Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-08-15

ery citizen would rather bear: his part OF the
burden of the taxes than have this crying
shame upon the State.
This administration is held up to the scorn
and contempt of the country every day, on
account of the financial difficulties into which
it has allowed itself to be forced, and in many
respects it deserves censure,, and one Of the
principal causes Of all this trouble has arisen
from an attempt to run the State government
on borrowed capital and now, when the whole
credit of the State is broken, we stand here
without money, the bonds worthless, confidence
DESTROYED, and no one making the effort to re-
lieve the embarrassment, which could be done
in less than twenty-four hours by the prompt
action of yourself, in forcing the State auditor
to collect the tax for the payment of the in
terest on the public debt. | think it is In
cumbent on the governor of the State to see
that this part of the law is executed.
consider your action in approving the last
named act as the strongest evidence that you
could give in favor of the validity of this debt.
Now, sir, there is one other consideration
which I desire to present to your mind, and
that u.s. that an act of the Legislature, which
met your approval, required all insurance
companies doing business in the State to in
vest largely in the bonds of the State, and
under that act there have been placed in this
Office one million dollars of State stocks and
bonds. It seems to me that there is double
obligation on the part of the State to these
companies, as they are connected largely with
the mercantile and banking interests of the
country. I do think that this consideration
should move you to at once proceed in d.
rection that seems so clearly pointed out by
YOUR duty. If Reputation Of the interest of
the State debt is to take place, [ am anxious
tlrut others should do it, and not-tic present
administration.
If the opposition party in this State were
placed in power tomorrow, they would make
hot haste to pay every obligation Of South
Carolina, and would soon place her credit
above suspicion. The executive department
has all the power that they could have, and
why not act? The debt of this State is a
little less than sixteen millions of dollars, the
annual interest little less than one million,
and the State is abundantly able to pay.
Now, sir, have this tax levied and allow the
people chance to meet their obligations.
They pay their taxes as promptly and as we'll
as it is possible for any people in the world
to do under their difficulties, and I feel sure
that they are more than willing to do it. Of
course, the partisan press will say ugly things
and blow hard, but an old veteran of an hun
dred battles should not quake before the
blank shots of the politician. They have ad-
vised the people against paying their taxes
when they were madder than they are now,
but their advice went unheeded, and they are
sorry and ashamed that they ever acted so
badly. I regret the necessity Of levying 50
heavy an amount of taxes as will be required,
but many of the abuses of the past can be
prevented in the future, by the Legislature
making specific levies for the various pur-
poses of the government, and levying only
the amount necessary for such specific object
then it will be impossible for any power to
divert them from their proper channels. Had
this been done in the past much trouble
would have been avoided, and if sufficient
taxes had been levied to defray the expenses
of the State, even if they were unnecessarily
extravagant and heavy, it would have left the
State debt at one-half of what it is now. But
we have the present and the future to deal
with, not the past; and I propose now and
hereafter to lend my political influence, ifany
have, to the construction of a State gov
ernment that will promptly enforce the laws.
And now, sir, in conclusion, allow me to
express the hope that you will consider the
Of this subject, and at once have
the laws executed. With an apology for this
intrusion, and very great respect, 1 have the
honor to subscribe myself,
Very respectfully, your ob'tservant,
j. L. NEAGLE,
Comptrollrr-General.