The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-07-22
GOV. scoTT,s LETTER, ABOUT THE TAXES


erhanating from the Executive Department Of this
State, has naturally enough excited much comment
upon the individual holding the reins of govern
ment, and who styles himself Governor of South
Carolina. These comments are various, and lead
one to suppose that his Excellency has raised quite
atempest with his pronuneiamento on the subject
of taxes We shall endeavor to do him justice,
but do not propose to enter into any long argu-
ment to prove that the taxes of Anderson county
were already sufficiently high, before the State
Board of Equalization added the fifty per cent
Individual cases there may be in which the argu-
ment of Gov ScoTT and his clan could be applied,
namely, that the property was valued at lower
price than the owner would receive in full pay
ment for his property. But the wholesale charge
that the people Of South Carolina were set of
periurers and scoundrels without exception, is too
weak and puerile to need refutation In order to
defraud the State in this universal style it were ne
csssary that the tax-payers; assessors and County
Boards of Equalization should in perfect league
against "the powers that be-" and surely Gov.
ScoTT will not make so reckless and damaging a
charge upon his own party, for in many instances
theoffcials belonged to the simon-pure Republi-
cans. This is particularly true of the lower coun-
try, where the highest per centum has been added.
What, then, is the motive of the State Board of
Equalization in raising the valuation of property
so far beyond the sworn returns of the assessors
and the revision of the County Boards? Gov.
ScoTT be it remembered, is member of the State
Board, and had the appointment of four other
members. His policy certainly controlled its &C
ton. The motive is plainly apparent, for ScoTT
insists that we are lightly taxed and ought not to
grumble. Suppose that the valuation of property
had remained as left by the County Boards, what
would become of this declaration Undoubtedly,
South Carolina would stand before the world as
being oppressively taxed under the mild admins
tration of this Ohio carpet-bagger and this would
be easily explained by his political opponents.
But as the case now stands, ScoTr is aggressive.
and boldly charges that the taxpayers are all
Williams of the deepest dye, fer making false re-
turns 10 the assessors, whilst these officials are in
excusably inefficient and inexperienced. The as
rate of taxation, based upon his conviction that
the real value of the property if The assessors had
/ done their duty honestly and fearlessly, would
have amounted to $780, 100000 is wholly gratuit-
GUS, as there is no shadow of foundation fer the
statement that the total value Of the property
could be made to- reach. such figure: Whist does
| Gov. SCOTT OF any other member of the State
!; Board know in regard to the relative value Of
lands in diferept portions of the State? None of
them have been sufficiently long within its bor-
ders to become acquainted with the character of
the soil, except in few isolated localities. They
are not "to the manor born," and SCOTT himself
admitted few months ago, upon being interroga-
! ted as witness under oath, that he had never
traversed the State. But, nevertheless, his supe
ror knowledge as to the necessities of the present
State government, enables him to make this sweep
ing denunciation of the people, and declare to the
world that their returns are nearly one hundred
per cent below the actual value of their property
His declaration, too, that few of the owners would
consent to sell their lands at the present valuation,
is none the less unfounded. We have no doubt
that Gov. ScoTT or any other person might pur-
chase the entire State for the fixed by him, if
the lands were offered for sale. We could cite q
number of instances, within our own knowledge,
of real estate being returned at the price obtained
last fall at private sale, aud to this add fifty per
cent. and where is the man who would not accept
such profit?
The present system Of taxation, Gov. ScoTT al
leges, was expected to give dissatisfaction. This
is entirely erroneous, and is another swrewd dodge
of the Governor to place the blame upon the peo-
pie. We have talked with hundreds about the
taxes, and we have never heard man complain
against the system. It is the mean and unprin-
cipled action of the State Board which has created
dissatisfaction in raising the assessment by an ar
btrary rule, and on the suppostion that every
taxpayer had committed perjury in returning his
property. This is the true ground of complaint,
and will ring in Gov. Scorr's ears 80 long as he
remains away from his place OF residence in Ohio.
But we will not examine any other of the false
declarations contained in this indictment against
the white people of South Carolina. Gov. ScoTT
concludes, in his usual manner, by threatening his
political opponents. According to the theory Of
his letter. ScorV is the government, and any at
tempt to emberrass him by the interpositon of the
courts are factious. The old notion of the gov
ernment embracing three departments, execu-
tive, legislative and Judicial, is wholly exploded,
in ScoTTs opinion. He is the government, and
the Legislature will be convened, if necessary,
in order that he may ride over the judi
ciary. Laws enacted at his bidding will be
promptly enforced, it may be with the "melist." F"
What degraded, forlorn condition! The Cover
nor of State, in this free and enlightened Repub
lic-God save the mark threatening to use force
in the event that citizens resort to the Courts,
quiet and peaceably to obtain their rights and re-
dress their wrongs. How true that the palladium
of liberty has been trailed in the dust
A word of advice to the people in regard to