Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-02-25

: 80 = ~ ~
) "a 9EsPsRkTE PosuIoNs-In the Hoase 0f Com
snons Of the Gsnesat Assemhly son Thursday week /
the Revenue hill reported BY the Finance Commit
tee, and previously passed BY the Senate, came s
on its several readings. twas passed By lare
smajority-78 to 3s upon the last reading ever
Know-Nothing in the House, with two exception.
voting against it. -se.s -, ~ 49,
The position thus assumed by the leaders of tn
Know.Nothng party, is q peculiar one; and we d.
sire to direct particular attention to it. In the hrs
place, it will be necessary to remark, that the RI
venue bill refer ed to is measure increase tn
income of the State treasury by an increase OF tax
ation--the only manner III which the object can b.;
attained. The Report of the Finance COMMITTEES
shows that for the next fiscal year there would b.
under the present law, deficiency in the unapp.o
priated revenue of the State Of near 100000 les.
than the annual interest on the public debt Herr
tofore, the credit of the State has always bee
promptly sustained by the payment of the interes
on her debt 1t is true that it has cost her citizen
additional burdens of taxation; but we are full.
convinced that they have preferred to submit l.
them, rather than see the good faith and credit
their beloved Commonwealth impaired. The Dem
ocratc party has always taken the position that tn
people should not be taxed any further than tn.
positive requirements of the government demanded
Such has been the position Of the party in natona
as well as State affairs, for many years; and yeti
has always been considered point OF the hiShes
necessity and consequence, that the absolute d,
mands Of the government should be met-as We
among members of the Democratic party as wit
all who value the character and faith Of the govern
ment.
The State is now involved in a debt of upward
of ten millions Of dollars, by reason Of her asss
lance TO works of improvement, &c. The interes
this debt amounts to considerable sum, wit.
the other expenses of the government, the presen
revenue is insufficient to pay it.
The so-styled American party has ever boosted o.
its championship i'll the work of Internal Improve
ment 1t has been, professedly and theoretically.
the par excellence Internal Improvement party O:
the State. No scheme, however visionary or impo-
litic has failed, general thing to receive the
counlcnance and support of the party. No demands
upon the State treasury have been too great for her
credit or her means, according to its reckoning.
And yet. when the credit of the State demands
that steps should be taken to increase the revenue,
to enable 10 pay the interest on money bor-
rOwed for works already completed or in progress
Of construction, these very men are found voting
against the measure! 1t would be difficult indeed
to find more transparent instance of demagoguism.
Well knowing the aversion with which people are
disposed to look upon an increase OF the public tax
es, they have chosen, with desperation suited TO
their position and in violation of the highest mpul
ses Of patriotism, to shelter themselves under the
supposed indiynity with which the enactment will
be met by the people,
But what is the real language and meaning ofthis
position? 1t is that those who voted against the
bill to increase the Revenue preferred the degrade
ton Of the character Of the State and the violation
Of her faith with her creditors to trusting the pa
:riosm Of the people. and their pride in tn. States
integrity The question is not TO tue prorriey or
improperly of creating the debt which demands
this increase Of the Revenue Ii is well known that
by far the greater number Of those now composing
the American" party, have always been the al
vocates Of promiscuous and ndiScrn.inate State aid
to internal mprovements-apparen,ly upon the
principle that the end to be attained justified the
means in all cases.
What, then. are we to think of a party, which,
taking advantage Of its minority in the public coun-
ellis the position that the credit OF the State
is unworthy of preservation, and the hope Of party
capital more desirable than the good name and in
terests Of the State?
We do not wish to be understood as speaking in
terms Of censure Of all those who voted against the
Revenue BILL There may have beer conscientious
objections to some features, which gave rise, in
themselves, to opposition; but the unanimty ex-
hibited in the action of the Know Nothngs in the
House of Commons, is too plain to be for a moment
misu nderstood. Western Sentinel