The Greensborough patriot [June 22, 1860]

              % xttMboxnufy fatriat
BY SHERWOOD & LONG. & JPamilg Nrtospaper—30rboteti to ILiirrature, agriculture, Jfcanutacturrs, Commerce, an* Jtttscellaneous Heaoing. TERMS-$2.00 IN ADVANCE
VOL. XXII. GREENSBOEOUGH, 1ST. C, JUNE 2», I860. NO. 1092
The Crerctsborougrt Patriot.
H. ». IHERWOOD. JAMES A. LOHQ
SHERWOOD & LONG,
EDITORS AND PEOPRIETOR8.
TERMS: «*.00 A TEAR, IX ADVAXtE
RATES OF ADVERTISING IN THE PATRIOT.
ONE dollar per square for the first week, and twenty-flve
cents for every week thereafter. TWELVE LINES OH
tKss making a square Deductions made in favor of
Handing matter as follows:
8 MONTHS. 6 MONTHS. ] TEAR
One square $3 50 $5 50 f8 00
Two squares 7 00 10 00 14 00
Tlreo " 1000 16 00 2U 00
FACTS AND FIGURES.
The present system of taxation in North
Carolina, is very unequal in its operation,
and to that extCDt it is unfair and unjust.—
There is now before the people of the State,
a proposition to change the Constitution and
existing laws, so as to make the taxes equal.
The present system is unequal in both its im-positions
and exemptions; the ad valorem
system now proposed is to produce an exact
equality in both these respects. This is not
a proposition to increase the taxes ot the
State, it is simply a proposition to equalize
them so as to make every man bear tho bur-den
of taxation in proportion to his ability.
The justness of this system is founded upon
tho idea that the protection of the Govern-ment
and the law being extended equally to
every man's property, the value of tho pro-tection
is in proportion to tho value of the
property protected. It amounts to a propo-sition
coming from every citizen of the Slate
to every other citizen. "If you will agree to
pay a tax for tho support of tho Government
in proportion to tho value of your property,
I will agree to pay tax in proportion to the val-ueofmine."
A proposal so fair and just as this
it would seem, ought to he accepted at once
by every fair-minded man, and we doubt not
it would bo so, but for tho interference of
party feeling and prejudice and tho inflence
of that selfish principle which impels men.
(especially when acting in masses) Bcraetimes
to obey rather the dictates of interests than
ofjustice.
For the purpose of pointing out the ine-qualities
of the present system, arising from
the fact that a large amount of property is not
taxed al all, and that which is taxed, is tax
cd at different rates, resort must be had to a
ievr facts and figures. By reference to the
census of I860 it will appear, that at that
time, tlure were in .North Carolina 288,548
slaves of all ages and sexes. The increase
for tho ten years preceding was 1796 per
cent. Assuming that the increase for the
last ten j ears was the same, thero are now in
the State, oiJS.G'.'V slaves, of which number
only 147.'.'13, according M the last Comptrol-lers
report, were lifted for taxes, leaving
190,784 under 1'2 and over 50 years of age un
taxed. This whole slave property is worth,
at an average value of 8GW, 8203,218,200.—
The lauded y roperty of the State, according
to the Comptroller's report, is assessed at
898,075,969,52. This amount of landed prop-erty,
pays into the Slate Treasury 8191,980,
96, while the slave property pays only 8118,-
'■'•-'> 40. Land is taxed, lor State purposes,
at the rate of 20 cents on the 8100 worth. A
less than six cents on the 8100 icorth of
slave property would produce the amount now
I lid upon it. It will thus he «een, that the land-ed
property pays more than three times as high a
-_ • ol tax as the slave property. The land
h ilder, who has no slave, is thus made to pay
were than three time* as much, in proportion to
AMONG THE MAIL-BAGS !
Tho readers of our campaign paper will recollect tho interview between Gov. Ellis and
Mr. Eowlo, or. the steps of the Capitol, when Mr. Ellis declared that ho had just been at
the Post Office and ascertained that Mr. Frank I. Wilson had been sending off the
Address of the Working-Men. The Governor was in a high state of excitement. Well,
"Little Ad" is somewhat of an artist, and the above engraving is intended to represent
the attitude and cavortings of the man what got among the mail-bags at the .Raleigh
Post Office. Look at the picture, and "phancy his pheolinks."
For the Patriot
An Old Song with "Little Ad"-di tions.
THE WORKING-MEN 8 ADIEU.
(Tunt, The Bride'1 Fartvell)
Farewell Ellis! Thou art filling
Hearts with sadness—eyes with tears,
"Ad" would aid thee, oh how willing,
But thy dark fate onward steers.
Then farewell I for now we leave thee ;
Hopes and fears our bosoms swell—
But let not our parting grieve thee,
Oentle Ellis ! Fare thee well:
Farewell Willie ! Tbou art smiling,
But ther's sadness on thy brow;
Tain the hope that's now beguiling.
Vain the trust that fills thee now.
Farewell Willie! we would give thee
Office, but thy fortune's fell—
But we'll love thee, though we leave thee,
"Wandering Willie" fare thee well.
Farewell Harper ! Thou was't turning
Round, Giraffering, when we met:
Still thy patriotic bosom's burning.
On the strongest side to get :
Farewell Cardinal'. and Curtis !
