Newspapers / The Tarborough Southerner (Tarboro, … / Nov. 28, 1834, edition 1 / Page 2
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which then prevailed, however, of the relative proportions of revenue which would be requircil by the General and Stale Governments, as shown bv the early legislation of each, is iraiight with important instruction. In 1?83, an impost of the per cent, valorem, to provide means for the redemption of a debt of more than fitly millions, limited in the term of its continuance to twenty five years, was proposed by North Carolina, and failed to obtain the concurrence of the confedera cy Vt the same session an impost of two per cent and everv species of direct tax which now prevails, was levied for the State Government. Tne act'of Congress of 1700, before referred to, sets apart for the payment f the civil and con tingent list of the United States the sum of si r hundred thousand dollars. It is very clear that upon the part of this Stale no doubt was enter tained that a comparatively small share of the taxes paid by her citizens, would be required by the Federal Government. Instead, however, of this expectation being realized, we now find that the revenue accruing to the Treasury of the United States from this Slate is, upon the lowest principle of computation, greater by twenty fold than the amount required to sustain the State Government; ami that the expenses of the civil and contingent list, during the last year, exceed ed the entire amount of Stale debls, the assump tion of which in 1700 created universal alarm. The predictions of able and patriotic states men in our Convention which rejected the Feder al Constitution, that a system of heavy taxation ' and lavish expenditure would grow up under it,! although derided at the time as numerical to others, neither less wise nor patriotic than them selves, have been realized to an extent which the most fearful and far sighted did not apprehend. Whether these evils are not rather to be regard ed as obviously resulting from the abuse of dele gated power, than as effects which might reason ably have been anticipated from the instrument itself, it is not now proper to inquire. But he who does not perceive the constant tendency of the Federal Government to extend its powers, augment its resources, and multiply its expendi tures, must be very inattentive to our past and present history. Injurious as was the arrangement of the revo lutionary claims to the interests of this State, and oppressive as the fiscal system of the General Government has been to all the southern States, we derive consolation from the reflection that we h ie out grown, in some degree, the effects of the first, and enjoy the prospect of relief from the lat. We have arrived, too, at a period in our affairs, which authorizes the expectation that though an indemnity cannot be afforded, some reparation may be obtained for the injuries wc have suffered. The perplexing questions con nected with the tariff system have been adjusted for the present, and, it is hoped, will be finally fettled on the expiration of the act of IS32. The national debt is extinguished, and the national domain is relieved from the pledge under which it was held for the benefit of the General Govern ment. The important question for the first lime arises for consideration, what disposition shall be made of it? Louisiana and Florida were ac quired by purchase, and, of course, under the Constitution of the United States, are the com mon property of the Union. All other portions of the public domain were ceded to the confede racy, or have, as in the instances of this State and Georgia, been conveyed to the United States since the adoption of the Constitution, "as a means as well of hastening the extinguishment of the debts as of establishing the harmony of the United States." All the deeds of cession contain a condition substantially the same with that to be found in the deed executed upon the part of this State, viz. that the lands ceded "shall be considered as a common fund, for the use and benefit of ihe United States of America, consequences which must result from a further reduction of the price of public lands. These lauds were obtained by the blood and treasure of the old Stales, and while we should be dis posed to continue the same liberal policy to the younger members of the confederacy, which has characterized all the proceedings of the General Government, it ought not to be expected of us to go further. At all events, the southern Stales, having during nearly half a century exhausted their resources in the payment of bounties to the iiiLrenniiv of the eastern, must not be ruined, !,Iilprr!,r,u,nvltP nmvi.UI for the fest tendency of the most important princ.p J : i . ..... I,, nfoiii'ii ivlialivpr mav I1SCUI SVSieill. in j been made in the stock of the fcauk of the State of Nonh Carolina, leaves it no longer in our power to pursue this exhausting process, and we are compelled to provide other means to defray the expences of the Government. This, it is believed, may be effected without any increase of the present rate of taxation, if provision is made to secure a fair valuation of real estate, and to ascertain the number of individuals legally liable to poll tax. The Government of the coun try should never hold out temptations to its citi zens to do wronir. Such, however, is the mani- - ... r les oi cnterm ize of the western States. The existing tariff of duties, which, happily fur thr rmintrv. h:is been satisfaftorv arranged our have lav- been the theoretical speculations ot tne iver everv owner of real estate assesses the . . . i . ii .... J