Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1860-04-12

A private letter from friend In one OF the Eastern
counties says -" The Opposition here in terrible
stew, and many openly against their candidate The
Democracy stand all firm. x ! Mr.. Pool finds
his platform an uneasy one He wants to make cxcep-
tons but cannot Thus far he has limited at them only
The is progressing to the entire satisfaction Of
our friends X K Mr. Pool contends that the tax
on slaves will not be increased under the ad gaOrcm
SYSTEM"
Now, in regard to this last assertion we would re-
specfully ask or two questions First il no change
is to be madef the tax slaves is not to be ncreas
3D. why put the State to the expense, inconvenience,
danger and disturbance of a Convention to effect an
amendment Of the Constitution, which Mr.. Pool says
will have no influence when effected Second, if Mr.
POOLS assertion be correct is it not evident that he
speaking the organ and mouthpieCe of his party,
derstands the platform Of the Opposition Convention
differently from what of the Opposition organs
would have the people believe is the true understanding
of it? By of these organs assured that the
only object in view is to the Constitutional pro-
vision in regard to the mode of taxing slaves so that
they may be hereafter taxed, not polls, but
sessed value like lands. But if Mr.. POOLS assertion be
true the platform means than that. 1t that
everything in the State shall be taxed small and great
big and little for in other way could the present
amount of revenue be raised with an cd vujorem on
slaves without increasing the tax upou that species of
property Mr.. Pool understands the Opposition platform
in the plain of its words, that eUc1Wng, from
needle to an anchor, FROM luxury to necessity shall
be taxed uniform per cenage according to assessed
value and, indeed that he is correct in doing So will
appear by the following extract from the proceedings of
the Opposition Convention, as reported in the Raleigh
Register.
Mr. Turner Orange, moved to take the vote ad 20
Lore, offering amendment against taxing such small
matters as tin cups plates, &c Mr.. Badger proposed
change IN bus amendment which was accepted The amend
ment OF Mr.. Turner was then adopted
Mr. Henry of BERTHE then moved reconsideration Of the
amendment, entering his protest against it.
Mr. BarriDgeI, of CAbarrus, seconded Mr.. Henry.
Mr.. Rayner hoped Mr. Turner would withdraw it.
The motion to reconsider prevailed not being Withdrawn
the amendment REJECTED. The question then
ring upon the passage of the I'D Ua0re resolution pass
ed unanimously.
This, we think, is plain and explicit enough.
But, if change is to be made, why call Cor zen
ton? If negroes to be taxed no higher why agi-
tate for grant of power to do what Mr. Pool contends
won't be done-which he thinks viii be avoided, but
which only be avoided according to his plan, by
taxing every thing-the CATTLE the hogs, the farming
utensils, the smallest matters of all kinds in the State
The mode Of calling the Convention asked for by the
opposition, is that ought not to be allowed to pass
noticed That Convention is not TO be called upon our
present mixed basis but upon the Federal basis. The
arrangement of 1885 was designed SO as to give the
West the preponderance in the House of Commons on
The Federal basis and to give to the East the prepon
derance in the Senate upon the basis of taxation Call
ing the Convention upon the Federal basis would there
FORE be to give the majority the power the preponder
ance to only clement of mixed balance of power
Does the West demand this? Will the East submit TO
it? We answer both these questions in the negative
Must it not be apparent that something more is
meant by the resolutions of the Opposition Convention
than appears on the face of them? If not why call
Convention to affect one amendment, which, Mr. Pool
contends will have effect when accomplished? Why
call Convention upon a basis which leaves no ques-
ton OF the preponderance being all in favor of one sac
ton? Why do some organs of the Opposition seek to
evade the force of the resolutions and action of their
own Convention by ignoring the horizontal ad valore,a
as applied to all other thrgs as well as negroes?
The scheme of the Opposition is dangerous and up-
just and there evident effort to deceive the peope
IN regard to its real tendencies.