Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1872-11-28
.Nsagle Non-Piussed.

Yesterday was the time appointed for
the hearing of the cas-. of the State OF
South Carolina, e1 relatione, the Attorney
General, against the several County Aud
itors and Treasurers, upon the rule to show
cause, made by Judge Melton several days
ago, why they should not be restrained
from the collection Of the, taxes, as recently
ordered oy Comptroller Neagle.
The dciants failed to appear, and the
rule was made absolute, and an injunction
order granted, which we publish elsewhere
in our columns The people are at rest for
q season, and no taxes car be demanded of
them until the General Assembly shall
have taken action in the premises.
The scheme, which had been undoubt-
edly concocted by Neagle and Parker, in
connection, perhaps, with afew other specu
lators, to gpbble up the charger part Of the
incoming taxes for the payment Of certitl-
Gates, printing bills, ETC., is thus effectually
baked for the present, and probably for all
time. This is all very we'll, and exceeding
ly.gratifying, so faras it goes.
The action Of the new administration,
and particularly of Judge Melton and
Secretary of State Cardozo in this regard Is
certainly commendable.
We like these iijunctions, which Judge
Melton has been granting, als we think
all the parties who have been instrumental
in procuring them deserving of very high
commendationfr from the honest, substantial
citizenso of theState.
We hear that there is quite stir among
the harpes around the State House, at the
course Of Judge Melton and Cardozo. They
are indignant at the idea that any person
who processes Republicanism in South
Carolina, should undertake any work
which looks to the interests of the tax
payers, and ,;hich will keep money out of
the Treasury. Angry threats are made OF
reducing the salary Of the Attorney Gene
raj, and of having the Office shorn of its
powers. 1t is the same old story over
again. If ever man in the Republican
party of this State, attempts to act hon
orably, and to subserve the substantial
interests Of the people, at once he IS set
upon and either whipped back into the
rut of corruption, or else Is ostraclsed by
the party. There has never yet though
bee n man of Melton's brains who has
tried it, and we>hope the sequel will show
that he has the strength and tho ten'lty OF
purpose to Withstand both their blandlsh-
ments and their threats.
We understand that he is backed by
the Administration, and if thus be true,
he can certainly bold his own.
1t is promised that there will be large
reduction in the amount of the tax. We
hope So If there is not, then what has
been done amounts to almost nothing.
The mere deferring for q month or six
weeks the payment Of the taxes, would be
of but little benefit to the people. Re-
duction is what they want In order too
to MAKE any marked reduction Of the tax
consistent with the proper support OF the
Government; there must be q wholesale
curtailment Of expenses If useless offices
are abolished and extravagant salaries Of
others cat down and an honest financial
management of the Government inaugu-
rated, the State can be conducted upon
one-haf of what may now be considered
as legitimate expenses.
THERE'S scarcely an appropriation hith-
erto made by the General Assembly which
may not be largely diminished if the pub
lie funds are kept well in hand and the
cash be always ready to meet proper de-
mands. There are the Lunatic Asylum
and the Penitentiary, for instance. Fifty
thousand dollars in cash would 60 farther
to the proper maintenance Of these insti-
tutions than the eighty thousand appro'
priated, but never promptly paid them
In the purchases which are made for pro
visions and other supplies, if the mer-
chants have to give credit and take the
risks of finally getting their money, they
will, of course, increase their charges, ac'
cordingly.-South Carollnians