Litchfield enquirer., 1874-04-16

on ambitiOus colored men. as the fre- quant military parades fully attest by the new uniforms. The effect of all this mis- rule and corruption is seen in the enor- nous taxation which burdens the indus try and commercial enterpriseof our city sand drives away capital and population. The taxes msthis city on bank capital are nearly 6 per cent, so that the borrower has to add these taxes to the interest on his loan, and hence 13 per cent is the very lowest at which money can be had on the best security in the banks, and of course money borrowed on less known securities or of private lenders, are at greatly enhanced rates, thus crippling en- terprlse and seriously interfer ing with trade and industry.
 The report of the City Treasurer. just made public, shows that nearly one-third of the yearly taxation is in default and subject to sale in the city. and perceive that over 28S, ,OOO acres of land and the buildings thereon have been forfeited for taxes due the State for the year 1872 for the small aggregate sum of $32, ,OOO, which IS less than 12 cents per acre, which the impoverished owners have been unable to pay to save their property from confsca- tion. l know of a landed estate in the city, consisting of good class of tene- ment-hOuses, kept in fine order, and val ued for taxes at $1OO,0OO. The property IS all rented at satisfactory rents, and yet. after paying taxes and insurance and such small repairs as tenants require, the owner. has not realized one cent the past year for the capital invested. The house on which live myself would not rent for the taxes and insurance, to say nothing of the capital invested in its value and the necessary repairs to keep 1t in order.
 The State authorities overthrow first the credit of the State by fraudulent is- sues of bonds, and then repudiate, not their own issues, but also scale down to half their value that part of the bonds of their honest predecessors, for which the public creditor honestly parted with his money, and which the State has the full benefit of, by an honest application of the funds. Having exhausted their cred 1t and wasted the public finds, the Leg lslature are proceeding to spoliation un- der the name of taxation.
 So anxious were the conservative peo- pie to have an honest administration of the affairs of the city of Charleston and of the State that no Democratic nomina- tlons have been made; but on the con- trary, candidates of both colors from the Republican party have received the SUD- port of conservative men ill every election on principles of financial reform; and yet every election since the active political contests have ceased seems to have brought into power in the State Govern ment, with few exceptions, officials of more efrontery in their frauds and mis- rule than 1t was believed possible to ob- tain in any community outside of peni- tentiary. There are 8 few honorable ex- captions, among which I would name most of our members of Congress, white and colored, and small minorities in the city and State Legislature, who are, how ever, so powerless as to be of no practi- cal utility for reform. but on the contra " are in peril, because of their very ex- ceptional honesty, of losing their posi- tions at the next election; for every elec- tion in this State sacrifices part of this honest minority and reduces their num- ber in proportion as their integrity be- comes obvious to the corrupt ring which ryI1s the State by the manipulation of the paI1ot-boxes ahd the appointment of the whole machinery of the election. Congress should apply the remedy by special election laws and other measures of relief, and even then the use of money is to be feared in State where members of the Legislature, in open session, ac- cuse the judges of the highest court of receiving bribes for favorable decisions, and when legislation is openly sold for money, and no bill, however useful to the public interest, can be passed without payment of money for legislative action.
 COUNTER-MEMoRIAL
 On presentation of the taxpayers me- morial in Congress, the following reply was submitted, as reported in the N. Y. Times of April 2:
 Mir. Rainey, of South Carolina, pre- sented 8 counter statement and reply of the Republican Central Committee of South Carolina to the memorial of the taxpayers, so called. It was referred to the Judiciary Committee. The statement declares that the taxpayers have only themselves to blame in not aiding in the work of reconstruction, and that the alle- gatlons as to the increased expenditures of the State Government are incorrect, the items given being wholly inaccu- rate, untrue, and skillfully selected to de- ceive. It professes to give the correct relative figures of expenditure for the years 1859 60 and 1872-73. among which are the following:
 For 1859-6o. For 1872-73 Salaries, SS1. 900 SI94.989 Free schools 75OOO 3OOOOO Military academies 30,0OO)
 Military contingencies LOG, ,00Oi 10000 Jurors and eonstables 5o,oO0)
 
 The footing up for 1859 and 1860 are $618, ,231 The footing up for 1872 and 1873 are 1,184.S74
 It admits that the State debt has been between 1868 and 1872 from S5.- COG, ,OOO to S16, .OOO, but claims that $6, ,0OO, 900 of the latter sum is illegal. and has been so pronounced by the Legisla- ture. so that the valid debt is only $1O,- OOO, 900, and of this sum it is claimed that the Republican Administration of the State Is only responsible for $1, 7OO.- OOo, the other S, ,3O0,O being contract ed to pay past due interest, to redeem bills of the banks of the State issued be- fore the war, and to redeem bills re- issued during the Democratic administration of Gov. Orr. As to legis- lative corruption. 1t declares that it is to be attributed as we'll to the Democrats as to the Republicans As to the ''tax-pay- CTS" who had signed the memorial to Congress, this statement characterizes them as prominent politicians of the old school. This statement is signed by Sum- uel J. Lee, Chairman, and twenty three others.
 We clip the following letter from the Christian Advocate of April 9:
 THE SOUTHERN OUT1ooK-THE BLACKS.
 BY REV. GEORGE LANSING TAYLOR. On Saturday, February 21, left New York for six weeks soiourn in the mild CT climate of the South, moved thereto by threatening bronchitis and by the gener- ous indulgence of the noble Church of Hampstead, Long Island. By the bless ing of Providence am now on the rail for the home stretch, having left all throat trouble behind, and having seen and gath cred much of information and delight, for future recollection and use. Eome of which l propose to divide with the readers of the Advocate The good iron steamship