Ft
7:'
Discussion at Smitnfield between
Messrs. Pool and Ellis!
GREAT ENTHUSIASM 1
Po&L TRWMPtiANf AKt ELLIS
COMPLETELY USED VPt
Reported for the Raleigh Register.
The candidates for governor met at
Smittxfifcld on the 25th ult., according
to appointment. 1 "
Mr. Pool opened the discussion ij
congratulating bimaelf that a new state
of affairs had arisen, heretofore unpre
Cdtlit?d' His competitor an i him
leUhtd agreed that the discussion be
tween them was narrowed down to the
airnple question of a (vafyrtm. This
subject of ad vaUnym ii easily under
stood. It hat beea called by some a
complicated question, bnt all i who
know right from wrong, are bound ' to
admit that .equal taxation is just and
right. What but the strong arm of
government secures to men the enjoy
ment and possession of their property,
whether slaves or. not J And why
should not every man pay his - equal
proportion for the support of that
government? Every citizen j ought
to pay tax according to the value of
and protection afforded his property.
To adjust this matter and to' bring a
bout equalization in taxation is the
prime object of those .who favor ad va
lorem ; but when pxp political screws
are once placed on some of our peo
ple it is hard to jpoihvince them of the
errpr of their way, and influence them
to advocate tiiis measure, although
every, honest man is bound to admit
its justice. The present system of
taxation is .certainly unjust and une
qualwe propose to change it so as
to make it bear equally on all species
of property, the negro included: It
is no new proposition ad valorem
taxation is made obligatory ,in six or
seven of the Southern States, that en-
i'oy more prosperity than we do they
lave done away with discriminative
and unjust taxation, while in North
Carolina we cannot tax slaves, known
and acknowledged jto be the most val
uable species of property among us,
- except as persons. The Abolitionists
say they fre persons. I say they are
property, and should, as such, be tax
ed according to value. With these
facts in view, why should not the
slaveholder pay his equal proportion
with the landholder andthe poor man
for the support of the government and
the protection of his property ? Gov.
Ellis' platform proposes to bear equal
ly on aJU species of property, tin cups
and thopld lady's
hen and eggs, and
all, except the rich man's negro, while
we propose to tax everybody accord
ing to value, givinjg prower to the leg
islature to "discriminate onjy in favor
of the natural products of pur land
and the industrial pursuits of our cit
izens." My competitor says that we
represent ourselves as wishing to tax
the negro in one section and other
species of property in1 another. I give
this, as it deserves, a prompt denial.
I am in favor of striking out the odi
ous prohibition in
regard to taxing
slaves in the Cons
ltution and of tax
ing all property according to value,
tearing u 10 me legislature to mate
such dispositions as before mentioned.
We are not hunting down the negro ;
we are protecting the slave owner in
the possession of
his , property and
making and cementing a fraternal
bond between the slaveholder and non
slaveholder. But Gov. Ellis has a
different text for each class o: society.
What more security for the protection
of his property does the slave owner
want than that his negro shall be tax
i ed eauallv in Drowortion with thpland
which he tills ? xf on-slaveboUers. are
largely in the majority here, and slaves
are held by and with their consent.
They should not,! .therefore, be op
pressed with onerous and unjust bur
dens of taxation Their good will
should be conciliated and courted, and
if done, they can march to the de
fence of ypur slave property with a
much better gracej than under the pre
sent system of unequal taxation. A
great hue and cry! has been raised by
the Democracy that the Opposition
wish to tax tin cups,'&c, and- send a
.man around to look into everybody's
smoke-house and Junder everybody's
bed. Your good common sense, gen
tlemen, will enable you to" known this
to be an intentional perversion of the
Opposition platform Such is not the
platform not my position.
Oav. Ellis made a speech in Raleigh,
. behind; my hack, when I had no pow
er o defending myself, in which he
has .entirely (unintentionally I hope)
misrepresented my position, and fur
ther he has printed and circulated it
broadcast over th State. The leg-1
islature has power to discriminate in
favor of the natural products of the
State. Of what j do they consist?
Why, of the articles of corn, bacon,
&c.t and what is raised in the State
for the actual support of the raiser..
