The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1871-03-30
THE JOURNAL.
CAMDEN, MARCH 80, 1871 !,
ShauWe Pay Them q

South Carolina is lamentable. Al the
close of a season which for its propi-
tiousness was almost unparalleled, our
people found that the products Of their
labor were worth comparatively little,
that it was impossible iforahem to meet
their obligations, aud that to procure
the means Of living in the most eco
nomical manner, was all they could
DO, -. =; :. =
" Almost unparalleled also, is the
.stringency of the money market, which
lis greater than tatany time since the
rwar.
:. Altogether unequalled, even in these
days ofextravagance, have been the
expenditures Of the government and
equally great has been the decline in
value Of property, both real and per-
sonaL .a
80. The actual expenditures at the State
Treasury for the fiscal year ending %.
tober31,s 1870, were S2,194,32l.s2.
Assuming that third Of that amount,
$3l, ,44Q,60 was expended by the
Counties, and we have as the totel ex-
pepditure of the peoples money, the
enormous sum of s2,925,762.42,, for
the year ending October 81, 1870. (
It is proposed to collect for the taxes
oflast year, the sum of s2,265,047.OO,
which sum is now being collected, alsoin
November next sl,s3O,OO0,0oo, ma.
king. the total amount. of County and
State taxes col!ectable this year (lS7D
S4,O95,o47.o0!! d, !
The state Of the country in other re-
is equally distressing. A reign of ter
ror exists in some portions ofthe State,
and every thoughtful man feels that we
are on the eve Of anarchy, and may be,
ofcivil war. .~.s--
The questions naturally arise whether,
we,i are able to pay these enormous
taxesy and second, why are two taxes
levied during the same year?
As to the FIRST, reference to the re-
port of the State Auditor, showing the,
actual amouutAot general taxes collect.
ed for the year 1869, will show that
amount to be 5000, ,s75.75 whereas the
amount that luas to- be levied, was
sl,622,65S.1l, demonstrating the fact
that but a, little over, one-third of the
taxes, charged, was collected.
This fact, il seems to us, is conclu-
sive that it's utterly impossible for
orr people J to respond ito this eIorbi-
tant demand, aud theresorn that they
swial be unsbbls q ae
! 1870 .i'' sss'
As to the secoud question, i appears
to us, that the reason Is to be found in
our aaswerto the FIRST questions. That.
is to.say, the expenditures for the year
ending October 81, 1870, being 81
r 3 = I'd. -
ls4, ,92Ls2, and the amount ostaxes
collected for the same period of time
being bur s699, ,se5.75, how did the
State procure the means oflexpendipg
over Two millions dollarsT
Deductiug the amount collected from,
that expended, there will rcuain with
in fraction of fifteen hundred thous',
and dollars of expenditures over re-
ceipts, and the only way in which that
balapea.acould be raised, was by throw
ing ouFshe market State securities and
selling them to make up such de6cien>
cy. ..
We consider then, that the 81 ISL
90 to be collected in November next, is
to cover this deficiency, SO as make it
appear, upon the assembling of,the Lo-
gislature, that the State debt has not
been Increased. Having arrived then
at this conclusion, and feeling satisfied
that our financial affairs are in the
hands Of anscroupulous men who would
hesitate at no sort of fraud, we will con-
slider the question, shall We pay these
taxes ?"Will we not be giving encourc
agement TO our rulers, to strike deeper
into our; yitals, and play still bolder
game Of fraud, bribery and corruption,
by paying them.
Does. not their action look very much
like cou6scation ? Are our people pre-
pared give up houses and lands, their
homes and sfresides to those who are
crushing the life out Of us, without a
struggle?
These:are questions before the peo-
ta,.-,.r.fz.. 80.