The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-07-28
PAYING THE TAXES.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEWS.

TO TRk EDlIOh Oc LIE NCWSs
A good deal Of dissatisfaction exists about
the action OF the State Board Of Equalization,
in increasing the assessments made by the
County Assessors. No doubt there Is abun-
dsnt cause for 1t, in many instances. for even
admitting that in any county the general aver.
AGE value may be too low, there may exist
particular instances where lndlv1dnals nave
placed the very highest estimate upon their
property, and, Of course, great injustice would
be done to ali such in requiring OF them to
be embraced in additional value fixed by the
State Board OF Equalization, intended to e1-
cuse only those whose property may nave been
nnderestimated. No one will complain that
mistakes should be rectI6ed, il any have been
made. Ii taxes are to be paid at sll. the bur-
den should fall equally upon every cltl2en.
No one has, or will claim right to escape MS
fair share OF the expense OF the government
bv any mere bubble or legal subtlety. What
he desires to know is, whether his property
has besn fairly assessed, and the difficulty
with the taxpayer is, how strangers IN Colum.
bia can understand the value OF lands 30 well
as those who live in the counties where located;
aud they are naturally dissatisfied when they
have to suffer, as they suppose. rom tne 1ud8-
ment OF such an Incompetent tribunal.
The power OF correction ouRht.to exist some-
where, and the Legislature has conferred it
upon the Board Of Equalization. Beng strang-
ers to the SOIL, they can ouly act from compa-
rison of the returns in the several counties.
and such information as they may be able to
obtain as to particular localities. VI course
entirely satisfactory to themselves or any one
else. But, unless the County Assessors are
10 be omnipotent in their spheres, there ought
to be some controlling power, as much to re-
strain them in making overestimates ss un-
derest,m tes. It Is due 70 the cltizen that 40
mere subordinate ehoHl be allowedfo WELD q
rod of iron oE.r those whom the chance OF his
appointment has placed in his power, aud
against shom motives OF revenge might urge
him to commit the grossest injustice.
No such case has as yet occurred,
but, in the nature OF things, they
may be expected, and, therefore, ought
to be provided against. This can only be
done by establishing aslperNsory BOARD, ana
thio s what has been done, by vesting the
power iu the State Board OF Equal2stIon. In
the instances complained Of thera may exist
lust cause OF complaint against Its action. as
there frequently does IN the exercise OF the
human judgment BY other oftc1a!a.; But 30
far there is nothing to show tha. that board
has acted in bad islsh or with any evii purpose.
conferred upon it TO effect proposed object.
The citizen il entitled to equality IN the bur-
dens imposed upon him, and this board was
intended to secure Il. II, IN its ofRcisl acts,
there has BEEN error. the State Auditor has
solved the whole difficulty BY opening bis ONCE
10 appeals, and inviting all who feel them
selves Injured to make application there.
rrue, this may be tub thrown to the
whales-a bauble to divert public attention
from their complaints, by having Sprospect
OF relief-a promise made TO tbe ear and
broken TO the heart-a hope deferred, Rat may
amuse those who only catch at it to $e disap-
poioted; but thereis magic in ,'hyinr, andit
behooves ali who are convinced that the esti-
GENTLY high, totake the State Auditor at bis
word. and knock ct his door for juatce.
This 10 dlspassionate view OF the subject.
ut may be the only practicable one. It is bet
ter to look st the matter in its true Light. and
deal with it with the understanding and not
vita the passions. II the people do not avail
themselves of the door opened to them, the
been assessed 10 Columbia without being
heard. ] ct all, therefore, who iu .tly compisin,
offer the proof OF Il to the State Auditor. In
the manner he has directed. II that eftort
should be ,rren Of results, and the increased
assessment must be paid, according TO mis-
DECISION, then. what next? II resistance
is expected through the courts, then With
part Of the Board OF Equalization, 4 y not
likely their decision upon . point submittsd TO
them by the Legislature will be interfered
with. For they have Jurisdiction to decide
il, tie same that Q jury has 70 decide q ques-
ton OF fact, and although their decision may
seem to be unwise, yet II there is any evidence
in the -cise that would sustain 1t, 1t is their
privilege to decideit. upon their own estimate
Of such evidence. The judge might have deci-
ded differently, but he is obliged to respect
what the jury has done, in its own particular
province. Just 90 with the Board Of Equaliza-
ton, their decision will be final, unless 'cor-
ruption" can be traced to their proceedings.
SO much for resort to the courts. ANY
other resistance is revolutionary, and dspends
for its success upon the relative strength Of
dissatisfied individuals, and the whole power
Of the State and Federal governments. With
such prospect before us. any effort in that
direction will be utterly hopeless. and there
fore it will be best to take no steps that may
have to be retraced with disadvantage.
On this subject Of general interest these
views are respectfully offered for consideration
and reflection. aud not without that particular
interest N the subject which the writer, as
one Of che chief sufferers, is compelled to feel
tor himself as we'll as others-in the hope that
they may lead to something pracscll, and
save his fellow sufferers from the counsels OF
irr1sated feelings, rather than from their own
understandings. FACTS.