The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-12-22
THE IRREPRESSIBLE CONFLICT IN
NORTH CAROLINA.

NORTH CAROLINA.
The Raleigh IN. CO. Standard of a recent
date contains long address to the people of
the State, by the awake County Workingmen's
Association" which cannot fail to be regarded
as an illustration of the irrepressible con-
hict" which ever exists between Freedom and
Slavery. The object of the Association is to
bring about an equalization of taxation in the
State, so that slave property may be compelled
to pay its equal portion of the public burdens.
The Constitution of the State, as it was remod-
elled in 1885, provides that slaves between the
ages of twelve and fifty years shall be subject
to a poll or capitation tax, equal to that paid
by white men and that those over fifty and
under twelve, shall be entirely exempt from
taxes. According to the Address of the AS
ISOLATION, this leaves 1858 slaves, worth
$l12,567 800, untaxed. The l5O,925 who are
subject to taxation, are valued at $I39, 000 900,
and the tax paid on this highly productive
slave property is only $75,462, while real es-
tate, worth $97, 842, 48l, pays $l46, $50. Here,
then, is striking instance of Partially to Sla-
very. One-half the slaves, worth fifty to seven
ty-fve millions, at least, and estimated by the
Address at one hundred and twelve millions,
goes untaxed altogether; while the remaining
half of the slaves are taxed only half as much
as the land. There are other still greater in
equalities as, for instance, $3l $3.50, 900, money
loaned, pays $76,774 taxes, or more than
$248,567,8 800 worth of slave property Here
the discrimination in favor of Slavery is in
seven-fold ratio.
The Workingmen's Association demand a
change in the Constitution, so that property of
all kinds may be taxed upon the ad UalOrem
principle, or according to value. The present
arrangement, which entirely exempts young
slaves from taxes, would seem to have been
designed to encourage the rearing of slaves
for market; or, at any rate, such is its effect.
On the other hand, capital vested in manufac-
turing and merchandise is taxed enormously.
A thousand dollars worth Of land pays $3.50.
A negro worth that amount, or even twelve or
fifteen hundred dollars, only pays so cents tax
while thousand dollars invested in manufac-
turing, is taxed ten dollars ! Is it surprising
that State which adheres to this policy is
more remarkable for the number of slaves it
rears for market than for the amount of its
manufactures?
This is an important movement in North
Carolna-important as well for the character
and influence of the men engaged in it, as for
its object. Its movers are not obscure vision
aries" but prominent and leading members of
both political parties; and although the Ad-
dress disclaims party purposes, it is not i'm
probable that new organization Of parties
will grow out of it. The Standard is the lead
ing Democratic paper in the State, and the
editor is ambitious of being Governor or United
States Senator. We understand that he favors
the movements while the State Senator from
Wake, Democrat, is prime mover in the en-
terprise, and probably the author of the Ad-
Dress 1t finds favor in the western part of the
State with all parties, and is published with
appreciation by the Greensborough Patriot, the
leading Opposition organ in that section. The |
Patriot says that it is satisfied, from the signs
of the times, that the Opposition State Conven-
ton will take ground for change in the Con-
stituton, so as to engraft the Gd UalOTem prin-
ciple of taxation upon it, at the peril of the |
western members seeding, and running an
ticket.