Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1844-12-04

ces, during the past year, amounts to three
hundred and six thousand eight hundred &
thirty-one dollars and sixty three cents,
(S306.8Sl 63). The expenditures during
the same period have reached the sum Of
hreehuudred and forty y-seven thousand
seven hundred aud four dollars and sixty
three cents, tS347,704 63); of which.
however, ffty-six tllonsand four hundred
and eighty three dollars and seventy-three
cents, (S56, ,4S3 73), have been applied TO
the reduction Of the pricipa! Of The public
debt The curren, Income has therefore
exceeded the ordinary expenses of The
State by The sum of fifteen thousand six
hundred and ten dollars aud twenty-,hree
cents, (Sl5,6l0 23). The balance in The
Treasury at The close Of the year, Ga por
ton of il however, subject TO undrawn ap-
propriations) amounted to seventy thou
sand FIVE hundred and six dollars and
finy-nine cents, (S70,506 59), 10 which
may be added about eight thousand dol
lars, being The unexpended balance OF The
contingent funds placed in The hands Of
the Executive.
The direct taxes levied and collected
for The use of the State, amounted this
year 10 two hundred and seventy
thousand live hundred and sixty.lwo dol
lars aud forty cents, (S277.562 40). And
during the same period there has been also
collected from the people the additional
sum of one hundred aud one thousand
four hundred and twenty eight dollars and
ninety-lwo cents, ($l0l,428 92); and du.
ring the year 1913, one hundred and three
thousand seven hundred and tweniy-nine
dollars and ninety-two cents. (Sl02,729
92), or about all average of thirty seven
per cent. of the Stale taxes annually,
which has been assessed by the Commits
sioners of The Poor, Of Public Buildings,
and Of Roads and Bridges, in the different
Districts. Ihave had accurate accounts
kept of the taxes thus levied and collected
for these years, that [ might apprize you
Of their great amounr, aud call your at,en
ton TO The propriely Of providing fer a
more strict accountability for their appro-
priation than has been hitherto exacted.
These Commissioners have been required
to report, some of them 10 The Comptroller
General, and some 10 the Clerks of the
Courts, aud account with them for the
monies received and .expended; but ! am
not aware that il is regularly done. Ifit
was required of the Commissioner to pub.
lish such reports, and circulate them lhro'
their respective District, so that the people
might be informed Of the purposes to
which their money was applied, ii would
: be nothing more than is proper, and con-
sisteDl with the spirit of our institutions.
lti The right of every cilizen,o know for
what he IS taxed tojudge OF the proprie.
~ of il; aad to be assured that the money
has been used with discretion and econo-
my. And it is right which cannot be
100 jealously watched over.
! recommended to the last Legislature
to take speedy and effective measures for
The payment Of the public. debt, then a
mounting 10 three and half millions of
dollars, S3,500,000,) the interest on
which, including charges. exceeded one
hundred and ninety thousand dollars per
annum (SI90,0o6) proposed that The
Bank of the State should be directed
toredeemit,tat The rate OF FIVE hundred
thousand. dollars year. An act was
passed requiring The Bank to provide for.