Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, 1851-08-04

in South Carolina.
The question is often asked, can South Ca
rolna maintain an independent Government!
They, who support the negative side of this
question, urge many matters by way of argu.
ment, all of which may be classed under these
two heads: 80 g
First, That revenue for the new government
cannot be raised without the most burdeEous
taxation upon the people.
Secondly, That the State will not have size
and strength sufficient to maintain respectable
ty among the nations of the earth, or to pro
tect herself against the aggressions ofher neigh
bors
Let us briefly examine these points. What
will be our probable revenue under a separate
governments Something like fair estimate
may be made, by considering the amount we
contribute annually to the General Govern
ment, and to private individuals at the North.
| The annual exports from South Carolina are,
| from twelve to fourteen millions OF dollars. In
unrestricteG trade or commerce, the imports
of a nation always equal and often exceed in
value its exports; and hence, under, the 80
per cent. Tariff now in operation, our i'm
ports, or, which is the same thing, ourtexports,
huu W NSicidl NOScTIIlileUl I'LL iSf-
enue of about S4000,000. But according to
the estimate Of accurate writers, the use of our
exports by Norther Merchants as a medium OF
exchange between this country and Europe,
gives to Northern citizens profit of 10 per
cent. on our exports This takes from the
State annually about 81 100000. Add to this
the profits of Northern Merchants, from CON-
missions, freights, storage, wharfage, &C., in
the shipment and transhipment, to and from
New York, of our exports and mports-and the
whole amount yearly taken from South Caro-
lima industry and added to Northern wealth,
will not be less than S5,000,00O. OF this large
amount, not 100000 are reimbursed within
the limits of the State. Nearly the whole is a
clear loss. For more than twenty years, this
draining process has been going OH, and not
less, probably, than Sl00,000,000 of South
Carolina wealth have, under the unjust opera
tons Of the government, been transferred to the
North. Had this money been expended with
| in 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
With separate government these S5,0O0,-
900, now transferred to tho North, would be
kept within our own borders. This scarcely
admits of doubt. 1t is settled principle in
Political Economy-iudeed it is a certain law
Of trade-that imports, freed from artificial re-
strictions, will always follow exports. Our
Sl2 900 900 Of exports would rs surely bring
rs $l2 2,0U0,0 900 Of Imports (art il our trade be
profitable, Il larger anlouut) as the 100 bales
Of Cotton sent to market by the planter, return
to him their equivalent in merchandise, &C.
Under the present Tariff, then, we should have
4 revenue Of about SI,000,000 And il our
citizens should engage in the carrying trade
las they surely woald) it would keep within
our limits nearly S5,0O0,O0O every year, which
are now most unjustly taken from the State
and distributed at the North
1t is worthy of remark, also. that while re-
tanning the present Federal Tariff Of 80 per
cent we would scarcely feel the oppression !;
for the revenue would be reimbursed among
our own citizens, and would be IA spur to their
industry. Taxes become odious aud oppres-
sive, mainly, when they are levied in one Sec
ton and distributed in another, or when taken
from one interest and bestowed on another, as
now happens under the Federal Government
Should circumstances, then, force US to keep
up the present Tariff rates, we should be every
year, S5,000,000 better off, with not halt the
oppression we now bear.
But to pursue the argument. Will not S4,-
100000 much more than suffice for the expen'
ses of a separate government for South Caro-
lina9 We have now one of the best govern.
ments in the world For Its support, only
$500 900 are requisite This is raised by dI-
rect 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 indicate:
Present expenses of State Government,
including whole Civil List S3OOOOO
Under the new Repubc-President $4,000
Cabinet of four Secretaries and Clerks 'ooo
Charge d'Afairs and ConsuIs az IN
| nunber) oo'ooo
Poet Office Donortment 50,00O
Military Establishment doo'ooo
N.v,I 100000
Total @l''o''ooo
Some NAV regard the last three items lnsuffl'
cicnt But analyze tho matter; lhe whole
cost of the mails in South Carolina, annually,
is $4,000 ['rreas'r Rep 1t will be seen by
examining the Congressional Documents that
the Post Office Department usually supports
ITSELF For the year ending June 80, 1850, the
receipts wero $5,552,97l the expenditures
S5,2l2 ,953; making an excess OF receipts ovcl