The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-09-24
COLUMBIA, S. G.
Wednesday Morning, Sept. "a. 1878.
A Word to tho Gcneral Assembly.


We copy the following thoughtful and
well-written article from the Aiken
Tribune. {Republioan.) The members
OF the Legislature should ponder the
subject well. Much depends upon their
aotion. Let them heed the suggestions
thrown ont, curtail unnecessary ex-
penses, and thereby reduce taxation
and build up the State. With the finest
climate in the world, good land, inex-
haustible and unsurpassed water power.
South Carolina should be one OF the
most prosperous States in the Union.
If the Legislature and the State officials
go to work earnestly and honestly, this
can be effected. It is not yet too late
to fulfill the promises and pledges made
at the last election:
''On the 21st of October. if we are
correctly advised, the Legislature of
this State will be convened, in extra
session, for the purpose Of taking such
action in regard to the late decision Of
the Supreme Court, in the bond case,
as will be most likely 70 secure the
adjustment OF the question Of the State
debt upon terms at once favorable to the
citizens of South Caroline, and equita-
BILE to her creditors. The subject is one
OF profound interest to every tax.paye
in the commonwealth, and upon it's de-
termination will doubtless hinge much
of the prosperity or adversely that may
be in store for US for some years to come.
But there are other. and scarcely less
important, measures which demand
earnest and intelligent action on the
part of the General Assembly, not the
least of which is tho disposition to be
made OF the bill, introduced ut the last
session, to provide for the exemption,
for term of years, Of all capital here
after employed in manufacturing enter.
prisea in this State. When the proposi-
tion, contemplated by the bill to which
We refer, was first made in the Legisla-
ture, and, from that time to the unfruit-
iul end of its discussion. We zealously
advocated Its adoption, because we be-
ieved that it would eventuate in uumea.
sured advantage to the State. Subse-
quent observation has confirmed us in
this view, and the anxiety which we
then felt for the passage OF the bill has
been largely increased by watching the
benefits which have flowed from similar
Legislation in other States, and compar-
Ing them with the losses we have suffered
by the want of such law in our own.
Had the sagacious policy which pre-
walls in Georgia, on this subject, OBJ
tained in South Carolina, there can be
no reasonable doubt that many cotton
manufactures would have been started
this year, and much Of the capital, since
then diverted, would have been perma-
nently invested in our midst. Gentle.
men, who last winter were enthusiastic
advocates of the erection of new faoto-
ries in this County. have now become
lukewarm on the subject. Some of
them, indeed, since the recent decision
OF the Supreme Court, are bitterly hos
tile to making any further investments
largely increased, and the Legislature of
which seems utterly Indifferent to the
best interests of the people.
''This is in striking contrast with cnr
neighbours III Georgia. who not only e1.
empt all manufactures from taxation
for term of years, but. in some locali.
ties, at least, pay bonus toward the
inauguration of every new enterprise of
the kind. AS a consequence of this
policy, several factories are being erect
cd ut Columbus. which will employ
many thousand spindles. At Augusta,
capacious one is approaching compile.
ton, and that city is making considera-
bic expenditures to enlarge the canal so
as to procure water power for others;
whilst at Savannah, where no water
power is available, steam has been sue
cessfully substituted in the establish
ment of manufactures. Yet Columbia,
in our own State. which possesses more
water power than any other point in the
South, has not q single factory con-
strncted, and it is very doubtful whether
one ever will be built there unless the
Legislature exempts it from taxation
temporarily. Locking nearer home, We
see that the Langley Company has done
nothing towards enlarging the capacity
OF their mill, whilst the Graniteville
Company, which had commenced pre-
partitions for doubling the scope of
their operations, suspended all work in
that direction as soon rs tho Legislature,
at its last session, decided adversely to
the bill proposing to exempt manufacto-
ries from taxation. And now we ask
tho intelligent members of the Legisa-
ture whether they can afford to persist
IN 80 unwise course? It requires no
extraordinary sagaoily to perceive that
the restoration of onr State credjt the