The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-11-23
Gov. SooTT's LAST GARD. Under

Gov. SoorT's LAST GARD. - Under
date OF the 10sh instant, Gov. Scott, of
South Csfoiihs, directs shs. tho colsec-
ton Of taxes for this fiscal year COM
mence on Moday next, tho Goth instant.
This cotton is In direct derogation of the
gubafnaeoriel Promise msde in May last
to the Tax-payers' Convention. BY that
body com 1oittee was appointed to wait
upon the Governor, to secure q post
ponoment Of the taxes, and from their
report it appears that they we're author
lied by his Eyeellency to say s.that
while the various offices will be open in
November for the reception of taxes at
that time from such OF the citizens as
may be then prepared to pay, them, yet
that the period for their payment will
be extended to the lat OF March, 1879,
within which time, if payment is made.
no penalty will attach" After allowing
this verson OF his response to tho COM
mittee to remain unchallenged for six
months, the Governor now comes out to
deny that he ever committed himself to
any such course. According to his &C.
count. the understanding was that he
was to begin the collection Of taxes in all
but the sea island cotton districts in No.
vember, the excepted districts to have q
postponement until next March. Tho
Counties producing the sea island cotton
oelng lew In number, this view OF the
case virtually calls upon the people of
south Carolina to pay forthwith those
taxes on which they had been led for six
months past to suppose they had been
granted q postponement till the second
quarter in 1872. Elsewhere will be found
the texts respectively of the executive
order and the report made the conven-
tlon by its committee, and from a pe.
rusal no man can arise without feeling
that Governor Scott has added one more
to his breaches of faith with the tax.
payers of the State The occasion ot
the breach is only too evident. On the
10Th OF last September. Governor SCOTT
gave the total issue Of South Carolina
h"nds and stocks az in round numbers
$9. 5OO, 600. On the 9Th Of this month,
he admits au issue of $l1, ZOO, 900 in
bonds and So, 50U,O 900 In stock, or q
total of Sl3 .5UO, 900. with $l5. 900, 600 OF
bonds and stock on band Knowing
that in addition to all this, it was in the
governors power to issue balance oil
S2,5OO.OOO in certain kind of bonds,
and that the contingent liabilities OF
South Carolina arising from railroad en-.
dorsement were Sc. 7O0. 900, the financial
world was deeply shocked. The expos.
ure WAS 30 great that no explanation wa,
made, because none could be made; fail.
ures OF those interested in these seouri
ties occurred; the State bonds were
thrown out by the banks of the State
capital; the whele financial fabric of the
reconstructed Government tottered and
is now fastening to it's fall. The State
Treasury, we hear, cannot honor a draf,
Tor dollar; the day for negotiation oi
| bonds is past; and nothing remains bul
desperate foray in the shape of take,
to ward off. if possible. few days long
er the inevitable coming crash, and swell
by come last spoliations the fortune with
which Scott, like his compeer Bullock
OF Georgia, is to retire from business.
Ne,o York World.