The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-04-05
The Present Rulnous Taxation.
Uprising OF the Charleston Chamber OF
Commerce and Board OF Trade--Bas-
nest and Dstermined Protest.
The Tax-Payers ofthe State KnvNed 20
hold NeetIazZs~

!. The following preaeSie and resolutions were
! unanimously adopted on Wednesday aud Friday
evenings lu,t, by the Charleston Chamber OF
Commerce aud Board of Trade. The meetings
were large, and influential, harmonious and
enthusiastic, and characterized BY spirit Of stern
determination. number Of speeches were made
By the prominent commercial men Of the city
The effect uron .he bonds Of the State has already
hesn decided:
,;whereas, under tse operations Of the present
Slate Governments, the minority of the property
holders and tax psyers of the State, from whom
the public revenue is mainly derived, are exc!u-
id froy any power 10 the legislation Of the
State, and from any practical influence IN the
imposition Of taxes;
And, Whereas, the moneys raised by taxstion
arc ipprovidcrtly and corruptly used and expen-
ded BY persons who hold Office under the State
Government, al, the sums appropriated for
alleged public uses are excessive and extrava-
CANT;
pledged illegally, and II 10 new proposed to
lAedgc the credit of the State for further loans,
by new issue of bonds, which may be negotia-
ted in the market to persons who may take them,
IN ignorance OF Tie circumstances uuOeI WHICH
they nre issued. Therefore.
1. Reso'rad, That VIC, the property holders and
tax payers Of the State, residing in the City Of
Charleston, do hereby deem itour duty to declart
that the bonds heretofore issued without legal
sanction, and the socaled sterling loan, any
other bonds or obligations hereafter issued, pur
porting TO be under, and by virtue of the auibor-
~ of this State, will net be held binding on as,
and that we shall, in every manner and at oil
times, resist the payment thereof, or the enforce
ment o; any tax to pay the same, by all legiti-
inaie means within our power.
2. Resoirel, That we deem it our duty to warn
oil persons not to receive, by way Of purchase,
loan or otherwise, amy bond or obligation here
after issued, purporting to bind the property or
pledge the credit Of the State; and that ail such
bonds Or obligations will be held by Us to be
null and void, us having been issued corruptly,
iinprovdeutly, and for fraudulent purposes, ard
in derogaton Of tic majority of that portion Of
the people of this State upon whom the public
burdens are made 10 rest.
8. Resolred, That the tax payers Of the State
are hereby requested to meet in their respective
counties for the consideration of this subject, and
the enormous tax levies OF the current year, and
for the appci1tpcnt Of two delegates to represent
each county in u State Convention, to be held in
Columbia on the eecond Tuesday in Msy next,
for the same psrpose.
l. Keoleed, bat this State Convention Of tax
payers be requested to confer with His Excellen-
~, the Governor, on the dangerous fiscal condi
tiou Of the State aud request his official aid and
CO operation in the investigation Of the accounts
Of the Comptroller aud the State Agent in New
York, SO that the amornt and character OF The
bonded debt aud all other liabilities Of the Stale
caa be cle.rlY stated, with view to such further
action as may DO necessary for the protection of
the public creditors aud Of the tax payers Of the
Commonwealth.