Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-04-06

,,+v in Democratic District Convention be held for
the purpose nominating Democratic candidate for Con-
grss from this District full attendance is earnestly
quested.
April 4th, 1855
Tax DAY-TheIe was a very considerable excite.
men, in town on Monday on The subject OF Taxes as
each engaged in business walked up to the Cap
tains Office 10 settle his fare for the coming year
The scliptural axiom that it is more blessed 10 give
than receive like all other rules has it's exception
|, does no, apply to money, especially paid in the
shane of taxes; and we will venture to say that no
bill providing for increased taxation ever yet was or
will be popular. Legislators know this, and hence
Legislatures 30 frequently shrk the responsibility
by making a resort to temporary exPedents, thus
STAYING of the evil, only to make il still more evil
when it does come The last Legislature of this State
is entitled to credit for having had the manlness 10
meet the issue straight forward it ought to be met
10 have looked The difficulty fairly in the face and
provided for it. To have come openly and at the
first to what other States have OIL resoted to, alter
having wallowed about in the slough of expediepry
and of make-sbfto until recovery was almost lmpos-
sble All honor to the Legislature for this
The Revenue Bill is loosely drawn, or at least 1t
appears So Some of lis provisions are confused, and
remember ever to have heard OF read of bill of
similar class, under similar circumstances, against
which similar class of objections not raised,
and il may have been, with truth &? The bill IS not
perfect The inequality of taxation is the universal
complaint throughout the world. Even IN o'a'eS
where the onerous burden of indebtness mas caused
all the realms and regions of taxation to be FULLY eX-
piored and where inexperence, at least, cannot be
plead in extenuation of error there is near about the
same complaint. Taxes are like sickness-they make
one feel bad no matter where located or how laid
Not but that great injustice may be done by unequal
taxation, which injustice, as soon as discovered,
should be rectifed
Pending The election for Governor, the whole cry
here was for internal Improvements. Mr.. Bragg &C.
tually fell behind somewhat, because it was thought
that he was not L" good enough internal improve
msnt man." The same the case during the Ses
sion of the Legislature. Mr.. Biggs was denounced
as all sorts of miserable sinner, because, although
willing to go for the central Railroad to the Noun.
tains, he not yet prepared to carry it over them
an indfnite distance towards shutdown, at ex-
pense beyond the power Of calculation. Now, every
body knows that the necessity for increased taxation
in this State has grown out of State Investment in
public works. The mere expenses of the State gov
eminent are the smallest item. Those who insist
upon public expenditures ought in consistency 10 in
sist upon their natural and inevitable consequences,
taxes which must later, and for meet
ing the requirements of the at once in the man
ner in which it must be met the Legislature deserves
praise for it's manness.
These remarks are what may be called "plain-
spoken" but think they are true and their truth
will be shortly felt and acknowledged We can't ex
pect to eat our peach and have 1.-THE State to spend
money, and the citizens, who compose the State, to
escape the payment. Coming TO the matter thus
promptly will check the mania for reckless expend-
ture in advance of the available of the State.
Commission merchants, and others whose business
is to be largely increased by the opening up of
nues Of trade must feel that they the very people
to assume cheeruly their portion of the burdens
rising from the expenditures made in opening up
these avenues
We publish below the letter of Mr.. Ransom, At
torney General directed 10 Mr. Courts, State Treasu-
rer, as well as the circular of the latter gentleman,
TO which reference is made by Mr. Ransom
RALEIGH, March 30h, 1855.
To D. w. COURTS, Public Treasurer.
SIR: Il have the honor in reply to your note on
the subject of the Revenue Law, to submit the follow
ing opinion -
The tax Of five per cent. to be levied on cal ltal
employed by persons selling Liquors, Wines or Cor
dials, is demandabIe by the Sheriff in the
ner IA the tax on Merchandise to be estimated from
the 18th March, 1855, and is the only tax imposed
on such capital except that for license to retail
And SO with regard to the tax of twenty-five per
cent. to be paid the value of certain Drugs and
Medicines.
The tax of five hundred dollars on all agencies Of
Banks, having corporate existence out of the State,
is not affected by subsequent provision in the same
section, declaring that if the tax not paid in ad.
vance, the same shall be two hundred dollars.n-
That provision applies TO Insurance Companies and
their agencies.
The 22nd section of the act imposes a tax of ten
cents on every hundred dollars employed in any spe-
cies of trade not specially taxed, and applies, without
distinction, to all capital employed in trade, whether
the State or otherwise and was intended tax on
all capital that had escaped the special notice of the
act.
The wood. work of vehicles must be entirely manu-
featured in this State to enttle the persons dealing
in them the discrimination in favor of State
features.
Permit me- in conclusion, to say. that the Circular
you issued very necessary, to secure an uniform
administration of the law; and that it gives plea
sure 10 express my in the general direc
lions which it contains. Of course, no general rule
could be expected 10 apply to the various details Of
the act, without some modification. | trust that the
suggestions which have made will tend to antic
pate some of those difficulties | have not been
without great doubt. in constituting the questions sub
mitted for my consideration tor the law, in many
points is confused and have thought it right &c
adopt rule liberal towards the citizen.
| am, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
M. w. RANSOM,
Attorney General of North Carolina.