The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-02-08
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

IHE GOHEhNOfi'S HGCcdU3ss
The Tax Sales In osed
Action for tho Leg ek1slature-Refund nding
the Cotton Tax-State TaxatIon-The
People Must Face the Music.
[FRoM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBIA, 8. c., February 6.
Another Gay of tlresome debate In the House
on the metropolitan police scheme and OF
routine work in the Senate, varied only by an
occasional tiff between the gadiators OF Barn.
well and Darlington, and mild howl of indlg-
nation in consequence of the refusal of the
treasurer to pay the members pay certificates
until further legislative appropriations shall
be made. The metropolitan iniqllty came up
In the House as the unfinished business OF yes
terday, and with Mr.. Jervey in possession Of
the floor He made long speech in favor of
the bill introduced bg Mr.. Bowen, dividing his
discourse into six heads, and proving incon-
testably that this was just the legislation need
ed to make Charleston the happiest and most
prosperous of cities. He was followed by Mr..
Lee, of Edgefeld, who endeavored to
show that, while on general princl.
PIES the metropolitan police scheme
was the best measure ever devised by
legislative wisdom for benlghted and recall
cltrant community, this particular bill was the
worst that was ever framed, and only sought
to give the County Of Charleston into the de-.
signing hands of that arch-enemy of Governor
Scott and his Ku-Klux Klans, Mr.. C. G..
Bowen. In fact he submitted that the bill
should be entitled "a bill to further the future
political projects of G. G. Bowen" and he
gave notice that he would move for such a
changeof title. The rest of time was con-
sumed by Hunter, Hedges, Jones and Elliott,
with arguments pro and con upon the merits
of the Bowen bill, which continued until the
sergesnt-at.arms announced, with the usual
flourish of trumpets, "a message from his Ex-
celency the Governor"
The message, which appears to consist of
two little words for the people and one big
word for the Governor, was read by the
speaker, as follows:
Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives:
Importance to the citizens Of this State, have
been brought to my attention, which were not
treated of In my annual message, and which
seriously affect the interests of the State,
among which Is the anomalous condition or
property In Beaufort County, held by the Cen
eral Government, and the refunding of the
tax collected on cotton.
In relation to the lands In Beaufort County,
beg to lay before you an extract from COM
munlcstion received from citizens Of that
county, which gives fair exhibit of the hard
ships under which they are suffering. From
q large portion of the property. being exempt
from actual settlement, and consequently
from taxation, 1t Is unquestlonably both the
duty and the interest of the General Govern
ment to release their claim upon this property
at once, by either selling 1t or restoring 1t to
Its former owners. And 1 believe 1t is only
necessary for the Legislature to express de-
cided opinion on the subject to induce our
representatives In Congress to take imme-
diate action.
The property Of many persons who were
innocent Of any actual participation In the war,
but who were placed in apparent antagonism
to the government by their surroundings, has
been sold; and would earnestly recommend
that where the title has not passed from the
government, that their property be restored to
Them on the payment OF the taxes, &C., and
where the title has passed out Of the control OF
the government, that the money arising from
the sale, after deductlng the taxes. be paid TO
tract from the communication all that is
necessary to impress you with the Importance
of the subject:
tThe attention OF the Legislature should be
called to the fact that one NTH gn value OF me
possession OF the United States, and, therefore,
not subject to taxation. The title to this prop
erty wa acquired by the Federal Government oy
means OF the various sales made BY the United
States direct tax commissioners, In years 1853
'64-'65-'66, at which time the whne or the Parish
OF St. Helena was sold by the United States for
delinquent taxes. There yet remains In the hands
OF the government about fifteen hundred pieces OF
property, varying In size from five acres to six
teen hundred acres, besides more than one hun
died lots in the Town OF Bea9lort. oiii mas
revenue, Ia whose hands this property now Is,
aud 1t is now before Con. ress. This II p Divides
for the speedy sale OF all the interests OF the gov
ernmen: IN Beaufort County. II also provides lor
an equitable distribution Of the fund acerutng to
the United States treasury, from this and preV1.
ous sales, among those whose property waa seized
and sold, deductng the amount OF tax due and
penalty
"The longer continuance OF the occupation Of
theas lands by the General Government will be
serious and unsurmountsole obstacle to the pros
perity OF the country. No Improvement will be
made upon such property. Agriculture cannot
be otherwise than shiftless and slovenly when
there is no personal owner. Many houses nave nave
already fallen into ruin; some have been pulled
down, and all are deteriorating rapidly The County
OF Beaufort is In debt. II this property were SUD
ject to taxation, 1t would produce enough 70 pay
the interest on bonds, and produce SINKING
fund for It's early eXtinguishment. while there
NAV be differences Of opinion as to the best way 70
remedy the evils indicated tn re ts no doubt shat
any settlement is betttr shan the present. saoma-
lous condition Of AFFAIRS. Our senator ought 70 oe
instructed, and our representatives requested, 70
give this matter their earnest aud Immediate al
tention.n
also beg to call your attention to the &C.
companying documents from the Chamber o.
Commerce of the cities of Charleston and
Memphis. In relation to the special tax on
cotton collected by the United States Govern
ment during the years l865-66-67, imme
dately succeeding the rebellion.
This collection of taxes from one OF the
principal staples that add largely tQahe wealth
Of the country, under ordinary circumstances,
would have regarded as an oppressive and
improper discrimination against the cottos
growing interests, and, at the time 1t was es
tablished, 1t was snquestionably oppressive
upon those who were compelled to pay IT,.
will not enter into discussion of the justice
or Injustice of the measure, nor am disposed
to question the constitutionality of the regula
ton under which it was collected, but will
Simply urge the propriety of memorializins
Congress- to return to the several States iron
which it was collected the revenue derived a
special tax on cotton, believing that the Gen
eral Government, when it appreciates III
hardships suffered by the people Of thos