Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-11-28

1900. Il
lively spirit on the subject of education.
The Governor recommends the Military
Institutions at Charlotte and Hillsbore' to
he favorable consideration of the Legislature,
nd worthy the patronage of the State.
BOUNDARY LINE-The Governor informs
The Legislature of his inability to carry out
The instructions of the last General Assembly
relative to running and marking The bounda-
~ line between North Carolina and Virgin
ia and urges the necessity for its being done.
TAXATION AND REvENUE.-The Governor
discusses this question at much length, and
that 'the principle oftaxing property
according to value may certainly be intro
duced with advantage to a limited extent, in
every revenue system !" and if the condition
of society were such that the circumstances,
and the mode of fife of all were the same, and
the property owned by them of a like nature
and kind, then this principle of taxation
might be int; oduced generally, with equity and
justice. But such a state of society does not
exist any where, and certainly not in North
Carolina. The message then proceeds to
show andargue the difference OetWe n proper
ty of a useful and necessary kind and which
tends in it's use to increase the public wealth
and the general comforts of life-and such as
is not necessary and which in its employ
CIlt OOtSAC StS 6hO"SA VI AoAoAJ mn
tiers merely to the pleasures, and too often
to the vicious p~ropensities of our nature
and contends that it would be manifestly
unjust and impolitic to tax these different
species alike.
The Governor proceeds to instance the
necessaries of life, sugar and coffee, and asks
if they shall be taxed as ardent spirits-good
books the same as bad and demoraliZing ones
private capital as bank stock; land as
much as pleasure carriages and gold apduffftt
u~r.rh,- ana the other diminishes it and
yet, (says the Governor the principle of ad
cGtorem taxation would make no distinction
between them, but place an equal amount of
taxes upon equal values of each"
The message continues to argue the question
and present it in a variety of phases, and espe-
clally with regard to slaves; and shows that
4lo,ooo slaves pay a per capita tax amount
ing to $ll7,632; while SOC, 900 whites only
pay 500, 332-being about 40 cents, on an
average, for every slave, to 81 cents for each
white person. The message proceeds further
to say, that, of the $12, 0O0, 900 of annual
exports from the State, 81, OOO, 900 at least
are derived directly and immediately from
slave labor; and that every occupation.
Wnetner mechanical, manufacturing, mercan-
Tile or professional depends upon this spe-
cles OF property for q support. It s~ustains
the credit of the State, and the most produc-
tive portion of our territory could not be cul-
tlvated without them. In view of these
facts, the slave property of the State should
De fostered instead of pursuing a course that
would tend to expell them from the State. as
ne contends the repeal of the clause in the
constitution which limits the taxes ON
slaves would inevitably do. The Governor
recommends the repeal of that portion of the
revenue law which taxes salaries of me-
chanics and others engaged in manual labor
employments.
FEDERAL AFFAIRS. The Governor an
proaches the subject of National affairs with
evident caution and calmness. He states
the fact that a sectional man, deadly hostile
to the interests and rights of the Southern
ern States, has been elected by a sectional
vote to preside over and direct the destinies
OF this Confederacy; and proceeds to r~ecapitu-
late the encroachments of that party for q
!, period Of several years until it has reached
the seats of power in the land, and will soon
be IN possession of both the purse and the
e sword OF the nation. Says the Governor
II Is not the election of Abraham Lincoln
Y that we regard, any more than our forefatbers
regarded the fact that it was GEORGE the
,e Ihlrd who was on the throne of England
Ahey rebelled not against the man, but
2. against the tyranny of his ministers and
parslament which threatened to deprive
i is not lincoln, but the ia g > mita ah .s a s7s.
! H Haasa sa him a to 9tIsf ngd fnnasnc cen IN his ady
Observation-Disclosures this we resist.
We conclude our synopsis by giving the
closing portion of the Message in the Gov
ernor's W language:
This condition of public affairs, as was to
nave oeen expected, threatens the most de-
plorable conseq uences to the Confederacv.-
Already 1t is rendered more than probable that
several OF the Southern States, in the exercise OF
tne natural rights ofnations, will separate from
the Federal Union, before the terminat;on .,
your present Session. Such an occurrence
would present a grave state of facts comman.
ding your most serious and solemn delibera-
tons.
1t cannot for a moment be supposed that
we could submit to have the policy of the
Abolition party, upon which their candidate
for the Presidency has been elected, carried
out In his administration, as it would result
IN the destruction of our property and the
placing the lives of our people in daily Der
IL: and even though this should not be i'm
medlately attempted, yet an effort to employ
the military power of the General Govern
fnent against one of the Southern States.
would present an emergency demanding
prompt and decided action on our part. It
can but be manifest that a blow thus aimed
at one of the Southern States would involve
the whole country in a civil war, the destrnc-
tive consequences of which to us. could ON.
~ be controlled by our ability to resist those
engaged in waging it.
The civilization of the age, surely. OUGHT
TO be a sufficient guaranty for the preven.
ton OF so great q calamity as intestine war
even though amid political changes Of the
magnitude of those going on around us
But, should the incoming Administration he's
guilty of the folly and the wickedness ~,
drawing the sword against any Southern.
State, whose people may choose to seek that
protection out of the Federal Union which
IS denied to them in it, then we of North
Carolina, would owe it to ourselves to
the Liberties we have inherited from onr
ftthers,-to the peace of our homes and fam.
HES, dearer to us than all governments 70
resist it to the last extremity.
Ours is a government of public on;n;on
ana not OF force; and the employment 81
military force to control the popular will
would, Unsuccessful, result in a CALLING and
memorable despotism. ~
The prevention, then of civil war and tho
preservation of peace amongst us, are the.
great objects which North Carolina should.
resolve upon securing. whatever cbonoo, Al