(Men more dear than words can tell,)
Daniel, Rufu9, though it hurt us,
We must bid you all farewell!
ing more than one half of it from taxation
and making the non-slaveholder bear the
est is taxed at the rate of 4 per cent, for State
purposes. The Comptroller's leport shows
87<5,003 95 collected from this source ; the
amount of interest is 8190,009 87, and the
amount loaned out upon which this interest
accrues is $31,6311 60. This tax is higher
than the tax upon slaves and less than the
tax upon land. In other words 81000 of mon-ey
loaned out (which is limited by law to a
profit of $60) is taxed 82 40. In addition to
this, money or capital invested in any batik,
corporation, or other trading- company, vessel
or steamboat, pays 4 per cent, on the divid-idened
or profit derived. If the average prof-forty.
five years, and all slaves over the age of
twelve years and under the age of fifty years
shall be subject to a capitation tax. and no
other person shall he subject to such tax, pro-vided
that nothing herein contained shall
prevent exemption of taxable slaves as here-tofore
proscribed by law in cases of bodily in-firmity."
It will be seen at a glance "from
this provision, that the Legislature cannot tax
slaves under twelve and over fifty years of
age, and we have shown that there are 190.7S4
slaves in the State of this description. It is
further to be observed in regard to this, that
the poll tax upon the slave between twelve and
From the Salisbury Watchman.
SLAVES, TAXED AND UNTAXED.
Some persons have the impression that
two thirds of tho slaves in the Stato are now
taxed. We will show that this is a grand
mistake—that not one half of them aro tax-ed.
It is very important that, the people have
accurate information on this subject, asit will
tend to throw light on the advantages of an
ad valorem system of taxation. Wo cannot
see how any one will be able to resist the
truth to which a fair and common sense
view of the subject is sure to lead.
What is the whole number of tho slaves
in tho State now?
burdens whicl, it is richly able to bear?—
This won't dcj. It is wrong; it is unjust,
and the non-sl .veholder will not submit to
it. Nothing i > better calculated to breed an
'irresistible et iflict" between him and the
slaveholder th .11 such an unreasonable and
unjust assump Ion. Whereas, nothing would
more surely e gago his firm support and de-fence
of the in 11 u lion than to feel .m d know
that it is self s staining, and desirable as a
source of revet ueto the State.
Is it because «young and old negroes are un-profitable
as operatives on the farm or in the
workshop? Ilhis objection has been often
answered. It. |s proposed to tax negroes ac
cording to theft1 value, whatever tnat may
be. Some are worth 82,00. Others not
more than 8100; and others still, are a 'barge
and an expire to tho owners. Wc suppose
the Legislature, in framing a revenue billon
the -id valorem system, will provide that a man
shall beentilleato a discount on worthless
negroesin proj irtion tho cost and expense
of keeping thet . That would be fair and
right, and woi Id accord with the just aims
and purposes o< those who advocate the ad
valorem system As to young negroes, they
are constantly *ncreasing in value at the rate
of not less than ^100 a year. No other prop-erty
increase* ip value so rapidly, and no
othe:' is so readily convertible into cash.—
Young negoes .ire as good as money at dou-ble
compound interest, and being property,
they ought to puy taxes just like other prop-es
aro a'so, many of them,
to 81,000. and bring into the
There were 288,000 in
erty. Old negi
worth from $101
pockets of theirjowners from 850 to 500 a
year. They ar
to cash, and of 1
available prope
Is it because t
e
it be 6 per cent, then 81000 would pay 82 40. I nfty'cannot be increased without a correspoo-
If the dividend is more the tax is correspond- ding increase of the poll tax upon the white
mgly increased. man, however poor he may be be. This pro-rhe
last Comptroller a report shows that I vision, it may be admitted, was placed in the
$13,627 95 was collected from $1,302,795 of; Constitution for the benefit of the slaveholder
salaries aud fees made by Doctors, Lawyers, and it has had the effect of keeping down the'
also readily convertible in-jurse
to pa}' just as other
.y is made to pay.
le products of slave labor is
taxed when it c< mes into the Stale in the
form of pianos, I no northern carriages, gold
and silver plate and jewelry? Theprjducts
of the labor of t*io free white citizen is sub-ject
to the same tax. Every citizen who
round numbers in 1850. Wo have every
owns a buggy oii carriage, worth over fifty j
reason to believe that tho increase within dollars, or a golq or silver watch, a pistol or
the last ten years has been, at least, as great sword cane, payi a tax upon tho article.—
as from 1840 to 1850, which was 17 percent. There may be m|»re articles of these kinds
If this bo so, then, at that rate, wo have to-lay
in North Carolina, not less ihan 338,000
Clerks, Mechanics in the work shops. Over-seers,
Officers of Banks and other coropora-tions.
In other words, these classes of the
community are made to contribute of 81,000
made by them from their labor the sum of 810.
By tin same repo.t we learn that $3,287-
420 worth of riding vehicles, gold and silver
watches, plate and jewelry paid into the pub-lic
treasury 83:i,N74 26 or one per cent of
their value ; so ihat $1,000 worth of this kind
of property pays S10.
The tax upon Merchants is peculiary oner-ous.
The Comptroller's report shows that
they paid last year 805,304 70 into the public
:ax upon that species of property,'while the
tax has correspondingly increased upon every
other kind until the great inequalities have
arisen which we have pointed out above. Since
this provision was inserted in 1835, an impor-tant
provision placed in the Constitution for
the protection of landed property, viz: ma-king
the Seriate branch of the General Assem-bly,
the representative of the landholders of
the State by requiring each voter for the Sen
ate to have fifty acres of land, has beenstrcken
out, and thus one of the great compromises of
the Constitution has been violated.
This protection to landed property ought, in
treasury. This tax is imposed at the rate of ,„ f0mcshape,to beputback 'in the Constitution
hall percent, upon all purchase except liquors "
und ready-made clothing, or 85 on every 81,-
000. On sipritous liquors they pay 10 per
his wealth as the slave holder.
