Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-03-28
Ad Valorem...A Convention, &c.

Ad Valorem..-A Convention, &c.
A good deal has been said of late in the newspa-
pers, in speeches. and in private conversations on
the subject of dd rdlOrem taxation Id ralOrenq as
most of our readers know, means according to ral
ue Soon after the passage of the tariff law OF 1912
the Democratic party commenced the discussion in
favor of al ralOrem taxation and against specific
duties. That tariff was highly protective in its
character As general rule it imposed duties spe-
officially or arbitrarily and not according to value
The result of the discussion was the tariff of 1916
The all ralOrem system prevailed, and generally in
that tariff the duties laid and collected accord
ing to value.
But it did not follow, because the Democrats of
that day advocated dd udlOrem, that they were in
favor of imposing the same duty on every article.
Far from it. Certain articles we're taxed twenty,
thirty, forty, or fifty per cent according to value;
certain articles ten per cent. according to value;
certain articles generally those of prime necessity
and which were largely consumed by the country,
were taxed five per cent according to value; while
some articles were taxed specifically, and others
were not taxed at ALL The tarifftaxes were so ad-
used to bear equally practicable on all the
great interests of the country. They were not hor-
izonta but they rose and fell touching this article
heavily and that lightly, and all as general rule
according to value; and the average of all the du
ties was for example, thirty per cent.
The Wings of that day contended for specific
taxes Their object in this was to afford steady and
constant protection to Northern manufacturers, and
this protection was given at the expense of the
great body of the people, especially of the South.
For example, they taxed cotton cloth worth seven
cents per yard high that worth fourteen cents;
and they had free list mainly for the benefit of
the manufacturers. Now they are the champions
of equality in taxation, and this equality they pro-
pose to establish by taxing "aU property according
to its value!" For specifics in 1916, and for dd "a
loren in 1860; for free lists and bounties in the
tariff and for taxing "erery species of property"
here at home!
But Mr.. Badger says this is all right. OF course
Mr.. Badger knows, and Mr.. Badger must be believ-
ed and obeyed
The present revenue law of North Carolina is,
for the most part, ad ralorem law. Nearly eve
ry thing which can be taxed according to value is
so taxed, but not at the same rate. Land, for ex-
ample, is taxed oneth of one per cent. on its val
ne, while gold and silver watches, gold and silver
plate, &C., taxed one per cent on their value.
One hundred dollars worth of land pays twenty
cents, while one hundred dollars worth of the other
subjects above mentioned pay one dollar. A hori
zontal all round out and out system of ad rGtorem
would tax all property at the same rate. Many in
telligent persons think such system inexpedient
and impracticable, while many others equally intel
hsent regard it the fairest mode and at the same
time practicable. The taxing power should always
act on some general principle That power, wheth-
er adopt the all ralOrem the specific principle
entirely, or both partially, must exercise a wise
discretion in imposing and adjusting taxation 1t
must tax whatever it may deem It just, expedient,
or necessary to tax As general rule all classes
OF property and all interests should be made to con-
tribute their just proportion to the public revenue.
1t can make difference how this result is reached
al rGtOrem is only means for obtaining an end.
The end may be obtained partly by ad UdLOrea, and
partly by specifics or by the mode which Gov.
Reid suggested in 1852, of exemptng one hundred
and fifty dollars worth from taxation and then tax
ing the estate of each person according to value.
The latter mode it is true, after exempting the
and that too at the same rate, but on much owned
much would be paid, and on little owned little
would be paid; while if each citizen paid in pro-
portion to what he was worth, there would seem to
De no ground of complaint. But we repeat the
Opposition platform erempts nothing, but declares
mat all property" and "erery species of proper
" shall be taxed according to value. Gov. Reid
proposed to exempt the plough horse the mich
COW, the pigs, and the household furniture of the
poor mar; but Messrs. Pool, Badger Graham, and
syme propose to exempt nothing. We are speaking
ny the book. Read the Opposition resolution OH
this. subject fellow citizens, and then decide fol
yourselves
But we are answered, the present revenue law
taxes labor; and in addition to this 1t is not in the
power of the Legislature 70 tax slave property &C
eordng to value
We admit that the present revenue law does i'm
pose tax on the incomes of many professional ant
iSOoring men, and we have no hesitation in saying