We wish to fost;eif home industry, and
bow beyond all cjavil, that equaliza
tion, in taxation is not an impossibili
ty. -
My competitor, in his late great
Raleigh speech, predicted that "be
fore the summer's sun stood erect in
the heavens we would leave our plat
form as rats flee a burning barn. I
i stand on the platform and Will follow
! the Governor from the Seaboard to
; the mountains on it. I would like to
; knowNif he stands on his platformi
. Are tin cup, eggs, and soap gourds
: property ? If so, according i to the
Democratic platform, they can now
I be taxed, and the immortal negro left
oat entirely. Now, I wish to know
which is the tin pup party ; which the
tin cup candidate ? I leave it to yott,
fellow citizens. If my competitor is
not the tin cup candidate how can he
stand squarely on1 his "platforni I The
Democracy can throw dust in the eyes
of some of the ignorant of our people,
but when this great principle of ad
valorem is fully j explained tp them
they can discriminate between justice
and injustice, and. will accordingly
corjt.tneir names at tne pauot-Doxi
Any slaveholder who Is an honest man
is Willing to pay his equal proportion
of taxation. I know the people of my
section well enough to te certain, of
the fact that tgbey have too jimcfc mag
nanimity to rense to do so. '?'. i
We do not propose to raise the &x
nn npirrni tn iVA trerraAndrma. mnnnt
talked of by our opponents. The tax
will go up perhaps six cents, but we
must remember that we also propose
to tax negroes over jfifty years and
under twelve, whch will lessen the
burdens which the poor man now has
to bear. Negroes under 12 are valu
able in fact, the most" valuable of
property those over fifty are not on
ly useful but necessary on a farm.
The negro, from birth, increases every
year more than 25 per cent, in value.
We propose to bring down the tax on
land from 20 cents on the hundred
dollars valuation to 10 cents, and to
raise the tax on the negro from '6 to
10 cents ;on the same. We must raise
taxes we are bound to pay the debts
that are ' daily accumulating, and I
ask why jnot do it fairly ? Why shall
not my neighbor stand on the same
footing with me in paying taxes as
well as at the ballot box ? If this
proposition (i. e.) ad valorem is to
drive negroes out of the State, where
will they go? to South, Carolina, where
they are already taxed, per capita,
more than this system could possibly
impose -upon them 1 Suppose the
owners emigrate leave our State with
their negroes. If they do, they "leave
their country for their country's good,"
if they do so to shirk equal taxation.
Shall a discrimination be mads be
tween tn rich slave owner and the
man who daily earns his support by
the sweat of his brow ? I do not wish
to array one class of persons against
another, but I say that by the present
system the poor man is oppressed.
The rich planter sends his cotton to a
commission merchant and on it he pays
no tax, while the working man is ob
liged to pay fifty cents on the hun
dred on his sugar, coffee, and other
necessaries of life ; in fact, on every
thing he buys or sells. He has no
commission merchant. Is this right?
Is it just ? Mr. Pool went on to say
that Mr. Bledsoe had said that in this
contest there would undoubtedly be
Some "special pleading ' he had so
advised the Governor. The Governor
might try to split hairs on the ques
tion, but he was willing to meet him,
nevertheless. Why should the slave
holder be so careful in regard to his
negroes when he has his luxuries, and
is willing to pay for them ? 'The e
ternal cry is, however, "let my negroes
alone." Those who are in favor of
the principle of ad valorem, but try to
make it a question of time, are the
enemies of Gov. Ellis. Why should
anything that is right be' postponed ?
Shall we wait for the Abolitionists to
allow us to throw off the tyranny . of
unequal taxation? You let the non
slaveholder know that the slave owner
is revelling in his luxuries, paying no
tax, while he pays an onerous tax on
his necessities, and you at once, bring
about a prejudice between them, a con
flict as it were. We may have to fight
for our slave property. We can and
must call on the non-slaveholder. ;
They will fight for the institution and
protect your property ; is it right,
therefore, to impose upon them this
cbmraratively burdensome tax, and
takei advantage of this little constitu
tional "advantage ? I call upon slave
holders to come forward and cement
the bond of Union. Georgia and Ar
kansas, and other Southern States
have strengthed the- institution of
slavery by adopting the ad valorem
System. The non-slaveholder asks for
eaual taxation, cries aloud for his
rights, and this is all.
. The "Standard sometimes makes
an observation that is worthy of cred
it ; it is, however, not my organ. Mr.
Holden says ad valorem is jut, right
and democratic, and that Gov. .i.eid
was its originator in this State. This
jis high democratic authority, but I
say, if you wish to get ad valorem you
should vote for the man and party who
offers it to you note. Perhaps,- Gov.
Ellis' party may give it to you, but it
will be long after his. time arrives. I
am in favor of having a fair, honest
discussion of a great. and just .princi
ple. Mr. Pool stated that the Constitu
tion belonged to the people, and the
people had a right to change it; that
he had no fears of trouble in an open
Convention ; that the West only ask-
qu mac staves snouia De taxea as otn-
er property that he would leave all
discrimination as recognized in the
platform to the legislature. He would
be glad to answer any question which
Gov. Ellis or the people might pro
pound. He then took: his seat amidst
deafening applause.
