Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-12-14
For the Standard.
Es9
OF THE WAKE COUNTY WORKlNG-MkN'S
ASSOCIATION.

To our fello,o-citizens of North Carolina:
The WAKE COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF WORKING
MEN. having embodied the objects OF their organl-
cation in an address, submit the same with 6ecom-
inc Difference to the serious attention Of their fellow
citizens throughout the State. A free interchange
of thoughts and opinions, especially upon SuDectS
Of general concernment, is of those inalIena6le
rights secured to every free people, and invaluable
to every elector in a popular government IKE our
own, who desires to perform consclentiouSiy inc
duties devolving on each citizen. 10 deny TINS
"to denv freedom of opinion, anG conformity OF
conduct to convictions honestly entertained in the
language of an eminent son Of our State, "s tyrrGny
in its most odious form" In the honest exercise
then of this privilege secured to us, and every one,
nv the constitution under which we live, We have
thought proper to address you on subject, in our
opinion of great and lasting moment to us ALL oeg-
ping YOU at the same time, to investigate 1t with
that camness and serious elaboration its Importance
essentially demands.
Being ourselves satisfactorily convinced that a
thorough and radical reform in the revenue system
of the State is loudly and urgently called for at this
particular time as we'll by the individual interest of
every taxpayer, as by that future progress and
prosperity we hope to see our State make and en-
low we have voluntarily associated ourselves togeth
err, in the expectation of being able to accomplish
more to advance that reform, by united effort than
we could possibly hope to do by any individual ex-
erton. And if by fair arguments, by discussion
and by the publication of such facts and figures as
are within our reach, the whole subject OF our reve
nue. system should be laid before the honest people
of North Carolina in its proper lights and all its
important bearings, We shall be contented with the
result of our efforts, and amply repaid by the bene-
fits rendered to the community at large for any
time or labor we may have given in so doing. Hon
estly and fairly canvassed as We trust the subject
will be, we cheerfully abide the decision of every
conservative voter within our limits, who will give
the matter moments unprecedented consideration
For we sincerely believe that the attention of those
directly interested, being directed to the great
Importance of change in our revenue system-a
change having its basis the principles OF harness.
justice and equality to every one, our people will
permit the agitation of the question to rest
until the end sought for is attained.
To prevent the Misrepresentation that this move
ment of ours may give rise to- and to correct in the
beginning the erroneous opinions entertained, and
the groundless fears INDUCED in by some as to the
ultimate objects Of our association it may be well
enough to declare few things which none of us
ever desired, or intended should result from the
union we have for honest purposes, entered into
And in ordinary charity we ask you to defer any
judgment of condemnation as to our intentions, un-
til at least, more convincing evidence is given you,
than the fears of a few, whose prophetic visions
discover dangers that exist and whose absence
when real dangers and difficulties present themselves,
is never satisfactorily accounted for.
II is, then not object to start any new politi-
cal party or organization either upon this any
other PLATFORM to raise any issues tests in the
selection of representatives, or public officers.
The political parties existing amongst u.s. we
believe to be enough and sufficient for the ends
sought to be accomplished by their several organi
zatons and it is not desire or intention to dis
turb them in any respect. If we CAM however,
succeed in impressng the mind Of all parties with
the fact that ether subjects besides federal politics.
local to U.s. of great and lasting importance and
as such should claim at least portion of the time
and thoughts of those whom the people look up to
for guidance and which should be thoroughly in
vestigated and dispassionately considered We SHALL
We think have done much for the public interest
1t is not our object, ALPHABETICALLY NOT. while adj
vocating just equalization of taxation far the
same can he effected to array portion of fel
low citizens against another pOrtion-one class
against another class-or one section against anoth-
er section. The most careless observer of what has
passed into history, and Of the events now passing
in other communicable merest beginner in the
study of political economy, knows full well, or
ought to know, that the antagonism7de.ween labor
and capital existing elsewhere, never affect the
social condition to any extent of an agricultural
community like our own; especially when that
community has engrafted upon itself the conserva-
tive element Of domestic slavery. With only II
persons, in 1850, to the square mile,-no large
cties--with a small amount of capital, and that
generally dffused, the most Industrious and un-
scrupulous demagogue can never, with us, succeed
in bringing about any estrangement between the
rich and the poor.
1t is not our object to deprecate by anything we
do, the value of any particular kind of property
nor do We desire any discrimination to be made for
or against any species of property On the con-
trary, the cardinal point of our belief is that an
unjust and oppressive discrimination now exists in
the principles of our tax SYSTEM and for its remov-
al we address you. We hold that property of eve
~ description, receiving equal protection from our
government, should contribute with the persons
protected, its equal proportion in the support Of
that government. That, as dollars and cents meas
ure the value of every species of property any
privilege or exemption bestowed upon the same
amount of dollars and cents in one kind. and not
upon the others, is unjust and granting immuni.
ties at war with one of those fundamental princi
pies upon which is based our whole organic law
ia not our object to repudiate any of the obi
cations heretofore entered into by the State or here
after to be contracted; nor do we in any manner
desire to be exempted from the payment of oul
PtoPer snare OF the pubic revenue, necessary tC
preserve sacredly the public faith and credit Il
the exgencies of the treasury require US to pay the
sums we now pay AYE, should it become necessary
to increase the amount in ratio greater than it has
been increased since the year ls, we will pay thu
same cheerfnlly, and gladly if we can but be salts
ned that we are only paying our proper proportion
and that all other citizens Of the State are REQUIRED
to do the same.
It's not our object to call in question the inten
tons Of those who first gave to North Carolina he
presentfevenue system; nor to arraign before tn
public those who, adhering to the unjust principle
upon which that system is founded, without mate
rial notifications in the several tax bills heretofor
passed, have inconsideratcly, we are willing to Al
low, grevously oppressed large class of their fe
low-citizens The former, We shall ever yencrat
for their patriotism, their many sacrifices, and thei
&nselfsh devotion to their countrys good Nor
our respect for their wisdom lessened in the small
est degree by our desire to reform financial pol
cy, which, to say the fathers of our State intende
10 be for all time, and the same under all circu,
stancss would detract much from that foresight ar
wisdom ws have been taught to believe peea,arl