Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-09-11
\ rEss Ssos:DS AFIcsIT CnSVEN-
I.OS.

Ia Colonial tisnrS in North Carolina
H"w corners we exempt from taxation
fer Il year or two. This vas 10 .-u-
I courage emigration. The Inv WAS
/ passed by the Gr0nd A>s' mbly. IT.
/ then called, prior to 17ll. Ii III -it
! be Wisdom iur us to adopt II siin ian
/ law. Our waste lands ought to b.
settled up Ctur{oftc D6n10craf
VIII our friend the, D,}3fj..,t!i.
obiiSe lis By pointing ont how snci'
law can be enact, q, and how ious II
! ~i.I take 10 accomplish il?
The State Of Georgia cxcmpts from
taxation for p certain nUE,ber Of years,
all capital invested in manufac ufing.
The result is that money from other
States IL towing into Georgia, seeking
investment in cotton and other facto-
ries. That the plan is good, one is
plain to the cGmmonest understanding.
Ans, VI hat il beneficial to Georgia III
this respect. will be equally beneficial
TO North Carolina. North Carolina
manufacturing State. One that will
prosper at least in proportion to the
investments in manufacturing on its
borders This being so, it would seem
a wise policy to favor for a term of
years at least, by partial or entire ex-
enption from taxation all capital thus
invested.
But how can this be done? VIII
the Dcuaocrat inform us whether it
can be done at all under the present
Constitution, and if not whether it
viii he possible for the Constitution to
be changed SO that Legislature will
have the power to pass such law be-
fore the third Monday il November,
1S.&, except hy calling a Convention ?
According 10 our understanding CT
the Law, the process of changing the
Constitution without calling a Conven-
ton IS rs follows: The bill Of amend
meets must be passed hy the present
Legislature ly u two-thirils vote Of
each honse for six months prior to
the election for members of the Legis
l:ture i'll 1876 the bill Of amendments
must be published to the people the
bill OF amendments must then be
passed by the new Legislature IN the
session ci 1876 by a vote CT three
fitths OF The members Of each house,
and must then be ratified by vote Of
the people of the State at large. This
brings us on into 1877, and prob
ably as late into that year as the
month Of August, il we should live
that long. The Legislature now meets
only once in two years, and in the
even-nu:nbered years at that, SO there
VIII be 40 regular session after the
winter Of 1876 until the winter of 1873
"a period cf near four gears and q
HgT. II convention be called scarce
a twelve months need pass before ali
the desired changes can be made.
And yet the Dcmocrat is one Of the
papers that opposes the call OF Con
ventiOn.
is tie settling up of our waste lands
to be postponed for four years and
HAL IS tuc ION VI Cup1tdi iAIO o'NA
State for investment in manufactures
to be kept back for four years and
half? Is the tide of emigration into
our State to be stayed for four years
and half ? Are the people of our
State 10 bear their grievous bur
dens for four years and half longer ?
II there be no Convention such must
be their fate.
And is it the Conservative party nf
North Carolina that dures take upon
itself the responsibility of this great
wrong? Let gentlemen who oppose
the call of a Convention pause and
consider what answer the Conserva-
tive party will give the people in the
elections il 1876. when they demand
to know why their Constitution still
keeps them in poverty and oppression.
The Conservative party has the power,
if it has the will, to relieve the people.
Let those who desire it, take the re-
spons;bility of not exercising that
power. Tic JOURNAL desires no such
respoasi bility. 1t is of the people and
stands by them,
In the northwestern corner of the