Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1868-07-24

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however spcoious it may sccm, 40 v
,troys itself by proving too much Tor ~ III t
al republics tho majority must rule, and as
The majority arc always non property hoiderS'
or az individuals pay least Of the taxes, 1T iol
lows. under tho argument allcdgcd, that the
verv basis of our republican system should bo
o.nunped. Who tho capitalist may justly
dcolare that no should not be made tho SUB
;ect of unreasonable cxaotions, as upon h's
can;tal dopond tho creation of great public ana
nrivntc enterprises, and tho cmployment Oh
labor in cvory pursuit in life; yet the WORKING
masscs-tho agrculturist and tho mechanic
may. with no less justice, assert tnae oy
thc;r labor and skill capital is mu!t'phcd
through all the varied forms OF proauc'ion
and trade, and that they are the bone ana s.n
CIV of the State in peace and war, anu s,'!o
therefore receive their due share IN lts ao'ulh'
istration. u, ,f thoso
claims. it is your delicate and important ouIs
eU o,,tornr;sc " Of the capitalist shall not be de-
rrcsscl bv imposing upon him unduo burdens,
rtah;,o at The same time every class OF real ana
nersonnl property shall be required to aia II.
thc sunport of tho State, and in sustaining
tLo institutions that it's condition demands,.-
n his vo,, will be guided by Section 10, Ar'
,;n,o Of our State Constitution, which &C.
c,arns n That call property subject to taxation
I'LL ho taxed in proportion to It's value
1tach individual Of society has right to be
-,rotcctcd in the enjoyment Of life, liberty and
proncrtv. according to standing laws. lic
sshop]1 therefore, contribute his share to tho
expense of his protection"
It is proper for me here to call your attch
u tion to the fact that under recent decision
3 of the Supreme Court of tho United states
IS national bauks, within the limits OF the state
7, are subject to Statcqsxaion; VI lie the prop
u crty of railroad companies, municipalities am
all other corporations VIII DC eh'oFac'o =
y Tour general tax bill >,
le invite your attention to Article of tn
II Honst;tu,ion. which provides that "Thc Ger
ct oral Assembly shall provide by law for un
- form and equal rate Of assessment and tax
iy ton" and defines the powers Of tho corp
all rate authoriticsof countless cities, towns, &e
vc and authorizes them to assess and collect ta
ID -. f,r corroratc purnasns Tha assoseod v'
= uc Of ono hundred and twenty nine millio
seven hundred and scyentv ttyHhr ttyHhrv vfbiSns tdo
'Haac andS.l cs !. !sSrlal interest OF the pcoplo
during the pnst seven years, yet it serves to
indicate that with every allowance for tho
known reduction in market value of our real
estate, that even upon minimum assessment
OF values, it will form an important basis of
taxation and Of the financial resources Of tho
State.
COUNTY TREAsuR ERs AND AUDITORS
In this connection I would recommend that
the General Assembly will provide by law for
tho creation Of tho Offices Of County Treasurer
and County Auditor, to be appointed in such
IN, manner as your honorable body shall direct.
These officers should be placed undor ample
bonds for tho safc-kccpng and faithful return :
OF all moneys of tho State and County that
may at any time como into their possession
The County Auditors will bo the olorks of tie 6
sevora! Ronrds of County Commissioners, and
will mako up and audit the accounts between
tho county and tho tax payers and the State. ] ,
and examine and countorsign the necessary
drafts upon tho County Treasurcrs. III
DIVISION or TIE COUNTIES :
l respectfully recommend that you will pro- q
yide Mt your present session for tho division of i
tho larger counties Of tho State. According i
70 thc United States ccnsus Of 1869, South
Carolina has al area Of twenty four thousand
hvo hundred 24,500) square miles, with 9
population of seven hundred and three thous. {.
> ~ N.'.u'Su "iiu eibhI \ \iOO, iUS,) or +
near fiftcen (l5) persons to the square milo. !;
AS the State is divided into thirty-ono (3Dl
counties, these figures show that the average |.
arca of our counties is about eighteen hundred =
(l300) square miles In the present condi. :
ton of our public roads, with many of the =
streams unbridgcd and with the few facilities .
Tor travelling possessed by the most of our y
people, tho great distance of tho county scat !,
md records, from those living upon tho bor- !,
tor of one Of those large counties, entails tho
most serious Inconvenience upon them
In Wow Of the necessity of a new geo
graphical subdivision Of the State, article Q. !,
section 3, of the Constitution, provides "that \
'hc Gcncral Assembly shall have the power at ;
my time to organize new counties by chang. l
NJ the boundaries of any of tho old ones II
ut 10 ncW county shall DO hereafter formed u
f less extent than six hundred and twenty II
i've square miles nor shall any existing coun-
los be reduced to less cxtont than six hun
lrcd and twenty-five square miles. Each Il
oanty shall constitute one election district" .
suggest that six hundred and twenty-five a.
625) square miles, ortwcnty (2O) townships -
20 made tho maximum area ofsany now coun - -
3 that may be hereafter formed - -
PUBLIC ROADS AND BRIDGES. y.
In view Of tho very bad condition of our !
public road and bridges, | Recommend that u
Jonorol Aasomhlv will nroviln nv law fnr Tho VI