The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-03-26
ia Legal Thumbscrtw.

!, The act to amend the tax laws, which re-
ceiyed the approval Of Governor Scott on
March 18th, was part Of the financial
scheme by which the administration expect
to make valid all their monetary transac-
itions, and to obtain an Income sufficient to
pay az off their old debts and current ex-
:penaes. By the Validating Act as 1t ls
called, the bonds issued BY the present gov
ernment are declared to be a binding ooliga-
ton upon the epeople, and tax is required
to be levied and collected sufficient to pay
the interest on the whole public debt. AS
some security that the Golfers will be locked
fast, now that they are completely emptled,
a Joint resolution was unanimously adopted
for a constitutional amendment prohibiting
any increase Of the debt, except with the
sanction of the people. A tax OF six mills
was levied for general expenses, and OF two
mills for school purposes. The License law
was coniured into existence. But these
we're not enough, without such changes in
the tax laws as would allow the State au-
thorities to enforce the payment OF delln-
ouuent taxes amendments made all the
more necessary by the certainty that q total
tax OF two per cent, for the fiscal year,
would leave thousands OF persons in arrears.
It was understood that, upto January, 1872,
over one million dollars OF taxes remained
unpaid. This snug sum would help to ere
lieve the ''treasury, liquidate the debt, and
.make money easy at the capital" These
ara the considerations which led, we pre-
sumo, 10 the framing Of the tax law OF March
IL, 1872; q law which will wrench the taxes
from the people, or send their property to
the hammer with State warranty OF title to
the purchasers. The full force OF this legal
thumb-screw does not appear at the first
glance. 1t requires plain statement OF
the changes made in the pre-existing laws
to enable the taxpayers to comprehend the
desperate boldness Of the administration.
/. The provision that, when delinquent
land exposed for sale, except in cities and
villages, cannot be sold for one-iourth OF its
assessed value, the State shall buy sufficient
at that rate to satisfy the amount OF the
take, and pensltiesis repealed.
2. After the expiration OF NINETY DAYS
deeds may be made for any real estate sold
at delinquent land sales. The act OF 1868
forbade the making Of deeds until the e1pi-
ration OF two years.
8. Real estate sold for taxes may only be
redeemed within NINETY DAYS, instead OF
within two years; i. e., it may be redeemed
within thirty days, instead Of one year, with
out penalty, and within ninety days, instead
Of two years, with penalty Of fifty per cent.
4. The county auditor is required to
,oarrantshs titles to all lands sold for delin.
quent taxes.
5. All lands upon which any State or coun-
ty tax for 1868, 1869, 1870 or 1871 remains
unpaid shall be sold on the first Monday in
June, and conueyed in fee simple arithout TIE
right of redemption. II no person offer as
much as the delinquent taxes and charges,
tie State is declared the purchaser, and be-
comes the owner OF the land.
These provisions, as we before remarked,
point to one conclusion: that the State Gov
ernment are determined, by hook or by
crook, to raise money sufficient to relieve
them from all embarrassment and to meet
whatever claims may come upon them. AS
part Of the programme all the lands in the
State upon which any tax for 1868, 1869,
1870 or 1871 remains unpaid will be SOLD
outright on the first Monday in June. To
give courage to purchasers, the State war
rants the titles to all lands that may be sold.
Yo Illustrate any combination on the part o1
the citizens, the State becomes the owner ol
the lands il the amount bill is not equal to
the delinquent taxes and expenses; and it is
required, BESIDES that if any purchaser does
not pay forthwith the amount of his bid the
lands shall be immediately resold as il no
! rrevious sale OF them had taken place.