The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-06-26
Taansson.F 4

Mn. EpTroR: Ny attention has Sbeen
directed to the binety ty-seventh section of
"An Act providing for the assessment
and taxation ofproperty," passed by the
assemblage Of negroes, carpet-baggers
and scalawags, denominated tho Legisla-
ture of South Carolina, WHO were con-
vened in extra session in this goodly
city, in the month of July last, for the
ostensi6le purpose of enacting code OF
laws for the government of our beloved
old commonwealth, but for the real pur-
pose Of devising ways and means by
which to plumber and rob the people Of
the State, will not say for the purpose
OF enriching themselves, for such pro-
6igate set of land pirates could not be
permanently enriched, but will say for
the purpose of enabling themselves to
live in profligate splendor off the hard
earnings of the already impoverished
aud down-trodden people aforesaid.
Here is the section alluded to: "When
the taxes and assessments charged
against any party or property on the du-
plicate shall not be paid on or before the
1st day OF March. after the assessment
thereof, or when the remainder of such
ttiASS auu dSStS6Lu6uGS buAlt uOG Do pAlQ
on or before the Goth day of May next
cent. penalty on such remaining unpaid,
the County Treasurer shall proceed to
collect the same, by distress or other
wise, as may at the time prescribed by
law, together with penalty of five per
cent. on the amount so delinquent, which
penalty shall be for the use of the Trea-
surer, as compensation for making
such collection"
There, is not that both lucid and Iu-
minous? Clear as "mud and the Missis-
sippi River" to use an elegant, if not
eloquent, Pompey-Smash-i ism. Yea, may
not safely say, clear rs carpet-bag
gers or a scalawag's conception Of
truth, honesty and Justice.
Not being Yankee, and hence not
belonging to the original guessing tribe,
and having, moreover, never enjoyed
the blessings inseparablc from the free
school system of Yankeelom, I may
possibly be pnrdoned for trespassipg
upon Yankee territory and endeavoring
to guess out what the trainers of the
above section designed for us, the tax
payers, to understand as their meaning,
and attempting to express it in language
t.,at will be Ineligible to others who
may be as illiterate as myself. Here,
then, is the meaning. as nearly as I can
guess it out, without the aid of an in
structor: Should the taxes assessed, on
the duplicate, against any party or
property remain unpaid on the 1st day
of March next ensuing after such assess
ment, it shall be the duty of the County
Treasurer to levy an additional tux of
twenty per cent. on the amount of such
assessment, Us a penalty for non-pay-
ment; and should the original assessment
and the additional amount thus levied
remain unpaid Oh the Goth day of May
next ensuing thereafter, the County
Treasurer shall proceed to collect the
same, by distress or otherwise. as may
be at the time prescribed by law, to-
gether with a penalty of five per cent.
on the amount so delinquent, which
penalty shall be for the use Of the Trea-
surer, as a compensation for making
such collection. II this be not the true
meaning of the enigmatical section in
question, will some of the woody headed
fraternity, or some of their carpet bag
allies deign to enlighten us.
TAXPAYER.
r. --SS-S