The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-10-05
THE STATE FINANCES.
ADDRESS OF GENERAL CONNER 1T
CAMDEN.
A DIspassionate and Lucid Review Of
the Financial History of the
Scott Administration
THE ARITHMETIC MAN OF THE ring
COMPLETELY DEMOLISHED.
TFRoM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT


CAMDEN. S. c., October 3.
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 yes
terday was wet and uncomfortable. This
morning, however, the skies cleared--a hap
by omen-and by u o'clock the Courthouse
twas filed by all attentive audience, represent
ing both races and the capital and labor Of
the county.
The meeting was called to order, and Col. T.
Leitner elected chairman. The chairman then
introduced General James Conner, who deliv-
cred the following address, in review OF the
financial history OF the Scott administration.
The address was listened to with deep altcl-
tiou, and produced u marked effect. General
Conner said:
SPEECH OF GENRR4f. CONNER.
Is the Stat, prospering? If States or indl-
viduals spen. moro thau they make il they
live on their capital instead OF their income,
they are on the high road to ruin. The lse-
publican leaders are fully aware that the saliva.
ton OF their party depends upon the hnanclal
exhibit which they can make, and Mr.. Cham-
befssin ttcir Encouragement and a0lest man,
has undertaken TO show that their adm,nlssEa-
ton las been prudent and economical. The
Importance of the subject aud MIR. Chamoer-
Ialn's party zeal and personal ability are gual-
antees that nothing has been omitted from his
speech. 1t has been published as campaign
document, and We may safely accept IL as the
strongest presentation OF the case thaG can De
made.
Prior to tho war our taxation was light, was
hardly felt. It has increased more than thrCe-
fold since Governor Scott assumed coJtrol of
the State. On page 46 OF the comptroller's
report for 1859. will be found u statement OF
the taxes paid tor the previous ten years by
each district or parish, and the average amonht
OF annual taxes is s43l 1893.
During the year 1869, the amount OF taxes
paid BY the State was 81, ,122 G90 G8. Of tins
amount 50 622 69O GS was the United States tax
tGoyernor SCOTS message p. A. 81 OO0 00O was
tax assessed for State purposes, exclusive OIL
poll tax, aud $500 900 WAS tho tax 'or coun-
ty purposes. (Auditor Tomlinson's Report,
The entire State debt. when Governor Scott
assumed control, was according to MIR. CHAM
berlain, 81, ,934 $40 II. Thus, in the first year
OF Governor Scott's administration, q sum
nearly equal 10 the entire debt was levied on
the State.
over the United States tax Governor Scott
could. of course, exercise no control. NO one
holds him responsible for that, but 1t was MS
duty, and thar Of his party, TO use the utmost
economy and make the appropriations 1or
State purposes as small as possible, IN order TO
Tighten the weight of the burden imposed upon
the State. , g.
Governor Orr, in his message prepared Tor
tbe called session of the Legislature in 1868,
saws 'If tho taxes Of tho present year proved
oppressive 10 all branches OF Industry III the
State and yielded but s375.OO0 the expenel'
tures OF the next year should, II possible, bG
~. r,I,,otinn Df aalorirS lnl
otherwise, 80 as not to exceed that sum, cX-
elusive OF interest on the public debt, (page
Ol Goycrnor Orr ia regarded by the hnpuD'
iicap party as the ablest statesman "f the
State. rs wise, sound aud practical. lie is an
authority for shom they profess unbounded
respect. He spoke from long experience oi
the State and its resources, ana ht' earnest
advice was to practice economy. How was the
advice hecded2
III 1868 the appropriations for State 49,, 0,o ~
expenses were. Sl,'to,"oo w
The county tax was (Mr. Chamber -,
lain's esilmatc)... .............-.-- 5ooo'o w
Total in 1895 Il, $50, 800 90
In 1869 the appropria-
tions for State eX
penaeS were. ........ SLUT, ,lto uo
The county tax was 500O OUU UO
Toto, IN ls8o. 1,5Tl, ,l69 co
Tota, IN 1903 ,6Q $3,I3l, ,lG9 w
On the other ha2tl-
The appropriations Tor
state expenses in
1868 was. ............ 4so, Iio w
AdIl polIce assessment 189.707 IS
GSl,SII IS
Tn, appropria-
lions for
State e1pen-
ses In 1859
was. ........ Gl4,73o
Add police as-
sessment.. 222,0O0
Total In 1859...... S60, 73o w
Total in lsss-'59 sl,65l,ooI -
EXCESS IN 1S68-'69 =,
over ls5S-'S9....... $l,S1s,sol ..
A comparative view OF the appropriations for
the wears 1853 and 1865, and for 1859 and 1868.
will show more clearly the sources OF eIpen-
diture: ,oco
Executive .. $3.50 U0 4O,7OU
Legislative, Reg
ular Session.. 5l,0J0 % l40,0oO
Legislative, EX- oooo
ira session go. l3o'ooo- 2.O,VoO .V,ooo
Judicial. ......-... 4O,ooo w "'oo'