The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-11-19

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The Constitution provides that the
General. Assembly shall levy an s'annual
tag" for thgsuppprt OF government: "a
special tax'is authorize5sst the next an
suing session. supplyany deaeisnoisss
to meet the legal expenditures sof the
presiding year, but must rest explicitly
upon this ground. It is distinctly sup
Elemental. The Legislature can levy
an ''annual Tux" for one fiscal year, and
no more. The regular tax of 1901,
beginning November I. 1870. and end
ing 3lst October, 1871 ,-of nine mills on
the dollar,for State 9nd FIVE for County
purposes, was duly levied and collected
by 18th July, I'll. The regular tax of
the next fiscal year, '71-72. beginning
November 1. II. aud ending 3lst Ooto.
Der. '72. of seven mills for State and
three for County purposes, was also duly
levied and collected between goth No.
vember, III, and 18th January. '72.
The joint resolution authorizing it stated
distinctly that it was for the fiscal year
ending 3lst October just passed. So
far, 30 good. All seems regular.
But We are informed that there is an
other joint resolution on record in the
office of Secretary of State authorizing
the new levy of taxes just made by the
Comptroller, and to be collected by the
18th .Toonorv novk ~ ko .~..Ia a.
appropriations for the same fiscal year
OF 1871, ending 3lst October just passed.
We have accordingly two joint resolu-
tions. ordering two levies of the taxes of
T1-72-one Of ten mills already col
lected, and which, according to the
pretty theories advanced by those who
manipulated things, ought now to be in
the Treasury, ready to be applied to
proper objects by the Legislature soon
to meet, but Which has been miserably
squandered, .mianpplied and stolen-and
another just made of fifteen mills, and
in the County Of Richland, through in
crease of the County tax, of sixteen aud
half mills. Thus We have two regular
annual taxes levied. and the second now
sonGht to be collected. for enc yoar-:ha
year that is just closed. ''Insatiate
archer, would not one suffice2'
The question comes up, what is to be
done about il? 1t is question of vital
consequence, involving about 81, 800, 600
in amount. A principle is also involved,
for which, if Wa have any spirit of intel
ligence remaining amongst us, any con-
servative influence, any manliness or
courage left, We are bound to make n
stand. It is too serious and too fragrant,
too outrageous and too cool a violation
OF all right and justice, to pass it over
silently. Two heavy taxes III one year
Ou- people will not and should not sub
NIT to it. They should move in the mat
ter without delay; the mode Of their
action being, first, fixed determination
to withhold the payment of taxes until
the question is definitely settled. They
have paid once, and that is enough fol
1871. Lot them rest there, till The ques
ton OF constitutional right to cxacI
another hss been sifted and settled in q
clear and unmistul1able manner.
We think it not out of the way tc
call upon the Comptroller, who il
charged with tho enforcement Of thit
joint resolution, and who has called
for the taxes under it, to explain how Il
is-whether it is SO really, and if it be
so. how he is going to get over the con
stitutional difficulty. AS public Of
ticer, he must desire to collect tho taxes
from o satisfied, rather than from q dis
oontented people. Other things being
equal, we should think he ought to pro
fer acting within the limits Of the consti
tutional authority. rather ihun outside,
and in derogation of them. It is onl
chart, such rs it is-the only :Eing VIC
have to sail by; and shipwrcck Of oul
finances, and tho standing OF tho 20.
vernment itself, and distress amongst
the people must be the consequences
OF pa]pable, violent and cruel out.
r00e 10 ifs mnnifnst Nroviuionu Ap1 ,pe