Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-05-15
FOR THE ADVERTISER.
CAN SOUTH CAROLINA MAINTAIN. AN INDE.
PENDENT GOVERNMENT? ~,

l...
They, who support the negative side: Of this
question, urge many matters by way Of argument,
all Of Which may be classcd under, these two
heads:
First, That revenue for the new government
cannot be raised without the most burdenous tax
alton upon the people. "a ~
Secondly, That the State viii not have size
and strength sufficient to maintain rcspectabli,y
among the nations Of the earth, or to protect her
self against the aggressions of Der neighbors:
Let us briefly examine theae points. What
will be our probable revenue under a separate
govcrnmenta Something Ike fair estimate
may be made, by considering the amount We
contribute annually TO the General Government,
and to private individuals a; the North. The an
nual exports from South Carolina are, ffom
twelve to fourteen millions of dollars In unrc-
strictcd trade or commerce, the imports of ana-
ton always equal and often exceed il, value its
exports; and hence, under the 80 per cent.
Tariff in operation, our imports, or, Which
raj government an annual revenue of about.
S4,0O0,O00. But according to the estimate Of
accurate writer's, the use of our exports by North
ern Merchants as medium of exchange be-
tween this country and Europe, givcs TO North
crn citizens profit of 10 per cent. on our cx-
ports. This takes from the State annually about
Sl,2O0,0OO. Add to this the profits of North
crn Merchants, from commissions, freights, stor-
age, wharfage, &C., in the shipment and tran-
shipment, to and from New York, Of our ,cx-
ports and imports-an the whole amount year.
y taken from South Carolina industry and added
to Northern wealth will not be less than 81, 500
000 Of this large amount, not 100000 are
Reimbursed wthil the limits of the State.
Nearly the whole is clcarloss. For moro than
twenty years this draining process has been 60
ing on. and not less, probably, than lOO,000,O00
of South Carolina wealth have, under the unjust
operations of the government, been transferred
to the North Had this money been expended !,
within the limits Of our State, how like garden
spot it might have been, adorned with Schools, :
Colleges, Rail Roads, and all kinds Of internal
improvements! CO % 1.I5iz E-a' Jiik so
With a separate government these s5,5oO,ooo,"
now transferred to ,lieEsN ortB, wonld be kept
within our own borders. This scarcely admitss
Of doubt It is aFssatled principle m Po1fcaI
Economy-indeed, tits certain law Of trade;
that imports, freed from artificial restrictions,
will always follow exports. Our s12, ,Oo0,oOoof
exports would as surely bring us sl2, 100000 Of
imports (and if our trade be profitable, a larger
amount) as the 100 bales Of Cotton sent TO mar
ket by the planter, return to him their equivalent
in money, merchandise, &c. Under the present
Tariff, then, we should have a revenue of about
$4,000,000. And if our citizens should en-
gage in the carrying trade Gas they surely would)
it would keep within our limits nearly s6,0o0,000
every year, which arc now most unjustly taken
from the State and distributed at the North. nag
1t is worthy of remark, also, that while re-
tanning the present Federal Tariff of 30 per cent.
we would scarcely feel the oppression; for the
revenue would be reimbursed among our. own
citizens and would be a spur to their industry.
Taxes become odious and oppressive, mainly,l
when they are levied in one section and dislribu-
ted in another, or when taken from one interest
and bestowed on another, as now happens under
the Federal Govcrnmt Should circunistan-
ccs then, force US to keep up the present Tariff
rates, We should be every year, s6,O00,000 bet;
ter off, with not half the oppression we now bear.
But topursuc the argument. viii not 81 ,000-f
600 much more than suffice for the expenses Of a
separate government for South Carolina? We
have now one Of the best governments in the
world. For its support, only 100000 are re-
quisitc. This is raised by direct taxation upon
the people. Let US now calculate the additional
expenses Of the new government. We will use,
what every one, on reflection, must deem large
estimates. The following table will serve to in;
dicatc: "og..-r -,
Present expenses of State Government, including
whole Civil List. 100000
Under the new Republic l5,U00'
Cabinet of four Secretaries and Clerks $4,000
Charge d'Afars and Consuls (twelvo ~ .r.,r
in nunlber) .................y $4,000,
Post Office Department. ..........., $4,000
Military Establishment. ;. .......... 100000
Naval do ............ 100000
Total. ....... ......... sl,565,oOO,
Some may regard the last three items insults
cient. But analyze the matter. The whole cost
of the mails in South Carolina, annually, Is slaot
600 [Pat. OF. Rep.l It will be seen by eaamno
ing the Congressional Documents that the Post
Office Department usually supports ITSELF For
tho ,.eor ond;no June 80. 1850, the receipts