The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1869-07-10

! and tairpes andto prevent a dispropor-
| tiopate shhfe Of taxation being bthrown
upon Gount;es which had manifested
something like reasonableness in estimat-
ing the Ivalue Of their lands. The ag-
gregate value of the property Of the State,
as established by the Board of Equaliza-
tien, was s164 ,O22, ,342, which, am con.
vinced, is still far below its real value;
and that if the Assessors had done their
duty honestly and fearlessly, the amount
would have been at least 5000 900 900.
! Upon the sum fixed by the Board of
Equalization, the State Auditor levied
tax of thre6-fodrths i'of one fper cent,
which should yield a revenue of 81, 800, :
16S but, allowing for defaults, not more
than 81 ,0O0, 900, the amount prescribed
by the Legislature, can be realized. Of
this sum, 100000 will be paid out for
interest, a large proportion Of it to our
own citizens; the balance will be de-
voted to the current expenses of the
State, and will be returned to our people
in distinguishing the floating debt accu-
mulated during the past three years, and
in the establishment and maintenance of
public schools.
by this statement you will perceive,
gentlemen, there is nothing in the pre-
sent system of taxation to justify the
charges of unfairncss or opposition; nor
! is it excessive or extraordinary, either as
compared with the past experience Of our
own State, or with the existing rates Of
taxation in other States of the Union.
! The amount levied in this State for
current expenses was, in 1867, $474 $40;
in 1868, 1859, 271, and for the present
year, s549,474, the increase being salts
factorily accounted for by the arrearages
left from the proceeding administrations,
and the expenses Of the increased lcgis-
lation> necessary. And as regards our
sister States, venture the assertion that
no State, South or North Of US, has a
more moderate rate of taxation than our
own.
1t was to have been expected, how
ever, that the substitution of the present
system of taxation for the one heretofore
in practice would be unsatisfactory to
many, and give rise to complaints, inas-
much as large portion of the property.
holders Of the State had been subject to
only nominal taxation, as their proper
ty was greatly undervalued now they
are required to contribute their proper
tionate share for the support of the
State. While this may be, considered a.
grievance by tl,cm, no candid and disin-
terestod person will so regard it. Aud
notwithstanding the lamentations ,nbout
the over valuation of lands, there are
but few of the owners who wo1il con-
sent to sell them at their assessed vaita-
tion. The low prices occasionally brought
at sheriffs' and hankrupts' sales are no
criterion of the value of the property
disposed of, as there is generally natu-
raj sympathy among the people present
for the unfortunate debtor, and he is
permitted to purchase his property, with
out opposition, at his own price.
There is no doubt that there are i'm
perfections in the tax law, and ire
gularitics in the execution of it. For
the present, individuals have the right
of appeal against what they deem in
equitable and unjust, and have no
doubt such alterations and notifications
of tho law as Will be shown to be ne
cessary, will be made at the next session
of the Legislature,
But while unpatriotic efforts arc being
made to induce our people to believe
that our system of taxation is oppressive
and ruinous, | would invite you to look
at its beneficial effect upon the prosperity,
the credit and the character Of tho State
In affording a satisfactory evidence of
the determination of our people to pay
its debts and meet its responsibilities, it
has lifted the credit of the State from
the verge of bankruptcy to respectable
and prominent position in financial and
monetary circles. Our bonds, Which at
one time could be purchased for twenty
five cents on the dollar, now command
seventy-three cents, and are steadily
advancing, insomuch that l am in hopes
by the 1st of January they will be
practically at par. In this single item