Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-01-18
For the Standard.
AID VALOREM TAXATION.
No 9.

AID VALOREM TAXATION.
No. 2.
Mr. HoLDES:-The Democratic Press of Jan. Z,
gifted with fore-knowledge almost as profound as
that of his colaborer in bad cause, the Warrenton
Ners before noticed in reply to an article OF the
Greensboro Patriot, says: "As we stated some
months ago, we know the ground we occupy. and 1t
was to keep out of Just such company as the Ma
tional Era, black republican sheet, (Which, by the
way compliments the Patriot as co-worker IN the
"irrepressble conflict W that we have opposed the
proposed disturbance of the constitution. If the
Patriot is satisfied with its new affiliations, We are
and will merely call attention to the National Lru
Thus far the Press refuses to give to its readers an
address devoted exclusively to showing the Unequal
ity of the present revenue system; and publishes
with appreciation comments of an abolition ncwSpa-
per upon a small portion of that address, for the
purpose of creating false impression in the minds
of its readers and of begctting an unounded preu-
dice against the actions of his neighbors who he
well knows are as sound on the question of slavery
as are any south of Mason & Dixon's line. The
Press refuses to publish legitimate arguments urged
by Southern men, on a matter OF local policy, which
he has not attempted to answer or refute but pub
lished garbed extracts from paper which is not
allowed or ought not to DC allowed to be delivered
through our post office How the Press can recon-
cilc such course with the duties Of public journ
aliSt, and Southern man, is beyond my limited
comprehension am perfectly willing for the slave
owners of Wake county to say who are the most
guilty of improper affiliations those who oppose
the present tax system, and endeavor, by fair argu
ment, to have it changed, or those who copy and
circulate the opinions of a man whose sentiments
upon the subject of slavery are not allowed to be
circulated by the law Of the land If the Press, or
any others, think the address of the Wake County
Working Mems Association contains incendiary
sentiments he, or they can, by calling on the Secre-
tary of the Association, be officially informed of the
name and residence of the author so that warrant
may ISSUE and the matter be udicialy investigated.
Yet it might turn out. in the end, that the grand
Jury of Wake county would ignore bill on the ad-
dress and present the Press for ong md abetttng
in the circulation OF scdtous publications.
Will the Press please assist the Warrenton Ners
in furnishing the information respectfully asked for
in nv first communications and also inform its
readers of the ground" he occupied in reference
to ad ralorem taxation during the canvass of 1888!
If the 'ground" has been changed since that time,
will the Press give us his reasons for the move, and
what new lights it has been iilumined with on the
subject? Should the Press refuse this reasonable
request it may become necessary, in sclEdcfence,
for the advocates of change in revenue system
to do So
Mr. Editor: Those who think the present tax sys
TEN unjust and unequal sincerely deprecatc the
tone and character of the discussion started and
persiSenty kept up by the advocates of our present
revenue policy.
Nothing that has been said or written, or done,
by the former, can with any reasonable con>truc
tion justify the course pursued by large portion
Of those who disagree with hem Thus far, instead
Of discussing the revenue policy Of the State upon
its merits, and meeting argument by argument and
fact with fact. and endeavorins to enghten the peo
pie upon subject of such important concern to
them, they have strvcn to break the force and ef
feet of the statements and deductions heretofore
published by the advocates of a change, with covert
unmanly inSinuations. Such course, in relation
to topic purely local, is unprecedented with us
and if persisted n with The silent approval of both
the political parties in the State, results disastrous
to those separate party organizations will ncccSsar-
ly follow. Those opposed to the present revenue
system of NOrth-C Carolina belong to both of the po
itical parties existing amongst us; and they have
no desire to change their party relations. Yet if
their opinions on this matter are to be made tests
Of their party featv, and they are to be excluded
from their former political associations. the sooner
they know it, the better. The members of the
Wake County Working Mems Association, in their
address distinctly say, that it is not their object to
start any new political party or organization, either
upon this, or any other platform; to raise any
issues or tests in the selection of repreScn
tatives public officers" In this declaration they
were sincere, and are still determined if possible to
adhere to 1t.
Our existence a free, independent, slave-hod-
ing State, is Of the first consideration. Next to
that in its Importance, is the of raising the
necessary revenue to support that existence. Yet
We are told by those who endeavor to control public
sentiment and be the raders of the people, that you
ought not to express your opinion in regard to this
matter-tlat it is wrong for You to meet and form
associations for the purpose OF electing any change
in the present system of taxation-that the tenlen-
cy is evil, and that because you do so, because you
speak fc reSsly the honest convictions of your mind
you are no good Wing, you are no good Demo-
crat. it is insnuatcd by some (whosc good" for
anything is yet to be discovered that you are dis
loyal to the institutions and interests of the State.
Mr.. Editor: Our revenue system is wrong 1t is
unjust unequal diScr1minative and oppressive, and
cannot be defended The people cannot nor will
they be gagged by the politicians in favor of such a
system, care not who they be. They are awaken,
ed to the pressing necessity Of change, and never
will they cease talking and writ g about it, until
the change is made.
a NATIVE.
Raleigh, Jan. r. 1860.