$1000 wonh of his property is made to pay.... $2 00
JIIHMI worth of hie neighbor') slave property is
made to pay leas than 60
The inequality may be still further exhibited
by comparing the taxeo of citizens who own
both land and slaves. rrako the case two
nun, each worth 8100,000 iu land and ne-groes.
One has 840,000 worth of land, and
$60,000 worth of slaves, on which he would
pay; by the present system to the State, 8110.
.Tiie .Hhor has 820,000 worth of land, and
$30,000 worth of slaves, would pay, by the
present system to the State, $88. Tho taxes
"t these citizens on this property, ought to
be equal, and would bo so under tho ad va-lorem
system.
The inequality of the present system of
taxation as between the owners of land and
slaves, may be further shown by taking into
consideration iho county taxes along with
the State taxes, as lollows :
IN GKANVILLE COUNTY.
<!'i0(l worth ..f land pays. (Co., and .Slate taxes) $i.-'n
A taxable alave, worth $1000, pays 1,06
IN HALIFAX COUNTY,
tl<-*Mi m..r'>! of bud, pays.
A inx«.'-i- slave, worth jllllhi. pays
»N SBW HAKOVEB COUNTY.
$1000 worth of land, pays
A taxxMe ►Vivo, worili $1000, pays
IN WASHINGTON COUNTY.
|1000 worth of land, pays
A taviole slave, worili £1000, pays
IN WAKE COUNTY,
<'!> o worth of land, pays
A taxable slave, worth $1000, pays
And in all the counties of the Stato a like in
equality exists. This is neither fair nor just
towards the land owner who has no slave,
bor is it fair towards thoso who own more
than an average proportion of land to their
slave property. Take the caso of two men
in Wake County, worth an equal amount ol
property. One has S20,00o worth of land 80
taxable slaves, would pay 8214,40. The oth-er
has 84'i.OOU worth of land and tiO taxable
■laves, would pay $275 80. In Washington
county, two men owning these amounts oi
property, would pay one, 8412. the ether
8 '.;! The "axes of these citizens in each
county woul'l be made equal by taxing their
property equally according to value.
In addition to these figures it may be sta-ted
m another shape. If the same dispro
portion txists between the taxew upou land
aud slaves in the county asm the State taxes,
then of the 8514,423 13 county taxes, land
paye 8301,SGI and slave property $179,371,
and the taxes upon land und slaves, including
both. State and County, are, on land 8493,
Ml 90,on slaves, S2l>li,4lil 44.
| '*)■•"'■■''■'■' ■'■-worth of land paying $49.3.8-41 90
•;-' '. K-.iM worthofsUveprop'rlypaying 297,691 40
J1W.0.R).QUO worth of land paying 493,000,000
$2 10 000,000 worth ot slave pr iperty pay-
'"' 297,000,000
▼ The inequality docs not stop here.
$5,00
1,84
S4.70
1,97
89,00
L',90
$4,60
1,68
Inter-
Shall slave property be the only kind of
property protected from the burden of taxa-tion
? Surely the owners oi slaves will tt6k
for no such advantage under the Constitu-tion
of the Slate. That very Constitution
declares that "no man, or set of men, are
entitled to exclusive or separate em-oluments
and privileges from the communi-ilic
services."
! I -- —^.. ,« IVVUIUDULII an advantage as is
Dusmess. u tn>s , here shown to be given to them under the
,tuax were asrs.essed uijpon .thue capital empi loyed, I rY.natit.,t;^.. o„.t i ... c .1 al . ... ! wouid bI. e- I'„-■„oo..st.i„tu„t_io,.t;i,„an,«t.l l_aws of •the,- State, ,. w. ill' b,e.
',■'.. % , sure to excite taera a prejudice, which of all
ing placed upon the amount of now
whether for cash or upon credit, the ■...-,
■is W hig party of the State therefore pro-tocilla
on
cent, if bought out of the State and 5 per cent,
in the State or 8100. and 850 on every $1000
worth respectively. On clothing 1J percent,
or 815on every SI000 worth. Thus a mer-chant
who makes purchases to the owner of $20,-
,^,«r'<fordi?ry,T,ls'83,Tofl,;,m,r ty;baTin;;nsid;;.a';io;oorpuu andSl.OOOready-made^lothinp would pay S.W5 To eeek to retain 8ueh .„ KZ
taxes upon his mercantile
ta
the inequality would not be so great, but be-I
purchases,I.K;„Mt ,
tngsis most to be deprecated by them.
man of
small capita! is placed upon a footing with
the man of large capital. Could any better
system be devised to drive out of the mercan-tile
business, men of small means who are ac-tive
honest and skillful, but who are compell-ed
to carry on their business upon the capital
or credit of their friends. If (as contended
lor by some) the consumer pays this tax,
then the community are not exempted ; and
many of the class of professional men, me-chanics,
clerks and others, whose taxes we
have shown to be too high already, compared
with other tax-payers, come in for their share
of this additional burden.
This list of inequality, among tax-payers
might be still further extended, but we will
mention only one more, and that is, that be-sides
the slave property shown to be exempt
from taxation, there is a large amount of prop-erty,
consisting of capital invested in manu-factures,
State-bonds, railroad-stocks, etc.,
etc., which is not taxed, but which enters in-to
the aggregate wealth of the State. Iu addi-tion
to this, it may be mentioned that a consid-erable
amount of property, now liable by law
to pay a tax. escapes taxation on account of
the complicated character of the system which
we now have, under which almost every spe-cies
ol" property is taxed at a different rate.— .
