Year: 1868

have told the good people in regard to the
Constitution, lately ratified by the people of
North Carolina2 A great many honest men
would like to have few points at issue
solved, and with that object in view, adj
dress you this article.


Does the Constitution limit the tax upon
the poll so as not to exceed two dollars per
capita for all purposes9 Does the Constitu-
ton limit the tax upon property so that
$500 worth shall not'be taxed higher than
one poll in any one year?


l have read the Constitution, and have so
understood its provisions. l have heard
members of tl.at body so construe the article
on revenue and taxation, and we have the
declaration of such distinguished lawyers as
Hon. John Pool, Tod R. Caldwell and Others
so expressly declare and interpret the Con-
stitution. Per contra. the Hon. Mr.. Ashe,
the Copperhead candidate that was for Gov
ernor of the State of North Carolina, declar
ed in his speech to the people of Caldwell,
that land could he taxed ad limitem, and If
the Constitution was adopted it would he
virtual confiscation and ruin to all property
holders in the State. Likewise the lesser
lights of the great boohoo concern, preached,
ranted and raved until many honest unsuspec-
ting people became greatly alarmed for them
selves and families, and either did not vote
or voted against their former deliberate and
oft-repcated convictions of justice and
policy.


Messrs. Editors, can you offer any solution
to these knotty questions? Can you have
fair, competent judicial opinion that will set,
tie this very serious question In law! Wouio
it not be well to retain Judge Merrimon in
the case His opinion will have much
weight with our people, especiallyin Lenolr,
Judging from the fact that our neighbors
there had him and the long forgotten and
defeated candidate for Governor, the Hon.
John Kerr, to declaim in peculiarly mellow,
dramatic style from the pulpit OF one OF
their churches against the Constitution and
the Republican party, even before the first
was formed or it was known what it would
he. trust, Mcssrs Editors, you will spare
no pains or reasonable expense to have this
matter settled, and take the liberty of sug-
gesting way that will suit to dot, and
speedily determine this whole matter. My
| idea is this, that our reverend brother Pell,
of the Sentinel newspaper, be and ile is here
by most respectfully petitioned by his hreth-
rem of the different denominations in our
town of Lcnoir, to abstain at least forty
eight hours from beef and all other carnal
| flesh, and thereby bring himself i'll the i'm
mediate presence of the Most High God, and
pray with his accustomed fervor for wisdom
from on High. so that the Almighty (whose
mouth piece and servant he truly isl will in
struct him to declare the true and lawful
meaning of that section in the revenue ar
ticle made hy these sinners and intidels of
the Republican Convention relating to taxa
tion,-that will settle the whole thing.


Then we have had various local Solons
harrassing the women and children about
taxing their beds, their chickens, their cups,
and that it would require all the BOOSTERS the
little boys claimed to pay the fax on the
hens. Oh lordy, how the children ran to
their mammas and poured out their full heart
in floods of tears at the wicked inventors of
such cruel wrongs! And the gentle maidens
were made to weep untold sorrow, because
they were forced to go to school with MIG
gers. and oh horror of horrors. they would
have to marry real nigger buck. Zourds,
what gnashing of teeth and frothing at the
mouth did these Gamaiels of the law show
forth in this bloodless fight against the hell
ish host of Radical villains. One told the
people of the wicked presumption of a
Northern Carpet-bagger of the name of Abb
bott, who had dared to visit Western North
Carolina, but he did not tell the people what
they all knew, that he the speaker came in
from Tennessee, either just before or after
Gen. Stoneman paid US a visit; whether he
had a Carpet-bag or not, am not prepared
to say. Then the honorable gentleman elect
to the House of Representatives, Col. Jas. g.
Harper, for whose liberality and candor many
Republicans had entertained respect hereto
fore, told the people how little intelligence
and decency there was in the late Conven'
tion. He did not deny that there Wight
have been very few tolerable decent men
in it, but their deeds were dark and damn,
ing. 1t was infamous, and to crown theil
wickedness he told how much they voted
themselves per diem Would the people
stand such blood suckers of the public
treasury, that sacred fund collected out q
the poor people for the sole use and henef
of Northern Copperhead Judges and South
erh Conservative Democrats. No he coulC
not stand it, though a peaceable man, hi
would almost fight sooner than submit
Wonder if he told the people how much HI
voted himself per diem and mileage when ;
member of the Legislature two years ago
and how much he received as some sort o
commissioner for two or three months pud
derrg about Raleigh last summer six dol
lars per day and twenty cents per mile t.
vote against the Howard amendment ant
aid in enfranchising the soulless nigger, a
they are represented now, 10y the learne'
sons ot Galen, and lecturers on ethnology
Nor did the honorable representative elec
tell his constituents that he voted to tax til
people to pay the interest on the public deb
two years ago. but left the impression O
their minds that the Convention had done


grievous wrong in authorizing the Legisla
ture to provide for the payment of the inter
est in the future.


Such, Messrs. Editors, are samples of til
reasoning of the SO called Conservative pal
ty during the late canvass-a canvass tina
will stand solitary and alone during the tim
for the bitterness and abuse heaped upo


men who have done what the law maxim


power of our government demanded at thei
hands, and in all respects enacted just, lii
eral and philanthropic Constitution, and
will be amusing to witness the disappointe'
politicians when the practical workings {
the laws under the Constitution proves t


the deceived people that the justifers of tn


late war and the mourners after the '' los
cause,n intended to hurry them into sti


further trouble; and it will be very refresh


ing to see them take an oath to support til


Constitution and laws of the United State
and the State of North Carolina which the


have so often abused and denounced as III


constitutional. Please publish brother Pell


decision when rendered JUSTICE.


Caldwell County, May 1, 1868.