The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-08-13
LAFDS SOLD FOR TAXES.
Circular fem the Land Commissions
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
LINN HotSu6IsaroNER's OFPICk.

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
LAND COMMISSIONERS OFFICE,
COLUMBIA, y. G., August II. 1859.
NoT1cE.-Several parties, whose lands we're
sold for State taxes, by the sher;ffs Of various
counties, under and by virtue Of the law Of the
State, modified by eeneral erdese, No. G8. hav-
ing made inquiry OF this Office as to the mode
and manner in which such lands may be re-
deemed, I herewith submit the following ex.
tracts from General Orders, No. 6S, still force
in this State:
provided. further, That if the same CHE
taxes and eosts) shall not have been 30 paid
within thirty DAYS, then the owner OF the fee
shall be entitled to redeem the property within
one year from and after the ay of sale by pay
ing all of said amount and costs, as aforesaid,
together with fifty per ceut. penalty; ana that,
if not redeemed within one year from the day
of sale, The Legislature of the State ehall be
authorized to determine BY law the conditions
upon which The same may be redeemed by the
former ownef during the remsi 1ing term Of
seven years for which 1t was sold."
It will he seen, from the above extract, that
parties who have not redeemed their land
within one year from the date of sale, cannot
do so now without authority from the Leglsla-
ture. The provisions of the old law on this
subject, If meant to be Of any benefit to the
,tate, have IN connection With the provisio ls OF
General Order. No. So. been total failure. The
State, instead of realizing any benefits by be-
coming owner Of the lands taken for taxes,
has sustained additional loss by allowing the
original owners to occupy and retain posses
oorf fn fha n
of either rent or The taxes that have since
accrued thereon. 1t has really placed the
State in q worse position than if 1T had not
attempted to enforce the penalty.
Again. 1t must be obvious to most people
that the sale Of land to the State for tenn
of seven years requires, il such sale should be
Of any avail to the State, great amount OF Ia
bor, trouble and expense, all of which, in my
Judgment, would certainly counterbalance all
that the State might secure from any benefits
arising therefrom. The State ought to be an1-
lous, and believe represent the opinion OF
the party in power when say that they are
anxious, that the original owners Of the land
should be allowed to redeem the same on the
most liberal terms. Early in the commence
ment Of the next session, I shall recommend to
the Legislature the passage Of an act granting
relief upon substantially the following terms /:
First. That when the original owners have
occupied the land since the sale, they shall
,psy the taxes for which the same was sold,
together with the actual costs and expenses Of
such sale.
Second. They shall pay the State taxes,
which would have accrued upon the same II ths
party had continued the owner, the county au-
ditor 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, I am not aware,) for a
longer term than one year, and the lease not
yet having expired. the party retaking posses
sion should pay for ell permanent improve
ments 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 inten-
tion to redeem the land on or before the first
day of January following.
In order to entitle person to redeem their
land or avail themselves Of the provisions OF
such bill, they must deposit with the State
Treasurer a sum of money sufficient to redeem
in pursuance Of the suggestions above made.
To those who desire it, the State will hold out
the most liberal inducements to them to regain
their property. But il the parties refuse and
neglect, after the passage of such an act, to re-
deem their lands, the State will be compelled
to lease out the lands, in whole or in part, and,
if necessary, dispossess the original owner.
G. P. LasLIE,
Land Commissioner.