The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-05-09
s. G.,
Thursday Morning, May 8, 1872.
Tho Ratio OF Taxation.

rate of taxation, debt, &c., between this
State and the State of New York.
"Civis" is on the right line. but he does
not go quite Jar enough, inasmuch as he
does not notice the fact that tho rate of
taxation in this State has been vastly in
creased since 1870, the time that the
census statistics were gathered.
We discussed, some time since, the
question of the comparative rate of taxa
tion in the various States of the Union,
as shown by the United States census re-
ports Of 1870, and demonstrated beyond
all question that South Carolina is the
heaviest taxed State in the Union. But
this miserable result OF carpet-ba,y mis-
rule cannot be too often brought to the
attention Of the people, especially the
people of the North. that they may have
proof conclusive of the damning results
of Radical reconstruction, as fostcred
and supported by the Grant administra-
tion.
In 1870, when tho statistics comprised
In the census reports were taken, We had
in this State much lighter tax than for
any other year since the State has passed
into the control of the creatures of re-
construction. The average tax for State
and County purposes was in 1870 81
mills on the dollar. This does not in
olude the city and town taxes through
out the State; and furthermore, does not
express the full amount of State and
County taxes, inasmuch as the assess
ment of real estate. as general rule, is
largely over its real or saleable value. In
that year. according to the table of the
census reports referred to by "Oivis,"
she entire tax of every description in the
State on the basis of the real value of
property was at the rate of $13. 80 on the
$1,OO0-some $500 moro per 1000
than the tax on property in the State of
New York.
But we are not confined to the State
0f New York. There were only eight
other States in the Union at that time in
which the rate of taxation was greater
than in South Carolina. The highest of
these was Nevada, which paid taxes at
the rate of $2e.4O per $1,000. But
South Carolina has madea mighty spring
since that time in increasing her rate of
taxation. Instead of tax Of 81 mills
on the dollar for State and County pur-
poses, as in 1870, we have for 1872 re-
gular tax of 20 mills on the dollar, and
the license tax, which must equal 6 mills
more at least, and probably is more. We
have. then. in all, say for State and
County purposes, tax of 26 mills on the
dollar. The city and town taxes have
also been greatly increased since 1870,
and the United States tax is but very
little, if anything, less now than it was
then. Now, if with State and County
tax Of 81 mile, the entire tax was at the
rate of $3.50 per $1,000. it is plain to
see that with State and County tax of
26 mills, our entire tax must be over $50
per $1,000, or something over three
times as much as in 1870. This puts
South Carolina far beyond Nevada,
which paid the highest rate of taxation
in 1870.
We have not examined the census re-
ports of 1860, but, comparing the
amount realized at thnt time with the
value of property then in existence, the
rate of taxation W not over 81. so per
$1,000. Place that amount alongside of
$50 per $1,000 now paid, and we have
the beautiful result of carpet-baggery,
considering it merely in financial point
OF view. Can any people live and pros
per who are compelled to pay from three
to four per cent. on their property, to 6
Government, too. that afforde no pro-
teotion, and returns not the slightest
consideration for the enormous amounts
OF money forced from the people? A
farmer was considered as doing we'll,
even before the war, who cleared two
per cent. net on his investment. How
is he now, with labor all disorganized,