The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1849-04-13
From. III. Raleigh q, ri.,sr


Legislature, perhaps no single one (ai.n,s
excepting the North Carolina Rail ROAD
is likely TO exer. a more deep, extensi,
and permanent influence on the prosperity
Of the Safe, than the Revenue Aci. No
subject illustrates more strikingly the char.
ac,erissic supi0eness Of our people in all
matters Of State policy, ,han the history Of
taxation amongst Us. In the face Of all
reason, and against the clearesi dictates on
common sense and equal rights, Up 10
about 1916, land was taxed ia North Car.
DINA by the hundred acres, instead Of the
hundred dollars value Our Senate i, an
admirably constituted body. The design
Of it's peculiar constitution was TO protect
the great leading property Interests of the
county. These Interests are land and
negroes. IL is founded on real estate and
taxation. The owners of real estate are
generally the slave holders of the country :;
Il should, therefore, have always been a
vigilani guardian-ibe constitutional pro.
iector OF these two leading interests agains,
high or exclusive taxation. And yet, up
to this day, land and polls have paid near.
~ all the taxes Of the Stale, while a hun.
drcd interests far more ab.c 10 pay, and
equally proper subjects of taxation. have
escaped altogether. Positively, sir. no
legislators, 10 public men have ever been
guilty Ct such supte'ne, pslpable folly, as
ours. No where cSn DO found so blind,
so inyctera.c an adherence To oil tie alb
susdities Of the past, wlnci. 80 have tea.
sured as precious relies, ms Nc witness 10
North Carolina. With the very best op
portunities for studying tixa,inn-lhe his.
tory OF the old world aud the successful
experience Of the new, both before US we
should have long since changed, modified
aud improved our system. Bu, We con.
tinue to clirg to the beaten path Of custom
aud habit. II !. not at al! matter of sur.
prise that our people have deserted this
State, where tnxes are said 10 be compar.
a,ueiy low, and gone TO other States vi here
they are really high. when We rccollect
how equally the latter are distributed, and,
therefore, cheerfuly borne.
There is some complaint against taxing
money a, interest. This is, par ,reei.
ioper, the vir,ue, the beauty, the glory Of
The Act. Why sol Il is a Notorious fact,
tia, for many years past, the Agricultural
interests in North Carolina have been IN
depressed, dropping conditions. II is clear.
u sscerainrd that these interests do not
realize over and above ell necessary wear
sad tear. loss and expense, SIX pr cenl.
nett prcfi'. Consequently, m uf means
do no, make heavy Investments IA that
way. They put their money Of interest,
Which IL the better business. Ye, these
same asricul,ufists : these depressed farm.
ing in;ctcs,s-p,y all tie mrss Of the
Sfat Pay them ior ~hatl Ii man
owns small farm, he no, only improves
II, gives employment TO labor, consumes
and PRODUCES, aud thereby coniers some
b'netii on The community - but that land
idlts care of uaH II is n trouble aud
expense TO no one, aud ia owner has liiie I
OF no need OF courts Of irSicc, sheriff.. (
clerks, or oiher p bic officers. But the I
capitalist. the money lendcr. the note sha. I
yer, he /, constantly using the courts OF
Jps,ce. the ministers of the Law, and all .
the machinery of government, TO secure
his debts AID enfo,ea his rights = but, for.
sOo.h, must pay nothing ne ccnl. for
all 'hi.. The farmer no, on'y pays him
az per cent, which is more than he real.
tles. but be must ais" psy hts 'drrs besides.
No wonder pc pla leave the State
but il may be SAID, this tar, will drive
capital on, Of the State. My reply is,
Il tho farming interests nfc not feall.
I'm. sir per cent arc not able TO ply
aS per cent. let the eopiiai go II 10 bet.
ter tor the country that IT we're gone. II
our people arc no, able TO pay, they had
better not borrow and 6rt3k. Morcy al
bate. est, haatded up, cocfuts no benefit on
fhe community. |, isa tar in i'scif, on
he community. II draws life from other
Interests = /, extracts blood from The heart
tl The farmer, The mechanic and tho planter.
Bat this tax will not drive capital from
n. Sac. These moncycd men know
ItheIr own inlercs,s too well Tor that. Ii
fnay have the salutary cd.ct &c driving
fome portion OF i, into useful, beneficial
employment IN Improvement Of the soil,
mechanic arts, manufacturing, mining or {
ome thing else. Tae tax Is reasonable
fhd ilsl and call upon the whole State I
Unite N upholding aud supporting the
as' and carrying II lnto successful opera.
oo have heard il iu,luatcd that prac. I
eal|J the debtor might be made TO pay c
be Tax TO his miserl, creditor, or The col. q
kun Of all debt might be forced. lie 4
an be male do no such thing. And il s
y shylock should a,Iemp, such game,
the public apply the pstry laws TO his I
EnsibiIities. II would be the most palpa. h
f. bare faced usury and none such 3
ho0ld escape. a
say. Mr.. Editor. three cheers, loud y
% long, fot the Revenue Act aud the a
egslalure Of 1852. The subject Of &
al'on Is always dangerous one 70 pub Il
men, aud any bold actIon on i, indicates "
r'as in the country. II is the question st
pNe oil others, that mJres the public G.
m' We are now passing through