The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-03-27

Meares, among the dead, and Branch Morehead SWAIN
Rayner Barrnger Edwards, Outlaw, Bggs, Gather,
Graves andothers, of the living the high
ting parties. a.
The author and advocate Of this proposition to vo-
late solemn covenant (Mr Badger) says:-"I would
have opposed tbeore the compromise of the amended
Constitution of s35 had been violated by the Democra-
tic party in passing the bill for free suffrage in the
State. Wewere all boaId by that compromise; but
when violated on the part il became invalid the
other" &c. So the gentleman seems to have thought
his position required an explanation. Most certainly it
did, and lam nothing oath to say, much better one
than he has given. Without admitting his facts, the
conclusion 10 which he arrived neither good law
sound morals. The violation of stipulation in
covenant IS not an abrogation of all others. If
bind himself in bond perform certain labor, and
pay also, sum of money his failure to perform the
labor no release of his obligation the money
If the free suffrage Act a wrong. which do not
admit it is no Justification for the preparation of
other wrong Sir from the day that the Creator him
self made covenant with Moses and Israel in the
wilderness of Sinai covenants have been sacredy
revcred by all Christian people; and surely
be of more solemn character, and binding force
than one made among the members of great political
community, to prevent internal dscord and to secure
domestic peace.
view this compromise in our Constitution from a
stand point higher than any mere party ground The
owners of slave property have the right to claim
that be observed ask that those in the Constitution
of the United States in their favor be not broken. The
reasoning sustans both fthe falls upon what
ground shall uphold the other? By my voice, at
least, it shall not fall Come what will. shall stand
by it; and if, predicted by my opponents, go down
the contest Will. at all the
of knowing that fall in the defence of Constitution
of my country,that Temple of Liberty under whose
protecting arches three generations o. contented and
happy men have lived, and prospered, and enjoyed
civil liberty without parallel in the annals of free
peoples. more honorable political grave could not
| expect and certainly do desire.
But, sir let return to the contradictions of our
opponents the catalogue is not exhausted They
highly commend, and justly too. their members in Con-
gress for voting for Democrat beat black Republic
yet they refuse to do the thing themselves
Congress members,
right to vote for Democrat defeat Aboltionis
it WAS noble selfsacrcing act, offering of patro-
tism the altar of country induced by love of the
Constitution and the Union but for the life of us we
can't do the thing ourselves We can't march up
to that point of patriotic sacrifice for the country
! al hOugh We do una rch to the music of the Union
The proposition is plain one, and admits of no alter
native. If it important to defeat Black Republican
Speaker it is still important defeat Black Re-
publican President If the Opposition members of Con-
did right then the Opposition members of this Con-
venton did wr"ng-a conclusion from which there is
escape. am reminded, Mr. President by this resolu
ton OF thanks, that Opposition Convention douned
without finishing up its business Yes sir, carefully
was their platform gotten and lengthy as is their series
OF resolves there occurs in their proceedings important
omission to which will advert After adopting the rrso
uon of thanks to their mb of Congress, certainly
became their duty and hence part their business,
pass also resolution of thanks the Hon. John Kerr
d. NJ Barngr, j. w Osborne and host of other good
and Wings who from sense of duty voted for MIR
Buchanan to defeat black Republican for President
This sir is part of the unfinished business of the Grand
Council which ut certainly to be performed and that
Perhaps. Mr. President. the most melancholy spectacle
in all the proceedings of our opponents that exhibited
In the persons OF two grave and venerable ex-Senaers
coming ard to illustrate the consistency of long lives
spent in the advocacy of specific taxes, and those of
protect We character, by speaking for and voting for
rigid, unbendng and uniform rule Of ad valoreni-a
upon all things of uniform per ccnage the value.
Ofcourse they animated by desire for oiceno,
they the Democrats only the office seekers-they
inpeed to this step, doubtless, merely by desire
to unburden the conscience of the conviction of great
political and to set right the younger generation of
I.Ny. al
sort ofdeath-bed repentance. as it were.
One of these gentlemen formerly unsuccessful cam
ddatc for the Vice Presidency and king the honor
of martyrdom in the Presidential field himself the father
of that principle of against luxurirs in favor
of articles of necessity that p'rvades entire
system This offspring born of his message of 1916,
in which he asked the Legislature to augment the revenue
by taxing pleasure carriages gold Watches and other
PARTICLES OF LUXURY" Now hc forward to destroy
this work of hsown creation.
He says now, that the land of the ha working man.
upon which he makes subsistence for his mily-the |
growing citizens of the Staeshoud be taxed just high
the gold and silver plate that decorates the abodes
the luxurious that the plough horse that ts the crop of
the who his bread sin the sweat of his face,
shall be taxed much as the racer of the man OF pleasures
that the pleasure carriage and the road wagon the billiard
table and the threshng machine; the pack of gamblers
cards and the family bble the spirits that make drunk the
incbriate and the medicine administered the SICK shall
be taxed alike under equal horizontal and unbendng
rule of ad vaorrm Sir he stands not only in opposition
his former actions but III opposition to the lessons
taught mankind by all nations OF the history OF the
world. For this assertion plant myself upon the
be. and can be- people governed by such sys
of taxation these two distinguished cxSenatOrs
propose for here North Carolina. This the fruit of
sudden ersion from extreme error in the OPP
pose direction, not untquent result ndng
sudden conversions in ones political religious faith
1t is awkward attempt at initiating the ad yalorem |
taxation advocated by the Democratic party.
The Tariff Act Of 1896 will show the striking difference
between Democratic and Opposition ad Ealorem taxation.
That cassfes all imports taxing each class ad valo
rem, but discriminating between the classes, and
tans free list upon which there is tax. For instance,
brandcs, spirits 4 c., in class No. taxed hum
dred per their value while plaster paris and other
fertilizers, c., in class 8, taxed but five per cent on
the value; and and coffee &c, in class taxed
all Such is the nature of Democratic al valOrem tax
adjusted with due regard the varied interests of the
people But opponets in their sudden conversion to
the ad vaOrrm principle rush into extremes and would
send the -gatherer into every house, with nquisitora
powers, exacng with relentless hand,
species of property great and SMALL every thing that
eat drink and from the time into the world
until 60 of it, from the cradle to the grav--making
discrimination between necessaries and uxurirs-those
things that essential the support of life such
lead to vice and ideness.
Such sir is this ad vaorem platform of our opponents
erecte by Senatorial wisdom. and upon which they have
planted themselves in tanced security. But they will de-
it. Before the summers stands in the av
every mothers of them will scamper from it as
rats flee burning barn.
But, gentlemen, the GROWING contradiction exhibited
by this Convention, is yet be named. Though nine
tenths. at least of its members Americans they nom
nate their first choice for the Presidency gentleman
who always carefully dsavowed any connection with the
Order. His public communications Of a year or two past
invariably contained unostentatious little expression
scmew hat alphabetically thrown in as if TO adon sep
tence-"Though not member of the Order" Modest as
this expression appeared the was big with