Gov. Ellis then arose and said that
it was the first time he had ever had
the honor of appearing before a John
ston audience, except as an officer of
the law he, now appeared as the rep
resentative f the great Democratic
party. He tendered his thanks for
the generous support he had received
at their hands at the last election.
iThe ad valorem system he considered
not only unjust, but revolutionary and
tyrannical in its theory, practice and
Influence he was with the platform
he supported, diametrically opposed
to it he was a poor man and Mr.
Pool had not convinced him that the
establishment of this system was to
his interest. The West is continually
crrincr for more when she already has
enough. The compromises made be
tween the two sections should' be kept
inviolate. The Opposition party are
always changing tneir positions, and
e.ve.ry time they come before the peo
ple they bring their new issues. They
are already leaving tneir platform, in
fket they put in new planks very i of
te. He believed with Mr. Ferebee,
of Camden, that it was a bad sign to
aee tne Aoonwonisis Bympainifting
with ad valorem. He said that Gov.
eld's &d valorem Was not that of the
pposition, that the object oi this
moT.e on their part, was merely tp gain
powter, and closed by urging the peo
ple to vote the Democratic; ticket, let
the Constitution alone, and save the
country,! from the 'dangers; which be
set its infringement. j
Mr. Pool, in his rejoinder, said Gov.
Ellis had not met his positions. That
the platform was explicit enough, and
was willing .to leave discrimination, in
regard to certain subjects of taxation,
to tbe enlightened representatives of
a great State. The legislature is not
now trammelled, nor do I propose to
do it. The pamphlet which the Gov
ernor has called a "dark lantern con
cern' was intended to give light, and
contains high Democratic authority
in favor of the great principle of e
qual taxation-, nor has he denied that
Messrs. Holden, Bledsoe, Wigfall and
others did use the expressions therein
contained.
Gov. Ellis replied. He said that
his competitor was constantly leaving
his platform that it was too slippery
for Lim, to stand on. He (Mr. Pool)
was in favor of an open Convention,
and the platform had not limited the
power of that body. Once trust the
Constitution in its hands, and we have
no guarantee that it will not be torn
asunder ; said he was in favor of the
extension of a railroad through to the
Tennessee line.
The Charleston Convention.
On Saturday, Mr. Bigler of Pa.
addressed the Convention in favor of
reconciling differences, and producing
union and harmony, and preserving
the integrity of the democratic party.
He then introduced the Bayard reso
lutions, hoping they might b e the
means of conciliation. He moved, as
a means of testing the sense of the
Convention, that they be referred
back to the committee with instruction
to report these resolutions to the Con
vention in an hour.
These' resolutions, first affirm the
Cincinnatti platform ; second that all
citizens have the right to settle in the
Territories without their rights of per
son or property being impaired either
by Congressional or territorial legis
lation ; third, that the Democratic par
ty stands pledged to the doctrine that
it is the duty of the Government to
maintain all constitutional richts of
property, of whatever kind, in the
Territories, and to enforce the decis
ions of the Supreme Court in refer
ence thereto. The fourth, fifth, sixth
and seventh resolutions are the third,
fourth, fifth, and sixth of those repor
ted by the majority ; which declare
the Federal Government should pro
tect the rights of persons and proper
ty on ,the high seas, and wherever its
jurisdiction extends; calling on the
Government to afford full protection
to naturalized citizens in foreign coun
tries ; in favor of the acquisition of
Cuba, and denouncing as revolution
ary the enactments of State Legisla
tures to deteat the faithful execution
of the fugitive slave law.
By a vote ayes 242, noes 47 af
ter an excited debate, all the plat
forms were referred back to the com
mittee, with instructions to report at
four o'clock, to which hour the Con
vention adjourned. The Convention
reassembled at four o'clock. The re
port from the committee on platforms
was made at half-past five by Mr. Av
ery,
of North Carolina. It reaffirms
the Cincinnati platform and is accom
panied by an additional declaration of
principles, being a combination of the
propositions of Messrs. Bayard of
Delaware, John Cochrane of N. York,
and Bigler of Pennsylvania. Mr. Av
ery made a speech in favor of the plat
form, and especially as to that part of
it relative to slavery.
Mr. Samuels presented the minori
ty report, eschewing congressional in
tervention, and declaring that whether
Congress or the territorial legislature
have the power to intervene, depends
upon , the decision of the Supreme
Court of the United States ; which de
cision t:ey pledge the democratic par
ty to sustan: and abide by.
Mr. SamueU opposed the majority
platform, saying that, if adopted, it
would throw the free Spates into the
hands of the black republicans.
Mr. Butler presented another mino
rity report signed by Massachusetts
ivxmnesota ana Indiana.
The Platform debate was then re
newed, and continued-in great excite
ment until a late hour on Saturday
night. v Adjourned without a vote.
