Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1862-06-13
Important From North Car
olina,
4 wov.anent FOR Emancipation.

4 Movement for Emancipation.
The Newbern correspondent of the
New York Ti5ans, writing under date
of May 22, says:
The most fatal stab that the institu-
ton of Slavery has yet received was
given by the Sovereign Convention of
North Carolina, at one of the recent ses-
sions in the shape of tax upon slaves
The following tax ON this species of
property was levied:
"'The anauai tax on slaves oyer and
under 10 years Of age is S5; over 10 and
lees than 10, SO; over I5 and less than
90, SIS; over 20 and less than do, SEQ
.'As strange as it may eem this meas
uEe became a law by large majority,
and is now embodied in the State Con-
stitation. OF course the most extensive
Shareholders opposed this mode Of tax
alton as st war with Christian priuei-
pies, and were shocked to think that
such an outrageous proposition should
be broaehed in this enlightened century
What, ssys Kenneth Rayuor, do you
propose to levy tax On human beings
that have souls2 Why, sir, more
shocking barbarity could mt bs perpe
trated. Was greater Insult ever Of
fered 70 the Almighty Horribls! hos-
rib!e to contemplate! "
1t thia stage of the proceedings John
4. Gilmsr. from Guilford county, rose
in hia place and reminded Kenneth
Raynor .'that the Chief Justice of the
United States once gave decision TO
the effect that slaves were property, and
had no rights that white men were
bound to respect; and that he, Rayner,
isdorsed and approved Of that decision,
calling it one OF the most profound Of
the age Mr. Gilmar desired to know
if the gentleman's views had undergone
change, and if SO, in what particular.
l. it the geutleman's conscience or
pocket that is outraged2 Which ia the
most horrible to contdnplate?' 81
would remind those gentlemen said
Mr.. Giimer, whose couseienoes are so
suddenly outraged by the introduction
of this proposition to levy tax on
slaves, that they all, without a single
exceptiep, heartily ooucurred with the
Chief Justice in his decision that slaves
are property; therefore, it is self evident
that their conscieuees have undergone
no change on this subject; hence We are
led to understand that the pockets are
affected. It caa be regarded IS only a
tax ON service, not on sol,s.
$. I also, while an up, desire to call
the attention Of these gentlemen who
are opposing this measure, to the fact
that they, aud they alone, were chiefly
instrumental in carrying North Carolina
out Of the Union. Yes, gentlemen, it is
you who were in favor Of contracting a
great debt by carrying on war with
the Union. You claimed that secession
was necessary in order to give better Sc
curity to the institution Of slavery;
hence it was for the exclusive benefit of
your property that secession took place,
aud this enormous debt was contracted,
and all of this misery and slaughter
brought upon the country. At the
commencement of Secession you were
exceedingly patriotic, and said that the
South must secure her Independence, at
whatever sacrifice of bleod OF treasure.
;. Gentlemen, you have succeeded in
forcing the State out of the Union; you
have also succeeded in saddling great
debt upon the State; thus far your
wishes have been realized. You have
had your way. III gratifying your
wishes this debt has been incurred
You have remained at your 6resides
while the fearful struggle was going on,
and obliged those who represent no
property to fight your battles. Now
that the debt has been contracted by
you, who represent the slave interest of
the State, you nevertheless hare the
eoo!ness, with all these facts staring
you in the face, to rise in your places
and refuse to be taxed. BY ol,jecting to
pay your share Of this great debt you
are obliging those who fought your
battles to pay il fer you. | desire to
know If there can be anything more IN
grateful and inbuman than tais2 ! had
no hand in bringing about this unhoiy
war. | was not in favor of secession
and am not now. love the old Union
aua ioaS 10 return 10 It's loiuS. nau
40 voice in contracting this debt; have
been opposed to ital along. Notwith-
standing all this, am willing that my
slaves should be taxed heavily to liqui-
date this unjust debt. Yea, | would
gladly emancipate them all if it would
restore US tack as We were before
This slavery question is the cause of the
war, and we shall never have peace un-
til gradual emanei patton measure is
adopted.
The Hon. William a. Graham also
made very able speech in favor of this
tax, as did Messrs. Badger, Bagley,
Barns, Brown, Donnell, Foster, Holden,
Leak (of Anson), Satterthwaite, Var
rem, and many others.
A Northern Tory with a Bad Memory
q