The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1873-10-21
Cash on hand October 81. ioa.. sm. .I9o 20.

'HAu pu mana pcIiDot 81. iSg', Sbi W
This table. as hiss been seen. has beer
ha sed upon your reduction of the public debt
by II scaling process, Ia Al maximum ui even
the largo amount of Sl2,000,O 600 which,
amount have selected simply tor tile pur.
pose ot illustration.
TAXATION.
Taxation IL defined M tho taking OF private
property for public use The exercise of this
power is always regarded 10y The individual
with jealous cye and is subject Cf
especial interest 1t affects in its operation
every individual who forms component part
OF the body polite, whether he bo the owner
OF properly not Tie discussion of the
various systems and the beat methods of
taxation. engroSses the attention OF the states
men Of the civilized world Whether in
proud Britain. restivs France, imperial
Russia or ieversh Italy" it is at the present
moment question OF all absorbing interest
Taxation, tn sOme form, is as ancient
in origin as society itself. No civilized com
nunity can exist without taxation, and no
high degree OF civilization is aitaiuable with
out comparative large tIrdfon
The principle, laid down by Adam Smith,
which has been cngrafted upon the funda.
mental laws of cvory civilized country, that
the suhjects OF UEery State ought 10 coutri.
butte towards the support of the government
as noarly as possible in proportion TO the
revenue they respectively enjoy under tho
protection Of the State" Is truism uuiver-
sally accepted. That system of taxation.
therefore, S most just aud equitable. and
least oppressive, which is so framed as to
oafry this proposition into actual operation
The constitution OF this State evidences the
intention oil lta trainers 10 illustrate this prn-
ciple in tlnt section which provides for
ungoym and eYuesI rute OF assessment and
taxation, aud which declares that all property.
real personal or possessory, shall be subject
10 k1I4ItfOD
This system OF taxation succeeded tho svs-
tenn. or Father lack OF system, OF tho feudal
age9, when all property was hold aa tiefs of
tho crown. Tho crown was maintained by
the crown estaics Tho lords, or the original
sovereigns under tho crown. exacted tribute
from their serEa. In time Of war oach lord
was expected TO furnish his quota OF troops
and bear Ills share of the expense Justice
was administered by tho lords proprietors
and the measure Of justice meted out was
regulated by tho ability of tile person 80 de-
string to pay for it.
Among tile Hebrews, during the time of
Solomon, taxes we're levied upon houses and
transit taxes and tariffs on the introduction of
foreign merchandise. So oppressive was the
system cf taxation then that it caused the
stoning to death of Adoram, who was lover
tho tribute " and the secession Of the ten
tribes
In the Athenian republic no direct taxes
were lowed upon real or personal estate, hut
revonie was derived from tho sale of public
land, lines and cuntscations and a capitation
tax upon freedmen and foreigners, duties upon
foreign commodities aud merchandise.
In Rome, under the republic. tho spoils of
conquered nations aud the annual tribute re.
quired OF them, paid the expenses Of tho gov
eminent, but under the empire portions OF tho
revenue were sequcstrated, capitation taxes
levied, taxes on corn and heavy sums exsctcd
for the privilege of Roman citizenship
III France prior to the revolution OF l79S,
the nobility and clergy wero exempt from tax.
alton, and the burden rested heavily and with
crushing weight upon the poor. Resort was
often had to forced loans sale of monopolies,
aud even confscations, to meet the extrava-
CANT expenses Of The monarch
To return from this digression as to tho va
rous methods of texation of force ut different
periods OF tho history of the world, tile sys-
TEN of taxation which now prevails is pre-
eminenuy superior in that the burden is equal
izod, eacII individual contributing his share of
the expense OF tho State 10 proportion to the
protection Of life and property he enjoys un-
der the laws OF the State.
1t will be admitted by all that taxation is q
necessary expense; il is also a desirable ex-
penso.
"It can probably be demonstrated" II
has been said, " that there ia no one act which
can be performed by q community, which
brings in so large.a return TO tue credit Of
civilization and general happiness, as the ju-