Among the exciting speeches, was
one by Mr. Burrows, of Arkansas.,
He maintained that the South hadup
held'the democratic party Xrom the be
ginning of the government to the pre
sent day ; that the South had been
foremost in fighting the battles of the
country, and that, in'fact, the demo
cratic pasrty owes, everything to the
South, lhe South has extended the
boundaries of the country, and has
furnished : the means at all times of
paying the debts of the country. His
remarks were of the most violent and
inflammatory character, and amid the
imjpatience to come to a vote, the noise,
confusion, clapping and stamping was
so great that he could scarcely be
heard beyond the rostrum. He con
tinued, despite the noise, to speak at
the height of his voice. . He consid
ered the Northern democrats as worse
than the black republicans. He did
not care whether thejblack republicans
whipped, them or they whipped the
black republicans. Of the two he
considered the black republicans as
the mostopeu and manly foe of the
ooutn.- As to Douglas, he would not
support him, even if he was nomina
ted. He considered him as great an
enemy, to tne South as the traitor
Seward was.
On Monday, the Convention met at
iu o clocx. xne nrst business was
the vote on the substitute offered by
Mr. B. b Butler, on behalf of the
democracy of Massaahusetts, Minne
sota, Indiana and New Jersey, being
the Cincinnati platform with an addi
tional resolution for. the protection of
citizens, as well native as adopted.
The vote resulted 105 ayes, and 189
nays. ' When New Jersey was called
one of her delegates stated that the
Convention which appointed the dele
gation had recommended them to vote
as a unit, and the President decided
that the word recommended " was
equivalent io instruction. The dele
gates appealed from the decision of
the Chair. The decision was reversed.
This result is a gain of two totes for
Douglas from NeV Jersey.
After nearly an hour spent in dis
cussing points of order and various
parliamentary movements to prevent
reaching the main question, Mr. .but
ler, of Massachusetts, moved to lay
the whole subject on the table and
proceed to vote for nominee forPresi
deut. It was contended that this mo
tion was out of order, and that the
vote on the platform must-now be ta
ken. After further noisy and exci
ting demonstrations, the question was
taken on adopting the Minority report
as a substitute for that of the Majori
ty on the platform, and decided in the
affirmative. Ayes 165 Noes 138.
The yote was taken separately on each
of the minority resolutions, all of which
were carried by large majorities, Ala
bama, Arkansas and Florida refusing
to vbte. Mr. Cook gave notice that
he would move to reconsider the vote
on the Pacific Railroad resolution.
Mr. Flournoy, of Arkansas, asked
leave to make a personal explanation.
He declared himself in favor of Doug
las and was unwilling to obey the in
struction to leave the Convention in
case the minority report was adopted.
The question now recurred on adop
ting the majority platform as amen
ded. Mr. Butler moved that the ques
tion be first taken on the first part of
the resolutions reaffirmmg the Cincin
nati platform separately, and his mo
tion was adopted by a vote of ayes
233 ; noes 70. When Mississippi was
called Mr. Glenn voted 'no,' declaring
that Mississippi believed that the Cin
cinnati platform, .as expounded North
and South, was an unqualified swindle.
His voice was frequently drowned in
cries of 4 order.' Mr. Briggs, of New
York, now that the Cincinnati plat
form was adopted, moved that the re
mainder of the resolutions be laid upon
the table. Mr. Brown, of North Caro
lina, warned gentlemen that if they
adopted these resolutions the Demo
cratic party would case to exist as a
national party. There was much. ex
citement. Mr. Brigg's motion was
adopted, and the Cinpinhaii Platform
was thus made, unaltered m any par
ticular, the platform of the party,
The Alabama Delegation withdrew;
the Mississippi Delegation followed;
all but two from Louisiana and all but
three from South Carolina did the
same ; two of the Delaware Delegates
left; the Texas,. Florida, and two Ar
kansas Delegates followed. North
Carolina and Maryland Delegates
"stood firm" by the Convention. Vir-
ginia, Vxeorgia, JventucKy, Tennessee,
&c, withdrew to consult on withdraw
al, the Convention adjourning on mo
tion of a Virginia delegate for that
purpose.
The Bolters met at St. Andrew's
Hall, (Fernando Wood's headquarters)
and were joined by 'Wood's disreputa
ble crowd. Col. John S. Preston of
S. C. took the chair, and Mr. Yancey
of Ala. opened with a stirring speech.
Mr. Yancey thought the seceding Con
vention had no power to make a nomi
nation ; but only to recommend future
action name suitable persons for can
didates for President and Vice Presi
dent, and adopt an address to the
States. He said seven more States
would secede to-morrow, making fif
teen in all.
