The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1860-07-18
From abe Iredell Express.
MIR. Pools Speech at MCrgantOn.

Mr.. Pool said: | am pleased to see SO
many Of my feilNw-citlzens OF the county OF
Burke assembled to hear me, and desire to
express my thanks to the Ladies for their at |
tendance-and while doing so, feel author /
Ized 10 return to them the thanks OF my
competitor ALSO for know he thanks them. |
although he forgot TO say so before taking
mis- seat. The discussion OF the subject 0t
taxation is one in which the people OF the
State seem to take great interest, and take
sreat pleasure IN expressing my views upon
L before the people. There is proposition
TO shange the Constitution of the State. aud
this change should not be made without the
toll understanding and consent of the people.
The Constitution defines and limits the leg
islatiye power. When it forbds the Legis-
laturc to do anything, il cannot be done.
even lhnugh the people may desire u. The
Dnly NAY to carry out their wishes, - to
change the Constitution. Al present the
Constitution forbids the Legislature to tax
slaves under twelve years or over hity years
at all, and when il comes to tax those be-
tween those ages. il compels the Legislature
~ place the same tax on the head OF the
poorest white poll that is placed on the
most valuable negro, owned bs the wealth.
est man. The poor white mans head Is thus
shield between the taxing power and slave
property. | insist that il is the poor white
mans head. however much my competitor
may object TO my referring to the wealthy
maa's head too. For the wealthy mans
head would be no shield. The Legislature
would not hesitate to tax the rich mans
head, but when the poor mans head Is IN the
way, il is obliged TO hesitate and iurbear.
1t is asked, why is this worse now than 10
1855, and where is the necessity for change!
l will answer: In 1855 the whole tax OF the
State was only about 81. 900 year. Then
slave property could be made TO pay its pro-
portion by placing about Is cents on the POLL.
and that could be borne, and slaves we're
made to pay their full proportion. But now
we have to raise between s6o0.0O0 and
goo. 900 year, aud the value OF slaves has
greatly increased-and in order to make
them pay their proportion now, By capita
ton tax, a tax would be placed upon the
heads OF poor white men beyond their ability
10 bear, tax that would be tyrannical and
oppressive. And as the prospective debt OF
the State becomes actual debt, and the int.
rest has 10 be met, the difficulty will become
greater and greater. The last Legislature
had TO raise near 500, 900, or the credit OF
the State must be ruined and her honor
forfeited, They put 90 cents on the 500
valuation OF land ~ cents on money at
interest and on slave property 50 cents on
the poll, which is only 6! cents on 500
value. but iheE knew that so cents was all
the poor white pull would bear. and they
could not place il higher on negroes without
putting il also on the poor white man. His
head Was in the way, aad they did not dare
60 Cypress him. Ills head vas the shield
that protected sls0. 00n.G 600 Of slaves from
more than CT cents on the $40, while land
had to bear 80 cents, and the money Of
widows aud orphans al interest 81 cents on
the 500. The Legislature was forced into
this inequality by the constitutional provision
interpOsiny the poor white mans head. l
propose 10 take this head out Of the way. 50
that slave property may De made to pay
taxes equal with other property. II Is ne
cessary that this shoald be dons TO enable
the Stata 70 sustain its credit, aud TO equal
ze taxes upun different kind, Of property.
II was not necessary IN le35-but Is now--
and will continue 10 be more and mpre 50.
/ hupe never 10 see the State IN the same
dllemms il was during the last Legislature.
After taxing polls Ill they would bear, land
20 eeHts and money 20 cents, there was still
a deficiency. they taxed lawyers. doctors.
mechanics and schoolInasters, and officers,
aal clerks in stores. anil Osrrsetrs 81 on
every sIO0 Of their receipts from their hard
eirnng-and still there WAS a deficiency.
Taey then taxed sugar and coffee and calico
and every thing that is purchased from a
store, 50 cents on sl00 value. and many
other unjust and unequal provisions were
put in the revenue bill, which male 1t the
most iniqu.tOus measure that ever was passed
But the Legislature was forced 90 II because
thew could not reach slsO. 000. 900 Of slave
property. and make il pay is FAIR proportion.
This officially ought 10 be removed 80 that
the Legislature may protect the credit of the
State without doing such injustice 10 the CHI.
zens-and leave the proposition nos before
the people. Every wise legislator and states
man viii look 70 present wants aud nscessi.
ties u state in passing and proposing laws
Tar is government.
BIT let the people understand tie propo.
sitou distinctly. Nv competitor has READ
the words Of nuf platform e0rrecii, but YOU
mus; have noticed that be sat down without
ever reading bis own. There va, . go0t
reason for this omission. Ills speech was |
much stronger one against his own platform
than against Ours. aud il vas vel that h.
did avt read It before this assembly. Ba
he has not represented our platform correctly
lie ssys. Il IS conteaded here thar We prupOs,
To tax only the negro. Certainly no hones
man 10 burke Or any ~hers else as etel
nads such proposition. II ny competition
has ever heard any man take that position,
let him name the man. and the time and place
and will prove that his man bad been drink
ing some d tie foreign liquor Of which he
speaks - loudly. All property is now sub.
iect 70 taxation except slave property. The
change will make slave property stand On