The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-12-20
THE LEGIsLATURE-THE NEW REVENUE BILL

it levies ad valorem tax of per cent? all pro-
its made in any way up to $4,000 is taxed five per
cent above $4,000 and less than $4,000 eight
ner cent, $4,000 and less than 100000 twelve per
cent, $4,000 and upwards fifteen per cent? all
Express companies taxed fen per cent on gross
receipts Railroad companies seven per cent on all
receipts for freight charged ABOVE regular schedule
rates. 1t is estimated that this law will raise about
five millions of revenue.
AS the bill passed the House, Confederate bonds
and Treasury notes not taxed-it having been
determined by legal gentlemen in the House that the
State had no right to tax Confederate securities.
The Senate may make material amendments to
the bill.
1t will be seen by proceedings that the Senate has
disposed of Mr. John POOLS resolutions in regard to
peace negotiations by the States, by laying them
the table. This amounts to about the same thing as
rejecting them
We regret to see that tho time of the Legislature
is SO much consumed by the introduction of many
useless resolutions. upon which buncombe speeches
are delivered whenever opportunity offers. One
days session of the Legislature nine ten
thousand dollars and economy. if not the public
good, demands that long speeches should be dis
pensed with. In the Senate. last week, when a
motion was made make the Revenue bill the order
Warren opposed it on the ground that it would cut
off discussion other subjects We suppose each
of these gentlemen want to deliver themselves of
speeches. intended more for electoneerng purposes
than anything else If each one delivers a speech
it will the State $4,000 $50 COO that being
about the expense of three days session of the Lee
gsature. If such persons would direct their
anahemas against Abe Lincoln and the Yankee
I,G +bo
Confederate Government, it would do much more
good towards promoting the interests of our people.
SOLDIERS BoxEs.-During the past ten days o
very large number of boxes for the soldiers in Gen.
Lees army have been sent forward over the n. c.
Railroad. In addition to the large number sent for
ward from this immediate section, several car loads
of boxes from South Carolina forwarded last
week and the week before. These boxes all con-
talk something good for the soldiers from the loved
ones at home, and Will be welcomed by the war
worn veterans with glad hearts. They deserve ali
that can be sent them.
There many men in North Carolina Regiments
who have relations at home able to send them
boxes and we hope some plan will be adopted to
81, them present too.
LIGHT DUTY MEN.-It will be seen by orders
published in another column, that all men who have
been assigned to light duty or have been transfer
red to the Invalid Corps temporarily disabled
for field service to be organized into companies
of not less than sixty euch, and to be used
guards at Posts. Prisons, Camps of Instruction, in
Railroad trains. and such like service.
AN IMMENSE AMOUNr-THE YANKEE DEBT
The public debt of the yankee nation is thus stated
by President Lincoln in his Message:
The public debt on the l>t day of July last, as
appears by the books of the Treasury amounted to
~ne billion, seven hundred and forty thousand mill
lion, six hundred and ninety thousand. four hundred
and eighty nine dollars and forty mine cents. Pro
badly. should the continue for another year,
that amount may be Increased by not far from five
hundred Millions
The above is Lircoln's identical language. To
form an idea of what vast amount the yankees
the reader must remember that billion of dollars is
one million millions. Probably Lincoln knew but
little of what he talking about, and meant that
the yankee debt was one thousand screen hundred
and terty millions.
CAsUALTIEs.-In the fight near Savannah the
10th instant, the following casualties in North Caro-
lima Regiments mentioned: Q Watson, company
e. 50th Regiment, wounded in the neck Sellers.
40th n. &. Battalion, inteStnes-since dead j Z
Hare. company C. Both Regiment right foot; Sergt
Baker. company F. JOth Rcgt. head, mortally; r
Beard, company G, Both Regiment left hip.
The Adutant of the 10Th n. C. Battalion furnishes
the Wilmington Journal with the following list of
casualties in the Battalion near jenkins Ferry, Ga,
on the 9TH inst. Company c is composed of men
from Union and Mecklenburg counties:
Co. A-Wounded: LIST Sergt L Vestal neck Sc
vcre Corpl Canady head slight, Private G A
Festal thigh severe and prisoner MIssing-Lieut
Frazer. Sergt E Harris Privates b Jordan.
Fl Quaily. Bolton, l. A Ridge c Canady, J
1ounts, w Gray, b l. Grigson, r Stancel, Q
Moody, w Pool, Phillips N Niece, T Liv-
ingston. \ Livingston.
Co. Is was detached service at Grahamyille,
s. G.
Co: Capt NJ 7 McCaulry commanding
Filled a j Secrett and Saml Crook. Wounded
NJ Dunn shoulder severe and prisoner A E Birch
wounded and prisoner. Missing: II Query and J
c Gibson
Co. D-killed NJ Suit. Wounded: VIM Out
en- and VIM Rogers, both prisoners. Missing: TIL
WooGlin.
u The Confederate Senate has passed bill to
provide for the employment of free negroes and
slaves to work on Notifications and perform other
labor connected with the public defence. The bill
declares all free c,roes between eighteen and fifty
liable to labor ETC.. with the army and provides for
the Impressmens IF 200 sla,es east of the Mis-
sissPpi river. and 10000 west of it, to labor on for
tihcations, etc Providing. that the quota of