I ri ' r t 1.1 1 : V.l l.r. ..c o no for thp nrosent at least, must produce a revenue ; value oi nis own ireci.om, ou i - entirely adequate to an economical adroinistra- cessary consequence, u.at ...u., lion of the Government, and additional resources honest under all circumstances, contributes his will but tend to prodigality and corruption. fair proportion to the maintenance of the Gov There seems to be no good'reison, therefore, crnment; while he who is less conscientious re why, the object having been accomplished for ceives a direct reward for his iniquity, which the sinking fund was crested, the national The same objections applies wit h still greater domain shall not be divided h the stipulated lorce to tne regulations mmer .u is levied. All slaves over twelve auu unuer imy North Carolina inclusive, according to their respective and usual proportion in the general charge and expenditure, and shall be faithfully disposed of for that purpose, and for no other use or purpose whatever." The "debt" to be extinguished was the debt created in the common defence .'interior to the date of the instrument, and the fund, after the extinguishment of this debt, was to be applied to "the use and benefit of the United States, ac cording to their respective and usual proportion in the general charge and expenditure." This would seem to be the obvious and fair construc tion of the deed; and it results, as a necessary consequence that North Carolina, having been burtheued, at the period when her citizens were least able to sustain it, with one-tenth of the whole amount of the public debt, is entitled to receive a like proportion of the fund which remains un disposed of. Whatever conclusion you may come to on this subject, it seems to me that ihe proposition either togive the lands to the Stales within which they are situated, or to reduce the price at which they have hitherto been disposed of, is wholly inad missible. Next to the operation of ihe revenue system, no other measure of the General Gov ernment has so seriously affected the interests of the old States as the low prices at which emi grants have been enabled to obtain the most fer tile lands in the valley of the Mississippi. No one can have failed to perceive the diminution in the value of real property in this State already occasioned by it, or doubt "a monfcnt the ruirfiou proportion among nJI the membr-rs of the Confed aracy. To the State Governments it will alforc the most important aid in the prosecution yi schemes of internal unprovemeats, ;oul the dillu sion of the means of education. All experience proves that, if the power could be rightfully ex ercised, the General Govemnent is not compe tent to the accomplishment of these great pur poses; and the heavy amount paid by this State indirectly into the Treasury o: the United btates, under the operation of the p-escnt revenue sys tem, if this fund be denied us places the accumu lation of the requsite means beyond our reach, within any reasonable period of time. My opinions with respect to the necessity of a speedy and efficient prosecjtion by the State of a general system ot interna' improvements, were communicated at length in the report submitted to the General Assembly it the last session, by the Board for Internal Imrrovements. It is not j proposed to discuss, at present, any one of the various topics which were then fully considered. The experience of another year affords conclu sive proof that individual associations never will, and never can accomplisl any plan commensu rate with our necessities and resources. If the money alone, which hasbeen expended by our legislative councils in tie creation of corpora tions, that have existed inly on paper, and are a most inconvenient encimbrance on the statute book, had been allied to the construction of some one work, at a jioper point, we should have had before us an txperiment, which would, at least, have afforded useful instruction. The continually increasing current of emigration, which is depriving us if many of our most intel ligent and enterprising citizens, and a large por tion of our wealth, pjrlieularly in the section of the State hitherto retarded as the most populous and opulent, impartsto this subject a painful in terest. If the ev il aJinitted of no remedy, allu sion to it would be bth weak and idle. It is not, however, so considbred. In the extent of her territory, the variety of her productions, the fer tility of her soil, aid salubrity of ht'r climate, North Carolina w.ll compare advantageously with the most properous members of the Con-j fedaracv. The obstructions to the navigation of our rivers, by the falls created by the ledge of granite which tiaverses the State from north cast to sounth-west, and the impossibility of en tering either of the parts connected with these riv ers, with ships of the largest class, are certainly great natural disadvantages. It is believed, however, that tiese difficulties may be obviated to an extent which will ensure hs all the commer cial facilities esenlial to a highly prosperous condition. We have a wider extent of sea coast than any State t the Union, and the best inlet and harbor soui of the Chesapeake. We have the power to ounect this harbor with nearly all the navigable vAters of the State, and thus bring the blessings f commerce not only to the doors of our own c'lL'sens, but a fiord a national high way to our siser States, of great importance in time of peace, and of inestimable value in war. Under s'jch circumstances, to permit public pros perity either t decline or remain stationary, is as foreign fromour duty as it is injurious to our interests