Some are required to be listed others not list- Wh Cb " the pa,St have, (,ono «<"* to excite
ed. The clerk is to look out for a part, the ! 5"Ual anlm°8'tle8anr< t0 "•*•«« the progress
sherifffor another. One piece of property is I nSV^Tm T^ I"86' and ^ good
taxed specificiailv. another according to value,: 7*7 • ?tC.. JSor
J
t\> C*">»»*» becoming uni-another
according to profit. The whole of|. 'n ,oe,inSa?d interest, would be enabled
this complicated system is committed for if It0 •'Ur6ue lhe h'S"™"* to that
Tl
pose to cilia convention of the people .
the federal basis, for the purpose, as tho fore-going
resolution declares, of so modifying the
Constitution as that all the property of the
State may be taxed according to its value,
with power in the Legislature to discrimi-nate
iu lavor of native industry. In other
words, they propose to strike out that part
of the capitation clause which requires slaves
to be taxed as persons, and no higher than
the white poll, and place in the Constitution
a provision which shall require tho Legisla-ture
to impose an equal tax upon all the
property ol tne State according to its value
except only such as may be exempted by
way of discrimination in favor of the indus-trial
pursuits of the people. Such a provin-ion
would give protection to everg class of prop-erty
holders alike, and a more certain und ade
qnate protection than any scheme of checks and
ballances in the Constitution which could possi-bly
be devised ; and being a scheme of perfect
equality would compel every man and every
class ot men and every section of the State to
contribute a fair and just proportion of tho
public burdeu. It would leave room for no
complaints or jealousies. Those sectional
controversies between the East and Wes
-■o - ■»» mat position of
execution, to those, who though possessing ••prosperity and greatness which tho virtue.
genera "igence. are generally unskilled I ,nlfVlKei,ce u.Di patriotism of her citizens
i
nitel
|and her vast internal resources and riches
I point out as her proper future destiny.
in the construction of laws, and they frequent
ly do not give to them an uniform construc-tion.
This renders the collection of the tax-es,
to a great extent, uncertain.
The glaring injustice and enormous ine-qualities,
which we have shown to exist in
the present Revenue system, induced the-i sembled at ten o'clock
Convention which met at Raleigh on the 22d Col- Irwin, of Al tbama,
The Hiohmond Convention Adjourned.
RICHMOND, June 12.—The conventien as-this
mi ruing.—
. was elected per-
February last and nominated John Pool, Esq., | inanent President, and one Vice President for
for Governor, to adopt the following resolu- each State, with roquisite Secretaries. The
'ten : New York delegation was not recognized as
"Whereas great inequality exists in the legitimate,
present mode of taxation, and it is just and I A resolution was offered that as the dele-right
that all property should contribute its : gates assembled here are assembled here on
portion towards the burden of State. i the basis ot the platform advocated by the
Resolved, That we recommend a Conven- secedcrs at Charleston, no further action
tion of the people of the Slate be called on was necessary regarding a platform. Also a
the federal basis as early as practicable for the j resolution that when ibis convention ad-purpose
of so modifynj; the Constitution that jjourns, it be to meet at Richmond on Thurs-every
species of prop.'rtT may be taxed ac- I day, the 2lst inst., or earlier, or later, it ne-cording
to its value, with power to discrimi- i cessary, at the discretion of the call ol the
■ate only in favor of the native products of our > President.
State and the industrial pursuits of her citzens. j Both these resolutions were adopted when
The Constitution as amended in 1S35 pro-1 ou motion, after a session of two hoars, the
vides that -Capitation tax shall be equal j convention adjourned agreeable to the above
throughout the Slate upon all individuals sub I resolutio-i. !No speaking of moment occur-ject
to the same." "All free males over the red. All was perfectly ha.mot.ious.-C'Aar- huttUUt bTporiMf.
age of twen.y-oue years and under ;he age of" totte Bulletin. Sut0. How ^J^s be done ?
slaves. Now, bow many taxable polls do
wo find returned according to the Comptrol-ler's
Report? Why, in round numbers,
150.000, leaving 188,000 slaves who go on-lazed!
In other words, there aio nearly
40,000 more slaves untaxed than are taxed !
It is believed that the census to bo taken
within the next two months, will verify
these figures.
Again : it will appear from the census of
1850, that there wero at least 100,000 taxa-ble
slaves in the State at that time, which
is 10,000 more than is returned even now,
after tho lapse and the increase often years.
Now it is certain that these facts, founded
upon reliable data, show a great leak hole-somewhere
ID our Revenue system, by which
the Treasury is annually losing thousands
of dollars on a properly that does not pay
anything like its proportion at best. We tax
slaves from 12 to 50--a period of 38 years,
and the least destructive to human life. Eve-ry
person's observation will satisfy them
lliat usually the proportion of negroes on
larms within the ag'-sof 12 and 50, is more
than one-half to those outside of those ages
Suppose it bo just om-half. In that case we
should have returned 109,00" taxable black
polls—nearly 20,000 more than are actually
returned. At any rate we ought to have
100,000, which is lhe number lhe census of
1850 shows was then taxble. - Yet in spile
ft these undeniable figures, wo find the
Treasury gets a revenue from only 150,00<'.
There are beyond doubt, from 10,000 to 20,-
000 taxable slaves in the State which tire not
returned. What is the cause of this? It is
to be found in the system which makes age,
instead of number and value, the basis of tax-ation.
