Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-07-30

zation in the hands Of skillful and unscrupu-
lous leaders let us ascertain if effects as good
as these are bad, can not be procured from
perfect organization under the control of those
who wish to save the land we love.-Fairfeld
NeWs.
= RATIONALE OF TAX UNIONS.
i Hon. Armistead Burt addressed the citizens
of Cokesbury on the 10th inst, upon the SUBJ
ect of Tax Unions. The purpose and scope
of these organizations we're we'll presented in
his terse and concise way. They are in no
way political in aim or object, and there is no
reason why every good and honest man ip the
State, white and black, should not join them
and make them strong to dictate "the reduc-
ton of taxation and the honest appropriation
and expenditure of the public funds" We
have the opportunity now to unite in resisting
the systematic pillage to which we have been
subjected for years, and it will be our own
fault if we do not, by requiring it to observe
a just limit. bring the mockery of government
which oppresses us to terms. We commend
to the acceptance of our citizens the sober,
well-considered words of Mr.. Burt upon this
subject. "The OCCASION" he said
us one of the most vital Importance to the
country, and of deep interest to ALL Every
honest man, white or colored, has an individ.
ual interest in the organization Of Tax Unions.
Those who are dishonest aud prefer theft have
no business here. Those who believe in po-
litical power to oppress the poor, that they
may fatten on the spoils of office, are not
wanted here. Every honest man. must enter
his remonstrance in language not to be mis-
| T1nso {ba 1o
gitimate offspring of the Taxpayers Conven-
ton which assembled in Columbia some
time ago. He commended to all what was
said and done by that body, composed ofmen
of high responsibility and taxpayers. Some
had been disposed to deride and ridicule the
action of that convention at the time, but I
do not suppose that any who read the signs of
the times will doubt that tremendous conse-
quences were the result Of that meeting
"The great evils complained of by the
press, these Tax Unions seek to correct and
reform. Is there any man outside Of all asy-
lum in favor of high taxes, unless he received
good part himself? The amount yearly
paid for taxes you know, and yet it has been
This is untrue. Although it may appear so,
still the false assessments Of property more
than double the taxes. A poor woman who
paid So tax in 1871, paid for the same in
1872 S18. How is the equalization of taxes
by the County Boards done? They simply
take the average, by adding the highest and
lowest assessments together, and then strike
an average, without any regard as to the value
of the land. The taxes are monstrous In
only nineteen Of the thirty-two counties in
South Carolina, 146 square miles fland have
been sold for State and county taxes, and 537
square miles of land have been forfeited to
the State at tax sales during the current year.
Can one in view of this fact, be so blind as
not to see his fate in the future? Is there any
one who does not find the burthen increasing
every year, and that the people are poorer
than at any time since the war? | know,
with regret, that our people have withdrawn
from public affairs. see but few in atten.
dance at public meetings or at our county
courts that we're formerly sure to be present.
It is said they are at home, working hard to
make money This is blind policy and will
surely fail in the end. If taxation increases,
the lands wearing out, want and destitution
will surely overtake the agricultural element,
because they Mt bear the taxation. We
must do something to arrest this state of
things. The man whois willing to submit to
it is not worthy the name Of freeman; he
ought to be slave to some>despot, and slave
he will surely be. TO make an effort to avert
such calamity is to form these Tax Unions.
The peoplein the up-country have not moved
in this matter as they should do, and I trust
the one formed here to-day will set the ball
rolling until each county is fully organized.
"These Tax Unions are not exclusively for
white men, but all who desire to enjoy the
proceeds of their labor under an honest gov
ernment. Colored men ought, by all means,
to Join. Intend to observe how many carpet
baggers will join. How many Southern men
who now act with the present party in power
will join? 1 affirm that no ot6ce-holder in
South Carolina will join. Why not? Be-
cause they desire high taxes levied to pay
their salaries and to put the steslings in their
pockets The colored people are not to be
deprived of what they have. The govern
ment of South Carolina will be administered
under the constitution of 1868; hence there
is no party contest for this year. The con-
test will be for men-nothing else and through
men as instruments these reforms must be
made. 1t is fact that the taxpayers are in
minority, but then they have the intelligence
and property. They have duty to perform
in helping, so far as they can, in introducing
decent government for South Carolina.
How will they do it? We must stir the flag
ging spirits Of some, and tone down that of
others to sense of their duty. We are to
choose between xpedients-between evils.
To hungry man, half loaf is better than
no bread. We cannot suppose that candi.
dates will be nominated at our dictation, but
the majority will select. l, therefore, advise
quiet, organize Tax Unions, Git is reproach
for a taxpayer not to be member,) and be
silent until nominations are made It is
probable the Democrats will not make nomi.
nations this year; the Radicals will. IF they
nominate better mcmillan those in office, our
duty is to vote for them otherwise, we would
not choose as sensible men. If we could do
better by waiting, would not soil my hands
with Radical ballot. Take no part until
the nominations are made-then act. The
Radical party in South Carolina are as inca
pable Of reform or honesty as rotten macke-
rel. tits a putrid corpse that can't be galva-
nized into a semblance of life"
HYDRoPuoBIA AND INTEMPERANcE.-A
man died in New York last week whose death
was credited to hydrophobia; but careful
post.mortem examination, along with review
of all the symptoms preceding his death, es
tablished the conclusion that there was no
hydrophobia in the case, except in so far as
name. In other words, it was clear case of
a. IL, 4,