Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-04-18
Vol. XXVI.-No. 16.
Mr.. Pool Dodging on Ad valorem.--Freemeu
of the State, do not be deceived! esq

discussion between Gov Ellis and Mr. Pool at Gates
vile, proves that the deception attempted by the
Know Nothing Whig Convention is developing it.
self The people of the State cannot fail to see how
their rights have been ried with and their creduli:
ty imposed on Mr.. Pool has explained his views
of ad ralorem in one particular as far as
taxation on slaves is concerned. We are glad OF it.
We hope he and Gov. Ellis now understand each
other on this branch of the subject; and we also
hope the voters of the State will understand and du
ly consider it.
Our correspondent, who seems to have been pres |
ent at the discussion in Gatesville, says Mr. Pool
took the ground chat ad calorem taxation would not
increase the tax on slaves. Of course Mr. Pool was
expressing his own views of the practical effect OF
ad ralorem and we are, therefore, informed by him
in advance what would be his recommendation on
the subject to the Legislature if he should be elect
ed Governor Mr.. Pool tells the Shareholders that
they need have apprehensfons about ad catorem-
that although it would tax all the negroes, instead
of those only between the ages of 12 and 3d. yet the
capitation tax on each will be so much lessened be-
low what it now is that the sum total of taxation on
the whole will be no more than is now collected
Very well. We take you at your word, Mr.. Pool,
aad intend to hold you to it
Now, if the aggregate amount Of taxation on slaves
is not to be increased by ad valorem, where is the
money necessary for the support of the State gov
ernment to come from? Will Mr. Pool and his par
zans take the ground that additional taxes are to
be imposed on land ?-and that the present tax on
labor shall be continued? Mr.. olsays for exam
ple to the capitalist who owns large sums at inter-
est and profitable stocks, that the tax which he
now pays is to be reduced to the rate now paid
by lands and slaves To the retailer of spiritpous
liquors, the keepers Of ninc-pin alleys and billiard
tables he says, your taxes are to be abolished, and
you are to pay taxes only on the money value OF
what you possess and others are told that they are
to pay taxes, not on what they make, but OF what
they have Now, when the taxes on capital, on re-
tailers, on shop-keepers, on professional men, on
pleasure carriages Watches boweknives and pistols
and other articles taxed specifically, are brought
down to the uniform ad calorem standard, to be ap
piled to land and slaves how, We ask, is the deficit
to be made up? Not from increased taxation on
negroes for Mr.. Pcol declares against that. lie
would tax all the negroes, and yet not increase the
tax from that source.
.Ad calorsn indeed! M. Pool is playing with an
edge tool, which will cut his hands. He begins the
campaign in the East by declaring that the tax on
slave property is not to be increased That is Mr..
Pools ad calorem But will he take the same ground
in the West that he has taken in the East If he
does, we hope the Western people will insist on
hearing from him how he expects to support the
State government and pay the interest OH the pub
lie debt, after he has lowered the taxes on every
thing else and made no increase on slave property.
But there is another question which we ask in all
seriousness. If Mr.. Pool and his party are not in
favor of making slave property pay more tax than it
now does, in the name Of common sense why do they
advocate an open Convention to abrogate the resrc
ton in relation to capitation tax? Ithere is only so
much and no more tax to be paid by negro proper
ty, do the people of any section care-do the owners
of other kinds of property than negroes care-why
should they care ?-whether it is imposed on all the
negroes or on those only between II and so? Then
if it will make no difference. why call Convention? :?
Why bring into discussion and angry controversy
all the delicate questions involved in the discussion
of slavery? Why appeal to the non-slaveholder
against the stakeholder? Why not, if the Constitu-
ton must be amended in single particular, 60 for
it by the legislative mode? Why wrangle and con-
tend among ourselves on this ;ssue when all South
ern men of all parties and all shades of opinion
should stand together shoulder to shoulder in de-
fence of our homes and affairs against the assaults
of Seward and his infuriate coworkers in mischief?
We have no disposition to do Mr.. Pool injustice,
but We call upon the voters of the State to keep an
eye upon him as he goes West. Observe his Ian
guage and see if it does not vary observe his tone,
and see if it does not change The temptation which
is upon him is strong to announce one set Of views
in the East and another in the West. But he has
along with him an experienced and able campaigner
in the person of Gov Ellis, who will follow him in
all his windngs and expose any evasions or change
of tone to which he may resort
THosE TERRIBLE OATHs.-The Wilmington Herald
and other Opposition prints are disturbed by our
exposure of Mr.. POOLS Know Nothingism. The
Herald declares in one breath that "that party,
united secret oathbinding political organization, is
not in existence at the present time," and in the
next breath the Editor admits that he never Joined
the Order. How, then can he know whether the
Order is in existence or not? The obligations them
selves show that they were to be "keptsacred through
life" Those who have abjured and left the Order
may feel that these obligations longer binding
but such is not the case with Mr. Pool He has
never left the Order. So far from it. he was voted
for in Convention for Congress against Mr.. Smith
avowedy on the ground that he was a Know Moth
ing and Mr.. Smith was not. What will the Herald
say to that?
: w The Japanese steam corvette Candinamar
rah arrived at San Francisco Saturday, the 14th
fortu DAVIS from Ieddn The vessel is of 260 tons