Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-05-31
THE SLAVERY QUESTION IN NORTH CAR
DINA.
SLAVES TANED-EMANCIPATIO FAVORED
NEwBERN, May %, 1862

| Events have recently TRANSFERRED in the state
convention at Raleigh which are of the most
/ significant character Strange things indeed
are brought about in revolutionary times
| The most fatal stab that the institution of
slavery has yet received was given by the SOY
erelgn convention OF North Carolina. at one of
recent sessions, in the shape of Il tax upou
slaves. The following tax on this species of
property was levied =
The animal tax ON all slaves over j and
less than 10 years OF age is 50: over 10 and
less than 10, $40; over Is and less than 20.
| SD; over 20 and less than 10, $50.
rs strange as ii may seem, this measure be-
came law by large majority, and is now
embodied IN the state constitution. OF course.
the most extensive shareholders opposed this
mode Of taxation "as at war with christian
! principles, and were shocked to think that
such an outrageous proposition should be
| preached in. this enlightened century"
"What," says Kenneth Raynor, '.do YOU pro-
/ pose TO levy tax upon human beings that
have souls: Why, sir, more shocking bar
! barlty could not be perpetratcd. Was A
| greater insult ever offered to the Almighty?
Horrible, horrible 10 contemplate"
At this stage Of the proceedings the Hon.
/ John \. Gilmer, from Guilf0rd county. rose
in his place, and reminded Kenneth Ravnor
! that the chief justice OF the United States
once gave a decision to the effect that slaves
were property, and had no rights that white
men were bound to respect and that he Raw
| ner) endorsed and approved Of that decision,
| calling it one Of the most profound of the age
| Mr.. Gilmer desired to know if the gcnteman's
views had undergone change, and if so, in
what particular. Is it the gentleman's con-
science or pocket which is outraged? Which
| Is the most horrible to contemplate" Il
would remind those gentlemen" said Mr.. g.,
whose consclenceS are SO suddenly outraged
by the introduction Of this proposition to lew
tax on slaves, that they all, without a single
exception, heartily concurred with the chief
justice IN his decision that slaves are property:
therefore, it is self-eyident that their con
sciences have undergone no change on this
subject, hence we are led to understand their
pockets alone are affected. 1t can be regard
ed as only a tax on service, not on souls
II also, while I am up desire to call the
attention OF those gentlemen who are oppos-
ing this measure to the fact that they, and
they alone, were chiefly Instrumental in car
rylng North Carolina out Of the Union Yes.
gentlemen it is you who were in favor of con-
tracing a great debt by carrying on u war
with the Union. You claimed that secession
was necessary in order to give better security
to the institution Of slavery; hence it was for
the exclusive benefit of yoNr property that
secession took place, and this enormous debt
was contracted, and all Of this misery and
slaughter brought upon the country At the
commencement Of secession you were ex-
ceedingly patriotic, and said the south must
secure her independence at whatever sacrifice
of blood or treasure.
''Gentlemen, you have succeeded in forcing
the state out Of the Union; you have also
succeeded III saddng great debt upon the
state; thus far your wishes have been real
lied. You have had your way. In CRAFTY
ilfg your wishes this debt has been incurred.
You have remained at your tiresides 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 have the GOODNESS,
with all these facts staring you in the face, to
rise in your places and refuse to be taxed
BY Directing to pay your share of this great
debt you are obliging those who fought your
battles to pay it for you. l desire to know if
there can be anything more ungrateful and
inhuman than this? | had no hand in bring
ing about this unholy war. Il was not in IA
vor of secession, and am not now. | love the |
old Union and long to return to its folds. | |
had no voice in contracting this debt; and | |
have been opposed to it all along Notwith-
standing this, l am willing that my slaves
should be taxed heavily to liquidate this I'M
just debt. Yea, | lcoUld gladly smaacipate
them all If 1t rould restore us back as IRE ceJe
before. This starery question IS the cause of
this lcdr, and ne shall Rerer hare peace until
q gradual emancipation measure is ado0ted."
The Hon. VIM. a. Graham also made a
very able speech in favor of this tax. as did
Messrs. Badger Bagley, Barns, Brown, Don
nell, Foster, Holden, Leak (of Anson). Sat
terthwaite, Warren, and many others Mr..
Graham said: '.Ihe gentleman from Hort
ford (dr. Raynor) accuses this convention Of
incompetency for the duty of revising the
constitution. The gentleman from Rowan
(Alr. Jones) asserts that it has fallen into dis
favor with the people, and therefore they both
concur in its adjournment or dissolution.
From the moment tins body determined To
equallze taxation upon slaves as upon other
property, so as to expose all the resources Of
the state to levies to meet our great and in
creasing Expenditures, and Sgnifcd its dis
position to revise the constitutions this effort
commenced, and ever since they have oppos-
ed this great measure Of reform. But the
gentleman from Rowan makes a gravcr
charge. He asserts that the convention has
lost the confidence of the people, How is
this ascertained? The people have elected
no man their prophet TO proclaim their voice
Each one OF us can speak for his own con-
Stltuency, and presume for no other. [ have
derived no such information from mine"
Mr.. GrahamS speech is an able production,
which | will endeavor to send YOU in fnIl
He is one of the leaders of the opposition
party, and will doubtless be the next governor
Of this state. He is strongly supported bv
W. W. Holden, of the Raleigh Standard.
which was formerly the leading democratic
organ Of the state; but since the secession.
which it has opposed, the paper has taken
sides with the opposition party, and is now
recognized as its leading organ. In bringing
the Hon. VIM Grahams name forward for
this position the Standard says:
"Why such an anxiety on the part of the
per Sc secession no-party stripe, to know who
Is to be the next governor of North Carolina?
We think their anxiety may be relieved in
some degree by telling them who the people
will not have to rule over the destinies of
North Carolina First, they will not have a
foreigner (meaning the editor of the Raleigh
JournaD. Secondly, they will not have
ankee (meaning the editor of the Raleigh
Standard) both secesh. Thirdly, they will
! not have a secessionist of the South Carolina
school. And that there may not he any doubt
| who is meant under the third head, we will
define the term by remarlling that the people
want no man to preside over the destines of
the state who made the election of Mr. Lin
coin the occasion for breaking up the govern
ment."
This is very emphatic and right to the point,
and it but reflects the sentiments Of a large
majority of The people of the state Mr..
| Holden is one of the ablest and most fearless
writ in tbn l.. al