Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-08-22
NORTH CAROLINA AMENDS HER
ss.- COESTITUTI0N

At the election in North Carolina on The
It'll inst. the following amendments to the
Constitution Of That State, having been
adopted by the Legislature, wero submitted
to the people for ratification: l-.''- -
First-To repeal the clause requiring a
State census in 1875.
Second-To provide for biennial, instead
of anr usl sessions of the Legislature.
Third-fo exempt $500 worth Of an
personal property from seizure, instead of
certain articles Of that value.
Fourth-To strike out the term "Super-
intendeht of Public Works" from the Con-
slitution wherever il occurs.
FifEh-Relieving the Legislature from
levying tax TO pay interest on the State
debt.
Sixth-TrausierriDg the control of the
University of the State to the Legislature.
Seventh -Abolishing the Code Commits
sion.
Elghth-Providing that 10 person hold.
ing an Office 10 the gift of the United States
shall hold State office or sit in the Leg
islature.
Ali these amendments have been ratified
by msjorities ranging from 10000 to 3d.
600, except the third-that relating to the ex-
emption of property from execution-is car
ried by much smaller majority than the
others. Most of the negroes voted against
the amendments. In the West the whites
seem to have united very heartily for once,
as the almost unanimous vote in most Of
the counties heard from, show. Whilst the
amendments were advocated by some Re-
publicans in the Legislature, and sustained
by thousands no doubt at the
polls, they are none the l'ss a
Conservative measure, and their strength
aud inspiration originated with Conservative
leaders. By means of these amendments
the State will be freed of many unnecessary
and burdensome commissions and depart
ments, and the sessions of the Legislature
will be henceforth biennial, thus curtailing
considerably the opportunities now afforded
corrupt men to plumber the State. The only
one of the amendments which is objection
able to any extent is that which strikes out
the requirement that the Legislature shall
levy tax TO pay the annual interest on the
State debt. The rat:fsction Of this amend
ment is regarded as opening way for the
reuudiation of that part of the late debt
which was created by the carpet-baggers
and scalawags while they had full swing.
The debt of the State is 5000, 045-$21,-
81, 845 Of which has been contracted since
the war. On tn there is unpaid interest
to the amount of $6,0OO,0OO making the
actual debt about $50, OO0,OOO-equal 10 27a
per cent. on the assessed value (Sl30, 000,-
0O0) and to IA per cent. Of the estimated
true value ($260,0OO, OOO) of all the taxable
property in the State in 1870. 1t will be
seen from this that the financial
condition OF the State is pitiatle.
TIE people have complained that
they are not abba to pay
the interest (Sl,SOQ,GOO annually on this
enormous debt. Radicalism has bankrupt
ed The State and North Carolina repudia-
ton is another product OF that evil policy
in the South. The Boston Post well says
it is sad finale, but logical sequence to
the era of misrule and plumber which has
stripped the State of its wealth and self
respect, until the peoples burdens are
greater than they can bear. Already the
tax required to pay the State expense and
perhaps Off ial COMMISSIONS is estimated at
$3.50 on every $1,000, at the same time
that all productive business is in a very
languishing condition. In addition TO this
there looms up an immense sum that will
be required in about seven years to pay the
principal of the public debt, debt which in
great part has gone to enrich the carpet
baggers and has brought the people nothing
Bad rs reputation is and ruinous to the
States future credit as it will be, the people
cannot be blamed for intimating the fact
that as a Commonwealth they are bank
rupt. 1t is not their fault; they are only
summing up the work of TIE cormorsnts
who have fieeced them, and the result is ex-
pressed in one word-ruin.