New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-04-16


Balance. ......... 20j,127 9G-C0G ,l42 %
These figures do not include interest on
the public debt or the heavy expense, incur
red by the military of the United States.
The statement that cit has been openly
avowed by prominent members of the Legis-
lature that the taxes should be increased to
point which will compel the sale of the
great body of the land and take it away from
the former owners" is not correct.
1t is, however, fact that the present sys-
TEN of taxation, like that of almost all civil
lied countries, is based chiefly upon real es-
tate. In the days of slavery before the war
it was not so. Taxes were levied by the
large planters, who absolutely controlled the
State, upon trades, professions, free colored
persons, a mere nominal per capita tax upon
slaves, and upon the lands assessed at one
tenth their true value.
This method of taxing lands enabled the
planters TO acquire and retain large and I'M
cultivated tracts of land, and thus form that
most dangerous Of all Oigarchics landed
aristOcracy.
1t was from this class that secession and
the war sprung. Our present ethod of tax
alton very naturally and properly prevents
the perfetuation of this system, which is so
repugnant to our Republican institutions.
1t is stated that 'the fruit of this policy is
SiON IL III litCG, StftLcu Nv inc NOllDtrOller
General in his official report, that for default
in payment Of taxes for the year 1872 alone.
2GS, 1923 acres of land were forfeited to the
State, and this result proves the fallacv of
the belief that the policy pursued promotes
the elevation of the black population, and the
acquisition by them of the lands thus virtual
ly confscated."
We admit with regret that it is a fact that
there seems to be a combined determination
on the part of the owners of the land to Der
nit their uncultiyated and unproductive lands
to be forfeited to the State for the non-pav-
ment OF taxes rather than sell them to the
colored people. They seem resolved to pre-
vent the colored people from becoming land
political opinions. The colOrcd men have
labored long and faithfully, and with but little
remuneration, and have produced as large
crops since the war as in any year previous
as SHOWN III the statistics and admitted by all:
and yet the land-holders Of the State are not
satisied unless they can reduce them to a
condition OF seldom or virtual slavery. and
control their labor,
The assessment of property in some Coun-
ties OF the State has given rise to complaints.
and been considered excessive. There is a
prompt and complete remedy for all unjust
assessments that may have been made by sub
ordinate officers. The Comptroller General
and the Legislature have politely and patient.
~ listened to the representations made by
those who consider themselves aggrieved
thereby, and Immediately corrected the wrong
where it has been shown to be such, as is
seen in the case of the County of Marion, that
has pettioned the Comptroller General fol-
relief.
The debt Of the State and the Republican
administration that controlled the State from
1868 to 1872 has been increased from 81. OOO..
600 to SIG ,00O, 900 but 6, 900 900 ofthat amount
has been declared by the present Legislature
to have beenissued by the officer who
had the matter in charge without authority of