Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-01-05
From the Fayetteville Observer.
The observation-disclosures Business.

SCSo si Tx III oou y. Iue ltUpoitduo ~
peudiug could ut be done with prep
er deliberation, SO as TO adjourn sine die,
prior to tuls date-and in view OF the con-
dlsion of affairs in the Eastern part of the
State, it could not De expected that mem
bers from Eastern counties could remain
here longer at the present sitting.
The two most prominent matters OF un-
flushed business are the Revenue bill, .
the bill to RAISE 10000 troops as a State
reserve. The former has not been acted
on 10 the Commons, aud the latter is pend
ing in the Senate.
A great many amendments will be pro-
posed to the Revenue bill, and, considered
Ieisurely, will consume much time.
The country wonders at the delay IN
raising troops for State defence. All feel
deeply for oLr people overrun b yaheartless
enemy. But the question is whether We
shall commit our defence to the Confeder-
acy, or raise State Troops in aid of that
government =; and if State troops are to be
raised, out OF what part of our people
shall they be raised A large majority of
the Assembly seems TO favor the raising of
q State reserve. Some on the ground
that the Confederate Govt has neglected
the State; others on the ground that the
Confederacy cannot look after all the
points on 50 great a theatre of warfare,
and that this State ought to have a reserve
as well as the other States of the Confeder-
acy. The difficulty which has caused the
delay is this: Shall tue reserve be raised
ont of those liable to son~scriprion ? or out
of those exempt from CONSUMPTION +? Some
insist that it we accept volunteers from
those liable to conscription, we thereby
nullify the conscriptioa act, and place our
selves In antagonism with the Confederate
Government ; and to avoid this, they pro-
pose to raise the State troops out of the
Justices of the Peace, militia officers, those
who have hired substitutes, and other ex-
elnpts, yielding those liable to CONSUMPTION
to the Confederate government. Others
insist that if the exempts and the conscripts
both go into the army, that suffering and
| starvation must ensue, both at home and
in the army; that it is unjust to the Con-
federate government to presume that N.
G. will not be allowed TO have a State re-
serve, madeup by volunteering from those
liable to CONSUMPTION, when all, or nearly
all, the other Southern States have such a
reserve ; that there ca be no antag onism,
unless the President should deny 10 this
State what has been conceded 10 the other
hfcr mem~- ~noSe views are emitted
20 mucn consideration, insist that no at
tempt should be made 20 raise a State re-
serve that We have made common cause,
and should rely solely on the common ar
my that it is doubtful whether the Con-
federate Govt would take into its paw the
reserve, raised and differed as we propose
and even if accepted, we should be at the
expense of organizing, arming and equip
ping them, which would involve us In an
intolerable State debt. In the old army
of the U. S.. when every thing could be
bonght at one-third of present prices, our
army cost $1,000 per man per year, and
that 10000 men, including arms, clothing,
ammunition, subsistence, pay, &C., wonld
cost at least $25,0OO,OQD per year now.
Others maintain that the addition of
more men to our present enormous army
would not increase its efficiency and.that
1t is unwise to press conscription further at
this time or to attempt in any way to in
crease our military force.
The only feaurc of the Revenue bill
which has given rise to much oebate is
that relating to the value of slaves. The
bill, as reported by the Committee on Fl
nance, fixed the average value of all slaves,
except mechanics, at $3.50, and the aver
age value of mechanics at 800. The Sen
ate amended the bill, By classifying and
valuing them as follows !: all under 5 years
old 800, all from 5 to 10 years cid 5000.
all from 20 to 80 $500, from 30 to 60
$500, all over so S25. This classification
will brlnt the average to about $344.-
Power is given County Courts to exempt
such as they deem OF no value.
I Land is to be listed according to the
last assessment.
The amendment of the Constitutions
made by the late Convention provides that
land and slaves shall be taxed according to
their value, and the tax on slaves shall be
as much, but not more than, that on land.
according to their respective values but
the tax on Slaves may be laid according to
their general average value in the State.
or on their value in classes in respect to
age, sex, and other distinctive properties,
in the discretion of the Gen. Assembly.
aud the value be assessed in such modes a.
may be prescribed BY law.
As this new feature of the Constitution
is receiving the Interpretation that while
land is valued by ssscssors, upon oath.
slaves may be valued by the General As