The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1872-12-18
Taxes.


Taxes.
There is no subject Of moro interest
to the people Of South Carolina in
pecuniary point of view, at tho pres.
ont time, than the imposition and COLI
lection Of Taxes, to defray tho exhor-
bitant and fraudulent expenditures
of venal and corrupt administration.
In reviewing the second message Of
the present Executive, we are fully
convinced Of one important fact, that
no officer of the State is better Inform
Cd of the necessity Of imposing bur
dcnsome tax upon the people at the
present time, in order to supply form
er deficiencies, than the present chief
Magistrate for there is no ono, who
exercised more iLhucnco in creating
it than himself.
lie recon- mmends that such measures
may be adopted, based upon official
Information, as may satisfy the peo-
| pic Of the necessity Of "impo&ing and
collecting such an enormous and OUT
rageous tax-au1 furthermore sug-
gcats to the IIegis laturc, fnot to Gov
er up from public view any of the
financial difficulties which are pressing
upon the people and to act iu such a
manner as to convince the community,
that they can rely upon each other
oall this we respond hearty, Amen.
There is no money in tho Treasury !
True, but why 7 Let tnc chief mag,
lstratc answer, for no one, not cx.G Gov.
Scott exceptcd) could give if disposed
to do so, a moro satisfactory reply.
1t is furthermore deemed cxpedicL t
to impose tax upon an impoverish-
cd people to cover DEFICIENCIES Of the
past. Among these tho cxtraordina-
ry item of $>223, 900 for public print
ing, and perIsva e much greater
a,nouut for covering a batch Of pay
certificates issued hy the present chief
Magistrate, whil t speaker of the
House Of Representatives,. The form.
cT is an outrageous eXtortion, aud the
latter a consummate fraud, upon the
rights Of II people, who if not, are
presumed to te froe, and who hafo
been ever Jealous of their rights.
The Governor rccommculs that the
ratio Of taxation should be based on rs
low basis of expenditure as may
bo consistent with II proper maintc.
nance Of the Government. Wo grant
it, hut first VIC earnestly insist upon
more stiict economy in al State ,x.
p"hdiiurcs; no moro issuing Of pay
Certificates, t. favor special interests,
no Blue Ridge cndorscm ents, no extra
salaries to favoritc office, s, no bribe.
~, no appropriations out of public
mnds TO pre- mote private ends. In
other words-no more stealing out Of
the Treasury. We arc promised bet
ter things, but VIC have our doubts.
Hardened criminals are slow to re.
pcnt. The Governor elect, confcsscs
that the people, (the taxpayer,) have
right to know from their Respective
agents, the exnct condition of all their
public affairs. Let US have it honest.
~ and we will be satisfied, until for
bearancc ceases to be virtue.
The constitution of South Carolina
requires that tax sufficient to defray
tho expenses Of the State shall be i'm
posed every year, aud any deficiency
should occur like provision shall be
made to cover such deficiency. Upon
this authority, We arc called upon to
pay just five timos as much none into
tho Treasury, as was ever paid In any
single year before, in the history of
the Government. Who created this
necessity : Where has the money
gono Who has been enriched, and
who impoverished Let the past and
The present administration answer.
The present State Treasurer, whom
Governor Moses acknowledges likely
to prove a thorough and efficient
public oflicor,' and We believe it sets
forth in lis exploratory letter, the
expenses for the lrc,cnt year, fully |
to be SG9l 900, and this too,
embraces the extraordinary charge !
If 100000 for free schools, which
we're never incurred, much less ever
'aiI. Strike out tcw other items
Shich are needless and not requisite,
nch as the militia, Sl2, 600; elections
>CS O00 ccbop1 ro,orl, Sr O0n g.