The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1872-10-30
To the Citizens of South Carolina.

and for Il Q purpose of warning tho tax
payers Of this State against scheme
which has been gotten up by certain
State oliiaial,, by which certain men
arc to make large amount Of money
hy dcfraudiny the people, [ wish to
address you u few words. A little
more than ono year ago | was ap-
pointed to the position of Auditor Of
STATE, and since that time have en-
dcavorcl to do my duty in that con.
ucc,iun to the best Of my judg-
ment Hoy far have succeeded
remains for the people to decide.
Thc first action which, out Of my regu.
lar course Of dutios, | deemed it in
cumb"nt upon me to take, was the
prevention of the circulation Of the
Blue Ridge scrip. This, was re-
pcatcdly told by the Governor, some
one WAS going to do but after wait
ing until alnost too late, learned that
the action of the Governor was sim
ply for the purpose Of forcing Johu j {.
Patterson, the President of the COM
pany. to pay certain claims which he
held against tho road, in the shape of
u note Of the company, which lie pro-
cnrrcd in way not likely to add to
the reputation OF an honest man.
Waiting, rs havo heretofore said,
until almost too late, for some one to
take this matter into the courts,
finally instituted the necessary pro-
cecdingS, with the sanction Of the
Governor. After proceedings had
hvcn commenced and tho usual ncoes-
snry inducements been offered his
EHccllcney, an effort was made by
himself and others Interested to in
ducc me to Withdraw the suit. $l0,.
O00 in cash WAS offered me by orc
party the day Gao case came into court;
aud all Indirect Offer Of $4,000 in
scrip was subsequently made by
another party, in case | would consent
to withdraw the suit. This, [, of
course, refused and the matter has
been II bone OF contention between us
ever slicc.
An effort WAS m,do soon after the
adjournment Of the Legislature, and
continued for sonc two or three
months. to induce mo to levy u special
taA t" pay the interest upon tho ems
tire bonded debt of tho State, legal
and illegal, to be collected immediate.
ly. This | refused although an in
luccmcnt Of $4,000 10 cash was
offered me, to either levy the tax or
resign my position for the purpose Of
allowing DR.. Maggie to make the
levy and, at tho same time, was In
formed that Gov. Scott had promised
Dr.. Nrnglc TO remove me, in case |
refused to make the levy. | again
declined 20 comply with their wishes.
Now, I, second effort has been made
to force NE to levy a tax to pay the
interest on the fraudulent debt Of
the State, and to include lcvy of
three mills upon the dollar to rode
$45O,oo0 Of the Blue Ridge scrip
one quarter OF the entire issuc--w hich
has. by decision Of his Honor Judge
n. j. Willard, Of the Supreme Court,
been decided unconstitutional and in
valid.
Now, while | lccm it the duty of
every good citizen to pay all just and
lawful taxes, | do not consider it his
duty to pay every tax that may be i'm
posed by unscrupulous men, who
chance to 10 in power. Nor do [ con.
slider it the duty Of any oIlicor who,
through the force of circumstances
happens to he the appointcc Of such
men, to blindly follow their dictation
without regard to right or wrong
So thinking, and acting as | consider
it the duty of q good officer and an
honest man, have again refused tc
comply with their wishes and | have
this day received an order removing
INC from cflicc. 1t is but just tc
myself to add, that | was informed by
his Exccllcncy the Governor that i
might retain the Office, provided
would make the levy. His Exccllcn'
cy, while insisting upon tho levy oI
these taxes, informed mo that he
knew tho money, if collected woult
not be applied TO the purposes fol
which it was levied, but that that wa:
memo of your business that it was ou'
duty to levy the tax ;and he based his
argument upon the ground that many
outstanding claims were now helt
against the State, (of which he IL tho
posscssor to tho amount of $40, 700, a
he himself informed me, } and that thu
treasurer would have no funds to pay
them. His only other argument was
that he had publicly pledged his wore
to Henry Clews g. Co., that tho ta'
would be levied, and that, should i
not be, no would stand before tn
people in the light of Inconsistency.
This scheme is, as [ have said, NJ
new movement /; but while Auditor o
the Safe, | succeeded in preventing
its consummation. Being no longc
in such position, / ain powcrless t.
protect your interests, and now loav
IT -, you to say, shall this plot bo Car