The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-02-25
(COMMUSICATED.)
CoMMUNlCATED)
The Taxes-What Becomes of the Monauo

(coMMuSIcATED)
The Taxes-What Becomes of the Money2
Or. Editor An anecdoto was told me by
an old Minister Of the Gospel, who had wide
reputation as an original thinker, and rs it is
opposite to my subject. | shall take the liberty
of repeating it as reason for these remarks.
lie said that on one occasion whilst attending
a meeting of con ference in--, he passed sew.
eral times day by a certain house from which
issued succession ofpeculiar sounds which he
did not remember ever having heard before at
hrst he thought they proceeded from some ma
eh'hery at work but rs lie could think of nothing
which produced such unusual sounds at irreg-
ular intervals of time, and his curiosity being
excited he determined to satisfy it and walked
INTO the mouse; and to his astonishment he found
man practicing Oh the fiddle u ka Paganini.
"heh he placed his finger on the string the
sound fec was produced aud rolonced until it
was removed. which being done he sounded
la'o a" hd"'m. Notwithstanding the ridcu-
'ous hyure of the man, nnd the discordant note
OF his instrument it set the CLERGYMAN TO think
ing that all great reforms moral, social and no.
''t'ea'' are began if not effected by playing on
one string. and he came to the conclusion TINT
even preaching itsclf-he spoke seriously and
respcctfu!ly--was a &" fee faw Lusiacs."-,hat
only two changes could be sounded upon tb.
all important subject Of mans salvation. 7
give his own remarks and am not responsible
for them. but concur III the opinion that poli..
lc"l reforms are frequently brought about bv
Keeping the questions ringing in the ears" OF
the people. by playing upon the one striri.,
howevcrit may shock the musica al taste ofsome
persons
In v"nr issue of--I noticed conmuui.a-
ton over the signature of Tax Payer" which
was glad to see; to keep up the figure, it is a
very appropriate prelude to what we NAV ex-
pect to hear from the people upon the subject
OF taxes. The facts and figures af the writer
prove him to be practical man, and familiar
with his subject and unless am mistaken he
has touched string which will vibrate
throughout the entire District The things COM
Piaihcd OF are amongst ourselves; We can see
and feel them, they extend to every ina n,s
pocket. l am now one Of those who npprove
of paying public officers for their servic 60 md
of holding them To a strict accountability; and
all public men from the law maker, to tn. hum.
blest executive of the laws are public servants
and rs such their public acts are proper subjects
on suitable occasions for nnimadversion. The
time Tor the ANIMAL visit Of the yathcrcr
has come nnd we wait to know why the take,
of this year are higher than the last, and what
becomes of the money.
From the report Of the Comptroller General
submitted to the last session Of the Lcpislnture
it appears that Abbeville District paid into the
Treasury of the State SIT ,23o II and a District
tax OF Sli, i,6ll.53-only s2.627 SO less to the
District than the entire tax for the support OF
the State government Edgefcld District which
pail to the State ssl ,3ol.9s only paid Dig
trct tax of st.9l6GU. The people Of fAbbeville
District are willing to be taxed. but they wish
to see the money julicously applied-ast
year We pail nearly $lU,OuO for Roads and
bridges. and such Roads anil Bridges, ,-com-
tnent Is unnecessary. We pnid more than So
900 public building tax-for what and owe,
s3,OuO poor tax, in nll nearly 90 per cent upon
lie State tax what we are assessed this year, |
cannot guess. The whole system is wrong.
AS to the commissions allowed the Treas
urers of the Boar'ls-although they may Je
greatly dispr"portioneJ to the labor or respon
sibility. yetit is small umtter compared with
an iEjudicious disbursement of the public mo.
ncy besi.les "the law allows it, and we award
it" would strike at higher game. The Leg.
isature in its wisdom may vote thousands of
dollars to build monument to State pride ~
but withhold the means to complete lust
work of interval Improvement, it may discuss
the proprlcty of re-openng the African slave
trade, and appropriate two cents day to
educate its chldren-it may consume time in
considering abstract questions of foreign policy
but has no time to correct the evils at home
it may do many other things, the wisdom
| OF which we cannot see, bat we doubt they
are wise-these things are however, for the
present "pnst redemption We will continue
to respect all IN authority and pay our taxes
but are determined to know what becomes o.
the money.
Allow me before I close, to say that heart
lily approve and endorse the resolutions pass
ed at public meeting at Mllway, and hope
similar meetings may bc held and resolution.
passed in every portion ofthe District 1t is 8
move in the right direction.
A CLOD HOPPER.