Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-01-22

(dr. BUllock) opposes this resolution because it sub
jects negroes Of all ages to tsxation-and argues
that the young negro yields nothing to its master IL
the way Of labor; that 1t is in its masters way;
nuisance; an ineumbranee. Well, admitting It t.
be true that il Of practical profit no immediate
advantage at the time nevertheless, II Is valuable
and commands price, and should therefore be taxed
other property. Il has prospective value which
enhances its present value, and makes 1t profitable
! investment for the owner. 1t is Dot the policy Of
this country tax property according TO the actual
income arising from its use, but according TO the in
tripsic value For instance land is not taxed each
vesr according TO the amount Of its annual products
for sir drouR might greatly affect our revenue ba-
sis; or the industry Of the owner Of the land might
] affect it very materially. Such mode Of taxation
| would be very irregular aud notwithstanding, as
il would 20 determinations quite difficult and con
! tngsnt. Suppose you own farm worth $4,000,
but none Of il is IN cultivation-it is a wild woods
unculVated yet rch and fertile-it is yielding you
profit. According TO the argument Of the gen
tleman you should not pay taxes upon 1t, notwith-
standing the great prospective income to be appreci-
ated by It's enhancement. And now l viii ask the
gentleman if he would be in favor of releasing such
properly from taxation?
Mr. BULLOCK 1 would not; because the owner
obtains possession of the farm by his voluntary
action; while the young negroes come upon him IL
voluntarily or without MS consent.
Mr. STANTON. The gentleman's answer is sUth-
eient to demonstrate the impossibility Of any de-
fence to the position by him assumed And the sig
nal failure therein evinced, Is not more palpabe
than the utter fallbility Of every argument that he
! has adduced throughout this whole debate. lie
says the negro nyoluntGrIly upon the master,
while the land comes by his voluntary action Now,
one more question is sufficient TO overthrow his
whole argument. And l nov ask you if tract Of
land was given By some friend, would not that be an
ownership without voluntary action upon your part?
Andinasmuch as such possession Ownership would
be involuntary, would you desire such land TO be
exempt IRON taxation pause for an answer.
The gentleman is bound to acknowledge that the
ownership of the land in the supposed would be
equally paSgDs thst of the ownership Of the young
negro and they should therefore be equally subject
to taxation. You say, the young negro comes upon
his master involuntariy. Do they all come that
way! Do not persons purchase them frequently for
speculation? Are they frequently purchased for
the profit Of the investment? Are they not often
purchased for their growth? Aud when persons are
daily purchasing them, will you say that they pos
sess or own them invOluntari y! You call them an
i1egm6sranes nuisance, &C.. You can easily get rid
of those little membranes, if they IN any man
ner inconvenient to you. will take them and pay
the tax upon them it you will give them away. No,
sir, you will not give them to me- You will hold on
those little iatrHdsTs with inHexible grip, be-
cause you know that they are more valuable than
money at interest. have doubt that it is quite
pleas mt TO any to be iHtrUded pom by those lit
should like to be cursed with few of them. Sup
pose you have ten thousand dollars and your neigh
Dor has an equivalent amount. Your neighbor loans
his money to his friends and neighbors, while you
invest yours in young slaves. Now your neighbOr,
who has accommodated his neighbOrs with his ten
thousand is required to pay tax upon it; but you
WhOchoOse the more valuable and less accommodating
investment are exonerated from taxation. Is that
fair Is that equal? What is the difference be-
tween the man vino loans money and the enc who in
vests it in young negroes! They are both looking for
ward for q prospective reWard-fOr future profit
upon their investments then why not both of them
be subject to like restrictions? The man who owns
farm worth one hundred dollars must pay tax there
on while the Spectator who owns ten thousand dol
lars in young negroes does pay one cent Is that
fair But you say that the little slave is an ex-
pense to its master Well, sir if the little fellows
raising is of such great to the MASTER to c0un
terbalance the prospective value-to counerbalance
the profit which it will yield when grown, why it
will value at nothing if considered by the asses
sors and consequently the taxes it will be moth
ing and the owner cannot be injured by the opera
ton Of the law and the same mode of reas oning
will apply to superannuated negroes. 1 can see no
good reason for taxing the owner Of Uncultiyated
farms, well as money loaned at interest, and st
the same time exempt the young Shareholder.
