Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-07-03
/" Reasons why and wherefore
~ The Raleigh Register.

The Raleigh Register, OF the 26th ult., gives
the following .'reasons why James B. Shepard
should not be elected Governor which, &C.
cording to our reading of :he matter, furnish
the very best ..reasons' in the world, why the
people of North Carolina should vote for him
TO ill that high office -
He is in favor of DIRECT TAXATION, rath-
er than the present wholesome Tariff, for raising
Revenue for the support of Government.
He is in favor of furnishing the People with a
Currency, with which they can neither pay their
Taxes, pass for money, or Iiqudate the debt which
they made with the State in borrowing this same
Currency.
He is in favor of that odious system. the Sub
Treasury; that is for furnishing Ofice-holders,
with currency of gold and silver, and putting off
the People with Treasury rags. h..
He is in favor of giving a,vay the proceeds of
the Public Lands. for electioneering purposes,
thereby defrauding North Carolina out of thousands
of dollars which her just due. and which ought
annually flow into her Golfers.
He is in favor of Taxing the People, for the sup
port of the Government, and admitting British
Manufactures into GU: Ports free of duty-thereby
making the PEOPLE of this country pay that
which the policy Of this Government has always
Importations.
He is deficient in that sagacity and wise, States
manlike ability which hes heretofore. and ought al
ways t6 characterize the high and dignifed office
of Governor; and is thoroughly incapacitated, in
judgment, experience and ability, to adorn the
Gubernatorial Chair of the Old North State.
Now, as TO the first reason, we do not know
that Mr.. Shepard has expressed himself sin
favor of direct taxation rather than the present
tariff. We do no! think that any sentiments
Of that kind fell from him during his speech
in this place, on the 18th May. If Mr.. Shepard
has said so, however, he is right, and we hear
tIy agree with him. For our own part, we
had much sooner see the revenues necessary
to support the General Government. collected
by direct taxes, which would fall equally on
all classes of the community, and all sections
of the country. than b. tho present unfair and
iniquitous mode, which collects them out of
the pockets of all other classes of the commu-
nifty, for the sole benefit and advantage of the
very small number Comparatively speaking)
Of capitalists engaged in manufacturing. Let
us be distinctly understood. We wish to see
the expenses Of the General Government paid
by rerenue duties laid upon imports, and not
by direct taxes. At the same time, we MAIN
tain that it would be better for the people of
the Union to supply the wants of the Federal
Treasury, by direct im2osts. than by the pres
ent iniquitous and unjust tariff bill.
The third reason assigned by the Register,
is one of the strongest ones why the people OF
North Carolina should support Mr.. Shepard.
He goes for an Independent national Treasury.
That is. that the people Of the United States,
through their representatives in Congress,
should themselves regulate the collecting,
keeping and disbursing of the national funds,
and money. brokers. And Mr.. Shepard says
further, in common with the whole Democrat.
ic party, that these funds should be collected
and disbursed in the only currency kno,Un to
the Constitution, to wit, gold and silver. II is
not :rue that the Independent Treasury creates
for the Office holders one currency, and for the
people another. What does the Register
mean by "Treasury rags" Does he mean
the drafts in which the creditors of the Gov.
eminent may be paid, and which will be, un-
der the new system, convertible into gold and
silver, instanter9 The creditors of the Gov
eminent, when the new system is fairly nn-
der way, will, we suppose. as matter of con-
venience, be often paid in the Secretary of the
Treasury's drafts, which drafts will be con-
vertibe into specie whenever the holder choo-
ses. In word, Mr.. Shepard is for divorcine
the General Government from all connexion
with corrupt banking institutions; and we are
sure that this is one Of the strongest arguments
we can urge why the farmers Of North Caro-
lima should vote for him.
The Register says, Mr.. Shepard sis in ia
vor Of giving away the public lands for cleo
pioneering purposes" &c. We fatty deny
that there is particle Of truth in this. The
very reverse is what Mr.. Shepard is in ''favor''
of. He desires that the revenue arising from the
sales Of the public lands, shall 60 into the cof-
fers of the Federal Treasury, there to assist in
defraying the current expenses Of the country;
and he is opposed to its being given to the
States, the inevitable effect of which would
be to turn that very fund into elec:ioneering
channels. Mr.. Shepard, in common with the
whole Republican party of the country. says
that the proceeds of the public lands should
assist in paying the expenses of the General
Government. and that Congress has no con.
stitutional power to give them any other direc
ton. But the Federal party desire that they
may be distributed amongst the States, there
by creating drain on the National Treasury
and paving the way for the imposition of high
dutIes ON the neceSsarios lie ara l..