The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-07-12
WORD IN BEHALF OF THE
SOGTR.

Oh "the mysterious ku Kiux," says:
"No doubt the South is in a more
disorsanized state than before the war
1t would be strange if it were not so.
Indeed, looking at the utter disruption
of the social and domestic life of the
Southerners, at the dreadful ordeal they
have passed through, at the crushing
disabilities they suffer, and at the ele-
vation of their own slaves-brutal and
ignorant negroes-as we'll as host Of
corrupt carpet baggers, to be their po-
litical masters, can we wonder that some
disorder exists? The wonderis that so
few exist, and this is the best evidence
that the mass of the Southern people
are law-abiding. When brave and
high spirited people submit so we'll to,
and make the best of, their humiliating
situation, we have the best guarantee
of their future good conduct and of
peace. Let US be just aud mag unanimous.
Let US have some consideration for the
people of our own race and blood, and
not crush them beneath the ignorant
and semi.barbarous negroes and the
carpet bag scum of the North. We have
the testimony of General Sherman and
of many other superior men who have
been over the South, tLat the preten-
ded Ku Klux outrages are greatly ex-
aggerated, and that the Southerners
want to live in peace and maintain order.
Then look at the surprising industry of
the South-at the valuable cotton crop
and other productions since the war
raised under the most trying disadvsn-
tages. This alone shows the practical,
Industrious and high character of the
people. If the Government would cease
its efforts to make the South political
arena for party purposes. would pro-
claim universal amnesty and eudeavor
to give the control of affairs to the in
telligent whites, who have the largest
interest in their country, We should soop
hear no more of the Ku Klux. The
Southerners would forget the eumities
of the war, and the harmony and union
of the republic would be restored in fact
as we'll as in name. If General Grant
would use his power to this end he
might make greater name and become
more popular than by any annexation
schemes, treaties with foreign nations or
national financial experiments. The
people everywhere-North, South, East
and West-would regard the complete
restoration and harmony Of the Union
as the greatest boon. 1t is in the power
of the President to bring tnat about.
Will he do it? or will he drift along as
the mere tool of the bitter faction which
keeps the country disorganized and
gives life to whatever there is of the
Ku Klux 10 the South Z"
Mr.. Copeland, the correspondent Of
the New York Journal Of Commerce,
writing from Columbia, under date Of
the 17th ult., says:
III have examined into the system Of
taxation, and discovered the reason why
there has been so much grumbling about
the rate. The fact is, there has been a
surprisingly large amount of corruption,
both in the levy and collection of the
taxes. l was shown by one of your sub
scribers, who has been in business here
and in Charleston for many years, tax
receipt in which the tai was legitimate
ly in accordance with the levy, $3.50.
The extras added swelled the amount to
s41. He protested, and tl:e tax collector
struck off the extras. This was on q
small piece OF property. lie says he has
seen bills calling for forty ce6ts and
fifty cents, upon which the extras
amounted to So, s2.25 and $3.50. These
little collections are generally made
from the negroes and poor whites, who
DO not know any better than to pay
them, but the tax -gatherers are learning
better than to afix perquisites to bills
rendered to intelligent men, because
their game is beginning to be under
stood. As l said above, the citizens Of
South Carolina have always been aris-
tocratic. Their aristocracy was Of the
landed order, and to encourage the
ownership Of lands in large bodies the
State did not tax them. The taxes on
negroes, buildings, and on merchants
and professions, paid the debts Of We
State. When the war was ended the
negroes were free, the buildings burnt
down, and nothing was left to tax but
the lands, and even they were worth
much less than they were before the
war, for the reason that they were over
grown with shrubbery, cane, &c, during
years when :heir cultivation had been
neglected. The accounted average as
sessment value of all lands in South
Carolina before the war was 6ity-eight
cents per acre. Now they are assessed
and taxes are collected at an average
value Of about IS per acre. Many per-
sons who had no money when the
war ended had their domains sold tor
taxes.
"When the fact is considered that
onlv from one tenth to one fourth Of
each land owners possessions is cultiva-
ted, (Which, however, is greater
average than was worked before the
war; it is not wonderful that :here
should be considerable reluctance or
grumbling when the planters are called
upon to pay taxes on the whole amount
of land owned at rate Of assessment
frequently beyond the market value.
/ The resnIt is that q good portion Of