The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1874-05-27

un" was we'll written, aud the points
on his 81 10 of tho the question we'll
put. But "Quelqu'uu' misc onstrued
partly the drift Of our local. This
local was burredly written, md per.
haps hot clear. We we're not 80
much censuriny those who purchased
the lands at the s.les, as the men of
means who 'tako no Interest in tho
movement now on foot through the
State to put un end to Tho moustrous
system Of public swim ding at present t
existing. AS tho tax.s for 1878
we're mostly collected be:nic the
mec',ng Of the taxpaycrs' convection,
there could, "f course, be 10 resis-
tadce to the high taxes Of that Year,
nor would 'it be pus>ible Pc. haps to
avert 'rcin f'om those parties 'wl"sc
land Was advertiscd by permitting it
to te fortified ~ tho State. The
idea in allowing the lands 70 lie for-
feited is that 'c.erc must be h uh,ivef.
sal forfcitore, 30 that tho0gh tho
State may he'rieh in real estate. it
will have no tiuhcy end Mill cons G.
qaehtly fall to pieces. AS this was
lmprac,icab1e fvf the last ysar, w:;o
are not prepared to say which is the
Lesser evil, thu, lands DO forfeited to
the State or be bought up by capital
lists for song.
We must shy somtthiug however,
c" paSsanf, aboot this buying iu.-
Some pcrsuns on sale day bid III lard
because they had mortgageh or ITEMS,
and they wished to savo themselves.
THIS was perfectly proper. Others
bought land as f.ieudly act for
fr'o"ds. This was lraiseworthy.-
Bht it is question whether they ure
not cn'pable who purchase lands
merely as speculation. 1t appears
to US to he species IF prcying upon
the misfortunes of others. We know
tlnt many who this purchase laid
take III thought in the matte, and
forget the want Of the pouple who
a'c thus sold ont vf house and home.
They look upon it merely as a good
speculation, whereas it is n dreadful
thing for family to see its property
it's homestead, thus ru,hlessly snatch
81 away without consideration, bc.
cause it cannot raise money enough
to s,tisfy ,be ibsa,iAtc greed Of pub.
llc thieves.
We repeat that this year there is
no way Of aver,ihs the tax sales, and
"QneIqu'un". may be correct in lis
assumption that it is better for
private person to buy land in
han to have it forfeited 10 the State.
But rs hr as the poor devil is con-
ce'ned who sees h's PROPERTY swept
away, it makss but little difference 10
him who gets It, whether private citi:
zchs or public scounAtcls.
We sincerely trust, however. that
by bcxt yeari if taxes are not reduced,
there will be an Organization over the
whole State, pledged to resist the
tax s~les, aud that itch and poor W,l
stand on the same footing, with
shoulder to shoulder in their fight
against vpPtessiou.
We dc asked Whether we know
single Instance Of lands oei,g thus
sold where their owners were ho,
negligent aud curel.>s. In reply i've
SIS that ,hc misfortunes Of boor
'SMily AFRO a d6Iioate matter to tuuch
Upon. If tho people ii South Clio.
lna are p"or they are proud, aid do
uot parade their poverty. But We
have strong ground fJt bellesing that
most Of the lands were sold bbcnu,e
their owner" we'o absolutely pen.i.
lts'. We hear tilt the children Of
one man whose property &as Bought
in or forfeited to the State, are al
ready iu Ssnt Of tho ne,cssarie es Of
life. although this is the beginning of
the year. We know Of two instances
where faihilies containing Il large
humber of chifdr.ii each, were dc.
pr'ved Of theft hou es'rad by this in.
famous tax Jaw. We know Of u widow
ludy who had in hct bands on the
day Of the ssle, school ccstificatrs for
II much lArger uu,ouiit thaii her taxes,
which were worthless because Of the
faithlcssness of public uaiclnls who
made away with the taxes Of her
richer neighbo,s. And sho stands