Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-03-28
Ad Valorem...A Convention, &c.

"A SOOu zeal has DeeU Salu OF late III tIle neWSpa-
pers, in speeches, and in private conversations on
the subject of ad ralorem taxation. I'D ualoren as
most of our readers know, means according to ual-
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 arbitrarily and not according to value.
The result of the discussion the tariff of 1916.
The ad valorem system prevailed, and generally, in
that tariff the duties were laid and collected accord
ing to value.
But it did not follow, because the Democrats of
that day advocated ad ralorem, that they were in
favor of imposing the same duty on every article.
Far from it Certain articles were 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-
justed to bear as equally practicable on all the
great interests Of the country. They were not hor
Ahoutd Jul tiCy AooO oiiu al
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 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.
T., 10 ,1okl
cents per yard as high as 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 ad Ca
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, an ad ualorem 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 one-fifth of per cent its val
ue, while gold and silver watches, gold and silver
plate, &C., are 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.
zonta all round, out and out system Of adj calorsm
would tax all property at the same rate. Many in
teligent persons think such system nexpedien'
and impractcable, while many others equally intel
lgent regard it as the fairest mode and at the SAME
time practicable. The taxing power should always
act on some general principle. That power, wheth
er it adopt the ad ralorem the specific principle
entirely, or both partially, must exercise a wis.
discretion in imposing and adjusting taxation, i
must tax whatever it may deem it just expedent
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 no difference how,this result is reached
I'D calorem is only means for obtaining an end
The end may be obtained partly by ad calorem, an
partly by specifics; or by the mode which Gov
Reid suggested in 1852, of exempting one hundre'
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 exemptng th,
amount referred to, would tax all other property
and that too at the same rate,-but on much owne.
much would be paid, and on little owned littl
would be paid; while if each citizen paid in pro
portion to what he was WORTH there would seem t.
be no ground of complaint R@ I'VE repeat, tR
Opposition platform esempts nothing but declare
that "aU property" and "ecery species Of proper
ty" shall be taxed according to value. Gov. Rel
proposed to exempt the plough horse, the milcl
COW, the pigs, and the household furniture of tn
poor mar; but Messrs. Pool, Badger, Graham, AM
syme propose to exempt nothing. Weare speaking
by the book. Read the Opposition resolution o.
this subject, fellow-citizens, and then decide 70
yourselves. .a as 55...=9 ~. "a
But we are answered, the present revenue Law
taxes labor and in addition to this 1t is not in th
power Of the Legislature to tax slave property az
cording to value. -. ss5s lssls 81. y
We admit that the present revenue law does in
pose tax on the incomes of many professional an
A'0r'hg men, and we have no hesitation in sayin