Nothing can bo more uncertain than
the ages of our slaves. We do not keep a
registry of them, as wc do of the births of
our white children. Wo are unable, there-fore,
many times, to say with any certainty
either when the tax begins on them or when
it should end. The Treasury is thus from
ignorance, frequently, deprived of lhe rev-enue
on this kind of property. But what i»
slill worse and more common, the system
opens a wide door to those who are disposed
to defraud the revenue. It takes young r.e-groes,
wo fear, a long time to reach 12 years
01 ago ; and once at that point, they hurry
on rapily to 50. And it is exceedingly diffi-cult,
if not impossible, to detect such imposi-tion
on the revenue.
However wo may account for it, whether
from ignorance, or fraud, or both, the fact
cannot be denied that under our present sys-tem,
besides the light taxes which are laid
on slave property at tho best, there are
thousands of them, within the taxable age,
who are not returned at all ! All must ad-mit
this who will examine tho statistics bear-ing
upon the subject.
The remedy for this serious wrong is in
the ad valorem system, which makes num-ber
and value the basis of revenue. Take
our large slaveholders, and while you find
very few who could guess at tho ages of his
slaves with any accuracy, nearly every one
of his neighbors, even, can tell you their
number and value. It is generally better
known than the number and value of his
broad acres. It is plain, therefore, thero is
no room for fraud here. And this we con-sider
as not among the least of the many ad-vantages
of equal taxation.
ernor is alive and kicking, and sure to win
the race, at the sweep-stakos, tho' he, the
aforesaid clerical Richardson, is in despair
about the legislature. To his awakened fears
there are visions of a turned-out Clingman
and divers other turned-out concerns. We
advise him in his gloomy moods to air him-selfon
the "Heigh is ofGeorgetown, "/or 'arf
an .our."
But this is not all. Mr. Wilson gives"a rea-son
for lhe faith that is in him," that his
party will carry the legislature. He thinks
so because -ad valorem Do.uocrats will be
run and elected in many countiej." Weeks
ago, we charged upon the Standard, that it
was its policy to run ad valorem Democratic
candidates in counties which in ad valorem was
strong, and anti-ad valorem Democratic can-didates
in counties in which ad valorem was
weak, and lo! and bebold ! here is proof
positive of the truth of our charge, furnished
by the revelations of a Democratic quarrel,—
Hut this is not all—there is not only clear
proof that the Democracy have made a plat-form
as 'cheating and juggling" as the infa
mous Cincinnati Platform, but that the most
arbitary, unjust and tyrannical party disci-pline
is to be used to make it "go"—to make
it cheat the people. Look at the Standard's
course and the course of the Democracy of
Wake county towards Mr. Bledsoe. Never
was there a pig (we are not speaking now of
Little Ad' for he is growing apace, but of his
putative father) more coolly and deliberately
slaughtered, than was Mr. Bledsoe by the
Wake County Democratic Convention. And
for what ? Recause he, the ablest man of
their whole batch—that is "damning him
with faini praise"—advocates now what his
Democratic colleagues in the last legislature
advocated, and whai the Standard said then,
and will not deny now, was right aud just—
the true policy of the State.
"Ad valorem Democrats will be run and
elected in many counties," quoth Mr. Wilson
late an associate editor, and now the chief
business man of the Raleigh Standard Office.
Ad valorem Democrats elected from "many
counties!" And for what? To " isturb the
sectional compromises of our Constitution
State or National ?" To "introduce at this
time into our Stale politics a question of Con-brought
into tint State as the product of stitatiooal amendment effecting the basis on
slave labor, than of free white ; but the same
rule applies in both cases, and it ie right tnat
it should.
But, says the cfijector. under this new sys-tem
we shall lose}all the taxes now derived
from license*, ho Mr. Cantwell went so far
as to say that w< would lose it on mony at
interest; but we elievo he is the only man in
theState who has perpetrated that absurdity.
Why lose the tax yn licenses? Have thendvo-catesot
ad voloreln proposed an abrogation of
license tax ? Cejtainly not. The Slate will
still claim the ri| it lo make tho grog seller
pay tor the privi
So of pedlaie, wh
citizen merchant
are a necessarv <
•ge of selling by the smal
come in competition with I
So of gambling tables,
which encourage vice; so of lawyers,
so
who
men,
which our Revenue is raised ?" To do what
the Democratic Convention declared "to be
premature, impolitic, dangerous and unjust ?"
Mr. \\ ilson ! Sir. Wilson ! how could you have
let such a cat out of the bag ? But vou have
let him out, and we have "belled" him. We
would'have given a trifle to have been present
when Messrs. Wilson and Richardson were
swapping opinions and trying conclusions in
the right hand room of the Southern entrance
of the Capaol. Gracious ! it would have been
as good as any play. There they were in hot
discussion :
Wi son —"I tell you, sir, we shall lose the
Governor's election.'*
Richardson—"Why the devil do you think
so?''
Now. that I have had all the taken I could
for reflection upon the circunnianccN under which the
nomination wan made, the puriiy of the motives, tad
lhe lofty spirit of patriotism by which the fonvrniioi,
waa uniiaated, aa evinced in all its proccclitj.'- 1 • I
eppreciau more justly the honor done me by Uae
ination. and though it might have been more* fcrtunal*
for the country had it fallen upon MM one af the
many distinguished man-men whose num.-
brought to the notice of the Convention, rather thaa
myself, I accept it. with all its possible renponaihiliiies.
Whatever may be the issue of the ensuing canva-- aa
for myself, I shall ever regard it as a proud disili,
(one worth a life-long effort to attain.) to hepronouncj
ed worthy to receive the higest office in the (lux IM-ment
at such a time as the present, and by such a con-vention
aa that which recently met in Italrfewn a I jn
vention far less imposing bv the number of its mem-bers,
large as it was, than by their high character.
