The New York herald., 1874-08-18
SOUTH CAROLINA.
A Review of the Decentralization and
Corruption Throughout the State.
TIE TAXPAYERS AROUSED TO ACTION
Tax UniOus and Other Secret Organizations
Formed in Every Hamlet.
THE GUBERMAT0RIAL CONTEST,

COLUMBIA August IA. 1874.
From the mountains to the seaboard the Pal
metto State Is in seething condition OF political
fermentation which Is increasing with every sue !
ceedng day. Everything indicates that, before
the cooling breezes OF December Shall have
arrived. unusual scenes Will be enacted upon her
SOIL second in interest only to those OF the early
days Of secession; peradventure. violence
although at present there Is manifested general
disposition to avoid the chances in measures that
would tend towards the shedding Of blood, except
In the case OF general contest Tor snperlorlJ
It is TOO early to write Of That: perhaps many
think too late. II so. let them travel ID MSs~'
sippi, Louisiana, aud then come here. :
In tue republican ranks the cry OF "roiorm" Is
heard In every quarter, but in my travels over the
State this month I fail to note anything at the
numerous political meetings that proves sincerity
on the part OF the majority. Their actions IN
selecting candidates. and the conduct OF
the mass-meetpgs, tell to the conlrary;'
in fact, they have nearly all been con-
demned by those prominent republicans
OF known problty, aud by the press of the party.
which latter appears to be unheeded and power
less much less has been done than expected,
and conservatives are more confident now than
at any time since the termination OF the war.
They consider the facts now In their true ght and
acknowledge the folly OF their course at hrst
under reconstruction, in keeping alooi iron po.lt-
Cal affairs, III the vain hope OF q sudden demon
stration OF what now Is too painfully apparent-the
inability OF the colored people to govern properly;
they have been forcby convinced OF TIE useiessness
OF the dangerous measures employed in 1s70-1S71
to ntlmidate those whom the law had clothed
with equal rights and to drive them from paths OF
duty of their own selection, because OF ignorance
hvc tYrfnrV la nj m
or q desire to gain knowledge now that the
obstacle is removed. The conservative population
OF this State will acknowledge all this In their con.
versarion. and, having had the experience. 1t IS,
from indications too plain TO be mistaken, only .
question OF time when they will again
ASSUME coNTRoL OF GOVERNMENT.
Their present ntrigues and organizations, ex'
tending to every locality within the State lines,
form power which, aided involuntarlly by honest
party workers the other side IN the cause OF re-
form, Will shake the rotten republican structure TO
its very foundatioD, perhaps anninilate It. with
the convention OF taxpayers IN February last rests
the responsibility OF whatever good or evil may be
derived from the conservative movement now in
progress. This is an acknowledged fact every
where. Although 4. was denied that the Conven-
ton represented any considerable amount OF
property, none were 30 bold as to attack the intel
Igence Of the members, for the greater number
were the shrewd, experienced, old-time men who
figured most conspcously in the secession move
ment; the lew younger ana more progressive
were compelled to take back seats; their voices
were sienced and their resolves tabled. The plans
laid In that Convention have been quietly but
steadily elaborated until q very respectable iront
presents Itself. The most important Of these, as
seen at this time, consist OF
THE TAX UNIONS.
tbo upfnr rt,tna ta nd ms nj
servatives express it, unwise visit OF the COM
mittee OF taxpayers to President Grant and Con-
gress they have worked in every quarter, at home,
with Will and determination evidently acceer-
ated by the treatment they received. The Central
Committee with the sub-committees In the
counties, have been unusually active and success
iut IN forming ORGANIZATIONS, designated TAX
unions," which are governed by constitution
and bylaws adopted in the Convention. With the
exception OF Marlboro every one oi the thlrty-twO
counties Of this State has enrolled It's conservative
taxpayers. No county has less tnan three unions,
aud me have from eight TO Twelve, with the ex-
ing order, holding, besides their local meetings, o
convention once each mouth at the county
a colored ireenolder has been admitted
to membership, but In three coanties q
! number OF white republicans have been made
! members. The ostenslbe OBJECT OF the unions lS
to stop the sqnanderlng Of the revenues by profit
gate officials, and In addition to this-it Is COM
! mon assertion throughout the State-peremptory
refusal 10 meet the next demand TOR taxes which
! Will be made III the c00i0g November. Inc man.
ner o. tne application OF the greater part 0f the
money thus collected is known throughout The
country. and need only add that the frequent
expressions OF leading property holders leave no
doubt OF their intention 10 see that their hard
earned money is expended, II at ALL in accordance
! with Their IDEAS OF management. From frequent
conversations with the county assessors. who
| make up tue lists and are now bnsiy engaged IN
receiving the returns Of property subject to tax.
| alton, leatve to the disposition shown, ] am
! convinced that concerted refusal to pay Will
occur Ii any other candidate than the choice OF or
"a. nv hn foI
ern0r. Besides the unions" ID the organization
THE PATRONS OF INDUSTRY,
or Rrangers, com oosed, without an exception, OF
white conservatives or de mocrats and these are us
well organized those OF any state In the Union.
Outwardiy the two organizations do not act In
I concert, but the most OF the members OF one be-
long to the other. 1t is lact tnat, during the sit
tines OF the taxpayers Convention and Oi the
StaSe Grange, committee OF conference was sent
IRON tue first named, which was refused CO.
operation on the ground that the oranges were
non political This was publicly asserted, but re-
puDicans here were incllned u the belief that 1t
was ruse. / mention these circumstances par
tlcularly that the readers Of the HERALD II occa-
sion shall require, as 1t probably WILL may refer back
to the nrst steps taken In the new political deal In
II not entirely commendable suspicion attaching
TO everv movement. Thus far the oranges nave
farmers are not o Them can be so construed.
THE WHITE MILITARY CLUES.
The commanders oil the ''meelISh' are consider.
ably exercised on account OF the activity in the
ride and sabre clubs. Whether any political i'm
pOrtance attaches to these ORGANIZATIONS, l sup.
pose cannot now be an open question, for II VIII
be remembered that when the services Of the dis
tnguisned counsel, Hon. Reverdy Johnson and ex
United States Attorney General SALISBURY, were
engaged to deiend the captured Ku kiuX, the R0
went forth that the clubs must come to the rescns
by nberaHy contributing TO pay for the same
Since that time hundreos OF new military cluDs
have been organized, and to-day, II permitted
South Carolina would ''dress up q line Of white
sOdery tnat no State need be ashamed OF. Tht
masses Will have 1t that the sabre CLUBS, rife
! corps schuetzen-verens and other association
OF whites are TO some extent auxiliary to the ta1
unions. Hence although not continually being
expressed, 1t viii be seen that there Is a very
HEALTHY SCARE BREWING,
either fOr good or evil Among the coiOred peo
pie this has had a very demoralizing effect lately
Tor they have numberiess major generals, brga
ders, cOoneiS al tnjtititunl ana rank and file itt
better than rabble, the sight OF some o. whom
would nave made Old Falstaf's heart leap for Joy
IN TINS city, within month past, TWO large rlf
clubs nave been organized, one OF them havinC
Tor u nucleus the remnant Of rhe famous Richant