Mr. Fisher from Virginia answered
when the call of States took place, and
said more of his colleagues would fol
low.
Mr. Heed one oi tne remaining
members from South Carolina said
his State would go as a unit, wherever
Alabama went.
Mr. Lamar responded for, Georgia,
and said he was authorized to speak
for a majority of his delegation.
Un Tuesday, Ihe Uonvention as-
sembled at 10 o'clock the Virginia,
forth Carolina and Georgia delega
tions in their seats.
The President stated that three
separate motions to reconsider the
platform were pending, when the Con
vpntinn adioumed lsst evening, and
that T. Merrick, Esq., of Chicago,
was entitled to the floor.
, Henry L. Belftning, Esq., of Colum
bus, Ga., rose to a privileged question,
stating that the? Georgia delegation
had been in anJfidus consultation, and
had passed resolutions that they could
not longer remain in the convention,
and twenty-nine of the delegates im
mediately withdrew, leaving but eight
in the Convention.
The following-delegates then asked
leave to withdraw for consultation :
Tennessee, Virginia, a portion of
Maryland and a portion of Kentucky.
Solomon Cohen, &sq., ot aavannan,
Geo., stated that he remained to make
an effort for harmony and union.
J. B. Flournoy, Esq. of Laconia,
Arkansas, took 'the same ground as
Mr. Cohen, and said that the' couth
could not unite on the ground the se
ceding delegations had taken.
Mr. Montgomery, of Pa., ne was
opposed to' speeches if they wanted
to go, let them travel, and we will pro
ceed to business.
The Charleston Secessionists
Gnat Mum Muting at A Attdrtm't UMTU
Charleston, May 1. Last -night
St. Andrew's Hall was thronged to
its utmost capacity. John S. Pres
ton, of South Carolina, was called to
preside. In his speech on taking the
Chair j he said that he considered this
a great occasion a movement of the
Constitution lovers of the Republic
We are here to preserve our rights and
redress oar wrongs.
' Mr.; Yahcy said that they were sent
to the Rational Convention as Deler;
gates, ut their mission had been fill
ed that the Convention was now a
mere sectional gathering. Should
Douglas be nominated it will then be
come their duty to present or recom
mend candidates for the Presidency
and Vice Presidency on a national
constitutional basis, and therefore a
Southern basis, $0 action should be
taken by the seceders until the pro
per time, p
Mr. Bayard said he did not regard
the influence that overruled principle
in the National Convention so much
the spirit of Black Republicanism as
thirst for power and plunder. He was ,
very severe on the New York Delega
tion who turned their backs upon the
Souttu He trusted that other States
would withdraw and that the Conven
tion would be entirely dissolved. He
did not consider that the seceders had
the power to make regular nomina
tions, but they should join in a recom
mendation of some suitable candidates,
and in a written address to their con
stituents.
Mr. Matthews, of Lou., in behalf
of his delegation, thought that there
should be no action in this body until
they see whether, instead of eight
States they do not to-morrow number
fifteen, and perhaps seventeen. They
should wait to hear from those States;
which asked for the adjournment last
evening in order to consult together
as to the proper course for them to
pursue.
; The States were then called, and
responses made by Delegates On
the completion of the call, it wasfound
that Mayor Wood, of N. Y., haTd ap
peared, and loud calls were made for
"New York," and '-Wood." He re
plied briefly, with his usual clearness
and earnestness, stating the views of
his Delegation, and pledging a hearty
concurrent in all movements looking
to the assertion and maintenance of
the rights of all sections, and of the
common rights of all citizens in the
States and Territories.
An organization committee was ap
pointed, and the seceders adjourned
to Tuesday noon.
Mr. Yancey and others then ad
dressed a large meeting in the City
Hall.
The Douglas men profess to be en
tirely satisfied with the result, declar
ing that the secederslo not represent
the popular sentiment of their States.
Among the speeches made in the
principal .Convention when the seces
sion took place, (each delegation had
a speech on the occasion,) Mr. Mou-
ton, of La., announced that lie was
authorized to state,1 on the part of the
lelegates from his State, that they no
longer retain their seats in this Con
vention. " He said we have heretofore
declared that the Democratic party
was harmonious, but we are now part
ed forever separated on principle
if our friends of the free States can
not join us'in fighting the Black Re
publicans.
Mr. Glenn, of Mississippi, deliver
ed in behalf of the delegation of that
State, a powerful and exciting ad
dress, telling them that in less than
sixty days they will see a united south
acting
in concert. I Deafening ap
plause, the galleries joining. The
time will come when you will want us.
Mr. Bryan, of Texas, said he had
long looked to this result, and pre
sented the protest of the Texas dele
gation, declaring that a persistence in
the principle maintained by a majori
ty of. the convention will ultimately
dissolve the Union.
