Newbern weekly progress., 1862-12-13

r-~'f-- - ses'oho COunlle5 OF the CtAte,
beesuss Of the different standard Of vaiua ation
accepted BY the owners and assessors, X ID
very desirable that the tax should be unfstm,
and suggest as the most likely means 70
accomplish that object, the proprlely Of classi.
lying slaves byFtheir ages, or by sex and age,
and sinking two years the taxable value Of
eacn class In consequence OF the movable
quality OF this species Of property, Il is not
sugjecf to the irregularily as assessment,
whicb attend land; the value Of slave property
- any one place in the State is, for all practi.
cal purposes, the same as In any other; and il
is nol diiucuh therefore to mike the tar both
equa and uniform by the classification Of
SLAVES 10 The manner already mentioned. sss
ul9er tho discretionary poxers vested by
tho CVnstitution in the, T. I.[1fe 10 exempt
the lrm mud fdistingu| hanic from
the nd laborer, il that the
l<g fe ssSes5'ncht .nads. will
contad better than The seht mode to a
uniform taxation throughout the State. Each
county is interested that the taxable value of
slaves should be alike in all the counties, and
whatever tends to equalize the tax on slaves,
tends to equalize that on land, inasmucll' as
both species OF property must be taxed on
their respective values. "A precedent for this
mode OF taxing slaves, however imperfect, may
DO found in the legislation of 1882, ch. 8.
In order TO meet the interest on the public
debt, and to make up the sum due from counties
where the tax cannot be collected on account of
the presence of the enemy, recommend an in.
crease Of at least twenty Eve per cent on the
present amount of taxation: The great abun.
dance Of money and consequent high prices OF
properly would, | think. enable the, people to
pay it cheefuly. l also recommend that tax
Of twenty-five per cent. be laid upon the nett
profits OF all persons who have, during the pres.
ent year, speculated in the necessaries of life,
such % corn, -four bacon, pork, shoes, leather,
cotton cloth and yarn and woolen goods. and TO
be continued during the next year or longer, il
necessary; the proceeds to be applied To the
support Of wives aud children or widows of sol.
diers whose property, as listed on the tax books,
shall fall bGlow \ certain sum This Law, il
properly enforced ani guarded against false
swearing, would be made TO answer valuable
purpose, and would be emineutly just in its ef
fecls.
j amcleariy Of the opinion that no more Treas.
ary notes should be issued. If it be possible to
avoid it, as think il would be better to pay in.
terest on our bonds .han to further swell the vol.
ume O paper IN circulation, 49,
The following is statement Of the debt of
the State ontbo hday. of September, 1864
Bonded debt, $i4si2,od5 90
Temporary loans, 2,550. .449 90
Int. unpaid on Coupon Bond debt, 432,OO5 Is
Temporary loans
and Bonds without Coupons, 81, .O6
Amt Teasury notes in circulation, 1886. $50 So
Total. s2u Oss all on
Ta.s. reed from ,ll.nsn. -" y
sources for 81, $73i,6J0 10
srss ri S S RstiRsat z to those o0uns.
and parts Of counties in the possession Of the en-
emy The deduction for the next year will be
still greater owing to his advance, The destruc.
ton Of properly, SO The report Of the Board
Of Claims on'the subject Of the flames 10 here
with transmitted.
In view Of the very great labor now imposed
upon the Treasury Department aud tho variety
uf duties i mbraces. / recommend the erection
of the Office Of Auditor Of Public AecouHts, to
continue 90 long as may be deemel necessary,
whose duty IL shall be 10 Investigate aud settle all
claims against the State, &c. When the term Of
the present Bond of Chains shall expire, 1t will
still be necessary to have some such an office In
existence during the continuance ofthe war
and perhaps for many years after. Should 1t not
be deemed advisable 10 establish the otiice ol
Auditor, then l recommend that this Board Of
sessions quarterly, and their pay be arranged in
proportion To their labor.
1 also recommend that the Literary Bond bt
allowed TO appoint 4 Treasurer. TO take charge o
its own funds, with a sAlaty 10 be liked by III
board. This NJ present rests on the StAl'
Treasurer, anl the law requires him to keep th'
fund, and evidences OF debt. &c. separate AM
apart from any other funds In his. hands. Th
duty could much more conveniently aud ehee
tnalIy be Performed by the Boards own officers
Whsn the amount Of this fund Is considered, (ih
annual disbursements being double that OF th
whole state Government two years ago,) wit
the further fAcr TINT twiee areAsnnable salary OF
Treasurer has been lost annually for want VI SON
com psient and proper officer TO look after an
collect the debts OF the Board, feel assured ih'
The adoption Of the suggestion would be Of mi
tenal ad antag. to its interests,
1 bav leave TO make certain snggeftions in n
gard 20 militia aud TO aiding the Confederal
authorities In enforcing their efforts 10 maintai
the efficiency Of our Mmies
The ordinary penalties prescribed By our NJ
4 Iitia laws for the punishment Of offences, dis
1 edieure Of orders, sc, adapted To peace time
; are fuund now entirely Inadequate. Wishing
!, .oars our eitizsna the djsagreeabte sp' ctncls
!. GouI.durato soldiers uAveiSing the country
!, gather mp delinquent cousrrips, drsortsra and
: sentaes from the my without leave, dtcld
J. TO smplpy the Militia for that purpose In 20
u ernl. ID has answer admirably. most Of
othcers having displayed grest zeal and eiiicit
le ~ In gathering mp rapidly all persons subject
ID military duty without offending the sonslbilit
?, Of our peopls. But, In some instances. desert'
ct and other Sinking characters, have set the o
n. GERS Al defance. had arc euabied 20 evAde arr
:. hy tho assistance " others who conceal the
:, feed them aud. In some cases, resist the ofhe
" in The discharge Of their duty.
~ As the crime Of dosertion, 50 Ear n know
a. not an offence against tho common law, 20
90 eonrralins, aiding, aud assisting q desSrter
NJ avoid IecAptnre is not punishable In our con
= To aid the military authorities ID GrfeslinR 81
al prrsons. recommend that an act be passed
- tho punishment Of any one no shall aid
nm asrisl them, or In any manner prevent their
capture aud also tO punish mere severely
W dlsobedlenca Of orders by the NiliIiA,
II al,o becomes my dnty. gunilepsn, to bT
Is 10 your attention several serious matters eonu
II ID Nth the administration Of justice In
ed State.
,th There is great danger Of lA~lossnsss over
NV Mug ths land and Ia the ~ 'Ht sbuhdAhe'
M uiliMy rulers and arbitrary authority, pei
-, Are beginning to forget that there is slill sue
W thug In existence ~ eisH iae, which IL the :
w ter " Q Ahi Though pIe.emiuently = cons
Iha aIvs and lAs hbidlhg-peoplr, eur society !
lay rsady b Cunning ~ suffrT serious 'lelfiment
ZEN tho violent and Law drfyii Y tendencies Of
rnl tlass. Murder, arson, disregard OF obllgAll
ar oppfessiVa aud iljusllee, Afo more oomlnoI
In. sIns disliois than they have ever been knc
4. H.. \ -. l.I. DuuIrtls