Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-03-28

way can De doubled or trebled by tax articles
manufactured or produced in those nonslaveholding
States which have nulfed the fugitveslave law
Let us not be understood however, as advocating
tax on all the purchases made by our merchants
out OF the State according to the Virginia plan
Let the law discriminate for revenue and for pro-
lection to our own manufacturers farmers and me-
chanics, without njuring the trader or merchant
This can be done. 1t is both practicable and Con-
stitutional. The Supreme Court has decided it to
be Constitutional. We can thus obtain revenue
protect our own manufacturers and mechanics, and
at the same time produce in all probability good
effect those States that have nullifed the fugitive
slave law.
We admit also that it is not in the power of the
Legislature at present to tax slave property accord
ing to value To confer this power on the Legsla-
ture the Constitution must be changed. Is this a\
time to change the State Constitution? Is it wise
to dispute about the burdens which should be placed
on negro property, when our very existence as \
people is threatened because own negro proper
ty? Within eight months from this time Seward i
will either have been defeated elected President
dedicated, will have respite of four years. Dur
ing that period this question be settled and if
the people of the State wise they oiU settle it.
The most that can be done is to abolish the tax
on labor, to reduce the tax on land and to make up
for the deficiency thus created by laying a tax as
above suggested, on Northern articles. But if Sc
ward shall be elected, and the South submits to his
rule, it will make no difference how slaves are tax
ed or whether they arc taxed at all With the
federal government permanently the side of
freedom with the mails, the army and navy, and
the purse and the sword in his hands, the conse-
quences would be calamitous to shareholders and
to all of us. sense of insecurity would send the
negro further South. Heads of families would cease
to raise purchase slaves as an inheritance for
their children,-and when that day arrives the in
stitution may be regarded virtually abolished in
the State. Meanwhile incendiary documents-Help-
er's book, for example-would be as common in the
mails of this State they in the non-slavehold
ing States. These documents would produce their
results. To aTert these calamites is the mission
and the business of the Democratic party. No 9th
party is equal to this task. If Seward is defeat
ed Democracy must do it. 1t do it, if it be not
crippled and embarrassed by new issues What
then? Shall we divide on State issue when the
State itself is to be saved? Shall rush into the
burning house to the furniture when the wife
and children are in danger of the flames Shall we
open ranks and change the order of battle just as
the enemy is charging? Shall stop to change
our Constitution when the threat is hanging over
us that if we do not submit to abolition rule that
Constitution itself will be tramped under foot, and
the State dragooned into mere province? What
ever may be our opinions the subject of taxation,
let us remain united. The Democratic party is
LIBERAL enlightened, tolerant party. 1t proscrbes
none of its members account of their opinions on
State affairs it erects Procrustean bed to cut off
or draw out according to the within caprice of the
moment. We have our own opinions on this sub
iect but we intend to subordinate them on this and
all other questions to the great issue between abo
ton and Constitutional Union. The only question
we shall ask will be, ,cho the Democratic eandi
dates? We cannot trust Know Nothing leaders to
legslate for us to represent in the United States
Senate or in the Governors chair, or to change Con-
stitutions If the Constitution must be changed let
the Democrats, acting under instructions from the
people, effect the change in their time and way
When the time comes they will announce it, and
when the way is asked for they will point it out
They did this with Free Suffrage, and they can
do it with this proposition if the people wish
it. But not nOl.
We do not believe that the Know Nothing leaders
sincere in their advocacy of dd raOrem taxation
This is hard saying, but We mean what we say
We do not believe they are sincere, first, because
their candidate for Governor voted at the last
sion of the Legislature against Convention, and
also against the principle of al ralOrem secondly
because Messrs. Badger, Graham, and others ofthem
have always opposed the dd ralOrem principle in
federal tax-bills and thirdly, because Mr.. Badger
who told the rank and file to go home and advocate
dd UdlOrem because he said it was right, had never,
up to that day. said or done any thing which favor
ed equality among the people Again, these gentle
men say they want the Constitution amended by
Convention. Now they have enough intelligence to
know that Convention will not be called by the
next Legislature. 1t requires two-thirds vote to
authorize Convention. Can they hope to obtain
thirty -four votes in the Senate and eighty votes in
the Commons land that too for Convention for
the purpose of making only alteration in the
Constitution Fellow citizens, there is cat in that
meal tub Do you want Convention? Not man
of you has said so in your primary meetings. If
you want it. call tive not afraid to trust the
people in Convention, or in any other capacity. But
the Convention, if called, must be unrestricted.
There is no authority for limited Convention. Do
you wish the present basis of representation disturb
ed? If you do, vote for Convention; for you may
be sure that these gentlemen do not want body of
that kind merely to make one amendment But if
you are satisfied with the present basis the surest
way to preserve it is to oppose Convention. The
people of the State do not want Convention at this
time We have always maintained and we still
maintain, that when single amendment of the Con-
stitutlon is to be made the legislative mode is the
D. sS,i GSaLa-,, do