Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1860-05-24
MF. PierpOInt's Speech at BEN
wood, Last Night.
EReported for the Intcllfeencer.l

protection of the agricultural, manufactu-
1 ring and commercial interest of the coun-
try. All the North, with a large portion
of the South, concurrcd in the duty of the
Federal Government to discriminate in
tariff for revenue in favor of our home
manufactures-to encourage the manufac-
turers and farmers of the United States
The masses of Virginia were in favor off
Its only opponents were now to be found
among the leading democratic politicians,
who are talking about Democracy and
free tn de. Even they, when they go to
arranging tariff, will tax iron 20 per
cent, and admit tea and coffee free of
duty. This admits the principle of pro-
lection. They would tax tea and coffee,
the poor working mans beverage, did
they not fear that class at the polls, on
election day.
He then remarked that it was great
/ pity that the Democratic party in pow
err in the State had not as much dis
elimination in regard to taxes in our State
| Legislature as they had in Congress, in re-
gard TO taxing the wages of the laboring
classes.
He then stated that since ls5l-since
the formation of the new Constitution,
when all slaves under IL years of age were
exempt from taxation, and all over that age
were valued at only $500 for the purpose
of taxation-exempting according to the
Auditors report, slave property, which, if
taxed ad Valorltnt, would yield upwards of
100000 revenue. Our democratic legis-
lature had swelled the State debt aud liza
bilities, including the appropriations of last
winter, from $l6,000,00O, to upwards of
$40, 900, 000-all for internal improvements
in Eastern Virginia, in the slave holding
districts. He alluded then to the S5O0,OOO
appropriated last winter for arming the
State on pretence of defending the slaves.
All our property was taxed 40 cents in the
$1O0 worth, from apewter spoon to farm
or rolling mill, while their slaves were tax
ed only about 10 cents in the SlO0 worth.
The income of the master from the work of
his slaves is not taxed one cent, while the
poor laborer in the rolling mill, who earns
$500 per Nnnum, is taxed $3.50, exactly as
much as is paid on a slaves worth $500
and if mechanics can be hired out ut
$500 each and boarded and clothed in the
bargain, yet this $1,000 income To the mas
ter is not taxed one cent. This is demo-
cratic equality with q vengeance. Colonel
Armstrong, your late member of the Board
of Public Works, u short time since, in a
letter addressed to me, exulting over the
results of the Democratic State Constitu-
tional Convention, exclaimed-Sir, the
laws under the new Constitution approx
mates Justice" Mr.. P. here stated if this
would the climax be. The farmer me-
chanic and everybody knew that since 1850
our taxes had been run up SO where they
were ST. then. This is matter of fact
known by everybody.
Then he said: Gentlemen, wrote letter
some two weeks ago, published in the
Wheeling IntcttLgencer, exposing the new
feature of taxes on labor. 1t has laid
from that time to the present, without any
,Sr-t,k nNnk
House in Wheeling, addressed the people
on the subject. To-day, understand, the
positions i'll that paper and in my speech
are denied and controverted. have been
told that paper or circular is being pre-
pared, 10 be circulated Tomorrow in the
Wheeling Union, denying the statements
in my letter and also in my speech.
have been told that Mr.. John Knote, one
of your late delegates, denies the whole
thing, and says that lHborcrs are not taxed
Mt all. at least that is his understanding
of the case Mr.. p. then stated that MIR.
Knote was very clever man, and he did
not think he would wilfully state what he
thought was not true; but it must be re-
membcred that Mr.. KLote was much
better Judge of good saddle than he was
of tax bills or making laws, or interpreting
laws after they were m d.. But that there
might be no mistake on the subject, ne
would read the law, and let them examine
it for themselves. He had no doubt that
they could understood it as well as any
person. He then read the tax law on in
comes.
He then stated the language of the law
is ''income' TO: "SerUice," from corporation,
company, firm, or person. Income for
service is wages, man who puddles iron
is in the service of the company who are
carving on the works. Whatever he gets
for his service is income or wages But
the Auditor has settled this whole ques-
ton by general question in regard TO
railroad employees. He stated that it was
folly to spend breath in arguing and sta
ting cases to make language, which was
already as plain as it could be any palmer
look at the exception in the old law
that fixes beyond doubt.
He then stated that he could not believe
that any respectable man would write an
article and publish it, and place his name
to it-controverting his construction OF
the law. 1t was very certain that the
Editor of the Uni0nwas incapable OF giving
critical construction of the law. 1t tue
article comes out under fictitious sigma
ture or as editorial they might set it down
at once that no mau of reputation would
sign his name to the paper, lest he should
hereafter be exposed.
But, said he, gentlemen, this matter has
been before these men for two wecks-the
laws have been in town, accessible to all.
Why, why did they put off meeting the
charge, not until the eve of the election,
but until the morning of the election2 If
their object was fair and honest, would
they not have given those making the
charge an opportunity of defending them
selves.
Fellow citizens, said he, your duty is
clear. If you approve the law making
| This taxation. vote for Democratic candi-