The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-05-04
THE TAxPAYERs' CONVENTION.
Action of OranSeburS.
rFRoN oUR OWN CORRESPONDENT

Goodwin and Colonel Rumpf. which report
met with unanimous approval. Dr.. Goodwin
read from z paper the views of Cover
nor Scctt, who charged the proposed
convention with political designs, and
attempted to show that the taxes in South
Carolina were light and 5earable. The Gov
ernor's Ratements were simply absurd. The
doctor had for twenty-tour years served IN the
Legislature. and the State taxes did not exceed
$685.. 900 per annuna. Now, under Radical rule,
they reach the sum Of over $2,oO0,000, IN ao-
dition to which an extra levy is made Of ST.
800, 900 more, to be paid during the same year.
The contrast Of figures plainly shows whether
the people complain unnecessarily, ami the
glaring display OF stolen wealth paraded before
our eyes. tells who gets it. An eloquent ad-
dress was made by Hugo Sheridan, Esq. in
response to call made upon him. The meet
ing adjourned with a hopeful spirit that light
may be evoked from the darkness now pre-
vailing over our State.
BarnweIl Wheeled into Line.
TFRoM ovR owS CORRESPONDENT
BARNwELL, May ..
We had large and earnest meeting OF the
taxpayers of this county on Monday, lst inst
Every section Of the county was represented
by The most responsible citizens OF the COM
munty, and there seemed to be but one senti-
ment prevailing every mind. As the oil re-
pea.el assertion, ''We cannot pay the tax,
and we will not be robbed ofour iand,' greeted
the ear, large landholders and small landhold-
ers, with equal zeal, manifested their approval
OF it, The delegates TO the State convention
are General Johnson Hagood and Colonel I.
]. Counts; Hon. W. P. Finley and Colonel
James E. Crosland, alternates. A. D: c.
Marion in Motion.
A Large public meeting Of the citizens OF Ma
rion County was held al the courthouse on
Monday last. A committee Of one from each
township was appointed by the chair to nomi-
nate suitable persons as delegates and alter
mates to the May Convention. The committee
retired and in a few minutes returned and re-
ported Hon. ". D. Johnson andJ. Eli Gregg
as delegates, and General w Evans and DR.
". R. Johnson alternates. The report was
unanimously adopted and the meeting ad-
journed.
Action of Abbeville.
At meeting of the taxpayers at Abbevilie
Courthouse, on Monday. Major 4. Burt ana Mr.
B. Herndon were elected to represent them n
the coming May Convention.
Action of Fairfield.
At meeting of the citizens Of Fairfield
County, held in Winnsboro' on Monday last,
Major ]. W. woodward and General Jno. Brat
ton were elected delegates to represent the
countyln the Taxpayers Convention, which
meets in Columbia on Tuesday next.
Republican Testimony.
DR.. ]. Winsmith. writing in ''The Spartan" !"
In reference to the subject OF taxation and the
May Convention, and IN reply to the state
ments OF Republican Journal, says:
1t is the amount Of taxes collected, and not
the rate per cent. Of taxation, which materl-
ally concerns the taxpayers. If the rate OF tax
alton should not even have been higher than
In former years, but should the assessors have
been goadef up. to assess property at twice,
thrice, or even four times as much as formerly.
it is easy 10 see that the aggregate amount OF
taXeStRill be twice, thrice or four times as
much as before. Ana this is the thing COM
planned of now; the taxpayers cannot oe de-
ceived in this matter, and they feel anu COM
prehend it 10 its true light.
see from the omptrollergeaerals report,
for 1856, that the gross amount OF taxes pald
into the treasury that year was 1857, IA II,
which amount. it appears, was quite sufficient
to carry on the government at tnat lime.
But as that was before the war. allow me to
call your attention to the report OF the comp
troller-gereral for the year 1866, and, by refer
ence to the report, you will see that the gross
amount of taxes paid into the treasury for
that year was S4l9, ,GGS IS. Under this state
OF facts, Mr.. Editor, how can the taxpay-
ers fail to eXclam: "How can II be posi-
Bile, that IL only s4l9,G6S IS was paid into the
treasury in 1866, and found sufficient to carry
on The government, that they shall ce
called on to pay more than four times that
amount in the spring. and also required
to paw a like amount in the ensuing No
vember ?" l have heard only one reason
given for the collection OF this second
tax during the present year, ana nat is Nlnat
the people can pay more easily in November
than in the spring of the year, That is
great mistake, as it has been proven by long
Experience that taxpayers can make their pay
ments more easily from the first OF March until
the first Of June than at any other period OF
the year. But should the Legislature come 10
the conclusion that these payments can pc
more readily made in November, just postpone
the further ray,nent Of taxes until November
1872, and ieel confident the taxpayers would
be satisfied with the arrangement. truly tne
enormous amount OF taxes already collected
this wear will be quite sufficient TO keep lhe
government in motion Until November 1877
And let me beg you, Mr.. Editor, not to indulge
tor a moment the belief that opposition TO the
payment of the November tax is only en-;
iertaiped by e few persons who control
public opinion and the press in the seve.
raj counties oi the State. So far from thal
being the case, this opposition Is almost unan!.
NOUS, and the call for convention meets with
concurrence of taxpayers almost without eX-
ceplion. Nor is it because this proposition 1or
convention was made by he Chamber o.
Commerce, or Board Of Trade" oil Charles
ton, that taxpayers approve OF ii; buL cecauSt
the pro- ositon was in accordance with a Well
matnred and fully Developed sentiment G; OF
position entertained almost unanimously py
the taxpayers OF the state.
The convention. Mr.. Editor. will be heid.
hope the delegates selected will be pcaueni,
discreet men; Statesmen imbued with princ:-
pies OF Justice, and actuated by patriotic de-
vo,ion 10 HE interests OF the State. ready 10
approve the right, and equally ready to re-
buke corruption and wrong.
4np-<e-
..FE4IRS IN iTILI