Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1869-08-20
LANDS SOLD FOR TAXES,
Circular from the Land Colun' ,s;ono,,
EXECUTIVE Dep.
LAND CaMNr~
SSIOSER OrE.fI

LAND C3MNr"
o'" M~s S. C., August ii. 1859.
E'-Hcv"ral Parties, whcsc
lands were sold for State taxes, by
the shcritts Of var IONS counties under
anu ~ ',rt"c ',t the l2w Of the Slal';.
,"'"'"e" oS Ecny,ai orders, No. G3,
'''','s .n,ic inquiry Of this Office as
~ u e .,lcIc and manner in which
)" Is ,aEIs may be redeemed, here
wi,h sntlnit the following extracts
from Gcne1al Orders, No. G3, still Of
force IL this State
EXTRACT.
"Providcd, further, That if the same
Uhc taxes and costs; shall not have
been so paid within thirty days, then
the owner Of the fee shall be entitled
to redeem the property within one
year from and after tho day Of sale
by paying all of said amount and
costs, rs aforesaid, together with fifty
per cent. penalty; and that, if not re
deemed within one year from the day
Of sale, the Legislature Of the State
shall be authorized to determine ly
law the conditions upon which the
same may be rcdc"E.v,i l'y ;Ic former
owner during the rrtaainin:s term OF
seven years for which i! was sold"
II Will be seen, from tho above cx-
tract, that parties who have not re-
drcl;!vd their lani within one wear
from the date Of sale do 50 without
authority from the Legislature. Tiir
provisions CT the old law on tlis sub
.cc', if meant to be Of any benefit to
the State have il ccIncct;vn with the
provisions Of General Order No. e.
been u total failure. Tie Stale in.
stead Of rcaliziEg amy bcnc fits by be-
coming owner OF the lands taken for
taxes has sustained additional loss Ev
allowing the ori Sinal owners 10 occupy
and rctai;l possession OF the land V ith-
ont payment to the STATE OF other
rent or the taxes that have slncc accru-
cd thereon. 1t has really placed the
5 ate in worse position than if i, had
not attempted u r!.,;,rcc the penalty.
Again. 1t must be obvious 10 most
people that the sale of land to The
State for & term Of seven years rc-
Qnircs, if such sale should be of any
avail to the State, Il great amount Of
labor, trouble and expense, all OF
which, in my Judgement, would Ger
tainly counterhaiancc all tl!at the
state might secure from any benefits,
arising ,thsrttrom. The State OUGHT
to be anxious, ant! l believe T rcprr-
sent the opinion OF In" party i'll p,wrY
when | say that they arc anxious, tha,
the orl@inAi uWnci's Of the land should
b.: allowed to redeem thc same on i!:y.
most liberia! terms. Early in tho com
mcnccment &C tie next session T shall!
recommend to the Legislature the pas
sage OF an act granting relief upon
substantially the following terms:
rst. That when the original own
rrs have occupied the land since the
sale, they shall pay the taxes for which
the same WIS sold, together with tic
actual costs and expenses CT such sale.
Second. They shall pay tue State
taxes which would have accrued upon
the same if the party lad continued
the owner, the county auditor making
all proper assessments.
Third. In cases where original own
er' has not occupied the land since the
time Of the sale, and tho same has
been leased (of which if there are any
leases, L am not aware:) for longer
term than one year, and the lease not
yet having expired, the party retail;
ing possession should pay for all per,
manent improvements made thereon.
Fourth. The parties must, by the
fifteenth day Of September Of this
year and the first day of Decembc,
in each subsequent year, file 4 notice
with the State Treasurer Of his inten.
t!on to redeem the land on OF before
the first day of January following.
In order to cn!itlo person to re-
deem their land or avail themselves
OF the provisions Of such bill. they
must deposit with he State Treasurer
a sum of money sufficient to redeem
in pursuance Of the suggestions above
made. 10 those who desire it. the
State will hold out the MOST liberal in.
auccmcnts to them to regain their
property. But if the parties refuse
and neglect, after the passage of such
act, to redeem their lands, the State
will be compelled TO lease out the
lands, in whole Or in part, and if ne
eessary dispQssess the original owner.
G. T. LESLIE,
Land Commissioner