Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1860-06-21
From the Raleigh Press.

MFssss. EDITORS The candidates for Governor adj
dressed one of the most intelligent and attentive auden-
ces at this place, today that ever saw listen 10 any
notica discussion. Gov. Ellis opened the discussion
6t hafpast IL O'clock a. m and enchanted the
blage for an hour and half with such sound logical
and argumentative speech to receive commentator
from the most violent of his opponents. His manner
MAS plain but attractive his voice. though feeble
clear and distinct and his arguments presented in
such to persuade and convince the most vlo
lent-in one word, his effort noble, hghtoned, and
statesmanke and greatly exceled the antclpaons OF
his most sanguine friends.
He thanked the people for the support they had Civ
en- him heretofore and congratulated them upon the
present prosperous condition of the State and especially
upon the satisfactory in which the present sys
TEN OF public schools operated. He came not before
them now as a seeker of Office no, he before them
as the humble representative of the Democratic party
and as such would attempt to discuss issue which mad
been forced upon the people uncaed and unasked oy
the opposition party of This State. The OPpositlon
Convention which met in Raleigh in February last pro-
posed to strike out certain clause OF the CONSTITUTION
What was that clause? How came 1t there? BY what
authority was ths-to the opposition partyodious
striction there? And what good did it do, any way
It was clause for the protection OF slave property,
compromise between the east and west passed in solemn
convention by such deliberate wise and patriotic heads
as Castor, Macon, Daniel, and other names with
In themselves sufficient argument for It's necessity.
western man had introduced feature into the ConVen
ton which nearly the same as the present clause IN
guments that it was solemn compromise, entered into
and agreed on by all Sides protection to slave proper
ty and prevent all pickering and strife hereafter The
Opposition convention desired such change as would
tax all property alike No more in favor of equal
taxation than be was. He here read figures from the
ComptrOlers report show that slave property bore
its proportion OF tax. Slave property now paid State
tax to the amount of hundred and eighteen thousand
dollars county tax $248,OOO, white poll about 1000
now about $4,000, of this was paid by slavehoding
voters which would leave about eighty thousand voters
that paid about $4,000 tax and slave property paid
about 100000 and had only twenty-five thousand votes
He cited this proportion OF the tax and did not the facts
and figures show it. There about $800O00-
900 worth of property in n. G., and of this about
$l80O00O00 was slave property not one fourth. NOW
adopt the ad vaorem SYSTEM and there would not be as
much tax upon the slave property as there is now So
where the surplus to come from? From the neces
saries that were exempt
Whenever the Legislature desired to make an appro-
pration they looked around to what they must tax
and if they that they had to Increase the poll tax
they would stop and go no further. This clause was
then protection, it was check, and restraint to IN
wise legislation and it to the benefit of every one to
keep it there If you altered the Constitution, how
would you meet the Aboonists? for Constitution
protected slave property as did that of the u ST. and if
we altered ours, could not the Abotionist upon the
very same ground alter that of the u s.? And where,
then would be the representation of slaveproperty
in Congress, which we had now. Let it be changed,
and n. g., would loose these representatives in Con-
gresS.
He here showed that the law of Tennessee excepted
certain slaves from taxation in the ours
and that Arkansas, Mississippi and other southern
States exempted them from taxation at certain ages
He said the slave poll in Granville paid fifteen cents for
the poor charity which neither the slave the slave
owner would ever realize and if you would tax the
slave that was Improbable the consequence was that
you would run them from the State, and the tax would
be lost They also paid ten cents for the education of
the poor run them off, and who would then supply this
charty2 They paid ffyfve cents for county purposes
which they never incurred run them off, and their tax
is forever lost They also paid six cents for the insane
another charity which they enjoyed When
the Constitution is altered and slaves taxed ad lib
a where your guaranty that the State debt will not
be increased where is your protection 1t certainly
would be increased. Slave property would be taxed
higher run out of the State, and the tax it pays
be forever lost. This provision was then check, and
If it was then keep there. He here read several
tracts to show that AbotOnists would and max
ing capital of this discussion, and read most conclu
sve argument purportng to be from the Standard
but again examining it, found it was the Register
The Black Republican convention which met at Wheel
ing few days since, to appoint delegates to Chicago
adopted the very doctrine the Opposition Con-
venton in n. @. He did not impute them with Black
Republicanism, but it not bad sign, to them
adopting the very same ground. He read an extract
from the Petersburg Integencer, stating that that
paper would not be surprised if the "irrepressble
conflict" should soon begin in Virginia, the sub
ect Of ad valorem. He offered these things to show
the tendency of the discussion of these subjects
Slaves could be run Oft at any time, and would be-
where they were profitable, but land was firm and
fixed, and was mortgaged for the State debt and it
was therefore impossible to shun the responsibility
Did not every bank charter protect its stockholders from
excessive taxation? Most assuredly they did, his COM
pettOr at least thought So for he voted for several du
ring the last Legislature Slave property needed pro-
tectonit the object OF Constitutions to protect
minorty-slavery was weak and it was the advice of
the great Madison that whenever any species of prop
erty liable to be attacked that property should be
protected He neither in favor OF taxing little neg
groes old negroes horses and farmers utensils
one yielded nothing, and the other necessary.
Here he read the Opposition platform ad valorem, !
and extracts from the different ad vaorem papers, and
showed in what different and ridiculous position each
paper stood-hat every politician had his own peculiar
View and it seemed his competitor the most peculiar of
ALL for he had been able to get him to say how far
and no farther he would 60 Read from the proceedings
of the OppOsiOn Convention, showing how fatty and
tremendously the amendment of Mr. Turner, to exempt
such things tin cups etc, voted down. and the
deniable stand the Convention then took ad vaorem.
He said in his first speech at Gatesve and that his
position now that land tax could and ought to be re-
duced The uxuries of the State paid about
tax adopt ad vaorem, and this amount lost where
was this to from who would have this to pay The
land holder. 1t was necessary for the good of
society," thus to check luXures which tended to dsspa
ton and protect necessaries which upheld and sustain
ed society. Was it right it just, was it equal to
TAX luxures ana neceSsarles the same $lUUOO worm
of foreign liquors now paid into the treasury 500
the worth of sugar So the one tended to disspate
and corrupt the morals of society," and purchased
with the abundance of the rich The other an &C
tua necessity for the sustenance of mankind purchased
by the sweat of the brow and toll the handle of the
plough. Was it just was it fair, to make them pay
the same per cent He would leave them to answer at
the polls. He opposed to taxing mechanics and he
surprised that his competitor did not to have
that clause struck from the revenue BILL
There was no analogy between the Democratic ad va
loren of 1896 and that of the Opposition now; that
excepted and Disseminated out and out hor
zontal.