Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-01-22


The whole matter had been conducted from
beginning to end in a most unfair and dis
courteous manner. He had asked for a
little time to consult his people, and had
been refused in the most ungracious man
ner. He held in his hand petition sign
ed by every voter IN his district, praying
that they might remain in :heir old county
and showing many hardships which the
dismemberment of the county would en-
tail upon them, &c.
Mr.. f. then presented the petition, to-
gether with letter from prominent citi-
zen of the Hatteras District. Both of the
petitions and the letter were read by the
Clerk
Mr.. Stilley moved to refer them to the
Committee on Counties and Townships.
Mr.. Farrow opposed their reference, but
the motion to refer was put and carried.
Mr.. Long. of Chatham, arose to a ques-
tion of privilege. He was reported, on the
Journal of last session, as voting against
the Howard amendment, whereas he voted
for it.
The correction was ordered and the fact
noted on to-day's Journal.
RESOLUTIONS.
BY Mr.. French A resolution to author
ize the Governor to negotiate with Con-
gress, with a view of securing to this State
the annexation of the counties of South
ampton, Isle of Wight, Nansemond, Nor
folk and Princess Anne, of the Military
District of Virginia, and request Congress
to have the question submitted to the peo-
pie Of those Counties as soon as possi-
BILE.
BILLS.
By Mr. Painter A bill to provide for
the election Of township officers. Referred.
By Mr.. Long, of Richmond A bill for
the relief of J. A. Long, late Sheriff of
Richmond county. Referred.
By Mr. Gambler A bill chartering the
Bank Of Asheville. Referred and ordered
to be printed.
SPECIAL ORDER, VIZ
The bill to erect the county of Dare.
Mr.. Stilley moved to refer the bill to the
committee Oh counties and townships.
Mr.. Farrow said as the bill was objec
tionable to nearly all tho people immedi-
ately concerned, he moved to indefinitely
postpone it.
that notion
Mr.. Farrow Did you not, sir, before
the recess, say that if could show that
ma jority Of the people concerned were op-
posed to the measure, you would no longer
advocate it
Mr.. Stilley We are both probably in
terested in the matter. Therefore the bill
had better be referred to an unbiased COM
mittee for their decision.
Mr.. Farrow That, sir, does not answer
my question. Mr.. T. repeated his ques-
ton.
Mr.. Stilley said when it was shown that
a majority did oppose it, he would cease
to urge the matter.
NIr J how ~
Mr.. Stilley insist upon my motion to
refer.
The question recurred upon the motion
to postpone indefinitely.
On motion of NJ. Farrow, the yeas and
nays were called al resulted in a vote of
yeas Il, nays ~.
The motion to refer then prevailed.
SPECIAL ORDER.
House bill $40, amendatory of title 20,
Code of Civil Procedure, and to ratify stays
Of execution granted by Justices of the
Peace. This bill was submitted by the
Code Commission and amended by the Ju-
dietary committee.
On motion the amendments of commit
tee were concurred in, and the bill passed
its third reading without debate.
The special order for this hour was an
nounced, to-wit The bill to provide for
the collection of taxes by the State, and by
the several counties of the State, on prop
erty, polls and incomes.
On motion the bill was ordered to be
read section by section.
In section 1st Mr. Hodnett moved to
strike out, in line 7, 1880" and insert
"1969." Mr.. Hodnett said lands in 1860
were valued at double what they are now.
In the cotton and tobacco growing sections
the effects of the war had been more heav-
oil tho1 in Hfh hn LAM in
those sections constituted the wealth OF the
people and were very valuable indeed.
Now, since the close of the war, they have
deprecated greatly in value. The Consti-
tuition says expressly that property shall be
taxed at it's true value therefore this sec
ton assessing lands at value fixed years
ago, when property Of that description, as
a general thing, had greatly deprecated
since that time, is direct violation of the
Constitution. He would warn colored men
that, in voting for this un Just basis of tax
alton, they were voting against their inter-
est, for this reason: The employee would
pay Just such wages as he could afford, and
ii the heavy burden Of taxation was laid
upon their lands it would be deducted from
the wages Of the employe. ISuch system
of taxation would be oppressive to the peo-
pie and its unfairness and injustice were
/ obvious to all. This section cOolly pro-
posed to levy tax based upon the valua-
| tion of 1860, when the lands were in high
state of cultivation and very valuable, in
spite of the fact that their value has de-
creased almost two-thirds. He asked, upon
the grounds Of e1pediency, constitutional
ity and justice, that his amendment be
adopted.
Messrs. Vest, Blair, Ingram and French
defended the section reported by the
committee and opposed the amendment.
Mr.. Malone moved an amendment to the
amendment: "That the Commissioners of
the county shall appoint two Justices of
the Peace in each township to make the
return of all the lands, in order that all
the lands in the State may be returned at
| the same time the taxes are listed"
Mr.. Malone said
In this amendment it is proposed to
value the land in 1869, and not to take the
valuation of 1860 Or 1868. The Constitu-
ton provides that the property of the
State shall be taxed at its true cash Valu.
alton" Would it not be more il conform
ity to the Constitution to assess the value
of Land now? The value of land, like
mules or horses, fuctuates in value. Fol