The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1874-03-04
,zens by the act of emancipation.

free population and 402,406 slaves.
|Bv the census of 1870, there were
l7O5, ,606 free population. Now, ere
member" in tho eloquent language OF
another, "that in 1860, 4O2,4O6 souls,
now a part of our body polite, voters
amenabIe to our laws, the cost OF
: governing whom is now chargeable
, to the Government Of our State, were
p in 1860, chattels, merchandise, with
not one civil or natural right which
white men were bound to respect. In
1860, the slave was no charge on the
|State Governmet, save when he was
, hung for some petty misdemesnor,
! and the State compelled to pay his
loss"
1t would be, therefore, but just and
y fair to divide tho amount approprla-
ted in 1s59-6o. viz, s6ls.23l, by the
then free population, l,2l4, and it
i will be found that the cost OF govern
!. ling each citizen was $2.05; and then
divide the amount appropriated in
|1S72-73 by tho free population now,
viz, 705, SOC, and it will be found that
1 the cost of governing each citizen is
't$1.67-$2.O5 in 1S59-Go, during the
fboasted Democratic period, aud S1.67
in 1872-73, under the so called cor
rupt radical rule-a difference of 36
cents per capita in favor Of the latter.
So that if the Democrats had the
same number Of free citizens to gov
crn in 1959-60 that the Republicans
had in 1872-73, it would have cost
them$26l,516.30 moro. than it has
cost u.s."
The fallacy Of this arguments is ap-
parent. The idea intended to be con-
vcyed, is that the addition Of over
four hundred citizens to the popuIa-
ton Of the State by the Act of Eman-
cipation increased to that extent the
productive resources Of the State,
and whilst increasing the cost of Coy
crnment in the aggregate, diminished
the burden of taxation imposed upon
each citizen. The contrary every in
tcl,igopt person in.the State knows to
bo true. The nowly enfranchiscd
blacks bear only q fraction of this
load of taxation, and beside the poll
tax, which is only partially collected,
contribute scarcely anything tc the
expenses Of tho State Government.
The tax falls ain. ost exclusively upon
the property holder, and whilst the
current legislation has been chiefly in
the interest Of the non-tax-paycrs,
the cost Of the government has been
sustained by those who hold tho pro-
pcrty. There is no valid reason why
the act of emancipation should have
materially Increased tho cost of the
administration. Beyond an increas-
cd appropriation for education, and
for the courts, thcro seems to be no
good reason why it should require
moro to govern the free than the
cnslarcd bucks.
The Counter Memorial states:
"The assessment of property in
some counties Of the State has given
rise to complaints, and been consider
ed excessive. There is prompt and
complete remedy for all unjust assess.
ments that may have been made by
officers. Tho Comptrol
ler-General and the Legislature have
politely and patiently listened to the
representations made by those who
consider themselves aggricved thure-
by, and Immediately corrected the
wrong where it has been shown to be
such, Us is seen in the case Of the
county of Marion, that has pctitioncd
the Legislature and Comptroller. Gen
eral for relief.
The debt Of the State under the
Republican administration that con-
trollcd the State from 1868 TO 1872
has been increased from S. 100000 to
$4,000, 600, but $6,00O,O00 of that
amount has been declared by the
present Legislature to have been issu-
ed by the officer who had the matter
in charge without authority of law,
and has, therefore, been pronounced
illegal. This leaves the unques,iona-
bly, valid debt at S10,000,0O0. Of this
amount s., 100000 were issued Iy the
Democrats and s5,O0O,OoO by the Re- |.
publicans who wcro in power from
1868 10 1872. But Of the amount is
sued by the Republicans, they are
ouly really responsible for sl7OO,oOo,
issued for the "relief of the Treasu- !!
ry" and tho "Land Commission"
The remaining s3,300,000 were issu-
I'd to pay tho past due interest on the
lebt that had accrued previous to :
,hoir accession Of power, and TO re-
lecm the bills Of the Bank of the
State that had been issued before tho
var, and also to redeem the 'bills re.
:eivable" that had been issued during
he Democratic Administration of c
Governor Orr, previous to reconstruc- i
ion. Tie Republicans, therefore. s
ound ON their accession to power in :.
1868 u funded dobt Of S5,O00,0O0 and
floating debt of So 100000, which I
hey funded and increased $1,700, 600, ::
or which alone they are responsible Il
making a total Of 100000. s
A constitutional amendment was ,
by the General Assembly, :.
It its sessions in 1S7l.72, to prohibit '
he increase of the State debt, unless +
With tho consent of two.thirds Of II
he qualified voters, which amend s
nant hos hnnn adnnfnG md is nnw q ! .