In t were men venerable alike lor their age and their
public services, who could not have been called irom
voluntary retirement from public life but by the sir .,,-
gest sense of patriotic duty ; o.'bem, thougn still In the
prime of life, ranking with the first men ot the rountrv.
by honors and distinctions already arq>.re'l in
high official positions, Sta>e and National; tnanv of
them statesmen worthy to rill lhe highest office in tho
government ; a still greater number, occupying ti,e
highest rank in their respective n'ofessionsl pursuits .
others distinguished by their imelligence in eaH
walks of private life ; andaII animated and united by
one spirit and one purpose, the result of a strong M«-
vietion that our political system under the operation ol
a complication ot disordejs. is rapidly approaoliing a
crisis when a-speedy change must lake plaee. in !><•».
ting, a» in diseases of the physical body, lecovery or
death. '
The Convention, in discarding the use of pl.itforrrs
exacts no pledge from those whom they deem STorta » 11
the highest trust unJer the Government; wi,ely con-sidering
ihat ihe surest ru.rani v of a mans future ».-.
fulness and fidelity ro lhe greai interests of the country
•n any official station to which he mav be flips—, i* •"•
of theatrical Wilson.—"Because ad valorem is strong and
ftcftc. It is not proposed by any party to I bound to carry.'
make any change in this part of revenue sys I Richardson. —"I don't think so. bv a horn
tern. .Nevertheless, when the Legislature ' full. I think we'll carry the Governor and
goes to work tolrame a bill in occordance lose the legislature "
with the propose,? system, they may modify H7,W—Sir, vou are as much mistaken
the present rate .»f taxing these and other as if vou had lost "vour shirt. We shall "run
mgs, with a v., w to greater equality and HIId elect ad valorem candidates in many coun-oitce
this part ot this sub ties."
Richardson.—"Why. what will you do with
the Platform .'"
democratic leade
lorem if. bound '<.
fairness We will i
ject further in ou
In conciliation, |re tell onr readers, and the
9 in piiticulur, that ad va-succeed,
sootier or later.—
It is onlj- a quest nn cl time. The prim iple
is righf and just. I >yond all dispute; and Un-people
will have Li in Spite of party opposi
lion.
THE
We
From th,- Haleigh Register.
REVELATIONS OP QUARRELS.
Will not, inkba present case, say that
Wilton.—"O ! hang the platform ! You are
not, 1 hope, spooney enough to suppose that
anybody cares a Tinker's cuss about the plat-form
?"
General Rrodgen.—(For the first time cut-ting
in with a face of horror and dismay.)—
" Why, gentlemen, what on airth are you talk-ing
about '. One says we'll lose the Guvn'ur
—t'other says we'll lose the legislature aid
II just tell you what it is. if you all talk out-as
you do inside, I'll be cornfoundered if
arm lose all, and I sharnt be ofTto Wayne
necessarv to do'so—the ni'xt Winter; and lhar is old Courts next
door, Richardson's "chief," and he, Richard-son,
a talking here about losing the legisla-tur!
Why, is not that paramounts to say-ing
that Squire Courts sharnt arfternext Win-ter
sign uarry other cowpon, and git clean out
of the stocks? Drat mv buttons ifitt'aint.
But why should any portion of this species
of property be exempted from taxation ?
Because it is perishable ! Houses, carriages,
money at interest, jacks, studs, race horses,
mills factories, billiard tables, nine-pin al-leys,
watches, pistols, sword canes, and
many other things are equally aa peri-ha-ble.
No one pay a a tax on u jack that died
before ho m de his annual return No one is
made to pay a tax on property of any kind
:ilter he has lost it by some accident, as fire or
flood, or by death. Of course, then, the ob-jection
will not hold as against slaves, for
they will stand in precisely the same rela
lion as other property.
Is it because negro property ought to en-joy
some discrimination in its favor for the
sake of stregenthing the institution of slave-ty?
The best way possible to strengthen
the institution, is to satisfy non-slaveholders
that it is not only nof burdensome to them,
advantage to the
"when Rouges fad out, honest men get their ••d«« ■
dues," but will content, ourself with pointing ' *"e sh*
out—if, indeed, itjbe necessary to do so tht
inferences to be drawn from the dispute rag
ing between Mr rj I. Wilson, on the one band
and Gov. Ellis anilhis teslifiers,on tho oiher.
In drawing these lifeivnceB weshall make no
relereni to the question of veracitv between
the parties—fartrom it. To use a comuu n
phrase, "ifthere is a lie out" amongst them, and Richardson, vou ought to be ashamed of
it is no part of our business to say, or even
intimate, who told; it. Looking at the char-acter
of the partie!, we are exircmly loth to
think that there is. a -lie out" between them
We choose rather jo think that there is a
he found in bis past history connect-I «i 1. the p
lie aeivice The pledge implied in my accepai ce nf
the nomination of the National Union Convention ii
that siould I be elected. I v in not d part from the <; If
it and tenor ofmv past course : and the obligation t •
keep this pledge deiivesadouh'e iorce from the con-sideration
that none is required f om me.
You. air. io your leiier containing ihe niB.-Ul VJ
nouncement ol my nomination, have been pleased | ,
to ascribe to me the nierii of modoratiou and ju.iir . i
my past public career Vou hive lik-wise ajivoa .. e
credo for a uniform support of all wise and b-ntie-i t
measures of legislation, fora firm resistance to all
measures calculated to eugenderseeiiou.il d »ord, *ul
Tor a life-long devotion to the uniiu. harn.ouy nn I
prosperty ol these States Whether your ptr- ..!
par.in it) has led you tn avero'ate my met it, as a pub.
he man ornol, in vour enumeration ot them you h«v«
pr-smteil a summary—a basis of all sound American
at itesmanship. It may be objected that nothing i- sa '1
in this tummary. in express terms, oi the obngsimns
imposed bj the Constitution, but the duty to n
and observe them is clrsrh in.plied, for without Use
due ob-ervauee, in ihe eonjuct of the liovetinnent, .1
ne i'costiiutiuu its restriction? a .1 requirements,! wr-it
in accordance with it* tpiiii and objects, there -it.
be no end to sectional discord—no security foril, .-.
mony ol the (Juion.
