The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1868-07-15


lst Of October, 1867,
was..- ..-...... 454,3O2. 2a
Making a total Of. $665, ,493. .OG
This includes ofBills Re-
ceivableS222,0OO,
which had been sign
ed, clipped and carried
to cash, pursuant to
the provisions of the
Act of S65, authoriz.
ing their Issue. The
expenditures during
the same period were. $474,453.37
Leaving on the lst of
October, 1867, a cash
balance in the Treasu.
ry OF. -. .l91, ,039.6 60
The report Of the Treasurer, made to
this Department and hereby transmitted,
shows the operations Of the Treasury
from the lst day of October, 1867, to
the lst day Of May, 1868.
From tins statement it
will be perceived that
OH the lst Of October,
the balance Of cash on
hand was. .slol, ,o3o.e9
The total receipts of the
Treasury fr ON all
sources since that time
has been. 3O3, ,3s7,73
Which, added to the cash
on hand, ma1c the
available means Of the
Treasury .494, ,427 42
The total expenditure
during the same period
mas been - 39S,SSll6 6
Leaving OH the lst day
OF May, a cash bal
ance in the Treasury
or. 95, ,546.26
This amount will be materially redu-
ccd during the month Of May by the
presentation Of claims against the Treas
ury for payment before the expiration
Of the term of the present administra-
tion.
1t will be observed, from the report
Of the Treasurer, that the Convention
levied tax which it was supposed
would realize the sum. of S75,OOO.-
Sufficient returns have not been receiv.
ed rom tho various tax-collectors of the
State to enable him to say whether the
calculation will prove correct. The
actual sums drawn from the Treasury,
by order Of Major.General Candy, to
defray the expenses Of tho Convention,
amount to $4,000, which is an ex-
pendlture of $500 more than was
provided for by tho tax bill ofthe Con.
vention, assuming that said bill raised
the estimated amount.
BY the Act of December, 1865, an.
thorty was given to the Treasurer and
Comptroller General to issue $500, 900
Of Bills receivable. These officers
found that it was not necessary to print
more than were embraced in the first
contract with the engravers, to wit:-
$390,O00. Ofthis sum only $222, 900
have been signed and carried to cash in
the Treasury. On the lst day of Mag,
1868, there was outstanding and in cir.
culation of these Bills Receivable only
$l35, 687.
TAXES AND TAXATION.
No duty is ever devolved upon tho legis-
lator involving such delicate and ramified
interests as that which lookS to the creation
Of just and equitable system of taxation.
It is m accepted truth In political eoono-
my, that In levying taxes upon the people,
1t should be done in manner which will
II -. l. ..ss I.
est facility, aud WITHOUT unnecessary op-
precision. The sudden change In the system
Of labor which has prevailed in South Caro-
lima for so many years; the destruction OF
more than one. half Of the estimated wealth
Of the State by the abolition Of slavery ; the
devastation Of cities, towns, villages, farms
and homesteads, by the ravages Of war, and
by invading and retreating armies; the
disastrous drought which existed through
out the State In 1865, outing of almost
entirely tho cotton and greatly reducing the
provision crop, thereby rendering 1t neces-
sary to purchase large supplies from abroad
for the subsistence Of the population the
great reduction, in many sections Of the
State, Of the cotton crop Of 1867, by the
spoliation of the caterpillar and boil worm (;
and the pressure of debts contracted anteri>
or to tha war, when the basis Of wealth and
credit was 90 essentially differont from that
which exists at the present time, admonisf
us tbat the people Of South Carolint
are unable 70 bear o burden OF taxatior
which, prior to the accumulation OF these
misfortunes, would have been deemed mode
rate and inoonbiderable. Whether, there
fore, you look to the contentnaent of Til,
population, or the material rospsr;ty Of th
State, II is tho dictate Of wisdom that vol
should exercise the most rigid economy an,
reduce expenses by ourtailing salaries an
dispensing with ell appropriations no. ahso
lptely necessary to the administration o
the State government.
The taxation OF the present and preced
ing year has been subject matter Of grsa
complaint. The largo number Of tracts .