and muguant to our feelings. The pe riod cannot bf distant when other objects than the disbursement of sums smaller than the aggre gate of legislaive expenses shall be considered as falling withn the legitimate range of your du ties. The inmediate representatives of the peo ple, the highest and most responsible functiona ries recogiized by the theory of our Govern ment, are selected and convened for the attain ment of obects essential to the public weal, which cannot be effected by individual effort. I am satisfied nyself that the course of legislation hitherto prsued, is to be ascribed to local divis ions more ban to any other cause, and the hope is fondly cherished that you will not separate without tie adoption of such measures as shall make us a united people, as well in fceliug as in interest. The revenue system of this State is radically defective, And requires both revision and amend ment. Fk some years past, the disbursements from the f ublic Treasury have exceeded the or dinary receipts, and we have been gradually con suming tie principal of a productive fund which had beei accumulated by the economy of pre ceding ears. The investments which have i-pnrs if nrrp nrp Sll biect to canitation tax. If j o ' . every slave owner in the community were entire ly disposed to do so, it is a very easy task to as certain accurately the proportion of his slaves who are between twelve and fifty years of age. Records are rarely kept of the ages of those born upon our estates, and we have still greater diffi culty in ascertaining the ages of such as have been acquired by purchase or inheritance. He, however, who is not scrupulously honest, may satisfy his conscience by very superficial inqui ries, when they agree with bis interest; and the individual who is entirely beyond the influence of moral coercion may commit fraud with impu nity. Attempts to detect crimes of ibis charac ter, are rarely made; and if they were more fre quent, success, in the nature of things, is nearly impossible. A single example w ill suffice to es tablish the corrections of these remarks, and shew the extent to which the revenue is defraud ed. The aggregate number of slaves in this State, in 1S30, was 240,402. Al least one half of these, by every authorized principle of compu lation, were between the ages of tw elve and fifty years, and, al the rate of twenty cents each, should have contributed to the Public Treasury 24,040 dollars. The entire amount of poll tax derived in that year, from this source, and from the same rate of taxation imposed on every fn t male between the ages of twenty-one ck forty-five, in a population of little less ihan half a million, was .s2tvll oo, exclusive oi me six per cent. commissions retained nyme onenris tor collec tion. It is confidently believed that if a fair mode for the valuations of lands were provided, and a proper system of accountability devised with respect to the poll tax, that the amount of revenue derived from these sources would be in creased one-fourth, and that this reform alone would enable the Public Treasurer to meet the ordinary expenditures from his department. W ith respect to the tax on staves, a simple, easy and efficient remedy would arise from abolishing the discrimination of ages, and imposing a tax on each. In practice, it will be found no more burthensome, and ihe process more simple, to give in the whole number ot slaves at ten cents, than to ascertain the number of those between twelve and fifty, who are subject to twenty cents; and those who now misrepresent the ages of their slaves, without ihe fear of detection, will find it much more difficult to conceal their number. 1 have heretofore ventured to express the o pinion, that too large a proportion of the public burthen is imposed upon those who are subject to a poll tax only, and that the range of taxation should be extended. Subsequent reflection has satisfied me entirely of the corrections of the po sition. The poll tax on the day laborer and the capitalist is precisely the same; and it sometimes happens that the latter, like the former, is sub ject to no other species of contribution. In the one case, it is an onerous imposition; in the oth er, a tax a thousand fold greater might occasion no sensible inconvenience. It seems at least to be worthy of consideration, whether pleasure carriages, and other articles of luxury, and espe cially collateral inheritances, should not be brought within the operation of our revenue laws. The Report of the Public Treasurer will ex hibit a detail statement of the receipts and ex penditures of the Treasury Department, which will present all the information that can be de sired upon the subject. His views with respect to our financial system, will command attention, and afford satisfatory evidence of the diligence and ability with which his duties have been dis charged. The Bank of the State of North Carolina, in corporated by an act of the last Legislature, has gone into operation at an earlier period, and un der more favorable auspices, than was anticipa ted by its most sanguine friends. The entire amount of stock authorized to be subscribed by individuals (900,000 dollars) has been taken, and the payments made with more than ordinary punctuality. Of the stock reserved for the State, (000,000 dolls.) but one-fourth has been subscri bed and paid for by the Public Treasurer. The remaining three fourths must be secured within the period of two years from the first of January next, or the privilege reserved to the State will be forfeited. Your attention is thus early di rected to the subject, that proper measures may Executive De- of this iiinova operate most beyailoptcd by a judicious rcviion of bur reve nue laws, by the sale of other public stocks or by rsorting to a loan, to - attain one of the lead ing objects contemplated by the charter of thj5 institution. Some legislation is necessary with respect to the publication and distribution of the Acts o' Assembly. The transmission of a single copy to the Executive of each State, is at proem au thorized, while we receive from nearly all tl.e Slates a copy for the Executive Department, and one for each branch of the Legislature. 