Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-04-30
South Carolina.

South Carolina.
In somewhat severely criticising the
State Government of South Carolina "a
short time ago, we gave the statement Of
the committee which was then visiting
Washington, and expressed the hope that
if the representations which these gentle
men made were in any respects untrue
they might be shown to be so by those
conversant with the facts. 81 nee that
time a counter committee has visited the
capital and had an interview with the
President, and explained many of the
seemingly serious charges made against
the party in power. 1t has remained for
the Hon. Robert B. Elliott, however, to
make very clear and concise statement
of the situation, which puts a very differ.
ent look on the matter. The FIRST com
mittee which visited Washington de
clared that the property owners of the
State had no representation in the Legis.
lature but Mr., Elliott shows this to be
untrue. Onehalt the improved farming
lands of South Carolina are in the bands
of the labor element, who constitute a
vast majority of the Republican party. 1t
was commended by the committee referred
to that this element paid no taxes; but it
is shown that these men hire farms from
the land -owners, and not only pay taxes
directly to the State, but indirectly, also,
through their rentage, to the original
owners for the use OF lands which they
improve AMI develop while the drones
set up this cry of corruption.
A very important fact in relation to this
tax question is also stated by Mr. Elliott.
1t is alleged that, by reason of the enor-
nous taxation levied upon them, the tax.
payers are impoverished and ruined. Mr.,
Elliott shows that the levy in no single
year since the Reconstruction act has eX-
ceeded nineteen mills on the dollar for State
and county purposes, and has only aver
aged eleven mills. He shows that this rate
is exceeded by that of many Northern
States, in some of which the levy is as high
astwenty. eight mills. They also alleged that
their farming lands have been contlscated
through taxation, but Mr. Elliott shows,
in explanation OF this, that out OF II 000-
900 acres OF farming land but 5000, 600
acres are improved or arabic, and he say
that the owners of the 100000 acres un.
improved permit the same to be forfeited
for taxes, knowing that the State cannot
find purchasers, and believing that it will
revert TO them in the end.
Another answer which the South Caro-
lima Congressman gives to the representa-.
tons of the committee is in regard to the
courts being suborned and the
Judges corrupt. MIR. Elliott de
clares that, of the twenty-lour men
who have held the Office of Judge Of the
Superior or Circuit Court since The State
was reconstructed, nineteen were natives
of the State who had formerly held posi-.
tons as judges, Governors, Confederate
officers, etc. The majority of them were
not, and are not now, in sympathy with
the Republican party. They were Demo
Gratis, and were chosen because they were
deemed peculiarly qualified for these po-
sitions. The other five are Northern men,
but gentlemen of reputation One of
them was nominated by the present OPP
position party as their candidate for
Governor IN 1870. He was beaten, but,
Notwithstanding the fact that he had been
politically opposed to them, the Repub.
icans took him up and reelected him 10
the position of Circuit Judge, which he
had resigned two years before to accept
nomination at the hands of their oppO-
nents. He was good enough TO become
the Conservative candidate for Governor,
but they now denounce him as ignorant
of the law and rupt in his rulings.
In regard to the eXtrayagant printing
appropriation he gives the following ex
PLANTATION.
The appropriation made by the Legislature was
for work which had been in process Of completion
for three years rs IL was not finished during the ser-
sion of the two previous Legislatures no appropri-
alion could be made. Besides his, a large porti.n
of the WORK was Of an extraordinary .ture, and
such that 1t might not occur again for twenty-five
years. AT the close OF the the General -iat.
uies were lo-t by the destruction OF the various
libraries, and IL was almoet Impossible 10 obtain a
copy for general use, and supply had t. be
printed Then the decisions OF the Supreme Court
had not been In print for several yeare, aud they
were published by vote OF the Legislature, and
added TO all these war the testimony IN the Ku-
klux trials, which to-day forms the most Disgrace
ful episode in the lives OF those men who come up
" Washington and cry out against corruption.
MIR. Elliott does not deny that there
have been abuses. but he expresses his
conviction that they are being gradually
corrected, and that South Carolina has.
in most respects, a good, efficient and
honest government. His statement is so
clear and bears such marks OF truth upon
its face that we regret ii was not made
before. 1t would have avoided much
misapprehension and saved much harsh
criticism which seems, in view Of this
explanation, unfair and undeserved In
ten. Ocean, AprN IS.
Another fatal accident, resulting from