Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-02-11
For the Standard.
AID VALOREM TAXATION.
No. 2.

No. 2.
" W. Holden, Esp
In a previous communication which was pub
lshed in your paper on the resolutions and address
of the laboring mechanics of Wake County, an at
tempt was made to direct the attention Of the Socle
ty to the fact that the system which they advocated
if successful, would prove injurious to the poor me-
chanics instead of productive of the advantages
thew had been led to anticipate from the adoption OF
the ad valorem system OF taxation, on either PRIV
lege or commerce. And instead Of trying to break
down the incidental protection which resulted from
the creation of State debt for internal improve
ments, they ought to profit by the strong feeling
now existing in the Southern States against the
manufacturing States of New England, caused by
legislation intended to nufy and render void all
acts passed by Congress- to carry out the provisions
of the Constitution with reference to the return OF
fugitive slaves. If the poor mechanics throughout
the State would use their influence in favor OF dis
examinations upon all the productions and manuac-
lures of those States that place their people IN an
attitude of hostility to the Southern States and peo-
pie by enactng laws to aid and encourage the I'M
der ground railroad, laws could be enacted at the
next session, which would do more to build up the
mechanics and manufactures of North Carolina than
all the revenue laws passed by Congress for In
cidental protection Of home industry While those
laws benefit the manufactures OF New England, out
few if any of them, ever benefited the Southern
mechanic or manufacturer. What they need is not
against the skill and capital of New England This
the Federal Government has power to grant
The power delegated by the States was for the pur-
pose of revenue, not protection, and must be con-
strued with reference to the object contemplated by
the grant. And at most can only authorize inciden-
tai protection. To this extent the power has been
too long established and exercised by Congress- and
sanctioned by every President from General Wash
ington to President Buchanan, to Justify cavelinS
about it now. Every Congress ard every President
in every revenue law that has been passed from the
foundation Of the Government TO the present time
not law has been enacted that did not contain
more or less discrimination. Even the act of 1916,
claimed to be based on the al valorem princip pie,
like the revenue laws ofNorth-C Carolina only applied
it to part of the revenue. And the incidental pro-
lection and the power to discriminate with but little
reference to raising revenue both by the tariff OF
1916, and all subsequent acts. But thing seems
strange in the policy of the representatives of the
South, while many Of them contend that the Fede
raj Government can only exercise the power with
a sing eye to revenue, continue to vote for laws,
which to regard the interest of the abolition
States of New England entitled to more protection
than the conservate Keystone State of Pennsylvania
While hundreds of speeches made in and out of
Congress about the protection of Pennsylvania iron
but little is said of the favors showered the abOli
ton States of New England some of them instead of
having reference to raising revenue, have and are
intended to have the opposite effect And some of
give incidental protection but direct protection not
for the purpose of raising revenue but for the pur
pose of decreasing it, and to this extent and as far
it may be extended, the principle seems to have no
thing in the Constitution to sustain it, and in effect
defeats not only revenue, but incidental protection
These laws may be distinguished by the object which
seems to have been contemplated Favorltelsm,
growing out Of sectional influence made to operate
on Congress frequently to the prejudice and in Jury
of other sections of the Union. For example, why
should the fisheries of New England receive draw
back SALT and the BE refused to the fisheries
Of North Carolina: If Congress have no power to
pass any law based on any other principle than
nue. what right have they to grant these draw backs
to the fisheries of New England and refuse them to
the same class of citizens in North Carolina?
If Congress doubts the power to pass revenue
law without any other object in view than the rails
ing Of revenue, without reference to incidental pro-
lection, how can it under the same clause of the
Constitution justify Congress in passing revenue
laws containing long lists of free articles to favor the
manufactures of New England? Will it be said that
the power of admitting dye stuffs, &C., free of duty
to benefit the manufactures Of abolition New Eng
land is intended to raise revenue? Ifso, those poll
cians who advocate the system ought to be able to
inform the American people if the principle were ap
piled to all the dutable articles how much revenue
would be raised to supply the wants of the Govern
ment?
The review of the laboring mechanics Resolutions
ana address prepared Dy their lawyer IN favor OF the
principle of ad valorcm taxes, which in part when
applied to property is admitted to be correct, WILL
with an explanation of the determinations in the
laws of the State supposed to be oppressive to the
poorer class have to be postponed to a future
number. In which an effort will be made to dem
onstrate that far from the Legislature of North
Carolina having Disseminated against the laboring
poor of her citizens these determinations have been
in their favor. And instead of repeating the laws
which discriminate in favor of the productions and
manufactures of the State further protection should
be asked Instead of adopting al valorem taxation,
which leaves the mechanics, manufacturers and farm
ers of North Carolina to compete without protection
against the mechanics, manufacturers and farm
ers of New England, while they by legislation aid
the under ground railroad sanction stealing our ne
groes and sympathize with treason and murder, and
are legslatng against the return of fugitive slaves
in open violation of the Federal compact have no
right while those laws exist to claim commercial
equality with the other States Of the Union who in
stead of multiplying, conform to the laws of Congress
and sustain the Federal compact. Having already
placed themselves out Of the Union at least far
the States South of Mason's and DXson's line are
concerned, while they refuse compliance with the
requirements of the Constitution, they have right
to claim commercial equality in the States whose
property they aid to steal and legalize the theft.
A plan has been prepared which will be submit
ted in the next number to punish theft treason and
murder, and legally protect the mechanics, manu-
facturers and farmers of North Carolina, and no
power required that is not fully sustained by the
Supreme Court of the State and the United States.
JUNALUSKA.