The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-11-16

that the thinking, law-abiding citizens OF this
State will never sanction. The taxes will be
paid at the proper time, or the land Will De soio
to nav the forfeit. The Legislature owes IT TO
itself to see to it that one OF the very nrst acts
of the session shall be tax law, such as Will
nut the purchaser in possession Of the property
sold at tax sale, aoithin sl1ty days after the
sale, and everything shall be considered as
regular, up to the time OF making the title.
When that is done, there will be no trouble IN
obtaining as many purchasers as are necessary
to take up all lands sold at tax sale.
We have italicized the passages in this
extract to which we particularly desire to
direct attention.
The first mis-statement of the Union is in
saying that The News urges the people to
"refuse to meet the demands made upon
"them for the purpose Of paying the 2egiti-
innate debt of the State" This is the exact
reverse OF the counsel we have given, which
is to postpone the payment Of taxes, as a
practical way OF avoiding the payment OF
the fraudulent and alegitimaate claims which
the Scott administration would have the
people accept as moral and legal liability.
We advise. the people to pay no taxes into
the hands OF the Scott officials to be used in
cancelling fraudulent bonds, or in paying
exorbitant commissions to the Financial
Agent, or in lquidatiDg the losses OF the
several members Of the Ring. We give,
moreover, the advice that the taxpayers,
whenever they have the power, recognize
and pay no bond which s not proved to be
legally issued and used, and we couple this
with the expression Of our confidence that
the taxpayers, with equal unanimity, will
recognize and pay every dollar OF debt which
is proved to be legally contracted. We do
not advocate total reputation, The orlgi-
nators and supporters Of that movement are
Senators Nash and Wimbush and other COL
ored Radicals in the General Assembly.
To speak OF The NEWS and the people
VINO sustain its policy as conspirators, who
openly advise the people to put themselves
in antagonism TO the State Government, is
stale device. 1t is a sign OF "rebellious
esprit, no doubt, to refuse to hand over
the public purse TO the official highwaymen.
1t is fell conspiracy, OF course, to expose
fraud and send thieves to the penitentiary.
The people do recognize the State Govern
ment, and they yield an implicit obedience
to the laws. They seek redress by peaceful
means, and by taking advantage OF the
remedies which the laws give them. The
lau oioes The Taxpayers until January Is,
1872, to pay the tares noao falling due, and
WE URGE THE TAXPAYERS NOT TO PAY THEIR
TAXES BEFORE THE LAST DAY WHICH THE
LAW GIVES THEM. And 1t may become ne
cessary for the people to obtain further
delay, and incur the penalty for non-pay-
ment. They may be forced to risk the sale
OF their property under a tax execution.
But in no case will, or can, the peaceful exc
cution OF the laws be obstructed As the
New York reiormers are conspirators, 30
are we conspirators- As the officers OF
police hunt down criminals, 30 will we hunt
down the Ring. And 1t matters little what
is the opinion entertained OF US by the
"Tweeds" and convicted rogues Of the Caro-
lima Ring. For three years and more the
people have complied with every demand
made upon them. Although without repre-
seutatlon, they have borne the burden Of
taxation. Although the victims Of ill-con-
sidered Legislation, they have obeyed the
laws and the Constitution. And their re-
ward is, more debt and more taxation. 1t is
time to change 'front.' Paying promptly, at
the call Of the tax-collector, has only in
vited further extravagance. We shall now
see what delay will do.
The truth is, the Ring are sorely alarmed.
They counted on the incoming taxes 10
meet the more pressing claims, TO silence
the Legislature, and to cover up their NAL
versation. No money can be had except by
the collection of taxes. And general
postponement OF payment, all over the
State, until the extreme limit OF the time
which the law allows, will break up the
Ring, and, we believe, induce the Legisla-
ture to adopt such just and necessary
protective measures as are needed for se.
curing the people against present rascality
and imnpndinp ruin.