Wilmington journal., 1873-08-01
THE CONSTITUTIONA AMEND

The Amendments proposed by the
Legislature for the relief of the people
of North Carolina, are eight in mum
ber, and are to be voted upon on the
first Thursday in August.
I.
The first Amendment proposes to
strike out that part of the Constitution
of the State requiring q census to be
taken in 1875 and every ten years there
after at the expense of the State.
The Federal Government takes 9
census of North Carolina every ter
years at its own expense. If the State
takes one also it will only be increas.
ing the burden upon the taxpayers
who have now as much as they can
bear.
The Amendment is c good one and
ought to be adopted>I.
The second Amendment proposes t.
change that part of the Constitution
which requires the Legislature to meet
every winter, even though there may
be no business for it to transact, So
that it shall be required to meet only
once in two years.
The Legislature of North Carolina
costs the people nine hundred and
forty dollars each day of its session ex-
elusive of lights, fuel, stationery and
printing.
If, therefore. this Amendment be
adopted, the Legislature instead OF
meeting every winter will meet only
once in two years as it did before the
war. and the people will be saved one
l,a1f e kl,o r
If the Amendment shall be adopted
It's benefits will be felt for all time to
come. 1t is an intolerable nuisance to
compel the Legislature to meet every
winter at a cost of over a thousand dol
lars day.
The third Amendment proposes to
enlarge the power of the Legislature
III the matter of eXempting property
from taxation.
Section 6, Article V, of the Consti-
tuition authorizes the General Assem-
bly, to exempt from taxation wearing
apparel, arms for muster, household
and kitchen furniture, the mechanical
and agricultural implements of me-
chanics and farmers, libraries and sci
entlIc Instruments, to value not
exceeding three hundred dollars" The
third amendment proposes to insert
after the word "i3,st17tnlents" in the
above, the words cor o,'y othcl' per-
.sORal PROPERTY" SO that the poor man
may get the benefit of the exemption
as well as the rich man.
Ii this amendment be adopted the
exemption from taxation will work
fairly and equally and without distinc-
ton between rich and poor, and the
poor mans pig and his COW and cali
Will be exempt from taxation as well as
the rich mans furniture and books and
clothes.
As the Constitution now stands the
men who are well off in money-matters
get too big share, by far, of the ben
EFT OF the exemptions from taxation.
As the Constitution now stands, to the
extent to which it goes, it makes the
rich man richer and the poor man
poorer; to him that hath it eives. and
from him that hath not it fakes even
that which he hath.
Ii the amendments be ratified al
this VIII be changed, and all men. in
all conditions OF life, will be treated
alike.
The fourth amendment proposes tC
strike from the Constitution the words
superintendent of Public Works,
wherever they may occur thereiH anG
thereby to abolish the office.
The Office is one that does no one
in North Carolina or ont of it an,
good, save the man who draws the pay
it gives for doing nothing.
Old Mr.. Silas Burns, of Chatham
of all the men, women and children IL
North Carolina, black and white, sc
far as we know, is the only human
being who has announced any opposi
tion to this particular amendment, an(
he, as the people already know, hap
pens to draw the pay for doing nothing
IN this very office OF Superintendent OF
Public Works, that every one elst
wishes to abolish.
The fifth Amendment proposes tC
strike from the Constitution that por
ton of it which declares that the pub
lie debt shall be regarded as inviolablt
and never to be questioned, and thai
which requires the Legislature, by ap
propriate Legislation and by adequate
taxation, to provide for the promp
and regular payment of the interest
and principal.
III this Amendment be ratified, til,
Legislature will have unlimited contro
of the whole matter As the matter
now stands, the Legislature is ham
pered by the requirements of til,
Constitution.
There can never be a satisfactor,
settlement of our public debt question
SO long as these Imperative provisions
remain in the Constitution of the State
When they shall be removed and cred
itors, so-called, shall he dependen
entirely upon the will of the people
rs spoken by their representatives il
the General Assembly, there will be
little trouble IN bringing matters to a
reasonable satisfactory compromise.
We take no mere Conserv ativt
partizan view Of this question. Mr.
Curtis III. BrOgden, n prominent mem
Der of the Radical party and by virtue
OF IFS votes Lieutenant Governor O
the State of North Carolina, publicly
declares that 1.-The legislation OF
1868 ." when the Special Tax Bonds
were issued, ''brought reproach ant
discredit upon the State"
Hepubhc'y declares, too, that "witl
our deficient means and our imperfec
farming operations with SO many non
producers, and our dependence upol
others foe necessary supplies, We are
little prepared to pay high taxes or tc
bear heavy pecnniary burdens.
1t will require q tax of three dollar:
and twenty five cents on. every one
hundred dollars worth of property o
every sort to pay the interest on tn
Public Debt, so-called, and the tx
penses of State and county govern
mcnt. In addition to this, alter th,
year 1880, another tax will have to bt
levied each year to provide sinking
fund to pay the principal.
Ii these taxes he levied and paid
| our people will be sold ont of houst
| and home. Homesteads and extmp
tious and bankruptcy are worth 10th
| ing against a sheriff with a tax bill il
his hand. The money must cone ol
| the homestead must be sold to make
it. 1t will be wise and pruden ther
to strike from the Constitution that
part of it which requires the ta, to be
| levied.