The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-05-08
THE CANVASS.

on the Goth ult. From gentleman who was pres
ent we learn that Gov. Ellis made powerful
speech, and that his friends are in high spirits
and expect an increased majority as the result
We find a sketch of the debate in the Raleigh
Press, from which we make a few extracts:
Gov Ellis opened the discussion, and said % he
came to discuss principles OF vital interest to the
people of North Carolina. The opposition have
presented a issue affecting the property OF the
people, aud he said he regretted that the time
should ever come when politicians in their race
for office, should agitate questions affecting the
most vital interests of this country. AS the Con-
stution now stands the poll tax equal through
out the State-that the achites paid little over
100000 while the siares paid $3.50, 600 He
said that the "latter day saints" Toppostionsts
had found all at that great inequality existed,
and hence this great clamor for ad ValOrem. There
were compromises between the East and the West
and he was in favor of adherng strictly to the con-
stitution of our forefathers and the compromises
of that constitution.
Gov. Ellis proved that Mr. Pool opposed and vot-
ed against n proposition to call convention, by
Mr. Turner of Orange, composed Of two members
from each county. If Mr. Pool then thought a
convention was right, why did he not vote for it ?
The opposition convention had not been held, and
the opposition had not nominated Mr. Pool for
.
$4,000 to defray the expenses of convention,
and that they would have to chase down many a
little uigger to make out the sum of $50 200.
While Mr. Pool contended that the ad valorem
system would disseminate in favor of the native
products" &c, the communication in the Raleigh
Register signed Tin Cup, and the Greensboro
Patriot and Wilmington Herald, construed the
platform to mean to tax everything-tin cups, hi
bles, cradles, and everything which was classed as
property.
Gov. Ellis contended that it was wrong to create
feuds between the rich and the poor; and since
the question of ad valorem, and the adoption Of
that system would not diminish the tax on the poor
it would not result in any good, but was powerful
for evil There was about 100000 paid
into the treasury from the tax on uXuries-abOut
onc-sixth part of the revenue Of North Carolina
and under the ad valorem system they would not
pay more than $4,000 or $4,000. Where was
the deficiency to come from e? 1t certainly was
necessary that the amount should be raised some
where, and the question arose, where!
Mr. Pool had voted against ad valorem in the
Legislature when the resolution offered by MIR
Blcdsoe and said that must have ad
valorem and equal taxation. Now, when he was
for getting into favor, he wanted that which two
years ago odious and Objectionable.
The country should be cautious how they alter
fundamental laws; the constitution was noble Old
fabric We had lived under it as fathers framed
it, and we should be cautious how amended it,
Gov. Ellis quoted Mr. Ferebee's language in
the convention that nominated MIR Pool: g Take
away the protection to slave property, and it would
drive slaves from the State" 1t natural for
to protect their property, and he asked if the
slaves carried out Of the State, where would
the tax that the slave now pays come from! The
government has to be supported, and it was evil
dent that the non-saveholder would have to make
up the deficiency in part, as we'll as the slave
holder.
He then quoted the Raleigh Register: be said,
Let it be remembered that on the 2lst day Of
January, 1860, John w Syme, Esq, the editor of
the Raleigh Register, said:
"Abolitonists would make capital of the discus
sion which the ad vaorem proposition would excite
and if they could do so any time, i is
argument to show that as long the products of slave
lnbnr constitute the principal wealth OfNorth Carolina
the proposition should not be brought up in the State
Gov Ellis said he had been misrepresented in
the West He feared nothing at the hands of the
West.
He held up the little ad valorcm pamphlet late
ly issued from Raleigh and characterized it as in
keeping with the party who got it up-that it was
not signed by any name, nor did it have the name
of the printing press on it. 1t was in accordance
with one Of the know nothing laws and oaths which
was administered to Mr. Pool-"hecp dark"
nov. Fills, Ill Ills lepiy W VT OOl, cNlu0ully
explained to the audience in language which can
not be mistaken, that the object of the opposition
platform was to tax crerythi"g 0ittom discr1min-
alton. He said the Greensboro Patriot, and Mr.
GOrrell, both, construed the platform to mean
what he had stated; that nothing no property,
would be exempt. If they exempted the native
products and the industrial pursuits what
there then to tax? Mr. Pool pretended that they
would exempt some things. yet they voted for
Mr. Turner's amendment to strike out tin cups &c.
He said Mr. Pools speech misrepresented him
on Rail Roads; that he drew up the charter for
the n. c. r. Road, and labored for it-but that
he voted against the Portsmouth Road because he
did not like the bill. He asserted again that MIR
Pool had never, in single instance, voted against
appropriation to any road, but that he voted
against the Western extension, and an important
portion Of the Wilmington 4 Rutherfordton Rail
Road, and also voted against appropriation to
complete the A. & n &. r. Road Mr. Pool had
said in his speech that every State except \. c.
and Va had AID vaorem. Tennessee, Mississippi,
Arkansas, and Alabama did not tax slaves ut all
ages and that South Carolina taxed slaves on the
head.
WESTERN SCENERY.-We have received from
the Author, a pamphlet entitled Guide to the
Scenery of Western North Carolina" by Henry
f. Cotton Esq, editor of the Western Advocate.
1t contains a great amount of valuable informa-
ton for those wishing to travel in the western part