The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-08-11
THE STATE TAXATION.
Am Appeal to Governor scott.

HIS Erceuenoy r. x. Scott:
GovERNoR-After reading your letter call
ing upon all law-abidipg citizens to yield to
laws passed by the Legislature, and aid you in
restoring the state to it's former prosperity, I,
with many who are proud of having, for four
years, struggled to protect our rights, deter
mired to do all in our power to allay the bad
feeling engendered by unjust legislation. So
'nonstrona is the ss:: izso.ioet;, that
we are charitable enough to suppose that yeur
Elk ,ellency is isherant Of our grievances. I.
therefore, lay before you facts.
When the assessor notified the planters of
this river to meet his assistant for the purpose
OF valuing property, the land-kolders, anxious
to do what was right proposed that those
planters familiar with the valuation Of their
| lands should, with the assessor, appraise the
| landed property. This was agreed to. alyd
lands in cultivation were valued at the price 6f
before the war. Unreclaimed lands were re-
lars per acre. Aithoueh these valuations far ex-
ceeded the present market price, we were satis-
| hed, believing the justice OF our course would
prove our anxiety to comply with the require
| ments or law. But to our surprise, when called
upon TO pay taxes. we find our returns entirely
! changed. Lands valued at five dollars are as
sessed athRures ranging from twenty to twen-
ty-twO dollars per acre, and cultivated lands
have an addition Of from ten to thirteen dollars
| per acre.
,Upou this valuation twenty-five per cent. is
added for county purposes, and upon the
whole. ftty per cent. additional for State cur
poses. ~
lit be law that seventy y-fve per cent. should
De added to our valuation OF properly, have
long as the State is controlled by q party of
non-property- -holders, who create useless offices
10 maintain power and who do not feel the
ourthen OF taxation. which is equal to confis-
moi h}v1or 70 Fo,,
Rect but heavy taxation; but what I do COM
pain or Is the arbitrary unjust and tyrann,cal
power vested IN your assessor or Board Of
vs.ne oup WhG " .H without
thls law, has changed the valuation OF the as
eistant assessors. who were sent upon the pro-
perty. AM whom we aided IN rendering Justice
to the etate as we'll as tie proprietor Now, I
| respectfully ask il this injustice meets your
approval?
Again. we were requested to notify our Ia
1orers that the assessor was ready to take
their returns. and day was appointed for the
purpose Only few colorcd citizens appear
ed. Upon inqu!ring the cause, we were told
mat members OF Union Leagues had to pay no
taxes. Time has passea-we have been oblig.
ed 10 pay our taxes-and no Efforts are being
made to collect the taxes from those in our
empfoy, Or the many colored farmers around
us. Onr people cannot be satisfied with an
administratlon that, to every appearance does
not intend making State officers collect taxes
rom colOred men Laws are passed and mani.
iestoes issued purportinR that juHtles ehall be
done the white citizen as we'll as the colored.
Are these laws and manifestoes intended SIM.
ply for the public eye ? Are we to infer that
the 0n-propertv-hOlders OF the State Who con-
srol the government have given this unlimited
power 10 assessors and county commissioners,
1or tue purpose Of 80 changing the valuation
OF property. that the amount required for State
purposes can be raised, without calling on the
colored people for even poll taxi
1t canhot be disputed that. had State officers
compelled the colored citizens to make returns
our taxes would not be such burthen. Does
it meet your Excellency's approval that our la
borers should be exempt from paying taxes
upon their dogs, hogs. COWS. and from the poll
oc rsdlS pay th,se taxes2 (and tie education
y, w 20 be used for the education OF colored
children.) -
II your Excellency will but give us Justice.
and prove to US that the white man shall be aa
fairly dealt with as the colorel man, the law
| abiding citizen will recognize you as practiciug
what yon call upon US to do; and to man
thev will rally to the support OF laws when
| lmpartially executed SANrEE.