The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-03-31
THE DEBT OF THE STATE
MPosz1xr MoEEAEET OF TIE
EAXPAYERS.
Action Of the Charleston Chamber'of
counsssce.s f<

OOUb1Hc31cS
:;:ts s'..-sS "fi'--'''Ns
* -
A special meeting ot sthe Charleston Cham
ber of Commerce was held yesterday at their
hanya the eo.ner Ict Broad and East Bay
streets ~ '.-. - - -
TAeobjectoe the meeting was to- consider
tina financial condition of the State as a1ect-
ing the commercial interest and sprosperityef
Charleston. Ar unusaHy large number Aof
the members were present. and every branch
of the trade otthe. city was represented by
recognized exponents OF its determination and
desires. The meeting was called to order at 2
O'Clock by Yice-Presidept Tupper, acting pres
dent, who spoke as follows.
-. > REMARKS seF.gIeE-PREsDENT OF TuPpBR-E
Gexssmen- -yhe Chamber has been con-
vened at the request of many members, to
take into confederation the extraordinary con-
.dition OF financial matters in our State; hut
specially with reference to the oppressive bun,
den of taxation under which we labor, with
the prospect of its continued increase uuder q
corrupt and irresponsiblelL legislature, which
threatens the ruin and impoverishment of our
people. .~yr-l
The extraordinary and needless expenditure
of the public money amounts almost to rapine
and plunder, and. 1t is still further proposed to
increase the Indebtedness of the State, which
necessarily involves an additional Increase OF
taxation to meet the iHsatiate demands of the
;.spoAeE. Y = sseD !,.ft T5ss.s- :,
Neither, the wealth or, Intelligence of the
people of South Carolina have any voice inthe
levying or expenditure Of the public meney.
This is, in thetrcsdest sense, tyranny of taxa
ton without representation.
Education, character and experience are
Ignored and excluded nom office by an, intole-
rant negro majority, banded together and con-
trolled BY the arts Of those who, are strangers
to us in name, feeling, sympathy and interest
Discomfort prevails throughout the entire
:commonwsaith Crime, rob5ery and corrup-
tion Stalk boldly before us and 60 unpunished..
The white man and property 7holeer being viz.
tually excluded from all legislation, is power
less to resist or reform the nial-administration
of public adAirs.s
ws have met tegshst, igsntisGen, as nsr.
chaHs and propertyfbQ Qlders, not AZ politicians
, OF .ofica.seekss,; nor in the interest Of any
party, to consider what can be done to unite
the conservatism. theiatelB enee,aad ths tax.
payers of the state in some meEenset 70
check the rapacity yeoEEoRsrnment officials, and
repair the esIsef Hhieh Ra complain. sI-,t
These remarks were received with applause,
and VIM. Ravenel, Esq, then rose and said
that he fully concurred IN the Views ef the
chairman Of The Chamber, and would sdbiit
prearnbfe ahd 'reseiatio1s' which, he hoped,
would be found 70 represent with propriety
the sentiments OF the body. Nj. Ravenel then
read the following preamble: and resolutions: !:
- THE REsoLgroSs.
Whereas, Under the operation OF the present
State Government, the majority of The prop.
erty-holders and ta1payersof the State from
whom the public revenue is mainly derived,
are excluded from any power in the legislation
of the State, and from any practical influence
in, the imposition Of taxes;
And, ,ohereas, The moneys raised sy taxa
ton are improYidently and corrnptly used and
expended by persons who hold office under
the State government, and the sums approe
priated for saesed public uses are excessive
and extravaganza; Il Ii ltit SAIs
And, ,shereas, The credit Of she State has
been pledged Illegally and It is now proposed
to pledge the credit Of the State fof further
loans, by q nea. issue of bonds, which may
be GegoeAtedin Ia the market TO persons who
may take them, in ignorance Of the cIrcum-
stances undsr which they are issued. There
foro -, "a &EsA9.
=. 4. 1...Rssolued, That we, property-hoaders and
taxpayers df the State, residing In the
City Of Charleston, do hereby deemit our
duty to declare that the bonds herstSi3re
issued without legal sanction. the Boz
called sterling loan, of any other bonds OF
obligations hereafter issued purporting to be
under, and by virtue Of, the shthority Of the
present 4stata .Goyethmenf, will not be held
binding on as, and that we shall, in every
manner and, ut all times, resist the payment
thereon; or sfheaiiforeeA ent of any TAX to pay
the same, by all legitimate means within, ,eu our
power.
2. Resolved, That I'VE deem it our duty to
warn. all persons ,pot to receive, ,byIway Of
purchase, loan or otherwise, any bond or obi!
CATION hereafter fssdsd, T,nporting to bind
the propertgor pledge the,eIadk Of iAe States
and that ell such bonds er obligations will be
held by Us to be null android; ass hayfngSbeen
issued In defegatten of the rights OF thsstpor-
ton ef the people Of this State upon whom
the public burdens are made to rest. -
n13. Resolved That the taxpayers Of the State
are hereby requested to meet IL their respec-
tive counties for the consideration Of this sub
ject, and the enormous tax levies Of the cur
rent gear. and for the ppsintmentsa twe.del7
egases ssi pspresent each csunty In a State
eoatereson,st ITO bss heldaia Ctloabia on the
second TusspAY In nlMayne1tf for the same
purpose. - - ...' ,r o>..
20 /. l. Rssozysd, That this Safe Convention Of
Taxpayers be requested to confer With bis Ex-
cellency, the Governor. on the dangerous dscai
condition OF the State and request his official
aid and cooperation In tfe investigation ofthe
aeceunts ofthe Comptroller and shestase Agent
in New York, so that the atnounti and charac-
ter of The bonied debt and all other liabilities