Gen. Leach. Pay of Members of Con
gress. Our able Representative, Hon. J.
M. Leach, is, as we felt assured he
would do, taking an active part in
Congress, in favor of retrenchment
and reform.
It will be seen'from the synopsis of
Congressional proceedings, that a bill
was introduced by him to repeal the
net of Congress giving to Members
three thousand dollars a year, by the
repeal of which the old law will be res
tored by which Members of Congress
receive only eight dollars per day.
This one reform will save the Govern
ment over one million of dollars each
Congress.
The amount now paid
to 304 members qf
Congress, (besides
mileage) is
The short session can
hold but 3 months
or 90 da va : and
suppose the long
session holds eight
months or 240 days,
then the pay of ono
Member, at 8 per
$1,824,000 00
day, for 330 days
would be but 32,640
for the two sessions;
and the pay of 304
members at $8 per
day would be "
802,560 00
Amount saved per
Congress by Leach's, if
bill L $1,021,440 00
By the adoption of Leach's Bill the
Government will save, each Congress,
ten hundred and twenty-one thousand
four hundred and forty dollars !
YVe. nope lren. Leach will be sus
tained in this measure of retrench
ment, by the other Members from this
State. And we sincerely wish that
it mat receive the sanction of a ma
jority of Congress, which body has al
ready manifested a j disposition to re
duce the public expenditures. For a
bill lias already passed the House
which will in the one item of mileage.
save the Government about three hun-
area wwusana aouars i An enort is
also making to curtail the enormous
expenditures of the nublic Drintinsr.
V . cj
It appeared, on investigation by the
present Congress, that the grossest
extravagance and corruption baa been
practiced-by the present administra
tion in regard to the public printing.
twenty prices have benpaidiyi jobs
of printing to snch presses auld be
prevailed ,on, like hired Jffessiti to
defend tbe corruptions 'of theTp,jning
dynasty, and to denounce mel. who
haye te honesty j and the indepen
dence to raise their voices against it !
Why, it has4een proven, and appears
before Congress, that sxilful ahci hon
est printers, for FIVE DOLt'ARS
offer to execute a certain' quaatfjty of
printing, for which the preserit demo
cratic dynasty has been paying jONE
HUNDRED ROjLIABSlf Al
though this may not be stealing for
which the;jarties could be punched,
yet honest men will agree that it is
but little better. Our readers ;have
not forgotten the charges brought
against this extravagant administra
tion, during last summer,' anct tfacts
are fast developing themse to
prove those charges true.
And the people of this Distil ci will
long remember how bitterly thread
ers ii modem Democracy ; ani - jheir
subsidized, presses,'.; persecuted Gen.
LeacV?frr his bold exposure the
profligacy and corruption of tn pre
sent administration.; But he faWlered
not, and was sustained by the people ;
and now he has with a bold hatd.'in
Congress, applied the knife Re
trenchment and Reform, and ff sus
tained by Congress, many milli(ni will
be saved to the Government.iSZewt
Press.
" -; -
"j''rj l .
Whig Meeting in Davie. !,
A meeting of the Whigs of $ivie;
held in Mocksville, on Tuesday, Ikrch
zin, xoou, upon motion, oaiqvjfi. a.
Hobson, Esq., was called to the'air,
and A A Harbin appointed Secretary.
The following resolutions wer, of
fered and unanimously adopiw, to
wit : .
Resolved, That we, the Whigs -off avie,
heartily approve of the platform and Ijyinci
pies as laidilowH by the Opposition !Shven-
tion lately assembled in Kaleigii. 1.3? totn
Xational and State politics, and prone our
individual and hearty support to they'll land
champion presented by that Con ventwn for
the Gubernatorial office, - ji
Retolved, That we hold it to be th j plain
duty of conservative men, in all- setii'ns of
the Country, iu view of the threafetjj dan
ger to our tJnion, and the gloriOwaftstitu
tiona which it secures to us, to rRlfy 'stiiist
the Democratic and Republican partial who
persist in endangering the Country, ?ffr the
purpose of perpetuating or acquiring jM"er.
Resolved, That the Chairman of thftteet
ing, appoint two' delegates from eac?j Cap
tain's District, to represent Davie coijjty in
the Convention to beheld in Winst6jfp the
L th of April, it being Tuesday of Superior
Court, for the jmrpobe of appointing HjfjSlec
tor for the oth Congressional Ditriej and
also, delegates to the Opposition Conjitipn
to be held in Baltimore, to nominate liaidnal
and conservative men for the President and
Vice Presidency of the United States,
In compliance with the above reso
lution, the Chairman app0in'j&e
following-delegates, to wit: !
