The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-10-31
To the Citizens of South Carolina.

COLUMBIA, y. VI, OCCODeT Il, 1917.
For the information of the public and for
the purpose of warning the taxpayers OF this
State against scheme which has been gotten
up by certain State officials, by which certain
men are to make large amount of money by
defrauding the people, wish to address to you
a few words. A little more than one year ago
!, was appointed to the position of Auditor OF
State, and since that time have endeayored to
do my duty IN that connection to the best Of
nv: Judgment. How far / have succeeded re-
mains for the. people to decide. The first ac-"
tion, which, out of my regular, course OF duties,
I deemed it incumbent upon me to take, vas
the, prevention of the circulation of the Blue
Ridge scrip. This, was repeatedly toldby
the Governor, some one was going to DO; but
after waiting until almost too late, | learned
that the action of the Governor was simply for
the purpose of forcing John j. Patterson the
President of the company, to pay certain claims
which he held against the road, in the7shapee
of note of the company, which he procured
in way not likely to add to the reputation OF
an honest man. Waiting, as have heretofore
said, until almost too late, for some one to take
this matter into the courts, ! finally instituted
the necessary proceeding, with the sanction OF
the Governor After proceedings had been
commenced and the usual necessary induce
ments been offered his Excellency, an effort
was made by himself and others interested, to
induce me to withdraw the suit. $4,000 in
cash was offered me by one party the day that
the case came into court; and an indirect offer
of $25,000 in scrip was subsequently made by
another party, in case would consent to with.
draw the suit. This /, of course, refused; and
the matter has been bone of contention be-
tween us ever since.
An effort was made soon after the adjourn
ment of the Legislature, and continued for
some two or three months, to induce me to levy
special tax to pay the interest upon the en-
tire bonded debt of the State, legal and illegal,
to be collected Immediately. This l refused,
although an inducement of 500 900 in cash was
offered me, to either levy the tax or resign my
position for the purpose Of allowing Dr. Neagie
to make the levy; and, at the same time, was
informed that Gov. Scott had promised Dr.
Neagle to remove me, in case refused to make
the levy. I again declined to comply with
their wishes
Now, second effort has been made to force
fraudulent debt of the State, and to include
lew of three mills upon the dollar to redeem
$780, 900 of the Blue Ridge scrip-one-quarter
of the entire issue-which has, by decision OF
his Honor Judge A: J. Willard, of the Supreme
Court been decided unconstitutional and in
valid.
Now. while deem 1t the duty of every good
citizen to pay all just and lawful taxes, l DO
not consider it his duty to pay every tax that
may be impesed by INSCRIPTIONS men, who
chance to be in power. Nor do | consider it
the duty of any officer who, through the force
of circumstances, happens to be the appointee
of such men, to blIndly follow their dictation,
without regard to right or wrong. So thinking,
and acting as I consider it the duty of good
officer aud an honest man, Ihave again refused
to comply with their wishes; and have this
day received an order removing me from Office.
1t is but Just to myself to add, that was In
formed by his Excellency the Governor that L
might retain the office, provided | would make
the levy. His Excellency, while insisting upon
the levy of these taxes, informed me that ne
knew the money, if collected, would not be
applied to the purpose for which it was Levied,
but that that was none of our business; that II
was our duty to levy the tax; and he based his
argument upon the ground that many outstand,
ing claims were now held against the State (of
which he is the possessor to the amount OF
$40, 900. as he himself informed me,) and that
the Treasurer would have no funds to pay them
His only other argument was, that he had pub
licly pledged his word to Henry Clews q 20.
that the tax would be levied, and that, should
it not be, he would stand before the people in
the light of Inconsistency.
This scheme is, as have said, no new move
ment; but while Auditor of the State, succeed
ed in preventing its consumniation. Being no
longer in such position, l am powerless to pro-
tect your interests, and now leave it to you
to say, shall this plot be carried out, and you
be subjected to pay this enormous tax, amount
ing to twenty mills for State, and, in this Coun,,
ty, five and one-half mills for County-two and
one. half times the tax of last year2 or will you
unite in determined effort to prevent the con-
tinuance of the frauds which have impoverismn- m
ed the people and disgraced the State? To
bring such an effort to successful issue, /
pied ge for my own part my most hearty CO.
EDWIN F. GARY,
Late State Auditor.
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