The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1866-12-06

es, carriages, buggies, all horses not used
for agricultural purposes, pianos, playing
cards, etc., upon the capital stock ct all
incorporated companies, including rail
roads not exempted by law from taxa
tion, legacies, distributive shares in intes-
tate estates, pistols, bowie-knives, patent
medicines, and the gross profits of bro
kers, factors and banking corporations.
The taxes heretofore imposed on express,
telegraph, gas light and insurance COM
panies may be very materially increased
as these companies are realizing large
profits on their several investments.
All public officers, who, by law, have a
seal, should be required to affix stamp,
in value from fifty cents to two dollars,
regulated by their value or importance,
on all papers where the seal is used, the
party procuring the paper being required
to reimburse the officer for the same.
And lastly, o tax should be levied on,
all salaries and incomes exceeding five
hundred dollars.
A Tax Bill embracing these new fea-
lures would raise sum abundantly suff-
cient to meet all the current wants Of the
State, and provide for the gradual re-
demption of the public debt. The pay
ment of taxes thus levied would fall prin-
cipally upon the wealthy and those whose
employments yield them ready cash, and
would occasion comparatively little in.
convenience to the taxpayer.
Heretofore, the interest on the public
debt has been paid by the Bank of the
State of South Carolina, but it's loss Of
assets, growing out of the war, together
with its large outstanding circulation,
precludes the possibility Of relying fur
thor upon it, and the debt, principal and
interest, must bo met by taxation.
The Treasurer, with the assistance of
an additional clerk, can pay out, in future,
all claims from his own counter; and ]
recommend that an appropriation be
made to meet the salary of such clerk,
and that the Bank be discontinued as the
fiscal agent of the State.
The loss of assets, and the imposition,
by the general banking law of Congress,
of SO heavy tax on the circulation of
all other than National Banks, makes it
manifest that the Bank of the State Of
South Carolina can never resume busi-
ness; and recommend that its charter
be revoked or declared forfeited, and its
books, papers and assets put in the hands
of Commissioners for as early liquidation
as may be practicable.
THE PUBLIC DEBT.
The Governor states, principal and in
terest, ut S5,2Ol, ,277.74, exclusive of the
war debt.
THE PURCHASE OF CORN.
Pursuant to the resolution of 2lst>Sep-
tember last, passed by the General AS
sembly, appointed Colonel d. Wyatt
4 Aiken Agent of the State to make pur
chases of corn. Having satisfied himself
fully that the double restriction imposed
in the resolution rendered it impossible
to effect purchases, he declined the ap-
pointment. I concurred fully in his con-
! clusion, that the double restriction rom
dered the whole scheme nugatory, and l
have not, therefore, appointed another
Agent. The resolution required that three
hundred thousand dollars of bonds should
purchase and deliver in the State three
| hundred thousand bushels of corn. 1t is
reasonably certain that the bonds could
not have been sold for more than seventy
cents to the dollar, and corn could not be
purchased in any market, and delivered,
at one dollar per bushel The CORES
pondence between Colonel Aiken and
myself is herewith communicated.
The grain crop of the State has been
gathered, and you are better prepared
now. than at tho extra session, to deter
mine the deficiency, and what will be
needed to supply the absolute wants OF
the poor. When you have fixed the
amount, the grave question arises, how
are you to supply the funds to purchase
it2 The feverish and unsettled condition
of public affairs has not tended to appre-
ciate the credit of the Southern States (;
and if the purchase Of large amount of
breadstufs, for distribution among the
poor is to be effected by the sale OF State
bonds, it can only be accomplished at a
ruipous discount. The question is earn
estly commended to your grayest delib-
Grafton.
/ The firm of Browne & Schirmer, grain
merchants of Charleston and Columbia,
have made proposition to furnish corn,
and have requested me to lay it before
you. They propose that, if the State
Shall advance to them twenty-five thou
sand dollars, which they will give, ap-
proved security to refund, they will en-,
gage to furnish sixty thousand bushels OF
corn per month, to be sold at actual cost,
with transportation and two-and-one-
half per cent. commissions added, to the
citizens of the State; invoices to be sub
mitted to commissioners, and the corn to
be subject to inspection by the commits
sioners or by an agent If larger
amount should beSnceded monthly, that
!, larger amount will be furnished, upon