The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-12-23

Mr. SMITH moved to take up resolution in
favor of VIM. G. Hicks. ~ ~
On motion of Mr.. REsPAss, the Senate adj
journed. sa
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
TUESDAY, Dee. 10, 1868.
The House met at 10 o'clock 500 ~
The Speaker in the chair. 90 Z
Prayer 10y the Rev. Mr. Shaver, of the
House. l3 s
The Journal Of yesterday was read and
approved. fig+-s
Brief leaves of absence were granted to
Messrs. Hoffman, Gunter and Williams. Of
Sampson. a,1.3 sis-.iis b. az
Mr.. LAFLIN reported favorably from the
committee on internal Improvements the
Senate bill to divide and separate the east
ern and western divisions of the Whining
ton, Charlotte and Rutherford Railroad. n n,
Mr.. PoU moved to postpone indefinitely
the railroad bills which were special order
for III o'clock. He thought the bills slonld
be discussed on their second reading, and
proceeded to discuss the motion for an hour
and three quarters He said the people of
tile State do not intend to pay the principal
Or the interest on those bonds which were
unconstitutionslly issued at the last session.
He was not going to pay any ofthe interest
ON these bonds, and the people of his county
were not going to pay any of it, unless the
Supreme Court, says they shall pay it; but
there Is power above the Supreme Court,
(which decides for itself, and that power, the
people, will decide the constitutionality for
themselves, and send men here who will re-
fuse to pay one cent of tax to pay these. He
believed, when the constitution was ratified,
it protected property better than any other
constitution in the United States.
Mr. DOWNING raised the point of order
that the Constitution: was not under dis
cussion. ..r- aa5 1- t''f .tta
The Chair decided constitutional ques-
tions could be discussed which had connec-
ton with the bills. a-.l :--. 3
Mr.. DOWNING appealed from the decision
and afterwards withdrew his appeal. '
Mr. PoU continued, and read from Art. B
If the Constitution tn show that taxation
| must he uniform and al ralorem and not
I o exceed G6s cents on each one hundred
lolars of taxable property, and argued that
If these bills passed the Whole amount that
Gould he raised wnuld be expended in pay
ny interest ON bonds, and nothing would be
eft to support common schools. except
mall capitation tax. He expressed con-
empt for "honor' and said he admired hon
-sty, and should vote against these bills, he
cause he wished to preserve the reputation OF
the State for honesty. He should vote against
these bills because he believed that the sys-
tenn of taxation upon people of the whole
State, to be expended in building roads the
advantages Ut which are to be derived by
the people along the road is unjust. and he
believed it better that railroads should tail
than that injustice should triumph. He
would vote against them because the State
had no adequate security that the money
would he properly applied. He said the
tax would fall upon laboring men, and APP
pealed to the representatives of laboring
men to vote down the bills.
Mr.. ESTES rose to correct few misap-
prehensions of the gentleman from Johnston.
The report of the Treasurer and the Message
of the Governor state the debt of the State
at the commencement of this session to have
been 10 million dollars. lie estimated the
debt on the 1st of January next, without
these appropriations and with the interest
paid, at twenty millions. ..- -....,.
Mr.. SEYMOUR asked if he included the
appropriations made at the last session.
MIR. ESTES replied that he took the report
of the Treasurer. The amount of interest
paid on the first of last October was on Is
millions, and the 10 millions include the APP
preparations made by the last Legislature.
The debt January LIST will he 30 millions,
and putting the ASPIRATIONS asked by these
al fan ,,,itisNoc
lions owed by the State of which at least
sixteen millions are in her internal improve
ment. A bill has passed the Senate propos-
ing to sell out all of the States interest in
her public works and public improvements.
The State has been offered for the North
Carolina Railroad three million dollars in
State bonds. He thought sixteen million
dellars would be small estimate of what
would he derived from the sale of public
works and public improvements. Then We
have but fourteen million left upon which
North Carolina is compelled to pay the
interest The interest on that at six per
cent amounts to $4,000. 1t will he ncces-
sary to raise about $4O0, 900 more to carry
on the expense of the government. This
will require 81, 240,OO0 TO meet the interest
on the public debt and carry on the govern
mcnt for 1869. The Governor and tile Trea-
surer estimate that the State possesses $780,
100000 of real and personal property. He,
Mr. Estes, estimated that if we appropriate
this ten millions it will increase the proper
ty to fifty millions more. This would make
$250.000,000. A tax of one third of one
per cent upon that amount would produce
u revenue Of $3.50, 1000, leaving like amount
nr Sfufn md ~
would have to raise $4,000 upon incomes,
franchises, &c. Ele thought these statements
correct and unanswerable.
Mr.. SEYMOUR asked what sum was appro-
priated last session tor the Western Rail
road.
MIR. LAFLIN replied there was none made.
MIR. SEYMOUR rea,l from the act of last
session, which authorizes an increase of
stock not to exceed twelve millions, and
authorizes the Treasurer to make subscrip-
tions tor two-thirds of the capital oc the
stock, and asked what subscriptions were
made. ~" s'9f
Mr.. GAMBLER said the act of last session
authorized the State to take four millions of
new stock. '''
Mr.. ESTES said his estimates were taken
from the statement of the Treasurer. Reply
ing to Mr.. PoU, who said he spoke for the
people, he said he did not represent the peo-
pie OF New Hanover county at least. In re-
gard to this one-third of one per cent. tax,
he said. the tax in New York is two per
cent, in Massachusetts, twO-thirds of one per
cent, in Ohio half of one per cent, and lie
understood the gentleman from Johnston to
Say the people would repudiate the bonds
issued under these bills and the bills passed
at the last session.
Mr.. PoU said the bills would necessarily
raise the tax above 66a per cent, and he