The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-03-23
An Irrepressible CenfIict at the


The conflict between free and slave labor
begins TO show itself at the South, in those
States where free labor prevails in one sec
ton of State and slave labor in another, as
in Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
ln Western Virginia there are 600, 1000 whites
TO IS 900 slaves, while in Eastern Virginia
there are 4SO, 700 whites to 100000 slaves.
This discrepancy is constantly increasing, as
the slaves in Western Virginia are diminish
ing and its interests are assimilating to those
of free State. The particular question
now IN controversy between the East and
West concerning taxation, which is now un
equal, slave property being taxed at loss
than one-third it's value. Slaves under IL
years of age are not taxed at all, and on
those over IL there is uniform tar OF $l.20
per head. The tax on land is 40 cents on
the 800 in value. The slaves under IL
are estimated to be worth at least $500 per
head, and those above IL at $500. The
whole tax ON slaves is now 1898, 900, while il
they were taxed at their true value ii would
amount to $l,l60,000. Western Virginia
very justly complains Of this inequality
In 1851, when the Constitution of Virginia
was revised, the west endeav ored to get Just
share in the control of the State by basing
representation on the white population, but
did not succeed.
In 1865 there will be another revision, and
the west is determined to secure, not only a
fair representation on the white basis, but q
just taxation, by taxing slaves according to
their market value. This purpose has shown
itself on several occasions during the pre-
sent session of the Virginia Legislature, and
1t will, no doubt, be accomplished, as the
West or free portion, has the numerical
strength.
Ii is on this ground that schemes for In
ternal improvements in the western part OF
the State are opposed by eastern members.
On these schemes only some six millions are
asked OF the Legislature at the present SEES
sion. The State is already in debt to the
amount OF thirty five millions and half,
chiefly for improvements in the eastern sec-
ton The Shareholders are now disposed to
shut down on improvements, especially az
they anticipate that after 1865 they viii be
compelled to pay their proper share of she
taxes, growing out of the debt. Here the
controversy is distinctly between the interests
OF freedom and slavery, With nearly moral
certainty that the former will prevail. and
that the result will hasten the day Of Vir-
ginia's deliveranee from the curse of ignor-
ant anu thriftigss isbUr. -
troversy. There are comparatively but few
slaves in the western part of the State, and
not long since movement was commenced
by the Democratic party for taxing slaves
according to their value, like other property.
But the Shareholders began to make row
about the matter, and the leaders OF the
party saw that they were likely to lose by it,
and so dropped it. But workingmen's as
ISOLATION in the Western counties has taken
], up, and the discussion will be kept alive.
In neither Virginia nor North Carolina is the
effort TO tax the slaves based on any avowed
hostility to slavery. But that 10 undoubted-
ly the secret motive Of many of the nonslave-
holders, who must be and are perfectly con-
scious that their interests and the interests
of slavery are irreconcilsbly antagonistic.
And whatever may be the intent Of the move
ment, it must act against slavery to just the
extent it succeeds in turning the attention of
the people to the subject Springfield,
(Mass. Repab.