The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-10-31
THE PROPOSED InIroA1 TAX Lxvr.

IN their platform declaration that the
fraudulent debt of the State should not
be paid. On this pledge they were elect
ed, and to this pledge they are bound.
Mr. Nengle was one of that party, and
member OF the Convention. He not
only did not join the bolters, but en-.
dorsed the action of his party. He con.
not avoid his responsibility. 1t is too
late for him to attempt to claim that he
Is not pledged with tho rest of the regu-
lar Republicans to faithfully carry out
the promises made before the people.
10 attempt to levy the tax oontem plated
to be levied, would be fraud upon the
public, and no man can afford to make
the attempt to do Immediately after the
election what the party to which he be.
longs pledged itself not to do. Leaving
aside the legal questions involved in the
removal of Mr. Gary, in which We hove
alread y expressed an opinion, we cannot
conceive that any man who desires to
preserve even the shadow OF decent
name would venture, in the face of the
most earnest protestations that it would
not be done, to levy tax, a large part
OF which would. il collected and honestly
applied, be appropriated to an object
declared in the platform Of his own purity
to be fraudulent and void,
The letters of Mr.. Gary but realize
the worst fears of our oitizens. An Of
dcer. confessedly pure, has been rom owed
Tor Impure purposes, when it was found
that he would not sucritice the good
name which he had earned Has q more
plant instrument been found in Mr..
Nengie? This is question of vital in
teEest to our people. Even if the pro.
posed tax we're just. and its levy legal,
our people would not be in condition to
meet its payment. We have already had
ground from Us the last dollar which we
can pny. With soil, climate and other
advantages OF nature in our favor, we
have been prevented from becoming
prosperous by the enormous taxation
which has been imposed upon US, aud
the mnladministration of the Govern.
ment.
The taxes already levied have been
misapplied. The State has received no
benefit from them. The schools and
asylums attest that the interest of the
people has been sacrificed. The various
departments of government have all
been turned against the people. The
frauds which have been committed have
been openly acknowledged by both
wings of the Republican party. The
poverty OF our people proves that the
Government of the State has been both
oppressive and unprincipled. We can
stand no more. Additional taxation, if
paid, would be ruin. Will Mr.. Neagle.
IN spite of his pledges. attempt to raise
this additional tax2 We hope not. He
knows, Us we'll as does Mr. Gary, that it
would not, if raised. be applied in the
manner in which it is pretended that it
will be applied. He knows that the ut.
tempt to raise it would be unwise, unjust
and dishonest. He knows that the peo-
pie are not in condition to meet such
levy, and he must know that on ATTEMPT
on his part to levy the tax would be not
only fraud praoticod upon the people.
but also in direct violation of the law,
which never contemplated that he should
perform the duties assigned to Mr. Gary.
10 US it seems perfectly clear that the
law abolishing the Office of State Audi
tor wns intended to take elfeot after the
newly elected officers had assumed their
Official duties, and not till then. If the
law does not moan this. then we are ut q
loss to know what it does mean. II, in
spite OF bis pledges, the platform of his
party, and the injustice of such course,
Mr. Neagle should see fit to mike the
levy, then, as We said yesterday, '.The
people must take their destinies in their
own hands. 1t is either this alternative
or utter and indescribabe ruin"
Charleston Courier.
TKsr THE TAx.-The frightful condi-
ton to which the finances of South ca.
rolina have been brought is exclusively
the work of the gang OF Northern plum
derers, who, by the help of the Ignorant
and misguided blacks. have managed to
keep the control of the State ever since
the socalled reconstruction" began.
But that it has been possible for syste-
matte and unblushing robbery of the
taxpayers money to go on, unchecked,
FROM year to year, is und sniubly, to a
certain extent, the fault of tho tax pay
ers themselves. Possessing all the pro.
perty and Intelligence of the Slate, with
more than two-iiLhs Of the voting power,
they have tamely submitted to be made
the victims Of series of outrages, some
times perpetrated under the forms of
law, but often also in direct and paIpa-
bic violation Of law, at which the whole
civilized world stood aghast. II is true,
there is among them no lack of indigna-
ton at their wiongs, or of individual
Willingness to seek redress; but in the
absence OF organization or concerted