Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-03-28

lave property and other kinds of property. l
,cognize no difference between them. Each is en-
tiled to the protection guaranteed to it by the Con-
titution as long the Constitution extends such
rejection. The Register constructs the Wing plat
,rm as discriminating against slave property, and
d ralOrem designed especially to reach slave
property Else why is it croaking so Justify about
slaves slaves negroes, negroes" when nothing
is said about slaves or negroes in either the Know
NothingW Wing or Democratic resolutions referring to
ad ral0rems Well, | will take the Register
authority or this nonce,) in regard to the meaning
of its own party platGorm-that its doctrine of at
ralOrem means taxation upon the negro alone. Will
Mr. Poll take this ground in the Eastern counties?
We shall see.
But | deny the authority of the Register in the
construction of the Democratic platform. The Re
gster is quite ubant at the wonderful discovery it
suppoSes it has made, o. the meaning Of the Demo-
cratic resolution on the subject. The Democratic
resolution says 1--WE deem it the duty Of the Legis-
ature when passing acts for the raising of revenue,
so to adjust taxation to bear equally practi-
cable, within the limits oft constitution, upon the
various interests and classes of property IN all sec
tons of the State" Now where is the who will
deny the soundncss of this proposition thus enun-
ciated in the Democratic platform question of
political economy? Will the Register deny it? If
the Register does deny it-it thinks that the Legis
laturc shOuM not lcgisate so to bear equally
as practicable upon the various interests and classes
u
nation should De made in favor of certain interests
and classes Of property, and against others, then
call upon it to specify what interests and classes of
property it means. 1t sees "nigger" in the Demo-
cratic PLATFORM and CONSTITUTES that platform pro
posing to tax equally all interests and classes Of
property in all sections of the State and ercGpt
STARE property" The Register has so lately become
a convert to al ralOrem, that he makes very bun
Cling hand in trying to eXpound it. The truth is
the Register and its Know Nothing-Whig allies
know not how to use the weapons of al rdlorenl
which they have, in violation Of the commandment
appropriated to themselves The workingmen's as
ISOLATION of Raleigh, who only few weeks since
denounced and Scorned by the oligarclis of the OPP
position the authors and orignatorS of this nd
TdlOrem movement But their views of nd rdiOrem
taxation not what these Opposition thinkers
would make Of it. The wOrkngmen'S association
conservative in their views. They were hon
est in their pu' pOSeS and serious too They meant
what they said. Feeling as they did the inequality
and oppression of prevent revenue laws, they
were for such change as would bear more equally
all classes and ntcrcStS-and if the Constitution
found interpoSing barriers to such change,
they were for open and unrestricted conventions
to excite and inilamc the public mind, on great
question affecting social organization. They did
not attempt to use 0d ralorem a mere make
weight for the purpose Of disturbing the present
basis of representation, and Of Subvertng the very
foundations of our political edificc. The working
mems association did not propose to make war up
on slave property as such they did not design or
wish TO divide and distract our people on this ques-
ton of slavery, when patriotism required that we
should be harmonious and united in resisting the
common enemy, black RcpublicaniSm. The work
ingmenS association never proposed TO lnaugurate
Stewards irrcprcSSiblc conflict" here in our very
midst. What amendment of the Constitution might
be found necessary, they proposed to effect by the
cheap certain and expeditions method of legislative
enactment.
have digresScd to make these remarks in JUS
tce to the wOrkingmens association, whom so
lately it was fashionable among the oligarchs of the
opposition to abuse and SANDER agrarianS, level
lerS and dcStructiveS | am aware that the op-
position leaders calculate drawing off from the
Democratic party these members of the working
mems association and many who agree in senti-
mcnt with them. They never were more mistaken.
These members Of our party never can forget how
Know Nothing Whiggery opposed them on free
suifrage-hOw they afterwards pretended to be will
ing to yield free suffrage, and session after session
of the Legislature tried to use free suffrage as
make-weight to get open and unrestricted conven
ton, as they are now trying to use nd rdtorem for
the same purpose.
But the Register is wonderfully troubled because
the Democratic party laid it down in clear and plain
language that 1.-THE Legislature, in passing acts for
the raising of revenue, should so adjust taxation
as to bear equally as practicable, within the linn
its of the constitution, upon the various interests
and classes of property in all sections of the State
In this the Registers diStempercd vision two
things neither Of which is there. lie sees "ngger"
in it for one. There is no "nigger" in it. Nothing
was Sid about niger" for the reason that moth
ing was intended about "nggcr." "0h!" but
cries the Register, "you put in the words within
the limits Of the constitution" In this the Regis
ter sees "nigger" as black the ace Of spades.
Let the Register read the constitution of the State,
and it will these and other restrictions on the
taxing power of the Legislature besides the "nigger"
1t will that the inhibition upon the violation OF
contracts prohibits the Legislature from taxing
bank stock any higher than stipulated in the char
tiers of these institutions. 1t will sec inhibition
against reducing the salaries Of Judges during their
continuance in offce-and this has prevented the
Legislature from taxing their salaries. There are
many other restrictions upon the taxing power, to
be found in the constitution. And is the Democrat
ic party to be taken to task for declaring their
gard for the constitution, and for guarding them
selves against its nfraction, when laying down their
code of principles? But, in agony CALCULATES the
Register, 1.-The niger the niger the mig
ger" is protected 10y the constitution in regard
taxation. We'll, suppose he is, the Democratic par
ty didn't make the constitution whether right
wrong the Democratic party is not responsible for
the protection afforded to slave property by the
constitution. And in the name of common sense,
is the Democratic party to resort to some higher
law" in dealing with the constitution when slavery
may be involved? They can't do it, Mr.. Register
they can't do it. IT'S true there is difference of opin
ion among Democrats in regard to the principle of
ad ralorem taxation But no Democrats that we
know or have heard Of in favor of the sort of nd
Uaoren contended for by the piebald party of Know
Nothing whggery. No Democrats that know of
are in favor Of taxing any and every thing that any
and every body owns, according to its value. No
Democrats are in favor of disturbing the peace and
quiet of the people by agtatng for years and years
the ques ion of an open and unlimited convention,
when we have the experience of legislative amend
ment on free suffrage before US. No Democrats are
in favor of bringing about a conflict between slave