The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-01-22
Re-Assembling of the Taxpayers con-
Yenfion.

Re-Assembling of the Taxpayers Con-
Vention.
As announced in our last issue, the Execu-
live Committee of the Taxpayers Convention
met in Charleston on Tuesday, 18th of January,
and resolved to convene that body in the city
of Columbia on the 18th of February next.
After full discussion, the Executive Commit
tee unanimously adopted the following resolu-
tions, and the delegates from Columbia were
requested to make the necessary arrangements
for the meeting of the Convention, viz:
Whereas, the Convention of the Taxpayers
of the State of South Carolina held in May, A.
D. 1871, with view to the protection OF the
rights of the citizens, adjourned, subject to be
re. assembled on the call of its president and
executive committee and whereas, the neces-
common welfare of all interests and classes,
requires that the taxpayers of the State should
again meet for counsel; therefore,
Resolred, That the Taxpayers Convention OF
this State be summoned and requested to re-
assemble in the city of Columbia, on Tuesday,
the 18th day of February ensuing, at twelve
o'clock, meridian.
Resoived, That for the purpose of enlarging
the said convention, the taxpayers OF the state
of South Carolina who are opposed to the
frauds and corruptions which prevail, and who
are in favor of honest government, with exact
and equal Justice to all, are requested to meet
at the county seats of their respective coun-
ties, on the first Monday of February, ensuing,
and then and there elect or appoint additional
delegates equal to the representation OF each
county in the House Of Representatives of the
General Assembly, to represent them IN the
Taxpayers Convention of the State, with view
to the security of right and the prevention OF
wrong
The proposition to enlarge the representation
by the election of additional delegates meets
our hearty concurrence. Anderson will be anti
tied to three more delegates by this arrangement,
and the taxpayers are requested to meet in the
Court House on the first Monday in February
to elect additional delegates. We trust there
will be general meeting of the citizens, and
that an active interest will be manifested in the
purposes of the Convention, which will seek
by lawful means to find some remedy for the
grievances forced upon the humblest citizen by
the present rulers. There can be no harm in
the taxpayers meeting together for COUNSEL
under any circumstances, but when the people
are outraged by unjust assessments of their
property, and the burdens of taxation are
growing larger every year, there is an impera-
tive necessity that all interests and classes
should combine for the common welfare In
stead of growing better, as was promised by
the Moses party in the last campaign, the stu
alton of affairs grows worse and worse, and the
exactions from the people are increased from
time to time. These exactions are becoming
insuferable, and every taxpayer can judge to
what extent by comparing his receipts with
previous years. Should the Convention have
the wisdom and ability to lessen the burdens of
the people, there will be found an universal
appreciation from every class, and better
prospect of securing honest government here
after.
The Convention of 1871 met under peculiar
circumstances and before the gigantic frauds
and populations of the Scott administration
were fully apparent. The fair promises and
pretended reformation of the Republican lead
ers are yet fresh in the minds of the people.
We fear that the declarations of Scott and his
officers were made to have an undue influence
upon the action of the Convention, and ne
feel assured that there was too much time
wasted in the investigation of the bonded debt.
Now, the Radical party has another scheme
for the arrangement of the public debt, and it
is our solemn conviction that the Convention
should let this matter severely alone. Every
favorable action on the part of the taxpayers
helps to give credit to their nefarious transac-
tions, and we should look upon the present
proposition as. matter exclusively for the
bondholders, who are the creditors of the State.
AS taxpayers, the people are the debtors, and
their Convention should not champion the
interests of any particular class. We want
rather to find practical relief and some mode
of redress for the wrongs already heaped upon
an impoverished State.
There are wholesome topics for the Conyen-
ton to consider, and their practical importance
should give them due prominence. The une-
quail assessment of property, the enormous and
extravagant appropriations of the Legislature,
and the wasteful expenditure of the peoples
money, should be fully ventilated. A steady
and determined purpose ought to be awakened
to rid the State of thieves and plunderers in
official station; not the mere illumination of
luminous reports and eloquent speeches, but
vigorous effort to bring these parties to justice,
where they may suffer the penalties of the law
for their high crimes and misdemeanors. The
prospect was as gloomy and uncertain, and the
power of the plundering officials as undoubted,
when the people of New York resolved to pros
ecute the thieves, and bring them to condign
punishment. The recent success in New York,
e. -.aa.a of ratiant inxeatina tinn and indnm.