The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-11-11

year to an average of more than quadrupie
that sum. In three years, the State and
county taxes, as assessed, amount to nearly
$4,000, 900, as follows:
Taxes of 1868, due lsss........s l,sa6,lo4
Taxes Of 1859, due 1870, l,s22,e68
Taxes of 1870 due 1871 2265,o47
Three years taxes. .'... s5''@"'soS
r, And vet there is not dollar in the State
Treasury, the State bonds are sold at thirty
cents on the dollar to satisfy importunate
money-lenders, and judges, schoolteachers
and other State officers are unable to obtain
the salaries which are due them. Although
millions are added to the public debt,
although millions are collected in taxes,
where hundreds OF thousands should suffice,
the State is penniless, and is utterly, and, it
may be, hopelessly bankrupt. With almost
unlimited means at their command, the
State officers have failed to provide for the
ordinary expenses of the government. And
now they play their last card. They give
notice that the taxes for 1871 must be paid
before the 18th Of January next. That is to
say they require Of the people In twelve
months: .7I!.
The State and county taxes of 1870,
due IN l6l. ........ ..''P A,AoosV1'
The State and county taxes Of 1871,
t:lmede due also in 1871 ........... 1.S30,00O
Fer one year.,... ......... .s4.OsS,o41
Adding the taxes Of 1871 to tte tax levies
OF 1868, 1869 and 1870, already enumerated,
We Ind that the whole amount collectable for
State and county taxes, in the three years,
1869, 1870 and 1871, is more than seoen and
a half m,llion dollars, viz:
Assessment 1853, 1869 and ls7o....s 5,722,sos.
Assessment 1871. ................... l,s3O,00o
Total taxation payable in three
: wears. .,..................,..S7 so, ,55a, 800
To put it in another shape, tbe-taxes col
lectable in three years are very nearly twice
as much as the whole OF the State debt at
the breaking out Of the war.
And while the State Treasury Is empty
and without credit, the county treasures -
or many OF them-are no better of. These
county treasures have received the enormous
taxes levied for county purposes. In Charles
ton County the county tax for 1869 alone
was $500, 1000. And yet Charleston Coun-
ty pays not cent Of the large claims out
standing and long overdue. Colleton Is bank
rupt. Beaufort is bankrupt. Other coun-
ties, doubtless, are in the same impecunious
condition. Taxes are levied sufficient to
pay the honest expenses OF the State three
and four times over, but the money does not
20 to the public creditors. The hard-earned
money Of the people is wasted, given away
and stolen.
This is the situation; and we see but one
practical defensive measure which the
people can adopt That is, TO REFUSE TO
PAY THE STATE AND COUNTY TAXES, NOW
FALLING DUE, UNTIL TRUSTWORTHY EXHIBIT
n MADE OF THE ENTIRE LIABILITIES OF THE
STATE, AND UNTIL, FURTHERMORE, sATIsFAc-
TORY GUARANTEES ARE GIVEN THAT THE
MONEYS oFEeE PEOPLE WILL. HEREAFTER, BE
HoNoRABLY SPENT. We cannot, at this
writing, explain At length the reasons which
lead US to believe that the Withholding oil
taxes is q practical measure, which will
bring out the truth, expose to the people,
without disguise, the financial condition OF
the State, and protect them, in large
measure, from further extravaganza and
irari. We can, however, lay down these
propositions l. The State is without money
and without credit. 2. Financially, the
State is 30 rotten, that the State officers
cannot sell its bonds IF any are held aohich
are not fraudulent in character,) and can
not borrow money upon their security. 8.
Hundreds OF State officers, c. high and low
degree, are bowling for their pay, and,
when the Legislature meats, at the end OF
this month, the members ito all Of whom