The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-02-27


was then supported by the friends of its
wealthy inmates aud tho Counties.
But in 1872-73 this was found to impair
the. efficiency of the institution, aud the
State assumed its support and made
liberal appropriation for its unfortunate
patients. The erection of the Peniten.
tiary was not begun until after the war,
and there was, therefore, no appropria-
tion for ii in 1859-6O The approprim-
tion in 1872-73 for military purposes
was but 100000 We had no occasion
to appropriate $4,000 for military
academies md contingencies, in order
to furnish nurseries to train the young
to strike at the nations life and to pur-
| chase material for the war Of secession.
There was no appropriation in 1859-6O
| for colorea State orphan house. The
| colored orphans that were then uucarcd
for were free. but heir parents, when
living, were heavily taxed t. support
| white orphans, whilo their own children,
nfter their doath, were neglected To
| show the unjust and adroit manner in
| which tho statement of expenditures
has been manipulated by the memorial
isls of the Tax x-Pnyoru' Convention for
their purposes OF deception, we furnish
II statement, carefully compiled from the
official records OF the expenses of the
State Government before the war aud
the first three years after: 1S51-52,
S463, ,02l.7a; 1S52-53, $4S2. .974 67;
1853-54, $533. 1913 20; 1886, S4S4.-
8S3 %; 1856, S59l, l45. SO; 1S56-57,
S608. 294 85; 1888, Sl,O3G, ,924 80;
1858-59. S9O8. sos OF; 1959-GO, 1857.
96S.57; 1866. 1886. 24S.O4; lS66-67,
$474. .453. 81; October l, 1867. to April
30. 1868. S340, 4l5; balance, $265, 727. 96
5000. 142 96. These figures do not in-
clude interest on the public debt or tue
heavy expense incurred by the military
Of the Uuited States.
| The statement that ''it has been open.
| ly avowed by prominent members Of
the Legislature that the tnxes should be
increased to point which will compel
the sale of the great body of the laud
and take it away from the former own.
ers, IL not correct. It is, however, q
fact that the present system of taxation,
like that of almost all cioiiized countries,
is based chiefly upon real estate. Iu
the day. Of slavery before the war. it
was not 30. Taxes were levied by the
large planters, who absolutely controlled
the State, upon trades, professions, free
colored persons. mere nominal per-
capita tux. upon slaves, aud upon the
lunds assessed at one-tonth their true
value. This method Of taxing land enu-
bled the planters to acquire and retain
largo and uncultlvated tracts Of land,
aud thus form that most dangerous OF
all oligarcbies-a landed aristocrncy. 1t
was from this class that secession and
the war sprung. Oar present method
OF taxation very naturally and properly
prevents tho parpetuation of this sys.
TEN, Which is SO repugnaut to our Re
publican institutions.
1t is stated thut "the fruit of this
policy is shown in the fact, stated by the
Gem ptrollcr- General in his Official re-
port, that for default in pay ment oi
taxes for the year 1872 alone, 26S, 523
acres of land were forfeitod to the State
and this result proves the fallncy Of the
belief that tho policy pursued promotes
the elevation of the black people and
the acquisition by them Of the lunds
TINS virtually coniscated. We ndnit
with regret, that It is fact that there
seems to be o combined determination
I'm the part of the owners of tho land tt
permit their uncultivnted and unproluc
tive lands to be forfeited to the State fol
the non-payment of taxes. rather thuu
sell them to the colored people. They
seem resolved to prevent the colored
people from becoming land-ownere
unless they can control their labor an,
political opinions. The colorcd mel
have labored long and faithfully. aul
with but little remuneration, and hay,
produced as large crops since the wa
us i'll any year previous. as shown in tn
statistics and admitted by all; and ye
the land holders of the State are not sa
tisiicd unless they can reduce them to ;
condition of serfdom or virtual slavery
and control their labor.
The assessment Of property in som,
, Counties of the State has given rise ,t
complaints und been considered excess
, i've. There is prompt and complete
remedy for MI unjust assessmen ih.,
may have been Inado by subordinate Of
ticers. The Comptroller-Gencr ant
tue Legislature have politely and pa
tently listened to the representation
made by those who consider themselve
aggreved thereby. aud immo modiately cor
rected the wrong where it has beer
shown to be such, as is seen in the Gus
Of the County of Marion, that has peti
toned the Legislature and Comptroller
General for relief
The debt Of tho State, under the Re
publican Administration that controliet
| Itn St,fn