The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1874-07-01
The Constitution for the Tx
T:sionI Proposed aa" Eee0li-
snen5ed by the Tax-payerS'
Convention.

- E22eDGe0 Dy the EaX-- ecS'
Convention.
FELLoW-CITIzENs: The Executive
Committee Of the Tax-Payers' Con-
veatioa. III pursuance Of :he duty with
which they were charged, herewith
present to you plan for the organiza-
ton of the Tax Unions throughout
the State. The object Of this orgaui-
zation is to put into effective operation
all lawful means within our reach for
the establishment Of an honest and
economical administration Of govern,
ment in South Carolina.
The committee do not deem it ne
cessary to argue with you upon the
urgency Of the occasion, or the neces-
sitY Of reform. The burdens to which
we arc subjected are greater than we
can bear, and the proof ig to be found
in the fact that the houses and lands
Of the proprietary class are being for
feited to the State, in quantity and
without parallel, from sheer
inability to pay the taxes. There can
be no stronger Or more distressing
proof Of oppression than the systematic
confscation by the government of the
property Of the citizen for non-pay-
1nent of dues too excessive to be borne.
But when the moneys, extorted from
the people under color Of law, are also
systematically and shamelessly squan-
dered, plundercd and stolen, another
aad more srievous wrong is added to
the catalogue of enormities, and the
very acme of the most vulgar form Of
despotie rule is reached. Such 60
yernment forfeits all title to the name,
and is no better than organized spolla-
ton and robbery. 1t would be a SLAM
der and stigma upon you to suppose
that you will suffer this state Of things,
so destructive and ignominlouS, to
continue, without exhausting every
possible human effort to put an end to
it. Your history, your traditions and
your personal manhood forbid 1t; there
is no need of reasoning about it-if
you be true toyourselyeS; your instincts
will all impcl you in this direction: nor
can you hope to redeem yourselves,
without helping yourselves. Self-nelp
will bring you ali other help. We
cannot believe that there are not good
men enough of all parties in the State
to rescue the government from the men
that are bringing ruin and disgrace
upon you, and to restore 1t to some
thing Of its former responsibility. To
this end activity, real earnest purpose,
devotion to the cause and thorough
organization are necessary. The Tax
Unions will furnish the form Of organ
ization, but you must breathe into it
the breath of life, and make lta living,
active, efficient aud pcrvading instm-
mentality for good. Especially should
our young men devote themselves TO
this work. The future, It's hope and
destinies, are all theirs. If they do
not try to shape it, there will be un-
told niseries in reserve for them-not
only ruin, but shame and remor<e,
sure and perhaps too late. 1t is upon
them that the blame will rest, for 1t is
now their time to come to the front in
this struggle under the law, as before
thev came to the front in the more
dreadful issue of war. The SAME
spirit and courage that stood them N
stead then, will stand them in stead
now. Their cause will enlist the SYM
pathics Of al! good men throughout
the. country: TO put dishonesty to
fight, to purge corruption, tt. rescue
the good commonwealth from the
hands of those who have made her
nasue by-word and repcoach every
where, is work well worthy Of an
earnest, concerted and perseverfng ct,
fort; and if it be under taken in the
proper, spirit, and with zeal and
energy proportioned to the exisencles
in which we are placed, it must and
will be successful.
In conclusion, We beg to commend
to y"ur earnest, sober and faithful
consideration these words Of wise: pa
trictic counsel, from the address Of
their convention to the people Of South
Carolina: Let the honest and well
meaning citizens, one by cne, be
brought into the Tax-Payars' Union.
and asads to work for the cause Of
good government, until the State is
redeemed. The ecIat that attends the
clash Of arms is wanting to such
struggle. but 10 cause can be more
worthy Of the earnest, faithful and pa
7ieut labor Of one who loves his peo-
ole and his State. 4 triumph like this
is not to be WOE by 4 single decisive
batt!c, nor, it may be, by many toll
some campaigns, but patient: endur-
ins and houcst work, sooner or later,
will bring victory to your standards.
Ne laurel wrcaths may crown the
victor's brow, but ransomed and re-
deemed Carolina, a free, prosperous
and happy people, will attest to future
generations that, worthy Of your au-
ccs:ry, and true as they to duty and
honor, you have taken up the fight in
the darkest hour Of adversely, and
faithfully and successfully fought it
out to victory. We conjure you, then.
at once to organize, compact and work
I'D tie Tax-Payers' Union, until you
anchor the State safe in the harbor of
assured peace aud prosperity.
JAMES CHESNUT.
Chairman Executive Committee Tax
PAYERS Convention, in behalf Of
Committee.
Tie constitution for tie Tax Unions:
as 1in:.!'y adopted, is as follows:
I. The object ofthe Tax Unions are
the reduction Of TAXATION aud the hon
est appropriation and expenditure Of
the public funds:
2. There sha!i oe in each County as
many Subordinate Tax Unions as may
bedeenled necessary. but not less than
one such Subordinate Union for each
torrnshin or ward. There shall be one