Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1860-05-10
From the North Carolinian.

Mr.. EDITOR The opposition press and politicians
in the State are endeayorg to hide the real issue pend
ing before the people, by usty appeals to the passions
favor OF what they call " equal taxation They know
we'll enough that the only vital question not one of
State politics. They knoO that the only parties contest
ing with any reasonable hope of success for the control
of Federal affairs, the Democratic and Black Re
publican organizations They know that that immense
creation of their ances which the CALL as may suit their
purposes, " the Constitutional Unon,' "the Wing"
the American Whg,' " the American" the Co1ser-
vative,' or the Opposition party has organized
existence, IN numbers sufficient to carry election n
any Congressional District in the North, upon its own
distinctive merits Yet, with all this knowledge, they
perslsantly make upon the Democratic parry, cad
seek to accomplish its down fall. They have reason
to believe no founded upon ordinary probabili
tIes that IN their efforts would be successful, the
party which they claim to be the cure all for every
political malady to which government is subject would
succeed III getting control of the destnes of the
try. They must be that if Democracy fails, its
most powerful adversary will triumph !; and although
they have it in their power to aid in the destruction
yet incapable of profting by what they call the nation
necessity 1t may be that with the assaults Of Black
Republcansm at the North, and the efforts of Opposi
tionsts at the South, the only party which has
ganized existence, every State will be unable to stand
But who succeeds to the Government of the nation ??
The Opposition" No, no. No power but direct
interpOsitOn of Providence give it vitality enough
to do so. But Seward and his gang of deuded fanatics
"a party held together by hatred of the South
and waging upon US an rrepressibe conflict will come
in with their back-hag waving-the sure precursor of
ruin to all which the patriot holds dear Shall Demo-
cracy or Black Republicanism prevail That is the
question: and it is idle to attempt to make it otherwise
In order to keep the true issue out of sight, the
Conservatives as they false call themselves among
other unnecessary and Improbable propositions have
proclaimed themselves the gallant champions of sys
tenn OF taxation, which they say, will give peace and
justice to the country and bring about a political
millennium, What is it Equal taxaton!' And
what does that mean? "Aye, there s the rub
| What each advocate of this system of humbuggery
does mean, would require years to find out and shelf
full of quartos to contain. Their platform, however,
says: We are In favor of calling Convention of
the people, as early as practicable the Federal ba
sis, for the purpose of modifying the Constitution
that oil property mag be taxed according to its val
ne, with power only to discriminate an faUor of the
native products Of the State and the industrial pun
suits of her ctioens." That resolution does not say
that all property shall be taxed according to it's val
ue as it should have done, if it was intended to es
tablish principle. 1t does not bind the party to
equalize taxation at all. 1t does not require it to
lay the same per centum tax slaves lands,
or any other party. They may tax one Species un-
der the resolution, onetenh of per cent and
other One-haf of per cent. They may make any
discrimination they please in favor against any class
of property any persons that their discretion shall
warrant or their party necessities require. And yet
they pretend to favor "equal taxation" Surely, no
man can be deceived who will read.
trial pursuits of the people to receive the profits Of
their discrimination These sweeping clauses
prehend everything. There is property, not init
mately connected neither with another. 1t is
clear therefore, that the resolution, from its language
will admit of any construction, which is necessary to
success any part of the country TO the andhoder
it will be said we will reduce your tax. TO the slave
holder your burdens will not be increased because your
negroes are necessary to your industrial pursuits
can discriminate in your favor To the merchant We
Of
gagged in industrial pursuits boon is offered. But
mark the sequel The merchant and the salared officer
or employee the chdIess of property, the turpen
tine dister the physician and the lawyer and the teach
err all these and others, to whom special appeals
made, fewer in number than the shareholders, and
will be forgotten when the day of triumph shall come tC
these apostles of equal taxation" The dupes anC
victims will behold their light their STAR, endeavor
ing to favor the most class of voters under
the general form of discrimination allowed by the
platform.
1t would seem, however, that although the resolution
Of the opposition does not bind the party to adopt al
unbendng rule of ad vaorm or equal taxation las some
of them call it, such the meaning of the Convention
In the proceedings reported in the Raleigh Register
the central organ Of the ad vaorem it appears that Mr.
e Turner OF Orange moved to except from the tax lists
such property as tin cups pans and the like but the
e proposition finally rejected. This action therefore
?, would to show that the opposition meant tt
tax oil property subject to discrimination mot exem
" tions according to its value If this be so and sub
NIT that their refusal to adopt Turner's similar
ception, leaves alternative but the inferencewhat
~ time assessors will have =" How many basins pans
cups and saucers chickens etc. have you and what
A.. they worth?" Verify, ad Ualorem should be writer
I'D captandum for it will take in every article OF proper
to- although it will fail to take in those who VII! redec
e calmly on the consequences which are to follow.
81 may, hereafter review the justification which Sc
IL up for attempting to break down ancient andmar
u of policy erected by fathers" IF shall try
III show and feel sure can succeed that their plea is
false one. shall also examine their assertion that Ere
: suffrage was a sectional compromise of 1885 [ hav
confidence that the truth of history teaches
u doctrine and think make it appear, although
'e was not member OF the Legislature of 1888.
e ANGUS.