The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-08-19
LANDS SOLD FOR TAXES.

The following circular from the Lanu Comn'is
sioner appears in the Charleston papers OF last
Friday:
Several parties whose lands were sold for State
taxes by the Sheriffs of various counties under
and by virtue of the law of the State modified by
General Orders No. 60, having made enquiries Of
This effice as to the mode and manner in which
such lands may be redeemed, 1 herewith submit
the following extract from General Orders, No
GO. still of force in his State
ExTRAcT.]
Provided, further That if the same tax and
costs shall not have been 80 paid within thirty
days. then the owner of the fee shall be entitled
to redeem the property within one year from and
after the day of sale, by paying all of said amount
and costs as aforesaid, together with fifty per
cent. penalty, and that if not redeemed within one
year from the day of sale, the Legislature of the
Stnte shall be authorized 10 determine by law the
conditions upon which the same may be redeemed
by the former owner during the remaining term OF
seven years for which it was sold.
1t will be seen from the above extract taat par
ties who have not redeemed their land within one
year from the date of sale, cannot do so now
without authority from the Legislature. The pro-
vision of the old law on this subject, if meant to
be of any benefit 10 the State, have, in connec-
tion with the provisions of General Order 20. SO,
been total failure. The State instead of real
izing any benefits by becoming owner of the lands
taken for taxes, has sustained additional loss by
allowing the original owners to occupy and retain
possession of the land without payment 10 the
State of either rent or the taxes that have since
accrued thereon. 1t has really placed the State
in II worse position than if it had not attempted to
enforce the penalty.
Again it must be obvious to most people, that
the sale of land to the State for n term of seven
years, requires if such sale should be Of any avail
to the State, great amount of labor, trouble and
expense, all of which, in my judgment, would GER
tainly ceunterbalance all that the State might se-
cure from any benefits arising therefrorn. The
State ought to be anxious, and l believe | repre-
sent the opinion of the party in power, when say
that they are anxious that the original owners of
this hand should be allowed to redeem the same on
the most liberal terms. Early in the commence
ment Of the next session, 1 shall recommend to
the Legislature the passage of an Act, granting
relief upon substantially the following terms:
First. That where the original owners nave oc-
cuped the land since the sale, they shall pay the
taxes fer which the same was sold, together with
the actual costs and expenses of such sale.
Second. They shall pay the State taxea which
would have accrued upon the same, If the party
had continued the owner, the County Auditor
making all proper assessments.
Third In cases where the original owner has
not occupied the Land since the time of the sale,
and the same has been leased, (of which, if there
are any leases, am not aware,) for longer term
than one year, and the lease not yet having ex-
pired, the party retaking possession should pay
for all permanent improvements made thereon.
Fourth. The parties must, by the fifteenth day
of September of this year, and the first day of
December in each subsequent year, file notice
with the State Treasurer of his intention to redeem
the land on or before the first day of January fol-
lowing. In order to entitle a person to redeem
their land or avail themselves Of the provisions Of
such ELL, they must deposit with the State Treas
urer a sum of money sufficient to redeem. in pur-
suance of the suggestions above made. TO those
who desire it, the State will hold out the most lib
eral inducements to them to regain their property.
But if the parties refuse and neglect, after the
passage Of such an Act TO redeem their lands, the
State viii be compelled to lease out the lands, in
whole or in part, and if necessary, dispossess the
original owner. G. 2. LESLIE,
Land Commissioner.