, 1860-03-17
AN Irrcpressibie Conflict at the South.
-fH IL fu.xs HenuIi1cau /

AN lfTC1feAHiD1e Eo0h1Ct at kAe ooUtAs
;. ifrtn. Tie Spstr:telt t,sss) Republican,
The conflict between free an.! Stare labor be-
.ius to show Itself ut the South. in those states
where free labor prevails in one section Of
State and Stare labor in another, Us IN Virginia,
5krth Carciua and Tennessee. In western
Virginia there are Coo,000 whites to G5,000o
slaves, while IN eastern Virginia there are 4so,-
o)v whites to 4io, 800 s'ares- This discsepaicy
is constantly increasing, us tic slaves in west
e,n Virginia arc di,nirish;ng aud its inteless
arc assi,r,ilating to those Of Il free State The
particular question now in controversy between
the East anil West concerns taxation, v h'ch Is
now unequal, slave property bein. taxed at less
than opc-t!iird its value. Slaves under twei7e
years Of nSc are not taxed at all. and on those
over twelve there is a uniform tax Of only $l.20
rcr head Tie taK on land is ~ cents On eael,
$l0o in value. The slaves under II are estimat
cd to he worth at least $500 per head, and those
above II at $500. The Whole lax on slaves is
now S3as, 900, while it they were faxed ut .hcir
true value it would amount to 81 ,16?,00o. Vest
In 1851, when the constitution of Eizgipla was
revised, the west cndearored to get a just share
in the coutrrl of The Stutc by ba=inc represent
alton on the whitc population, but did net sue
csed. In 1865 thera will be another revision,
and the west is determined to secure not only
f1ir 1c:rcsentatiou On The white bass, but q just
taxation, by taxing slaves according to their
market value. This purpose has shown itself
on several occasions turing the present session
Of the Virginia legislature, and it vii! no doubt
be accomplished o. the vest CT free portion has
the numerical strength.
II is on this ground that schemes Tor internal
improvements in the western part OF the STATE
are opposed hy the Eastern members. On these
schemes >ome SIX millions he asked Of The
legislature ct the PRESENT Ses91bn. The State is
already in debt IL the amount Of thirty-6ve
millions and ! half, chiefly Tor impro. emcnts in
the eastern section. TAc Shareholders are ROW
disposed to shut down Gu improvements, espe-
ciaily as they anticipate that alter 1865 they
will bc compelled to pay their proper share Of
the taxes growing out Of the debt. Aere the
controversy is distinctly between the Interests
Of freedom and slavery, with nearly q moral
cestuintT that the former will prevail, and that
the result will hasten the day Of Sirginias de-
liverance from the curse Of ignorant and thrl1t-
less iahcr-
In North Carolina there il similar contro-
yfrsy. There are comparatively cw slaves in
the western part Of thui State, and not long
since d movement was commenced by the Denl-
ocratic party. for taxing slaves according to
their value, like other property. But the stave-
holders began to make a row about the natter,
a;,d the leaders Of Tie party saw that they we're
lisslx to Loose By it. aud 80 drorpcd it. but
wurkinymen's association iu the western coun-
ties has taken it up, ard the discussion will be
kept alive. In neither Virginia nor North Caro-
lima is the effort to tax the s!ases BASED on any
ayowed hostility to slavery. Hut that i. un-
doubtcdly the secret motive with many OF the
non-slavt holders, VINO must he conscious TINT
their interests and the interests Of slavery are
irreconci!ably ansagonis:ic. And whatever may
be the intent Of the movement, it must net
against slavery to just the extent that it sue
ceeds in turning the attention CT the people to
the subject