Mr. BULLOCK. would remark TO the gentleman
from Jackson that this difference exists between the
Shareholder and the person who loans money While
the who invests his money in young negroes only
gets the growth thereof, the one who loans his mo-
ney make from fifteen to twenty per cent on his
capital
Mr. STANTON. Now, Ar Speaker, that shows the
hopeless extent to which the gentleman is driven
for argument to support his position. For every
member here knows that the OF interest in this
State IS fixed at six Per cent, then how can the
lOsner Of money make fifteen and twenty per cen?
Mr. BULLOCK Twill say to the gentleman from
Jackson that Ihad reference to brokers and sEGpsrs
Mr. STANTON. 1 will ask the gentleman from
Madison, if he considers every OuewhO loans money
broker or shdUsr? spoke Of the person who loans
his money at six per cent, and who pays tax thereon
because Of said lOaning-he persOn who EhOOs to
accommodate his neghbor with the use Of his money
rather than inYestt otherwise, and Who is taxed for
such accommodation; and contend that the owner Of
young negroes should be taxed likewise But
the gentleman from Madison opposes it on
another account. lie says none of US have
been kind TO him to propose to amend the Con-
stitUtion that the election Of Judges should be in
the hands Of the Governor Of the State, subject only
to the ratification of the Senate.
Why, if the gentleman thinks it important to thus
amend the Constitution, why not offer it himself?
Why wait for others TO offer 1t? Why ask others TO
take responsibility which you are unwilling to |
assume The gentleman need not dream any longer |
over the hope Of any such amendment he |
proposes. It will be long time before such |
amendment will be adopted, if ever. But like all |
persons when hard pressed for argument, he goes /
of upon the beauty and sanctity Of the Federal |
Constitutions thing not at all involved in this |
issue; for desire the gentleman tOdstinctly under
stand, that my TrOpOsiuOns change the ConstitU-
ton of this State and not that of the Federal Union
| heartily approve and endorse his loyalty to the
Federal Constitution, and agree with him that it
would be impOlitio to attempt to amend or change
il, for the States, in the absence Of Federal Con-
5titutisn, standing they would in the attitude of
= I L. d
yield and cOncede to constitution sufficient for
their collective tederative government, and cOnse
lUently it might be hazardous TO the existence of
he Union to NEEDLE with that which binds it to-
yether. But do not suppose that the same danger
could exist in amending the State Constitution, or
even in making a new one; for there could be no
Of the several counties setting up indie
pendent and separate or local sovereignties, and
alling back upon reserved rights, sc. But the gen
leman from Madison Is quite inconsistent in his |
arguments. At one moment he talks Of the impOi
~ Of changes, and at the next moment he urges
he propriety Of changing to bring the election
IF Judges befOr the Governor. l should like to see
aim settle down upon some position that might get
It him. If you are simply opposed to the principle
embodied IN my resolution, say SO. Or, if your Cp-
position is upon general grounds Of opposition to
my kind of change, say If you consider it haz
lrdOus to change the State Constitution let that be
Known distinctly as an issue. And, upon the last
mentioned issue, I contend that the best way to
brow strength and influence around a constitution,
TO have as correct and just in ali its provisions
IS possible. Let it respect the rights and interests
II all It's constituents equally and equitably; let it
'e made equal and just all its provisions and re-
rictions and there viii be desire to change it,
md consequently it will be permanent.
Hence the Importance Of amending and correcting
t IN any and every material particular, and espe-
Tally IN the point Of view presented in my PROPOSE
Ion II is not only important as a matter Of reUe-
ne TO the State, but also as a principle of equity
md justice to every payer in the State. We tax
property because II is protected by the laws which
re Instituted and executed, or enforced at the ex-
ense Of the State; then, sir, the young slave with
ne rights Of properly therein enjoyed by the master
elng protected equally with the grown negroes all at
he common expense OF the people the State should
taxed equally with other property according to their
aluation. ! am confirmed in the opinion that the | =
roPerty Of the country should pay the taxes Those
Tho do not own much property, are not so much ! I
Totsesa as they prosctirs TO the country Instead
being projected they protect the country. Yes, !
IT, when the belgerency Of foreign aggression | =,
tares as IN the tace-When the sword of Injustice | :
} brandished over our rghts-WheH Instruction !
nd insubOrdination stalks through our country. ;
saving desolatlon in their track who is il that re-
els those aggressiOns and dangers? Who sustain
nd feed the fires Of freedom Who are they that :
II ranks O Our cODoupriug rroCDq and 49,