The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-07-31
HON. JOHN w. ELLIS.
DISCUSSION IN CHARLOTTE.


On Tuesday last Mr. Pool, the opposition candi-
date for Governor, and DIR. r. X. Speed, the op-
position State Elector, visited Charlotte for the
purpose of addressing the citizens of this section on
the al vaorem question. 1t was public appoint
ment by each gentleman, and therefore democrats
asked permission to participate, was their rrvi-
lege 1t was agreed that Mr. Pool should open the
debate and be replied to by j. y. Fox, ESQ,
democratic District Elector; then Dr. Speed to fol-
low, and Col Long, dem, of Cabarrus to follow
him,
Mr. Pool commenced at II o'clock and spoke
two hours. He went over pretty much the same
ground as heretofore reported harping on two
strings nearly the whole time, the negro and poor
white nan-the poor white and the negro.
Those who have read his speeches, made in the
East, and who heard him here on Tuesday last
saw very plainly that he has changed his manner
and tone Of argument considerably. In the East
he went for having all property taxed on the ad
valorem principle, "not only Land and ncgrocS,"
Jas the editor of the Greensboro Patriot said at
the time Il "t horses, co1rs, sheep and hogs"
Here ana in Salisbury he argued 50 as to make
the impression that he was for taxing the negro
only al valorcm. His appeals were made for the
purpose Of engaging the sympathy Of the q poor
white man. and he continued to assert that the
poor white man was taxed three or four five
times AZ much the negro, but offered plausi-
bic argument to prove it. He tried to explain his
votes in the last Legislature against calling Con-
vcntion and against the proposition to introduce
the al vaorcm system of taxation, but failed
I,
his course then. He evidently felt that his posi-
ton was embarrassing, and laborcd hard to clear
himself, but with all his acute reasoning and hair
splitting arguments he did not offer proof to satisfy
any one unless it was those who intend to 20 it
blind for him, right or wrong.
MIR Fox replied in a speech OF two hours, and,
from the commencement to the close, rak the
enemy fore and aft to the great delight and salts
faction of the democratic portion Of the audience
The best evidence that Mr. Fox did his work
we'll is the dissatisfaction expressed with it by Mr.
Pools friends No expected him to make
speech to please the opposition, and the reader
may depend upon it he did not do it. lie dealt
Mr. Pool some pretty hard blows but nothing more
than he dcscrvcd-he Was respectful, but pointed
and plain in some OF his remarks, and declared at
the time that he meant not the least dsrcspect
No could reply to such speech as Mr. Pool
made without being plain and pointed, but certain
ly not the slightest disrespect was intended. Mr.
Fox read from Mr. POOLS Gainesville speech to show
that he does not now occupy the same position he
did then-at least he had failed to proclaim t if
he did. He explained how ad valorem would in
crease the tax on the poor man, or the man of
- a., Il L.
did not have his capital invested in land and ne
grocs-by the figures and calculations he showed
that al valorcm would cause a deficiency in the
revenue Of Mccklenburg county of some thousands
Of dollars, which would necessarily have to be made
up from articles species of property not now
taxed He appealed to the people to say if it was
fair for Mr. Pool to come here and profess so much
friendship for and interest in the welfare Of the
poor white man." after having voted in the Leg
islature against the poor mans interest He (Pool)
was in the Senate and had an opportunity to show
his love for the poor white man, but he did moth
ing Of the kind. Instead Of proving his faith by
his works, he actually voted against calling Con-
vcnton to amend the Constitutyn-he voted
against proposition to tax young and old negroes
not now taxed, and when the proposition was made
TO reduce the tax on land, he did not vote--Mr
Pool dodged-he net there. This is c glance
at the record of the gentleman who now makes
such loud professions in favor of the poor white
man -no'r he wants to be Governor then he did
not know that he would be a candidate Peculiar
circumstances sometimes have a wonderful effect
upon the opinions Of men, and it was more than
probable that MIR Pools desire to be Governor had
caused HIM to occupy his present inconsistent
position. From first to last Mr. Fox was heartily
cheered for the able and skillful manner in which
he met Mr. Pool aud exposed his electiopeerinr
schemes
DIR. Speed (NIr Pools assistant) then took the
stand and spoke for two hours lie commenced
by trying to explain ad valorem, but very soon
left that and went into national politics He
praised Bell and Everett and abused and misrerro
scented Breckenridge and Lane, and undertook to
show that Doug las was the regular nominee of the
democratic party From tie manner in which he
spoke OF Douglas might have supposed that he
was first rate Douglas man, had he not distinctly
declared that he was for Bell Only short time
since, DR.. Speed and NIr Pool were both denounc-
ing Douglas and approving the course of those
VINO Withdrew from the Charleston Convention;