Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-05-02
From the Daily Rough Notes.

discussion OF the great question OF dd Cdt0Ten1-a
question in which all parties vitality interested.
1t is proposed by respectable party to strike out
from the Constitution an important guarantee for
the protection of a certain species of property.
All slaves over the age of twelve and under fifty
years. are now taxed .a-
OF the tax on slaves, $lls,OOO is paid annually
into the State, and $4,000 goes into the county
treasures; making an aggregate of $265,000 tax
on slaves q. ~. ...-.....s
The tax on white polls amounts to about $10S,0 900
annually of which Sol 900 goes into the State and
about $57, 900 into the county treasures.
The slaves pay q times as much as the whole
white population of the State, and nearly six times
much the same number of whites.
The I'd Congressional District pays SlO5,OO0
yearly into the State Treasury; the Mountain Dis
trict only 5000. OF the Sl05, 900 paid by the
second district about $4,000 is applied to defray
the expenses of the State Government and $50, 900
to the construction of railroads in the west. The
annual interest on the money which has been and
will be spent in Burke county alone, say $500, 0O0
is $50 000 while the whole of the Sth Congressional
District pays only about $40, 900.
This the Governor did not bring forward as a
subject Of complaint hut simply to show the
inequality that exists and that the west ought to
be, as he thinks she is, perfectly satisfied and
tent with the present basis of taxaton-partcularly
as sectional contest, qestiOn Of this sort,
might tend to delay the completion of her railroads.
My competitor complains that the taxes on land
arc too high, and those on negroes too low; yet,
when it was in his power to vote for reduction on
the land tax from 20 to II cents on the 500, he
lodged the question altogether and refused to vote
There are two WAYS to make taxes equal-f the
taxes on land are too high reduce them. The State
Treasury well admit of IT. But, in order to
equaize taxation my competitor lavors the calling
OF an open convention, simply TO effect one object,
and that object the increase of taxes the negro.
Now my competitor admits that convention,
such he tavors and asks for, will cost at least
$4,000; and if under the control Of the OPPOSE
ton party, there is telling what it will cost nor
how many negroes would have to be taxed to defray
those expenses. Again.
Representation in the House of Commons is upon
the federal basis which gives that branch of the
government to the West. The elst on the present
basis, which is taxation, has the Senate, and as no
law can now pass without the consent of both
houses both sections stand an equality. But
call Convention and adopt the white the federal
basis, and the power Of the west, in the Senate be-
comes irreSiStble-She can't tax the east at her
pleasure-a power, which, as he thinks, the west
dos not covet and which ought not to exist in any
section, either east west.
Again. 1t has been said that l. 0he Governor,)
represented the West crying like the horse leach,
give, give" In this | was msrepresented or mis-.
understood. What did say, was, that this cry of
give, give" came not from the West, but from the
agitation introduced by the opposition convention,
at Raleigh, not from the people but from the polit
clans. He, (the Governor) is a Western man, is
known to. and knows. the West and he entertains
too bic opinion Of the sense of justice and equal
ity for which the West Is distinguished to attempt
to make others believe that the West WILL now or
hereafter, ask any thing but her rights. And in
vain will be the attempt by whomsoever rnade that
seeks 10 impress those people with the belief that nc
would represent them otherwise
The Governor took up, what seemed to him, the
Inconsistencies of his competitor. His competitor
fnr and nj,
system of taxation. But while in the legislature
his competitor had voted three times against ad
loren, and tWire against a convention.
The platform on which the opposition convention
placed his (the Governor's) competitor advocates
general system Of ad valorem taxation-nothing
whatever to be excepted. 1t enters the smoke-house
and the corn crib, taxes the bacon and corn-nay,
nothing whatever, however inconsdersble in value
escape its operation But his competitor jumps
clean off the platform which his party placed him.
and now goes for discriminating taX-the very
thing the identical system hitherto advocated by
the Democratic party
The Opposition party goes for taxing everything
according to its value. 1t places high per cent
age on sugar and coffee, it does on whiskcy and
brandy; it taxes mOlaSseS just as high it does
champagne; the road wagon, high the billiard
table; the spade and the axe high the pack of
cards and the gold watch.
Is such system Of taxation fair system? Is it
fair is it right, to tax the poor mans necessaries
high the rich mans luxurcS?
But my competitor says he would discriminate !
In what v ould he discriminate? BY his system of
discrimination, he would tax everything and exempt
nothing So his platform says, and says the Ra-
leigh iteqister and other papers in his interest.
Mr.. Pools eXOr1iiUm was short, chaSte and appro-
pirate lie thought that his competitor had the ad-
vantage over him. being among his friends, whereas
he Mr. p, had never before addressed any audience
in this section.
His competitor had represented himself and his
platform unlairy-neihcr himself nor any member
of his party had ever ntmatcd that he was in favor
! Of taxing tin cups &c lie had no idea of pass ng
revenue bill and putting it in the COnstituton-he
proposes to insert in the Constitution principle of
| Justice and equality. As the Constitution now
stands negroes under l2, and over 90 years cannot
be taxed All others taxed, whereas all negroes,
whatever their age, ought TO be taxed according to
their value.
Every man ought to contribute to the expenses of
| the government, proportion to the protection he
receives.
Mr.. p. would tax nothng-it is the province of
the Legislature to impose taxes and the Constitu-
ton ought to be amended as to bind up the Leg
! Slaturc in such way to guarantee equality of
taxation. He proposes to amend the Constitution
! that every species Of property may be taxed-not
shall be notwithstanding to value.
Mr.. p. confesscs that the Legislature would have
no power to discriminate in favor of land but his
platform says the Legislature would nave the power
to discriminate in favor of the industrial pursuits
! and the native products of the country. 1t would
| be wrong to tax the products of the soil, when you
| tax the soil
| Mr.. p would now vote against Mr. Turner's
amendment, whereby tin cups &C., should be ex-
empted, because it would be absurd to place such a
| provision in the constitution. He Gov. Ellis) is
the that wants to tax tin cups &C.. if he stands
! on the Democratic platform.
My competitor says the things going to ruin the
country, and drive the slaves out of the State
| Now, there is S700, 900 worth of property in
the State and 10 cents tax on the 500 valuation
will raise all the revenue that is wanted.
The negro owner doesn't now pay quite cents on
! the 500. The tax on slaves will be raised only
CENTS on The Slnl and that's mot uninc To hreaLr