The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-04-28
COLJJMBIA:., A:,s s. .''C,:;


Friday Mornings, April ss 4'a1 SI!l 80 a.
our A1air. :, Viewed 'bY4' :. :NortheFh
Ooxrespondent-..The,G ,Governor. and tho
Attornoy-C.onurni.S u aa.s. .s;@t:4disf ~
The New York. Times contains q letter
from its correspondent g written from
this city, which gives what Is claimed to
be correct account of Governor. Scott's
and Mr.. Chamberlain 'sviewa as TO-, our
political affairs. It will be seen that Mr.,
@. has far better conception Of the
truth. Governor SCOTT expresses him
self very decidedly to this Northern COR
respondent He holds that che ''Ku
Klux difficulty" is merely political-that
the determination OF the Klan is to
punish ell, white or black, who are
known to be Republicans that the
object is to control Che next election.
As to "the poverty. Of this State and op-
pressive assessment and taxation" about
which the correspondent asks-the Go
vernon thought it t:au for political Effect
On this point we give the words Of the
correspondent. ;a:.'i.i .'.s-.E ti
GOVERNOR -.HsAll for political effect.
sir. There is more money. in this State
to-day, in proportion to It's population,
than there is in Na3v York. Jnst-sse the
amount Of gold shipped to the; interior
of this State. The planter sells his cot.
ton for gold andathen buries it. About
the assessments, T believe them to be
rather hinder than over the, value Of
the land. They talk about 'resistanca'
to the taxes and combining not to pay
them! T don't believe that there will be
anything Of the kind attempted. !, and the
best proof OF that is, that while they
complain, they nevertheless pay their
taxes right along. Many OF the County:
Treasurers have made complete RETURNS,
and in the neighboring County, Of taxes
amounting to 800, 900, all but 800 have
been paid! They ask me peremptorily
to disband the negro militia, and then in
the face of it they threaten revolution.
The people are to understand that the
taxes ,oiA be collected, ,hnd they will rs4'
alize this, when they refuse and their
property IS sold. s And If their property
is sold, they will find that the purchaser
will go into possession and be protected
in ell his rights. You have heard a good
deal about a double tax. I suggested
myself to. the Legislature that the time
OF payment be ohangedi In order that
the current. Indebtedness OF the State
might be discharged: or provided for
Truei it may have the effect of double
tax this year, but nftsrward there will be
all the longer interval between the two
payments. Before adviaing such q
CHANGE: consulted with several of the
leading men Of the State, and they COM
mended It as q most ,judicioug change.
Now they abuse me- because the sugges-
tion was adopted; All this talk:about 6
double tax is for effect North, so that
if any resistance to its payment should
be made, they would SECURE that sympa-
thy at the North which would ward off
the consequences. -: y I. 's'...
AS to the extravaganza of the last Le-
gislature, there was, he admitted. much
extravagance; bnt no worse than in my
other State. Another question is thus
answered: sF ;j.i. .,a
Con. ---' Swell, sir, T have been told in
Charleston that if the convention of tag
payers, which ito meet at Columbia in
May. find that the State debt does not
exceed $4,000. 600, they will pay. the
taxes without complaint, bnt if The debt
is s15, ,OOO. 900 or $40. O0O, 900, they do
not think the State will stand It."
GOV. Exactly. They will find that
the State debt is under SIC, 900, 900.
And that calls up another grievance OF
difficulty I hive to contend with. It is
the nnprincipled, worthless men that the
United States Government sends here ae
its agents. All this talk about the mag
nitude of the State debt originated with
United States officer at 7 Charleston,
[name mentioned. He is trying to
ourry-favor with the other side, and is
continually telling what is not trne about
the State debt, &c. [The. rest. Of the
Governors remark was not complimen.
tary to the official alluded to. The re.
form in the State must be- brought abou,
by she local administration, and not by
the National Government
CoR.-'F Frankly; then, Governor, to
return to the taxation question, you
really believe that the present rate OF
taxation is not excessive?''
Govt do not believe it to be, sir.
It is thirteen mills on the dollar. all in.
cluded. In Ohio I pay forty-nine mills
on the dollar on some land 7 own
there"