Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-02-15

to be misunderstood. And no word can be found
in the constitution which gives Congress greater |
power slave property or which entities proper
ty of that kind to less protection thar property
of any other description. The only power confer
red is the power coupled with the duty Of guarding
and protecting the owner in his rights.
Fourthly, hold, as North Carolina Shareholder,
that slaves are property and ought to be treated
property, because the constitutions legislation, and
judicial decisions of the Southern States concur in
recognizing and treating slaves as property.
Filthy, hold that slaves are property and should
be treated property because justice to the slave
holder requires that his slaves shall be recognized
and protected property justice to the non-slavc-
holder demands that slaves shall be recognized and
taxed property to pay its fair and equitable pro-
portion of the expenses of the government which
protects them; and sound policy conspires with
just, to beth the stakeholder and nonslaveholder
in urging the recognition of the right Of property
in slaves, and the treatment Of slaves as property
in supporting and administering the government
If, then, slaves are property; if they have been
recognized and treated as property under the gov
ernnents of both God and man from the days of
Abraham to the present hour, and if by recognizing
and treating them as property, they have been
drought within the I'D ualorem principle" in near
ly all the other slave States why, in the name of
justice and common sense, may we not, by treating
slaves as property, bring them "within the ad CT
Lorem principle" in North Carolina "Ant-Ady
loren" says We cannot treat slaves property and
tax them according to value. Why? Because the
constitution has in express terms said they shall be
taxed by numbers according to age, from 12 to 30,
and not according to value. Now, will "Anti-Ad-
valorem inform the public what clause or section or
article of the Constitution of NorthCarolina has
in express terms said they slaves shall be taxed by
numbers according to age, from 12 to so, and not
| mn fn r1y1 I how f1x,
but in vain for any such express terms J" In the
amended constitution "Anti- i-Advalorem will
please let me know exactly where to look for it in
his next communication, if he should conclude to
favor the public with another.
The 1st and I'd clauses of section of article of
the amended constitution in the following Ian
guage:
! l. "Capitation tax shall be equal throughout
the State upon all individuals subject to the same
/ 9. Al! free males over the age of twenty years,
and under the age of forty-fve years. and all slaves
over the age of twelve years and under the age of
fifty years shall be subject to capitation tax and
other persons shall be subject to such tax; provid
ed, that nothing herein contained shall prevent ex
emptons of taxable polls as heretofore prescribed
by law in cases Of bodily infir:nity."
"Anti-Advalorem" certainly had no reference to
either of the above clauses of the constitution
for they do not make it incumbent upon the legsla
ure to tax slaves by numbers according to age from
II to 80, nor prohibit the legislature from taxing
them according to value Neither one of these
clauses says "n express terms that the Legislature
shall lay captaton tax upon either slaves white
men, But they confer upon the legislature the pow
to lay capitaton tax and require the legislature
whenever they exercise that power to lay an equal
tax upon all individuals subject to that mode Of tax
alton.
|, Docs "Anti- Advalorem" think that because the
legislature has the power to lay capitation tax up
slaves between 12 and 30 years of age that there
fore, they exempt from every other mode of tax
alton? Does Anti -Advalorem" think if the legis-
lature should TAIL or refuse to lay a captation tax
that therefore all the slave property in the State
would be entirely exempt from taxation? Does
"Anti- -Advalorem think that slaves under 12 and
over 80 years of age are the subjects of captation
tax? If not are they not subject to 0d calorem or
any other mode of taxation which tbe legislature
may choose to adopt?
Upon examination of my "primer of political sci
encc" find that upon the old Democratic doctrine
of strict construction, it fully agrees with the
primer OF political science of old Nat. Macon and
other fathers Of Democracy" whose pupil "Anti-
Advalorem" processes to be- We, therefore, agree
that Congress do nothing but what it is author
lied to do ly the letter of the constitution, by
necessary implication. Whilst the legislature of a
State, being the immediate representative of the
people, can do what they are not prohibited to do.
Now, if Anti Advalorem" will apply the test of
strict construction which he learned in the "primer
of political science of old Nat Macon and other IA
thers of Democracy" he will find that there is moth
ing in the Constitution of North-Carona which
others compels the legislature to lay capitation
tax or prohibit it from laying an al raloreaa tax
upon slave property.
If therefore, 1.-THE legislature of State, being
the immediate representative of the people, can do
what they are not prohibited to do" and the Con-
stiuton Of North Carolina does not prohibit the leg
isiature from laying an ad ratorem tax upon
slaves, the conclusion is irresistible that the leg
islature may lay an ad Salorem tax upon all the
slave property in the State.
This is question of vast importance to the slave
holders of NorthCarolina and it would be well for
them to investigate it calmly and dispassionately
and to look more to the ultimate than the immedi-
ate effect of it's adoption. As saveowner, am
willing to pay my just proportion of the revenue
necessary to support the government, and think it
! nothing but fair and just that my slave worth q
thousand dollars should pay as much tax as my
nelghbors land or house and lot worth a thousand
dollars. 1 believe that the institution of slavery
will be strengthened and perpetuated by putting all
property on equal footing in revenue point of
view and further believe IL to be the true policy Of
the Shareholders to forward and take the nta-
tive in the NATTER and thereby remove all just cause
of complaint against our revenue system
--.f 81 .'' A SLAVEOWNER
Our community were shocked on Tuesday morn
ing last learn by telegraphic dispatches the death
of Mrs. Erwin, wife of Marcus Erwin, Esq, Of this
place. Mr.. E. and family left here two weeks since,
to visit friends in the city of New Orleans. Mrs.
Erwin, who was in perfect health when she left here
was taken violently i'll Immediately after reaching
New Orleans, and died last Friday. She was an ac-
complshed Christian lady, beloved by wide circle.
Many friends and acquaintances mingle their tears
with those of the bereaved and stricken family
Asheoille Nesss. .--i -''- rs'-''} s'ii's{>,'
mention sooner that onr last County Court, at the
suggestion of Solicitor Rea had a man before them
by the name Of Franklin Davis, from Ferelltown,
10 miles north of Charlotte for uttering inceAdary
language. We learn that nest of aboftionists re-
side in that part of the County, and that man by
the name of Edwards is the head man. Since the