The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-04-15
In Despair.

No language can describe more wildly the
desperate condition to which radical legisla-
ton and carpet-bagger domination have re-
| duced the south than the simple fact, that the
! white people Of South Carolina have pc
titioned congress to abolish their state gov
| eminent and reduce them to territorial con-
dition, to be governed, like the District of
Columbia, directly by congress. There is no
other way, the people say pleadingly and
touchingly, to put an end to the organized
robbery to which they are now subjected.
Besides thatthe people ofthat state have lost all
security in their persons or property from the
bands OF organized negro militia that the car
pet-bagger government, which radicallsm has
placed over them, keep on foot to overawe
;he white people and keep them in subsection,
they are literally robbed of their all by the
most atrscious system of taxation ever put in
force in civilized community. On this point
the following facts are given: Previous TO
the rebellion, $4,000 were amply sufficient
to deiray the annual expense of state admins
tration; this year 100000 are required, and
that too, of an impoverished population not
yet recovered from the terrible calamities Incl
dent to the late civil CONFUSION. The richest
plantations are ruined, the choicest farms are
laid waste, manufactures are dead, agricul-
ture is languishing, and every branch of in
dustry is crippled and well nigh destroyed
yet the combined negro and carpet-bag legis-
lature demand 100000, and the money
must come. The tax books in many of the
counties are closed and an average Of more
than one-half of the property owners are on
the delinquent list without the slightest chance
of procuring the necessary funds Indeed,
were times ever so good it would be impos.
sible to carry the tremendous burden. As an
illustration of what the burden is few in
stances are cited. An estate which, under
the old regime, was taxed IS, now has to nav
$2s7 another which was taxed $3.50: is now
assessed 500; another which formerly paid
$3.50, is now taxed over $500 and another
which once paid but fifty cents is called upon
iGr Slj. One poor farmer was obliged to sell
his last mich COW to save his little property
from being sold by the sheriff, and there are
thousands of similar cases scattered through
the country districts.
1t is said the white people of South Carolina
are ku-klux, dlsloya, enemies of the national
government The assertion is disproved by
the fact of their willingness TO place their
destines in the hands of the radical national
government, rather than be plundered as the
above shows by alien carpet baggers and
debased negro january.
But there Is no hope for South Carolina
even from this humiiating and desperate ex-
pedicnt. She is ''restored to the Union" help
lesslv given over to the tender merclcs of rad.
icaiism and british negro domination, and
there she will be compelled to stay, at least
until after the next presidential election, for
how else can the radical candidate receive the
electoral vote of that "truly loyal" state
The eternal fitness Of things is a myth and
the law Of compcnsations humbug, if there
is no fitting retribution in store for political
party that seeks to perputate its power by
means like tire.