The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-03-16
Expenses of the legislature.

The Charleston Courier makes the following
statement as to the appropriations made to de-
fray the expenses of the General Assembly du-
ring it's recent session. 1t is simply appalling,
and we have no hesitation in declaring the be-
lief that the taxpayers of South Carolina, not
only cannot, but will not stand such extrava-
gance and ruinous conduct on the part of these
wretched apologies for Legislators One more
session like that which has just closed, and we
will have open rebellion against their authori-
ty, let the consequences be what they may.
Read what is said by the Courier:
The fact is now evident that for the past
three years there has been system of public
spoilation in the conduct of the State affairs,
which threatens absolute bankruptcy. There
has been the most wasteful expenditure, and an
increase of the public debt to an extent which
almost forbids its redemption In a small State
where, before the war, three hundred thousand
dollars was amply sufficient for its ordinary ex-
penses, we have now four hundred and thirty
thousand dollars as the expenses OF single
session of the Legislature. This includes alone
the expenditures during the session, without
reference to the interest on the public debt, or
There have been three appropriations for this
purpose since the fourth Monday in November,
when the Legislature met The first was for
one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars
before the recess The second, after the recess,
was for one hundred and thirty-hve thousand
dollars, and the third for two hundred and six
ty-ive thousand dollars, which was vetoed on
account of an item of ninety thousand dollars,
for the furnishing of the State House, which
was SO fagrant as not to bear investigation.
Striking out this item, and aUe haze nearly q
halt million of dollars imposed on an inpoperish-
ed and do,cn- -trodtiep people, as the price Of a
suole session of the Legislature, achose only mus
sio1 has been to m,isrepresent the people and to
,rasfe the public treasury, without the slightest
rerartl or care for the public welfare. This
amount has to come out of the hard earnings
of the taxpayers. II is as deliberate a system
of wrong as if the hand was directly thrust IN
to the pocket When we consider the popula,.
tion of the State. and the actual number OF
those who although denied voice IN their
own government on whom the whole burden
must rest, we perceive at 6 lance the extent
and character of the wrong.
This is but one item. This does not include
the public debt, or the general expenses for the
wear The taxes now imposed on real estate
and propcrty amounts to its practical confisca-
ton This is valued for taxation ut nearly
double the price it would bring in the mar ket,
and then an enormous tax imposed. The bur-
then is increased not only by an oycrcstimate
of its value, but by an enhanced rate OF taxa
tion. Thus it is that every department of life
staggers under The immense burthcns imposed
and every character ci business is impedcd:,
And this not for Il Government of right but of
wronr. These are imposed by q Government
lrlIircncc or the virtue of the commonwealth.
The whole object i. that of sclf-aggrandizcment