I have not the vanity to assume that in my pii-* con
necdon wiih the public service. I have exempliI ed Ihe
course cl a sound American statesman, but ii llnv
►erved the favorable view taken of it in vour Lett! .1
mayhnpebya fanblul adherence to the maxima by
which 1 have heretofore been guided, not alij^-i ■† •
disappoint ihe coufid-nee and expectations o tin a*
nave placed me in my present relation to Lc |
and if, under Providence, I should be talk I la i> e-i le
over the affairs of this great country as the Efeeblive
chief of the Government, lhe only fur her pledge, 1
leel called upon to make, is that to the ■tatoaa ol n
ability, and with whatever strengih of will 1 ran ,. |
msnd, all the powers and influence belonging tnmv
ficial station, shall be employ*d and directed :or tli*
promotion jt all the great objeeis lor which lhe :
ernment was instituted : but uioie especially. (Mr lha
maittenauce of the Constitution and the L'n.on n^
all opi using influences and lendenrie-i.
I cannot conclude this letter without expressing ur,
h'gn gratification at the nomination to the -.-.-... ,i oi
tire under the Government ol that eminently e.'
an., distinguished statesman of Massachusetts, Edf.
Everett a gentleman held by general Content to U* .
together worthy of tha first.
Tendering my greatetul arknowlegmen^s for I •
k.nd aid complimentary njswSijl Bita whifla (O . I
pleased to accompany t e communication of n.i.niia
tion.
I am. dear sir, with the highest respect your ovwoi-entservnat,
JOHN BLLL
To tie Hon. Washington Hunt.
understanding's
sion, which will, si1
stimcd her throne
satisfaction of all
so, although candi
rt of mutual misaapprehen-me
time or other, when the
pensions have been cooled, and reason a re-
)e explained to the entire
iticerncdjat least, we hope
ny Speaking it looks a' pra-sent,
like "hoiping agaiust hope." But we
know.
"Hope springs eternal in the human breast,
Man, never is, but always to be blest,"
and we suppose We bhall in the present case
have to take for our motto, "Hope on, hope
ever." i
Let us, however.* take a look at the revela-tions
nade by "ihiiquurrel most unnatural."
Mr. Yv ilson in bin ctird shows that he is frank
in nature,as well a* name. Ho has "let the
cat out of thu bag"} with a vengeance. Just
bear what he Bays ioBiehardsan, Broaden & Co: j
fler»lhe
yourself io be a talking so here. And Wdson,
har's the (itivnur jist opposite, Spose he has
beam you .' Do you think it 'II do him any-good?
Don't you think that blasted Pool
won't give him fits enough without your giv
him a spasm of your own manufacture ?—
1 hope to hear no more of such
no use in taking two lickings
pective, and t'other in the future." At
point the curiain dropped on our fancy-chat
; thaw's
one in the pros
this
Ad Valorom—Mr Badger's Speoch.
The Democracy have been charging thai
tho p'an of altering the Constitution la or
to brino; about an ad valorem tax, originated
with Mr. Badger, and that tho Convention
which adopted our platform, was entirely un-der
his control, and did just what hie sit I —
Now, if the Democracy are right in this, a>i4
if it is true that Mr. U.tdger fixed up ihis
I recolljct soon after*the Democratic Convention was
held of meeting Mr Ruhardson in Gen. Brogden « of-fice.
Th. convertaiio:, turned upon Ihe action ot the
Conventicle. I condemned the resolution in regard to
Ad Ta/o/pm taxation, 'and expressed the opinion it
would defeat the Democratic patty. Mr. Richardson
expressed the opinion Ihat Gov. Ellis would be elected
but that we should lose the Legislature. I said, in sub
stance, ihat as I WHS no louger in editorial life, I va-not
bound to take any active part, and thai 1 should
not do so. Indeed, 1 could not. I may have used the
•fing-r tuin' methaplnSr ; but I have norecollectiun ol
it. I certainly then intended to vote for Gov. Kllis
but to take no active pfrt, as I could not. in the cam
paign. I he ony difference, as I understood it, be
i ween Mr R and mi Self, was that he thought we
ehould lo e the Legisi .lure, while I thought we should
lose the Governor Tins no member of the Opposition
ever Head me say. I mink I contended that we should
save the Legislature, l^cause Ad Valorem Democrats
would be un andeledt-d in many counties.
Do not onr read-rs perceive how wegctst
the truth by the medium of Dentovratisquar-rels?
Do they not see how desperate is the
condition of the Democratic party in N -rth
Carolinar Do they not now estimate a,
their true value the tree ottades ai.d vaunt-of
lhe Democracy that ihey will carry thin
Stale this summery Wilson thinks Ellis "is
a gone boss, his eyes done sot," while the
clerical kentlemanlin the Treasury Denart
By exempt-1 meat-U,enardao,«-thinks our prLnt GoV.
ACCEPTANCE OP HON. JOHN BELL-WASHINGTON
HINT TO JOHN BELL.
BALTIMORE. May 11th, 180.
