The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-11-25

Gov. Clark agreed 70 furnish them the means to
start again; and under a new contract they have
erected other mills and are now nearly ready to
begin operations on q scale sufficient to make about
1000 pounds per week
This, however, involved an expenditure of mo-
ney beyond that appropriated by the act referred
to; $4,000 having been advanced the contrac tors
by Gov. Clark and $4,000 by myself.
OF these sums, the money advanced BY Gov.
Clark to be refunded in four equal annual install
ments, and that by me by reserving 10 per cent
Of the payments Gas they become due) on powder
to be furnished the State. The Confederate
States will furnish the mills with about 5000
pounds of nitre per week.
The department. has contracted with manufac-
turers in the State for about 300 new rifles per
month, and arrangements have been made where
by, after the lst of January, about 800 old rifles
and muskets out of repair will be rendered fit for
service. And it is hoped the department will
soon be able to keep on hand supply for FIVE
thousand men. A detailed report of the opera
tons of tie Adjutan, Generals department is
herewith appended.
The finances of the State will doubtless engage your
anxious consideration.
The Board of Claims, in pursuance of Ordinance No
90 Sec 5, passed in December, 1861 have made re-
port showing the debt Of the State the 3oth Sept
1862, to be S2U.9s3,36l OIL subject be diminished
by the amount of the Sinking Fund at that time about
$500 o00 and the debt due the State. from the Consd
crate Government, between FIVE and six millions. Still
the State debt is very heavy, and the interest
ought to be punctually paid. There three distinct
modes of supplying the requisite by taxation,
a second by additional Issue of Treasury notes, and
third by getting from the Confederate Government
the due the State. Indeed, this sum, when re-
ceived ought be applied forthwith the extingush
ment of the debt of the State far will Co. for it
constitutes part of the capital Of the State debt and
ought to be applied when returned towards the extnc
ton of that amount of its capital Upon prnl
cples, therefore, of financial economy the debt ought
not to be allowed grow any larger practicable to
prevent it, and if the payment of the entire amount of
interest cannot be provided for by TAXATION much
at least possible ought to be raised In regard
to the subject of taxation interesting all times and
rendered doubly at this eventful crisis, have but
Few remarks to make. There has been such o disturb
ance in the industrial pursuits of the country within
very recent period that it is difficult for who may
not at once have been in all parts Of the State
to fully realize it. You bring with you this know
ledge and better apply it from what you have
than from what can recommend. ] SHALL therefore,
venture but one suggestion upon the subject because
OF what have heard.
BY ordinance No. %, of June 1861, which is now a
part of the Constitution of the State it provided that
land and slaves shall be taxed according their value
and the vanes of both taxed alike; and that the
slaves may be laid ON their general average value
in the State their value in classes in respect to
sex and other distinctive properties in the discre
ton of he General Assembly and the value be assessed
in such nodes as may be prescribed by law. Now,
while lands even of the qualities but situate in
different places from their local and immovable char.
acer are properly assessed different rates. because
OF their relative proximity markets and for other
substantial causes; and for such the General
Assembly itself neither accurately value real
tate nor do by any general State commissioner
yet tOne steps may be taken towards equazing the
tax on slaves which, under the present mode of asses
ments may be- and understand is, various in many
counties of the State because of the eren,
OF valuation adopted by the and assessors 1t
is very desirable that the should be uniform and
suggest as The most likely accomplish that |
object the propriey Of classifying slaves by sheir ages
or by sex and age, and aixng for two years the
able value Tor each class. In consequence of the
ahe quality ofths apeces of property it is subject
to the irregularity of assessment which attend land
Inc rSius OF slave property at any one place in the
State 10, for AL practicable purposes the in |
any other and it is difficult therefore to make the
tax both equal and uniform by the classification of
slaves in the manner already mentioned
nder the discretionary powers vested by the consti
tuition in the Legislature exempt the nrm and dis
tIngsh the mechanic from the field labQrer it appears
TO me that the Legislative assessment, discreetly made,
VIII conduce better than the present mode uniform
taxation throughout the State. Each county is inter-
ested that the taxable value of slaves should be alike
In all the connes and whatever tends to eauaze the
tax on slaves tends to eqnare that land inasmuch
rs both species OF property be taxed alike on their
respective values precedent for this mode of tax.
ing slaves, however imperfect, may be found in the
legislation of 1882, CHI &
In order to meet the nterest on the public debt and
10 make up the sum due from counties where the tax
cannot be collected Of the presence of the
enemy recommend increase of at least IS per cent
on the present amount Of taxation. The great album
nance OF money and consequent high price. of proper
" would, think enable the people to pay it cheer
fully.
also recommend that a tax of Is per cent be laid
upon tue melt prohts of all who have. during the pre-
sent war; specuated in the necessaries of life such rs
orh Dacon Hour, pork shoes, leather, cotton cloth
ana yarn and wooden goods, and be continued dur
ng e next year or longer Unnecessary, the proceeds
o oe applied TO the support of wives and children or
widows OF soldiers whose property rs listed on the tax
DOCKS thail iall below a certain sum. This law if
properly enforced and guarded against false swearing
would be made to answer a valuable purpose, and
WOULD De emlnently just in its effects
am clearly of the opinion that no more Treasury
loes should be issned if be possible to avoid it, as
MINK IL would be better pay interest on our bonds
nan 10 further swell the volume paper in circulation
Inc following is statement of the debt of the State
N the 3Oth Of September, 1862:
"ueo ueot .....,.. ST. o05 90
temporary loans ..... 55o44a 90
InteFes' I'm PAID on coupon bond debit 432Oe5 IS
temporary loans and
bonds without coupons zee. -... 5235f 0s
Amt. OF Treasury notes in circulation 3l36 ESQ 20
axes received from permanent source.
=. Tor ISL t734,65o 10 ,
for 1861 1873 80 q
The falling off is attributable TO those countis, md
ars OF counties in the possession of the unemy The
edu:tion orshe next year will be still greater owing
o hi: advance, the destruction OF property, &c I
Ir view of the very great labor imposed IN rho
treasury Department and the variety Of duties il en-