John R Parker, John MaxTveTlVm
R Sharpe, Samuel Bailey, H B tow
ard, P N Dulin, Lem'l O Helton Win
uiouse, .uaniei uneeK, oiepn. Ju?otnK,
H Critz. P H Cain, Dr Jam4Mc
Guire. D M Crenshaw, Dr James F
Martin and D M Furche3. '
The following resolution wasf read
and adopted : ' '
Resolved, That the Whigs in eaiS Cap
tain's District hold a meeting on iSji;V first
Saturday in June next to" appoint' did tfgatea
to meet in Mocksville, on Tuesday o( iouh
ty Court week, in June, for the purfjie Of
nominating a candidate for the H.Mise of
Commons. Also, to confer, with dogates
from Rowan County, to nominate aandi
date to represent this Senatorial DiJuriet in
the next Legislature. ; ' i '
Hon. N. Boyden being preset, ad
dressed the meeting. Mr. B'f i Style
is too well known throughout thj'jtate,
to require a minute account Ypf 'his
speech; ' Suffice it to say, he soke as
only Nathaniel Boyden can spDk.
His logical reasoning convincing the
judgment of the thinking portion, and
his sarcasm, withering the 'v?rdant
smiles of the democracy, equaled only
by the late frosts of spring.-
Mr. Bovden read the democratic
platform, and dissected and exposed
its rottenness, with the taciutyspi an
expert. He even showed that some
of their resolutions were not a6nuch
opposed to ad valorem ''as. 4iody
might think. But that the! only
opposed it because it was an Whig
measure, and they had not the-llionor
of originating it. They were iih favor i
ill. o.ucjr ncii. ui jaiui
cation as far as tppon
1 allow," that isibijj ev-
ot "Equal Tax
stitution would
ry thing but negroes, but wofitlr op
posed to ad valorem. One waif wee
die dum, the other tweedle deei-1
Mr. Boyden spoke about aniftpur.
His remarks were rather aUreptly
broken off by the impatience p the
Court; but Davie heard enojtgh to
convince her that ad valorem wafriffht.
Only let the State imitate her kam
ple in August, and North Carolina will
not only have ad valorem, butt-every
other Whig measure. Davie p is up
and at work, and will make heivmark
in August next. j f .
On motion, the proceeding! were
ordered to be sent to the Greei&boro
Patriot, Salisbury Watchman, ffedell
Express and Salem Press, forijfubli
cation. " '
The meeting then adjourned
SAM L A. HOBSOS, (jls'n.
A. A. Ha rbi x, Sec'y. j
An editor got shaved in a bfxber's
shop, last week, and offered thf i 'dar
key a dime, which was refused,; " be
cause," said he, 14 1 understand $ou is,
an editor !" iS I
" Well, what of it ?"
" We nebber charge editoni&jBii
"iiut such liberality
you.
" Oh, nebber mind ; we.makevjit up
off de gemmen !" , - '
'.i-
No Telling.
Truly there is nd telling what
of us may come to. We see it?M
:ated
tnat Richard 1L Johnson, , editor of
the Little Rock Tiyie Democrdt htu
actually been nominated for fi-nviirnnr
. of Arkansas ! What can thelirorld
be coming to when! editors will; -ttoop
to be Governors ! j Really it is Ktunii-
xating. A ewtxrn Progress. k
EHBEpE B. HAKE SON, "
EDITORS AMD PROPniETORS.
statesville;
FRIDAY, MAY 11, 1S60.
Our Terms.
TITl "IRETXEIX EXPRESS" b pobllih! mpoa fcfc4
tawfaf Turn, from which thr will 1 no 4eritlo.
8trtcribr thrfor will gown UmuelTM Meordiafly,
1 copy ! yer, If paid io dTnc, $100;
If paid within 3 month, - 2S j
If paid vititin months, ' ; i 3 60 1
UmtpftidtU)taiMtof tto rabacripttaa fMr, S 00,
Justice Demand lhalLUce Vklui in Stavtt
Should Pay, Equal Taxei with Lands andvth-
er taxable iroperty,
PEOPLE'STrCEB?r.
FOR GOTElCfOR,
JOHi POOL.
OF PASQUOTANK.
Called Term of the Superior Court.
Civil cases only will be tried at tbe called
Term to be held for this county commencing
18th June, and witnesses are required to at
tend without re-summon. See'advertisement.
a? The Baltimore Sun says, quite a num.
ber of counterfeit gold-dollars are In circula
tion. They can readily be detected by tut
word "Liberty," which is oa tbe genuine in
small letters on the Indian's head-dress
- la-ii .r ....
