Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1860-06-07

lhey pretend to represent this movement in favor of
what Is known as Gd UGtorem taxation, Democratic
measure and even affect to trace it to Governor Reid
and therefore express holy horror that Democrats who
supported Governor Reid should refuse to endorse their
new hobby.
let examine this allegation especially with refer
change the basis of taxation negro property as now
urged by the Opposition. Gov. Reid in his Biennial
Message to the Legislature of North Carolina at the
session commencing October, 1852, says -
GA general rule is believed that the tax upon
estate of each should be in proportion its value
subject to such exceptions only circumstances and unda
mental principles may justify Inasmuch property
ege neither the other ought the absence OF property to
exempt the person from bearing equitable share OF the
public burden Therefore it is thought Just and proper to
as both and property The following wise provision
in State Constitution which ought not to be departed
FROM defines the power of legislation upon this SUBJECT
" SECTION I'LL. CapatiOn tax shall be equal through
out the State upon all individuals subject to the
2. All free males the age of twenty-o years, and
under the age of Oryve years. and all slaves the age
of twelve years and under the age of fifty years. shall be
jet such tax provided that nothing herein contained
shall prevent exemptions of taxable polls heretofore pre-
sCribed by law in cases of bodily nfrmity
We alludc to these matters to show the motives of
those who started this political ISSUE and tie views en-
tertaned of it by their leading ogau and also by the
standard-bearer of the party enlisted under the
banner of 0d Uulorem. We also show that Gov. Reid
urged such course nor advised any such change
as the Opposition Convention of February 22d recon-
mended and as the supporters OF that Convention en-
deavor to commend to the people.
1t must be painfully apparent to all that the conse-
Quences foeseen as likely to flow from the discussion OF
this ad udLo, en- issue already flowing theretrom
The editor of the Raleigh Register correct for once
at least when he pointed to such consequences Mr..
Ferebee vas not far wrong saying that the tendency
of this movement if successful would be to drive ne
groes from the State.
But the popular appeal in favor of I'D valorem and
John Pool is based upon attempt to show that this
measure will prove to the advantage of the poor man
whose taxes it will tighten, and whose condition it will
improve, while it will impose heavier burdens on the
rich manfurther that it will benefit the landhoder by
throwing the burden of taxation TO certain extent of
his shoulders and on to the shoulders of the STAKEHOLDER
The party motive of all this is apparent. The number
of non-savehcdeEs considerably exceeds that of the
Shareholders and equently the appeal is made to
the preudces of the majority against the const
tutona guarantees enacted for the protection of the
minority, and this by party which lays claims to all
the conservatism, and all the decency."
There is mistake made in this calculation of the op
position party however, and it arises in this way the
interest in negro property any other property exists
and is felt beyond its actual ownership. Who will say
that the engineer on railroad or the conductor on
tran or the macbinist in the shops has no interest in
railroads aud derives advantage therer0m because he
does not actually own stock in them. Employment
the means of making honest support, do constitute an
interest and object to any right-thinkng But
what supports any of our railroads? Who were the
subscribers to the stock Ninetenths of the produce
that they carry is the product of slaveabor-the i'm
mense majority of the Subscriptions in this State
made by shareholders.
Now there, for example, is an instance of how the
various interests of society connected and mutually
affected by each other. The very many employees o
the railroads in town receive compensation for the
services from the proceeds Of negro labor The com
mission merchant the shipping merchant and others
make up their cargoes and load their vessels mainly will
the products of slave labor The stoekccpcr sells good
to be paid for by the planter in tie way. None,
comes into communityit builds bouscs and it doe
hundred other things tending to give employment t.
the skilled labor OF the white mechanic and yet dcma
non savehoIcr-t him that he is oppressed and tina
I'D uaiorem is the thing TO revenge him on his oppres
sors the owners of slaves We do wonder that peopI
will believe such stuff
But it is said that land is oppressed fol the sake
negroes or negro owners. Is that so? What give
value to land but labor Are not the great body Of tn
negroes of the State employed upon land They ar
either owned by the persons who cultivate the land o
they hired by them In either way the cultivate
of the land pays the taxes. What difference does
make to him. how it benefit him, if for the SAX
Of making nominal reduction of his land tax you in
pose heavy burdens upon the class of labor which he
ploys to make that land productive.
In town too, they tell you that it comes hard upon til
owner Of q house end lot who pays heavy taxes Nov
those who say this know that few if any who enoug
real estate to make their taxes worth talking about
also either hire at least one negro servant. Pu
additional taxes Oh the negro and it will soon be see
who will pay the piper. Will it be the capitalist who own
and hires out his negroes We all know that it will not
No. after all it will be the hirer on the immediate en-
poyer of their labor whether in household service or
farming or whatsoever other way. The effect then,
increasing the tax upon this species of labor would sin
ply be to throw impedments in the way of the Guilty;
ton of the soi-tO hamper production-to lessen til
basis of that trade and prosperity out of which sprin
employment and remuneration to the mechanic, the me-
chant, the sorekeeper, tie shipper and the railroad maj
We bad intended to have made up and presen
ed some further statistical calculations, showing the OF
Grafton OF I'D Valorem in opposition to the real interest
Of those to whom appeal is made in its favor upo
the ground that it will seriously reduce their taxes bu
we find the work mainly done to hands by acorre
pondent Of the Western Sentinel and so well done tina
we have hut few remarks of our own to offer befor
calling the attention OF readers to the arguments
A Tax Payer" which appear to us to be conclusive
The reasoning Of the writer will apply with equal fore
To tools for q mechanical