The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-11-01
The Limit to Taxation,

hurso the public revenue. that the COM
plants OF the people amount to nothing.
for they murmur, no matter what rate of
ts1stion is imposed upon them. It is
trne that majority of people will
always pay their taxes grudgingly, whe-
ther they be much or little; and it is we'll
that they do go, for else there would be
no check to the extravagance, not to say
greed, of their rulers. Furthermore,
allow that the people are discomfort with
paying even u moderate tax. is that
any reason or any excuse for increasing
their public burdens 1000 per cent, as
is the case at present in this State2 IL
there no proper limit to taxation short
of actual con6scation?. Surely there is.
People or society will pay very good
round sum for the benefits Of that pro-
tcotion to life, liberty and happiness,
which governments are generally de-
signed to secure. But they will not be
bled to death, nor be forced, if they are
free men, to pay more for fancied pro-
section than it is worth. We say fanoied,
sor the word suits our case here in South
Carolina. It is very difficult to see what
protection the nominal Government in
this State affords those who deiray it's
expenses or anybody elee. Onr pc ople.
however, are willing to pay reasonable
amount to the support of the Govern
nent. worthless, though it be, for the
sake of peace, and to avoid contention
and strife, of which they are sick. They
are not. or should not. be willing to pay
more than what is necessary to con-
duct our public affairs with mea-
surable economy. What is that amount?
Here comes the important question.
What sum of money is necessary, taking
sensible view Of affairs, for the susten-
tation of the State2 We know no more
reliable way of arriving at q reliable
conclusion on this point. than by refer
ring to the cost of the government up to
the time of reconstruction. when it
passed out of the hands of those who are
most Immediately interested in its eco
nomical management. Prior to 1868,
We think We are perfectly safe in the
assertion, that there was not State in
the Union, nor country in the world,
whose public affairs were administered
more honestly, more sagaciously and
more successfully than were those of
South Carolina. Free schools. on ac-
eount of our sparse and scattered popu-
lation, We could not have, except at q
cost by no means commensurate with
the advantages to be attained. Aside
from this, oil proper public institutions
were we'll sustained. Our judiciary was
nnexcelled; life, liberty and property
we're amply protected; our credit, up to
the war, was second to none; and every
Legitimate purpose OF government was
effected at q not extravagant cost. The
average expenditures aggregated not
more than 100000. Now, what is there
in the present condition of our State
which should rightfully increase the
cost OF our government? Except the
public schools. which we have been pro-
missed but have never had established to
any noticeable x,en', there is no object
that we Gun sec for which ono dollar
more shonld bo paid iuto tho public
Treasury than WAS up to the in
auguration Of tho present regime.
Add, then, say 100000 for public
schools; this will make S7OO. 900. There
is, perhaps, something additional for
what we arc willing to allow as the legal
ly authorized Increase of the public
debt. Make the total expenditures, then,
in round numbers, 81 100000. Surely
that is enough. in all conscience, aud it
ia good deal more than our people,
who have lost fully two thirds of thoir
property, can we'll pay. There is not in
fact, but according to tho tax assessment,
1884, 900. 900 OF taxable property in tho
State. Seven mills on tho dollar ought
TO realize over the million required, pay
all tho expenses Of collection, and leave
q margin. Instead Of that, NC have this
year threatened tax of twenty mills on
the dollar, or two per cent. on an over