Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-03-21
Nfma Of tbR Bun.

law are SLOWLY Developing themselves. lhe
Sheriff of New Hanover has received a copy
OF 1t, md we find from some extracts which
he has published, that the tax of / per cent.
on merchants, merchant ~tailors, and jewell
lers, who shall sell goods wares and mer-
chandize,' is to be paid on the LIST of April
next, and on the lst of April of every sue
ceeding year, and that it is to be computed
according to the aggregate sum of the pur-
chases of goods, wares and merchandise,
made within the year preceding tie LIST day
of April 1t would seem from this, that the
tax this year will have a retroactive opera
ton. But it is not axactly so. For the tax
to be paid on the LIST of April the merchant
obtains a licenset to do business for IL months
from that date. The result will be, however,
that some of the merchants of this town, who
sell Liquors 1.-THE tax on which is 5 per cent.
who have heretofore paid a tax of from So
to $50 a year, will, on the first April, have
to pay each about $4,000, $500, and so on
down.
1t does not appear that any article of pro-
duce is excepted from this tax; it seems to
include all the cotton, -four, and other pro-
duce that merchant may have bought during
the year.
The tax is payable on the 1st day of April,
the merchant making oath that he has given
in a full account of all his purchases for the
preceding year, Ia thing which those who do
not keep particular accounts will find it hard
to do.) And if any one shall sell any goods
without getting a license from the sheriff,
he is to pay an additional tax of 500. Now
the sheriff is likely to have a busy time of it
on the lst day of April, or a good many
stores will have to be shut up.-Fdy. Obs.
THE New POSTAGE LAw.-Every person
being interested in the amended act of the
Sd March, 1855, in regard t. hostages, a
synopsis of its provisions will not be unac-
ceptable:
Under this law all single letters mailed for
miles are to pay three cents, and for any
distance exceeding three thousand miles ten
cents.
Half an ounce in weight will constitute a
single letter and double, treble, and quad
ripple letters to be charged in the same pro-
portion.
All letters must be prepaid, except such
as are to or from a foreign country, or those
addressed to officers of the Government on
official business.
The law is to take effect from and after the
next fiscal quarter. April 1st 1855.
After the LIST January next, the postmas-
ters are to ahix stamps upon all prepaid let
tiers upon which none are placed by the
writer's.
A registration of valuable letters is requi-
red to be made upon the payment of a fee
of five cents in addition to the prepaid pos.
tage, the Government will not be responsible
for the loss of any registered letter or packet.
The franking privilege is to remain as
heretofore.
Selling postage stamps for a larger sum
than their marked value is to be punished as
a misdemeanor.
n. G. RAILRoAD.-At the recent meeting
Of Stockholders of the North Carolina Rail
road. held at Greensboro the one million
profered by the State, and all the proposed
amendments Of the charter, were unanimous
ly accepted. About $500, 900 was repre-
sented. Among the changes made, one il
that no stakeholder can be chosen a directo
who does not own stock to the amount o
five shares.
FRENCH BROAD RAlLRoAD-The Ashevill
News entertains no doubt but that 81 500, OOI
can be raised in the counties of Henderson
Buncombe, and Madison to aid in the con
s%truction of the above named Road. 1t j
! proposed to hold a Convention at Ashevill
early in the spring, to consider the subject
r IMPORTANT ARREsroN CHARGE OF FELONY! =
4 Henry d. Bird, late President of the Peters
burg and Roanoke Railroad was arrested yes
terday in his business Office on the alloy
serious charge. After a hearing before Mayo
TONNES, he was committed to Jail for turtle
examination before a SPECIAL court of magi
trates.
n According to the statute referring to tt
above charge, bail was refused, though avai
able to any extent. The amount of defalc
d ton of the Railroad Conpany's monies
about $3l, 600
In the above transaction we behold a 81
exempliication Of the proverb, He'll is paw
with good Intentions Petersburg Erpre.
MATR1MoN1AL.-Col. VIM. B. Goulden,
Liberty county, Ga, was united in maria
on the lst inst, at Waveland, Virginia,
IN Miss Laura g., only daughter of the He
OF Bedford Brown, for many years a d~istinguis
- ed member of the United States Senate, fre
a North Carolina.
Z. New ORLEANS, March 19.-The Cresce
u: City has arrived with Havana dates to t
10 9th inst.
n She reports that the Ell Dorado, from 4
at pinwall, had been fred at twice by the Sp;
ne .ish frigate Ferrolona, and compelled to st
and exhibit her papers. One shot struck
Ia the water about twenty yards from the
On Dorado's boat, and the other passed imm
ng lately over her wheelhouse.
The U. S. steamer Princeton was in
Dr. harbor Mt Havana also, the British vess
MS of war Vestal and Buzzard.
no The Cuban news is unimportant. Sugi
on unchanged. Molasses is held firmly. L.
ay heavy. Exchange very dull.
W RICHMOND, March Ia
h a The Know Nothing State Convent
,o which met at Winchester yesterday, b
-; nominated the following ticket:
For GoUernor.-Thos. Stanhope Flourn
40 of the county of Halifax. Mr.. Flournoy
"a been heretofore Wing in politics, and a
H years since represented his district in c
gress.
a For Lieut.. Gorernor.-Jas. NJ. H. Be
" of the county of Mason. Mr.. Beale. has b
~ heretofore known as a prominent Democ
~ and some years since represented the Kan
ha district in the United States Congress
For Attorney GeaeraL-Hon. John
o ' Patton. Mr.. Patton was a warm suppo
of Mr.. Polk for the Presidency also of G
vi; Pierce, at the hast Presidential election.
is a speaker of extraordinary ability, and
~ of the best lawyers in Virginia, enjoying
this time a practice worth about S25 900
y" annum. His acceptance to the Office of
om torney General will not interfere with
practice. His nomination has taken all
an ties by su, prise.
,ha The ticket gives great satisfaction with
aI American party here. Much enthusi
and prevails.-Peersburg Express.
and New HAMPSHIRE ELEcrIoN.-March /
and An election was held in this State yestel
for Governor, members of the LegislaI