Dear Sir:—It has become my agreenble duty, as the
presiding officer of the National I'nion Convention,
which terminated its session in this city last evening.
to informyou lhatyou have received the nomination ot
ihat body as its candidate for the office of President of
the Dnited State*.
Alter a frank interchange of sentiment, in which
the merits of all the distinguished candidates present-ed
lor our consideration were canvassed in the most
fHendly spirit, the Convention resolved with entire un
animity and great enthusiasm lo place your name he-fore
Ihe American people. a» the chosen lepreseniative
ot its principles af constitutional liberty and union.
Witha just appreciation of your known moderation
I andjustice ; your uniform support of wise and benefi-cent
measures ol legislation : your firm and heroic re-s,-
tencc ot the repeal of ihe Missouri Compromise and
| all kindred measures calculated to engender sectional
I discord, and your life-long devotion to the I'nion har-mony
and pro.-perity of the„e States, it was decided
vyith one accord that you are the man for the crisis, and
, that with your honored name inscrihedon our banner
I an eoruest appeal shall be made to the people to rally
tor the preservation of our national instituiions Wo
| leel one and all. that your election to the Presi'dencv
would ensure the■ integrity of our government, restore
, he£•« 0f the I'nion. and afford an unfailing gnaran-
I .y tor.he supremacy of the Cons.iiution and The Laws
I have the honor to be, with high respect, your obe
diem servant WASHINGTON fiCNT
To honorable John Bell.
JOHN BBU.TO WASHINGTON HINT.
RsSBTlue, May 21. I860.
Dear .V.—Official information ofmv nomination to
■ he I residency by the National Inion Convention, of
which roui were the presiding officer, w»« comuiunica
KM to me by your leiier of the llth instant, at Phil.
delphia. on the eve of my departure wiih mv familv for
my place of residence in Tennessee, and diffident", as
I was ot my worthiness, I did not hewttatt to signify mv
intention to accept the positoin assigned to me by thai
distinguished and patriotic body, Dm for convenience,
and under a sense of propriety of acting in so grave a
matter with greater deliberation. I concluded, as I in
formed you at lhe lime hy a private note, to defer a
lormal acceptance until alter my arrival at home.
1 cur.
matter, it is fair to presume that he under-stood
what he waa about, and thai bo of all
others, is the best able to explain what Is
really assent by ad valorem, and what will
bo the sflfat of a change in the Conatitntion,'
so aa to tax negroes us prnpaity. Well. Mi.
Badger, a few days since, made in speech in
Rileigh setting forth his views Ofjtbs sabj. et,
•ml giving his reasons why negroes el„.,il,j
be inked as property, and why the ad Vul. .
rem system should be adopted. The BPUtiui
is a long and able one—we regret ilmt w,
cannot publish it in full—we give the fa low-ing
extracts, and commend them to the.
ful perusal of our readers :
Whai do our Democratic fr.end. F»J in the llth res
oiion oftheir Plaiiorni:
• Revolted Thai we a., opposed to disturbing M, ,.:
-h. eecti.-n*l con.pronu.es ot our Coosi.iu.ion S ,
A.,.u>nal Who talks.bout disturbing ,hr .\„ ,
■ o,..,.tu,i„n T This ,. „erely a tub Vo, I ', .
whale. They are now devoutly „pp0».d tod s-url.ieg
the compromise* of the Cousiimi..,: II,... w
. tew yea,, ago in regard to r'.e, M,ff„K, , Mr ltj g.
e. continued to read irom the DM ,,,,,, p^tnrm-l
• a. d ihat we especially deprecat the ianorfuetioa al
this time by the Opposition I'a.ly ol N, r:. C ,,,!,„ •
to our Slate politics oi a question ot Coaauiu lonal
amendment effecting the twata upon which our r.-.
nue is laised."
'Deprecate at this time,' repeated Mr. Ii. ITh»t
i^tber time would be more suitable than lhe p.esinl ?
What particular objection have they al ihi, time • Tl.ey
go on to tell u»—
•believing it to be premature."
What do they mean iy 'premature' This use of
ihe woid "premature" in the Deaancraiie platform re-uii.
ided him of a fellow at Chapel Hill, eome veais ng .,
»ho on a cerfain occasion was desnous ol alcnug
• he races at ilillsb.iro, which were to tome off oa
I..VS tnerealter. He was not a very brigib youlh. and
opou applying to one of the Tutors t-.r pernmaiou at
hat time io go waainioimed by thcT.iioi ihat bis an-
,itieation was "premaiura." Never hav ing hea.d tie
word • premature" beiuie, he look it ior granted 'i.at
| implied permission logo: so off he went at once —
in his telu.n he was brought belnreihe I toi Mr dis-obedience
The Tutor a.ked bias why he weal io
Hillsboro wi.hout bis peimission. The bov lr|
•Vou gave me perniiaaiun. " ••! gave you p-run-said
lhe Tutoi. -vthat did I »sy f • Wny. an. .,.-
spon.M the hoy' -you said it was prein itore. n .1 l
th a htby h it you meant t.< give me permission " Mr.
3 tuooght whenitwaadiacoveredatievil. visiodiheinwis
•he lime to lememedy it. If slaves p.. I [heir full |io-
,.-non ol taxes then m gin tiny with so nc piopi.eiy
oall il premature SM.OOU in laud pays SO veins on
the $100 value, or o-e-fitih oi „,e p.-iont What re-i-
on was thire why $JO0"0,iu land sho„i,t pas JIMKJ
While $S0.01M in negro** only pa^ I I >f I l p,ut'
he D--mocrata Siy it la -p eiuas>re. ' snd we are |»|f
iu doubl as lo the.r meaning .Mi. B. Usea read lioQ