The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-10-13
HOYT & CO., Proprietors.
TAX PAYERS, READ.
ADDRESS OF GEN. CONNER AT CAMDEN.
A Dispassionate and Lucid Review Of the FL
,nancial History Of Seotrs Administration.
From tie Charleston Mears.


From the Charleston Nears.
CAMDEN, S. c., October 8.
According to appointment, mass meeting
of the Union Reform party was held at this
place to-day. The notice of the meeting was
short, and the weather on Saturday and yester-
dsy was wet and uncomfortable. This morn
inS. however, the skies cleared happy omen
and by l2 O'Clock the Courthouse was filled
by an attentive audience, representing both
races and the capital and labor of the county.
The meeting was called to order, and Col. H.
Ieitner elected chairman. The chairman then
introduced General James Conner, who dellv-
cred the following address, in review OF the
financial history of the Scott administration.
The address was listened to with deep atten-
tion. and produced marked effect. General
Conner said:
SPEECH OF GENERAL CONNER.
Is the State prospering? If States or lndl-
yiduals spend more than they make, II they
live on their capital instead OF their income,
thew are on the high road to ruin. The Re
publican leaders are fully aware that the saliva
tlon of their party depends upon the financial
exhibit which they can make, and Mr.. Cham
berlain, their attorney general and ablest man,
has undertaken to show that their admlnistra-
tion has been prudent and economical. The
inaportanee of the subject and Mr.. Chamber
lain,s party zeal and personal ability are guar
antees that nothing has been omitted from his
speech. 1t has been published as campaign
document, and we may safely accept it as the
strongest presentation Of the case that can be
made.
Prior to the war our taxation was light, was
hardly felt. 1t has increased more than three
fold since Governor Scott assumed control of
report for 1859, will be found statement of
the taxes paid for the previous ten years by
each district or parish, and the average amount
of annual taxes is S43l, ,S99.
During the year 1869, the amount OF taxes
paid BY the State was S4,122,690 68. Of this
amount 50, ,62a, $50 6s was the United States tax
(Goyernor SCOTS message p. ~ 81, ,OO0O0O was
tax assessed for State purposes, exclusive OF
uoll tax. and $500,00O was the tax for county
purposes. (Audiuor Tomlinson's Report, P.
23l.)
The entire State debt, when Governor Scott
assumed control, was according to MIR. Cham
berlain, $4,994, $40 II. Thus, in the first year
of Governor Scotts administration, sum near
ly equal to the entire debt was levied on the
State.
Over the United States tax Governor Scott
could. of course, exercise mo control. No one
holds him responsible for that, but it was his
duty, and that of his party, to use the utmost
economy, and make the appropriations sor
State purposes as small as possible, in order to
tighten the weight of the burden imposed upon
the State.
Governor Orr, in his message prepared for
the called session of the Legislature in 1868,
says: eff the taxes of the present year proved
oppressive to all branches of industry In the
State and yielded but $375, 900, the expendi-
lures of the next year should, If possible, be
curtailed by the reduction of salaries and oth-
Of interest on the public debt" (page 81 Gov
ernor Orr is regarded by the Republican party
90 the ablest statesman of the State, as wise,
sound and practical. He is an authority for
whom they profess unbounded respect. He
spoke from long experience of the State and
its resources, and his earnest advice was to
practice economy. How was the advice heeded1
In 1868 the appropriations for State expenses =. =,
rS. County tax was r ChaHberains est
timate). w
ro.,, in 1858 sso,soo 90
u State ate, expenses se lss %
The county tax was...--....... oooooo W
rota, in 1865. s.................- I,5n,iss 90
rotat;n 1sss,ss .............. $s,4sl, 1859 90
On the other hand
Theappropriatons for State e1- .,r r,-o M
penses In 1858 was.............. 495H0 W
Ada nolcs sssessmerlt...... 1Sa,7o7 IS
6s4s77 7s
The appropriations for
Stateexpenses in 1853
...---644,IoU
Add police assessment222, 22,Oo0
Total in 1859. s............... sss,7so 90
Total in 1s5s,5e. .......... S1,551 16o7 IS
IS. ~ =. s1,s79sel %
A comparative view of the appropriations tor
the years 1858 and 1868, and for 1859 and 1869,
will show more clearly the sources of expendi-
tureSs
1858 1868
Executive .....,...... 5,25C 90 4ofVo
Legislative, Regular Session.. 1850 90 l4OOOo m
Legislative, Extra session... - lSo,oVV- - ZaoMUo M
T,~easnry ............- 1850 90