1 ; the duty of the Secretary of Stale to deli vt r tc the Public Printer, at an early period after the adjournment of the General Assembly, copies or all acts which have been passed. But it is n(K made the duty of any one to arrange the order of publication, to prepare indexes and margin;.; no4es, and to revise the proof sheets. This t v i i has been increased by the anxiety which prevails at the close of the session to expedite business by the employment of inexperienced euuroin.r clerks. Mistakes which last winter esc;qifd vigilance of the examining committees, have not only deformed the statute book, but have nr,ueri ally affected the construction of some of the u.Oit important enactments of the session. The death of James Grant, Esquire, late Comptroller of Public Accounts, has deprived the State of the services of a faithful and vigilant officer. This event occurred at too late a period to admit of my assembling ihe Executive Conn cil with a view to a temporary appointment, and the olfice is, therefore, vacant. The duties of the Comptroller have devolved upon the Treasu ry Department at the busiest season of ihe year, and it is desirable that ibis vacancy should he supplied at as early a day as practicable. Perhaps a fairer occasion may never be pre sented lor suggesting that the practice which has prevailed of late years, of selectiut: Coun sellors from remote sections of the State, is ;t virtual infraction of the Constitution. For a long period subsequent to the estalishment of our Government, the members of the Council were chosen from the immediate vicinity of the Gov ernor. He was thus enabled, almost without expense to the public, and without any dehiv. to consult his constitutional advisers on all suijvets of importance. Even applications for parcmn, in capital cases, were invariably submit ted to this body, which was, in fact as well as in name, a branch of the partment. The inconvenience tion may, at no distant day, ' I I ' .1 . 1 - " II I ? ! 1 injuriously, n ine late i.ompirniier nan tueu a few weeks earlier, it would have bem impossible to have supplied his place in lime for the settle ments which the Sheriffs are required to com plete by the first of October in each year. S? nearly has this portion of Executive power been annihilated by modern practice, that those who are presumed to exercise it have not been con vened at any period during my administration. I have received within the last few days the proceedings of a meeting of the citizens of Wil mington, called to consider "the outrage recent ly committed on American citizens at Nassau, New Providence, by certain officers of that isl and. The resolutions adopted on the occasion,, are laid before you at the request of the meeting They will doubtless receive the consideration due to the importance of the subject, and the re spectable source from which they emanate. Be sides the adoption of such measures as you may deem advisable with respect to this affair, 1 re gret to state that some legislation seems to be necessary lo protect the rights of our citizens to their slaves from domestic aggression. The combinations which exist in some of the eastern cities, to prevent, by the expense incident to pro tracted litigation, the recaption of fugitive slaves, have rendered it the interest of ihe owner, in many instances, to abandon his title to such prop erty. An individual of this city, in a contest of this character, where the proof adduced wa more clearly made out than woold, perhaps, be possible in one out of a hundred cases, found it necessary to expend, in the progress of a suit finally decided by the Supreme Court of New York, a much larger sum than the value of the slaves. The evil might find its appropriate remedy in the levy of a tax on slave owners to defray the expenses of similar litigation in future. The knowledge that such a fund existed, would doubtless obviate the necessity of frequent expen ditures. It affords me pleasure to state, that the Attor ney General, who has been charged with the du ty of pressiug our claims for expenditures during the late war with Great Britain upon the consid eration of the War Department, entertains con fident hopes of a speedy and equitable settle ment. His correspondence upon this subject will be transmitted to you in the progress of the session. The act passed at the last session of the Gen eral Assembly, directing the Governor to ap point three commissioners, whose duty it should be to revise and digest the public statute laws af this State, has been complied with. The trust was, at an early period after the adjournment of the Legislature, confided to William H. Battle, Gavin Hogg and James Iredell, Esquires, who entered upon the immediate discharge of their duties. The severe indisposition of one of these gentlemen has greatly impeded the progress of the work, though it is believed it may be conn pleted within the. period limjted by law. A xi
The Tarborough Southerner (Tarboro, N.C.)
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Nov. 28, 1834, edition 1
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