Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1860-05-10
From the Daily Progress, May 4th.
The Dissc Between Ellis and Mr. Pool
Naxx HNeru ar

considering the incemency of theeather assembled in
the Court House hear the discussion between Gove
Ellis and John Pool ESQ.,, rival candidates for GOV
ernor Though the assemblage was composed principal
y of persons belonging to town. pleased to see
quite number of fellow citizens from the country
present.
Governor Ellis led off, He had been laboring for a
day two under cold, and being quite hoarse
abored under disadvantages still he spoke at length ana
much to the satisfaction of his political friends.
He commenced by thanking the people for the cont-
dence heretofore reposed in hm-had endeavored TO ad
minister the affairs of State for the public goodhad no
doubt but be had committed errors but affirmed that MS
desire had always been to do justice to the people OF
every section of the State lie and his competitor had
not discussed federal politics much as yet no Presden
tia nomination having been made but they differed there
as well as on State matters Gov h. at once took up
the change proposed by his competitor and his party IN
the State Constitution, and discussed it at length
Governments should be charablethe strong could pro-
tect themselves the weak needed protection.
Gov. Ellis argued that the East and West had COM
promised this matter in the adoption OF the Consul luton
as it now stood He showed the amount OF revenue de-
rived from slaves and the amount derived from white
polls that the East already paid her full proportion OF
the taxes and argued that 1t was unjust to call upon
her people to bear greater portion OF the burdens OF
government. He insisted that Gd Uaore, as proposed
by his competitor would tax many articles and species
of property now exempt and that it would operate a.
gans the poor instead of relieving them from any bur-
dens which they were now called Oh to bear
He alluded to the federal basis established and re-
cognzed by the General Government and pointed out
what be conceived would be the bad effects of any change
He spoke of free suffrage declared that measure was
not embraced in the compromise entered into IN the
adoption of the Constitution, and that its adoption re-
moved unjust inequality which existed. He pointed
to the difference between the taxes now levied on art
ces of luxury and those of prime necessity and conten
ded that the proposed change would articles OF ne
cessity more while it would tax luXuries less. He
charged Mr. Pool with not voting for a proposition
made before the last Legislature to reduce the tax on
land from 20 to Is cents on the 500 valuation Gov
f. deprecated any attempt to get up i'll feelings between
the East and West be knew section in orth Car
DINA he loved the whole State, and conten1ed for the
rights and interests of every section He contended that
there decided difference between the ad UaLorem
of other Southern States and the ad uaoe proposed
here. The democratic party in favor of certain
kind OF dd UaOrem but not that which proposed by
his competitor which would increase the tax on the lit
tie which was the poor mans ali.
Gov Ellis alluded to the present excited condition OF
the countrythe necessity for the protection OF slave
property alluded the national struggle which
be met and that all men concluded that the fight must
be between the Democratic and Black Republican par
ties Everybody knew that the Opposition could make
no show il the race for the Presidency.
He said that the property in slaves taxed to edu
cate the children of the poor already i'd vaLo' and
this proposed change hobby taken up by polltl-
cians-the people did not want it. The opposition sup
posed that the democratic party were divided they would
be mistaken; he stood upon the platform OF his party,
but that his competitor could hot adhere to his.
Governor Ellis time having expired he closed by
thanking the people for their close attention to his
marks, and took his seat. He evidently labored under
disadvantages account OF hoarseness and feebeness,
but bis speech clear, concise and uuequivoca. He
declared his positions I'D UQore and other questions
frankly boldly and without equvOcatiOn reservation
Mr. POOLS SPEECH.
Mr. Pool, without prellmnaries, with the simple re-
mark that it the first time he had ever had the honor
OF ADDRESSING audience in Craven, commenced his
the arguments of Governor Ellis He thought
that the Charleston Convention would hardly make a
nomination, and that consequently his competitors party
would be saved the trouble of saving the Urion the
patriotic masses OF the country would do that On 0d
UaL0em MIR. Pool asserted that Gov Ellis did not state
his position fairly he did not propose his party did not
propose to incorporate bill In the State Con
stluton. They proposed to give the Legislature the
power to tax all property according to value, and insist
ed that slaves should Re taxed other property Gov
Ellis did not stand the platform constructed for him.
He here read portions of the platform and reviewed it.
All citizens should be protected according to what they
have and slaves should pay much according to value
as land any other property. There Others in
North Carolina besides slave owners. Slave owners
were honest and willing to pay their taxes
His competitor complained that to taEsaves according
to their value would drive them out OF the State Ii
slave owners did not love their native State well enough
to pay tax Gn their property in slaves let them leave
they would leave their country for their countrys good
Mr. Pool said his competitor argued that Gd Udl0rem
would tax tin cups, thmbles chickens, goose eggs &c.
The Legislature, said Mr.. Pool had the right all
these things nowit had the right to tax everything but
the negro and that was what they wanted to get at
just and right that they should oe taxed as other
property, and it the principle of justice right and
equality that he went for. He advocated it here and
would have advocated it in the West-he would have
advocated 1t everywhere. All the protection the slave
owner wanted that all other property like slaves
should be taxed in proportion to value. He advocated
free suffrage because removed an unjust restriction
and he for it He for free suffrage because
he wanted equality at the ballot box be was tor ad va-
loren because be wanted equality at the tax box. 1t
was just and right. He considered these great princi
Piles OF equality and justice Of Importance than pro-
lection slaves and argued that slaves had all the pro-
lection they needed. He denied that ad valorem would
create jealousy between the East and the West He
referred to the value of negroes under and over so
which were not taxed at ALL He would discuss the
question OF poll taXthe Legislature could regulate that
| matter He was willing to trust the people-it was
their Constitution and if they wanted to change it let
| them do it,
| Mr.. Pool having consumed his time, closed. His
speech seemed to give great satisfaction to his political
friends present. have not attempted to follow eth
er gentleman to give anything like report of the
speeches. for we know should do them both great
justice, but we have simply attempted to the principal
points treated by them in discussing the proposed
change of the Consttution-or it is generally called
| I'D Talorem.
Each gentleman entitled to reply of 20 minutes
Gov f. in his reply took occasion to correct Mr. Pool
in several particulars Gov. Ellis opposed Convention
because, for it might affect the basis of rep
resentaton and the West to lose Senator's and be
contended that the West had no more now than she
ought to have. He spoke of Mr. POOLS votes against
Railroads. against Mr. Bledsoes ad vatoren bill and re-
fusa to vote tor bill to reduce the tax On land to show
the inconsistency of his present position.
Mr.. Pool replied to the reoinder of Gov Ellis by ex-
planning positions already taken, revetng again to the
position of his opponent and declaring his unaerabe
determination to contend for ad ualore with whatever
strength and ability be had until the right to tax slaves