Southern standard., 1852-11-06
Increase Gf TaXatinn.

The reader will find in another column of this pa
per Special Message from his Exceency, H. S.
Foote, announcing the fact of deficit in the State
Treasury, and recommendation to increase the Taxes
''to the extent of twenty five fifty per centum We
understand that the deficit amounts now to about S6O
900, and that by the meeting of the legislature in
January 1854 it will swell to $l2OOOO or $I5O,OOO
Under the pressure of circumstances the legislature
raised the taxes and the people called upon to pay
an increased amount without, so far as we are now
informed, of having had opportunity of canvassing
the question, ofinqurng rto the causes that
have produced the expenditure of large surplus that
had accumulated in the Treasury during the past four
years.
1t is not our intention to 60 into a detailed state
ment of revenue law shall attempt to point
the character of the various expenditures which
have produced the deficit. 1t is necessary to say that
in opinion, the expenditures could have been re-
duced by prudent legislation point thatwouId have
rendered the necessity ofncreasing the Taxes useless
We are inclined to the opinion that there has been
improvidence manifested by past legislatures in this
State, and there is time for the people to be-
thoroughly informed not only as to the present
SYSTEM but also in regard to the character
various expenditures of the public money, we shall
them, may deem useful in coming to correc,
understanding Oft the whole subject.
; We cannot appreciate that system Of legislation
which, in State so richly blessed is in
government the most simple, that draws upon the la
Dor the people without better and more equitable
recompense than is yielded here. Our State govern
ment expenses were amply provided for by. the late
revenue law and know that the Taxes assessed ant
collected under that law threw into the Treasury al
annual surplus Of some thousands dollars thar
the current demands on the State required How
happens that this surplus is exhausted and deman
for an increased Tax recommended and voted are tn
questions for the people to examine and decide on
But this is not ALL We find the Treasury bankrup
now-that it is absolutely necessary to increase tn
Taxes to meet present and future bankruptcy. o.
last Tuesday the question put to the people of tn
State whether they would submit to be Taxed to pa
0 the bonds sold by the Planters Bank. We have n
doubt but the people affirmed the question, and by
doing have consented increased Tax for that pu1
;, pose. We have made no estimate what the increas
ed Tax necessary to this would be, but presum
it will range from twenty-five thirty per cent upo
the late revenue standard. We shall have then. i
addition to the recent increase an additional increas
to meet the demands the State Treasury to liqu
J. date the Planters Bank bonds. The Tax payers ma
find in this state ofthings degree of consolation tha
It we unable to discover. We are not an alarms
e but tits well enough to look at these questions witt
q out blinking them. And the people have an inte
est in them, and have in the end to foot the b the
had better inquire into the facts and ascertain if ther
is no remedy against such squandering and profigat
habits.
- The old standard of Taxation in this State was OF
erous enough before and if it shall be advanced ff
per cenum former rates, it will become oppres
a i've upon the people. There seems now to be no hel
for it, for the advance in part has been voted and
n less there shall be some means resorted to beyor
rk that made public, the people will be called on
C. submit to further advance of twenty-five or fifty p,
W centum tax.