that the Legislature, after 1880, shall
tax real and personal estate, and the sum
realizld d shall be set apart as a Sinking
Fund for the payment of the public debt.
| Mr.. Abbott offered substitute for Sec
ton 4, as follows sc Until the bonds of
the State shall be at par, the General AS
sembly shall have no power to contract any
| new debt or pecuniary obligation in behalf
of the State, except to supply casual de-
ticit, or for expressing invasion or insur-
rection, unless it shall, in the same bill,
levy special tax to pay the interest annu-
ally and the General Assembly shall have
no power to give or lend the credit of the
State in aid of any person, association, or
| corporation, except to such railroads and
other works of Internal improvements, as
are finished, and in which the State has a
direct pecuniary interest, unleSS the subject
be submitted to direct vote of the people
of the State, and be approved by majority
of those who shall vote thereon
| Mr.. Abbott addressed the Convention
upon the various features of the report in
a speech of some length.
In the 1st section Mr. King, of Lenoir,
moved that capitation tax shall be laid
between the ages of q and Al, instead OF
21 and So
The amendment was rejected.
Mr. Toungee objected to the 1st section
of the majority report as cumbrous.
He moved to substitute the 1st section o1
the minority report.
Mr.. King, of Lenoir, desired to know how
the poor Of a county was to be supported,
how bridges erected, &C., and other county
expenses betrayed, when the poll tax is
leived for special purpose ? 1t would be
we'll, perhaps. to limit poll taxes, &c. Now,
the Convention takes away the power to
collect private debts, and imposes heavy
taxes. He believed the proposed arrange
ment impracticable.
Mr.. Colgrove said that the people would
be much better pleased if the poll tax went
for educational purposes. In his county
excessive poll taxes had been levied.
Mr.. Rodman opposed Mr.. Tourgees s
this was the 'signal gun" of the war be-
tween numbers and property" He be-
lieved that property should bear its just
proportion of the tax, but this spirit of
agrarianism, which such legislation would
cause to spread over the State, would re
suit in nothing more nor less than an un-
just crusade against tproperty,-laying enor-
nous and eXtravagant taxes upon property,
without keeping within a fair and equitable
proportion.
Various gentlemen, taking different sides
of the question, next occupied the floor.
Mr.. Graham, of Orange, desired to know
where one million and half of dollars was
to be raised annually. Where is it to come
from Say that the poll-tax will bring in
two hundred thousand dollars. Now, can
erty we'll, that will drive men from the
State. Let us keep the first article as it is.
A moderate poll-tax will be necessary. He
would like to see the taxes raised from one
race applied to their education, but, any
ways, we will have to face million and
half every year. Where is it to come from,
if two hundred thousand is to be taken
from the poll?
The question recurring upon Mr.. Tour
gees amendment, the yeas and nays were
called for, and the call being sustained,
the roll was called and stood, yeas 27,
nays 50.
Mr.. Gambler moved to strike out So in
10th line, and insert 81 SO.
The yeas and nays were called, resulting
in yeas 80. nays 73.
The section was then adopted.
In section 2, Mr.. French, of Chowan,
moved to add the following words d" But
in no one year shall more than 25 per cent.
The Chairman of the Committee accept
ed it.
Mr.. Tourgee moved to strike out all af-
ter the word " education," including Mr..
French's amendment.
Hood, (negro) hoped the amendment Of
fered by Mr.. Tourgee would be rejected
He thought it was just as necessary to make
some provision for the poor man as for ed
ucatioDal purposes. Besides, it would be
urged by certain class that property was
being taxed to support colored people,
they being the poorest class.
The amendment was put to vote and
lost.
The section was then adopted.
Section 3 was read, when Mr.. Rodman
offered an amendment so that the General
Assembly could tax trades franchises, pro-
fessions and incomes. He said that the OBJ
ject was this : as the section stood, neither
bar-keepers, lnn-keepers. or shows of any
description whatever, could be taxed, or
| lawyers, or other professions. The Legis-
lature ought to be allowed, at all events to
tax shows, bar-keepers, hotels and saloons
They are able to pay.
Mr.. Heaton endorsed the section as it
stood, and thought Mr. Rodman's amend
ment was entirely unnecessary.
MIR. ROdman added the following pro-
vision to his amendment PrOrioied, that
no income shall be taxed when the proper
ty itself, from which the incomeis is derived,
is taxed.
The amendment was adopted.
The section, as amended, was adopted.
Section 4 was read.
The question required upon Mr.. Tour
gees substitute.
Mr.. Holt moved to strike out "shall' and
insert "may.@
Mr.. Abbott and Mr.. Heaton opposed it.
Mr.. Tourgee said by the insertion of the
word ':.may" the Legislature is allowed to
go on from year to year without paying
That was squirting at repudiation. He was
called repudiator. but he wished all who
had said SO to come up and stand up to the
rack and not sneak out at side door into
a back alley. He had fought the 9th arti
Gle of the Bill of Rights, assuming the old
| State debts, like man. It is now settled
and L am now amazed at this barefaced at
tempt at reputation.
MIR. King, Of Lcnoir, replied that {
change had come over the spirit of hi
dreams," and went on to urge Mr. Hobbs
| amendment.
Mr.. Rodman spoke for some time in op
position to it, saying that Mr.. King ap
peared IN a new character-that of a repu
diator. (Mr. King denied the chareel. -