New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-16
THE SOUTH CAROLINA FRAUDS.

FINAL HEARING BEFORE THE HOUSE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE or THE REPRESENTATIVES, OF THE
TAX-PAYERs AND oTFICE-HOLDERs.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
WASHINGTON, April ia final hearing was given
by the House judiciary Committee this morning to
the South Carolina taxpayers delegation and to
the committee of ofice-hOders sent here TO deny
their statements State Treasurer Cardoza appeared
on behalf of the latter aud stated that the expendi
lures of the Government per capita of the popula-
ton did not exceed that of many Northern
States. he referred to the reputation Of S6OOOOOO
of the State debt as if it were highly credtabe ac-
ton and asserted that the errors of the past were
being rapidly corrected by the present authorities
The Hon. Ihos. Y. SimOns addressed the Commit
tee on behalf Of the tax payers and of the Chamber
of Commerce and Board Of Trade Of South Carolina
de stated that the memCralists had interest i'm
mediate or remote, direct indirect, avOwed or Sc
cret other than to be relieved from the frauds op
preston, and misrIle which. under the false pre-
tense of republican form of government, had re-
duced that unhappy commonwealth TO the alterna-
tive of immediate and absolute redemption or
OF confiscatiOn Of property and exile These griey
ances were without parallel in the annals Of ciyili-
ZatOn, and such would not be tolerated for mo-
ment In any OF the Free States of the North. While
the average values for taxation before the war were
over $500 0O0OOO they now amounted. at an Excess
sive valuation. to only Sl5OOOO.OOO. The annual
average of taxation for State purposes had increased
from $4,000 TO S2.5OO0OO. The State debt had
been enlarged from S5,C0OOO to over S16OOO0OO and
perhaps So 10000. Under the process of confsca-
ton 2523 acres of land and 800 buildings had been
forfeited TO the State in one year from inability to
pay the enormous taxation. The sums thus raised
had been devoted TO spoliation and plumber. He
alluded TO the catalogue of railroad frauds furniture
frauds, land commission frauds, election frauds
sinking fund commission frauds, and pay certificate
frauds.
1t was evident that the voting population of the
State, that which wicds the political power, is in
the hands Of the non-tax-payers constituting a
large and fixed majority, who are banded together
and persstently refuse to the fair repre-
eDtation for the protection of their property and
interests; that the people who pay the taxes have
substantially no voice in levying or expanding
them; that those who levy and expend the taxes
Dether contribute them nor feel the weight Of them
that there exists on the part of those IN authority
combination TO confscate property under the pre-
tense Of taxation, and deliberately misappropriate
the enormous SUNS thus raised that owing TO this
conspiracy and their supreme control over the vari-
our departments Of the local government there was
90 node OF redress by peaceful agencies within
the limits Of the State. The condition OF
things 10 South Carolina was exceptional aud
abnormal. III mad never arisen in any other COM
mODwealth, since the advent Of the American Union.
The republican form of government as contem-
plated by the trainers of the Constitution and guar
nteed by its fourth article, did not exist in the
State. The power of Congress was invoked because
hose who conspired together against right deluded
nsn misHIided followers BY processing TO have q