The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-11-21

nation to expose these thieves and bring them
to Justice What these robbers IN Columois
and elsewhere about the State want is money
not lands and houses; they cannot get OF
without money, and If the taxpayers wltnnolc
the taxes the crash is Inevitable. But say
some taxpayers who can make shift to pay
their taxes, our lands and houses will be sold
and our business ruined. Others say we will be
proclaimed to be in rebellion, aud troops
be sent here as In the upper counties. Now.
If all agree not to pa the taxes, all will agree
not to buy the property levied on Tor taxes
That disposes Of every taxpayer In the State
as bidder. But, say some tlmid ones, the
negroes will buy. Suppose they do; what
BARN II they pay the full value of the land
The moment they become landed proprietors
and taxpayers their Interest Is Identified Will
ours. But where will the negroes get the
money to p; J their bids And surely no tax.
payer whose land is advertised for taxes will
allow it to be knocked down for less than Its
value. But the State will buy 1t. Suppose II
And I have already shown 1t is money, mel
lands and houses, that the State needs In this
emergency. But, says another, spectators
will buy. What spectators The taxpay.
ers will not bid. We have been Offering
our lands fer sale since the war, and can
find no buyers. Besides, spectators will
not buy the bonds OF the State at forty
cents on the dollar, and lands and houses
in an insolvent State, taxed to death, are not
an inviting investment. So that 1t comes to
this, if the property OF the taxpayers be put
up for sale, not single taxpayer will De
bidder, the proprietor will run 1t to lts full
value, (but here comes In timfdity with an
other suggestion, his bid will not be crled,
some friend can bid for him. If specIlator
ing taxpayer has made good sale OF his laid
and brought capital into the State. Does any
taxpayer object to selling his land for Its full
value to a purchaser who will pay him bis
money and pay the taxes next year? Ii the
State buys it she will be in the same predica-
ment with the defaultlng ta1payer-have no
money to pay her bid. 1s there any danger OF
As it rebellion that will cali for the enforce
Iment of the Ku-Klux bill! do not see it.
One more suggestion, at the risk of being
tedious. This collapse will expose to our COL
Ored people the utter unworthiness OF the men
who have heretofore led and cheated them.
We must take advantage Of 1t. Il is the way
God has opened for us to escape this terrible
The best labor for us, In the world, Is negro
labor. If the foreigner was as good or better,
1t will take years to turn the tide OF immigra-
ton. We are not In condition to walt; we
are compelled to work from year to year to
escape starvation. The white people of this
State never have been unfriendiy to the negro
nay, they are the best and only true friends
they have In the world. It is their inclination
and their duty to make him an intelligent,
useful laborer. II we gain their confidence
this can be done. Is 1t practicable I think
1t Is, but difficult after the previous teach
ing to which they have been subjected,
and to which they are now exposed.
Let every landed proprietor In tn; the
State who has surplus of land, agree to sell,
or lease on long time, forty or fifty acres of his
land to our negro laborers on the condition
that the purchaser or lessee will give him 30
many DAYS work in the week for the rent, or
the purchase money. This is the general out
line. l have not time or inclination to go
into the details, but it will give US the most
contented peasantry and labortng class In the
world. Confidence would be re-estaolished,
the influence of the carpet-bagger and scala
wag destroyed and good government restored.
Let the convention reassemble and counsel
the people to a manly, peaceful assertion OF
their rights and duties. In the meantime let
the newspapers of the State discuss this mat.
ter calmly and intelligently.
am, with sincere esteem, yours truly,
A. P. ALRICH.