A fatal distemper is prevailing among the
cattle. in a portion of Massachusetts, near
Boston. The malady is as infectious aa the
small-pox, among the cattle, and a large
number, bad dad. To arrest its progress
many cat.tle were killed, but the disease con.
tinued spreading. Ten-thousand dollars bad
betn paid from the State treasury already, t6
compensate owners for the stock which was
destroyed in the effort made to stay the pro
gress of tbe distemper.
We learn that Mr. A.. S. "Fraley, a citiiea
of Rowan county, has been appointed mar
shal to take the Census in Iredell for 1800.
Mr. Fraley, has the merit of being Sn effici
ehr Democrat, which, do-doubt, got him the
appointment. Why was not the office, which
is worth some $700, conferred on J some De
mocrat who is a' ciliien of Ircdclll But if S
none of our buuinepg. j
w Mournful Calamity.!
A shocking accident occurred at Boykin's
mill pond, near Camden, S. C, on the 5th
instant. A party of young gentlemen and
ladies were in a flat-boat, fishing, when by
some accident the boat upset, and twenty-seven
persons, many of them Jadies, were drown
ed. Stopping1 tbe Mails.
We -have rarely, if ever known, a more ty
rannical and high-handed outrage commit
ted upon the public welfare, by the officials
at Washington, gross as many of their acts
have Jbeen for many years, than the late
stoppage of the mails upon the important
lines by railroads, in this State, which, has
materially damaged the public by deranging
commercial correspondence and arresting bu
siness intercourse. And we would say. in
few words, without the uee of mrited anath
emas, the blame lies at the door of Mr. Buch
anan and his inefficient Post-Master Gener
al Holt.
The Democrats of Lincoln, Gaston and
Catawba hare nominated Jasper Stowe for
the Senate. Mr. Stowe wasrecentSy a Know
Nothing candidate for Congress. The Dem
ocrats of Lincoln have nominated Capt. Jno.
F. Hoke for the Commons. Capt. Hoke
was also a Know Nothing.
. What has become of the oaths of Messrs.
Stowe, Hoke, Miller, and others that have
gi!ne over to Democracy? the oaths, that
were bindiug for life, according to the Stand
ard ? Perhaps Democracy, like the Pope,
can grant absolution ; and we couftss per
Jiaps. jt would be worth a much.
Charleston Democratic Convention.
As most personn anticipated would be the
case, the Democratic Convention which ass
embled in Charleston on the 23d April last,
after a stormy session of ten days divided
split, and adjourned; finally, without making?
a nomination 5 South Carolina, Florida, Al-
abama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Ark
anaas, and Delaware, would not swallow the
Little Giant, whom tbe Black Republican por
tion were eager to cram down their throat
so withdrew'and organised a Convention of
their own in another ball, and adopted a plat
form. After several days of parleying, both
divisions adjourned, with anvthinir thsn
friendly feelings for eack other : the Douglas .
wing which yet contains Georgia, North Car
olina, Virginia, Maryland and Tennessee, to
re-assemble in Baltimore on the 18th June ;
and the Seceders, to meet in Richmond tbs
11th June.
Alluding to the proceedings had in tjit
late Democratic Convection, the FarettevSls
Observer says: '
We hope our readers hare carefully ob
served tbe proceeding in this body of the
'National Democratic party so called. We
hare by no means copied all tbe hard things
they have said of each other, but only tbe
mure prominent items, xor instance, how
Delegate spoke with solemnity of the humili
ating spectacle of the most respectable men
of the party in New York provingconclusive-
iy on oath, tne truth or the untruth of every
material allegation on which the two sets df
Delegates contested the rights of each other
to seats. Again : how the most solemn ass
everation was made that the freesoil Demo
crats would never give up Squatter Sovereign
ty, bull further: bow tbe Northern Demo
crats were proclaimed to be worse than
tflaclt republicans. Yet again: now tne
Cincinnati Platform was denounced as aa
infamous swindle.' Finally : how a majorr
ity of Southern States seceded when theiinfa
maous swindle was again adopted by the Con
vention. .(We say nothing of the fights, the
profanity, and the rowdyism generally which
nave marked the conduct of these select men
of the party. I f these be the best what must
the others be?) i. . f
. Now these Southern gentlemen knew just
as well four years ago, when they adopted
the Cincinnati Platform, as now, that it was
an infamous swindle, upon a subject of vital
concern to the South. But or four years
they swore that it was all in good faith.
Who can place confidence in such men or
such a party? They exhibit neither nation
ality nor honesty. Whatever may be the re
suit of the division, whether it shall continue,
or peace be patched up for the sake of tbe
spoils and by means of . a new swindle, one
thing is clear, that the boasted nationality of
tbe party has no nationality in fact. It is a
j divided party, each section hating; and con
temning tne other. .
In this condition of tilings, conservative
men in all parta of the country will look to
the nominatioss of th Union Constitution si