The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-08-30
COLUMBIA. s. G.
sunday Morning. August 80. 1874.
Abbovlllo.


Abbovlllo.
Putting out OF view the personal
aspects which our question, Whats
the Matter with Abbeville2" presented
to the eyes Of the Abbeville Press ana
Banner, and which are noticed else.
where, We get from this journal an
answer as follows: a
III they" meaning the intelligent
and substantial people of Abbeville.
shave been laggard in the work of
forming Tax Unions, the natural con-
oausion and charitable inference is, not
that they are wanting in public spirit,
bat that they survey the situation
through their own glasses, and are not
30 sanguine as some OF their contempo.
1aries in regard to the wonders which
these organizations are to accomplish.
At least, such are the reasons which
influence Us in withholding our sup.
port, and We are gratified to know that
our views are held in common with q
large number OF our most intelligent
and patriotio citizens. The avowed
purpose OF these organic atoms is to
bring about resistanoe-passive resist
ance, you may please to call it, yet
still resistance-to the power of the
Government. This is revolution, dis
gnise it as you please. So much for
Tax Unions"
Upon this. we would remark. simply,
that the objects. as defined in the con.
Btitntiou, are to effect reduction of
exorbitant taxes and to require that
when they have been collected they
shall be properly and honestly applied.
That is not resisting "the power of the
Government" it is an endeavor to
reform IN abuse of the Government.
It has no power and no right to levy
more tax than is necessary to conduct
the affairs of the State economically,
and none to squander aud steal it. 1t
Is not revolution to protect ones pro-
psrty against organized plunderers,
nor TO eoguge 10 open efforts to abolish
q. huge system Of brigandage. Sup
pose the State Government should
Undertake to collect tex of five or ten
millions, aud to steal three fourths of
It. whoa they would undoubtedly do
If they dared, aud resistance should be
made to the scheme-would the Press
and Banner still think it revolution?
Il has as much moral, legal or oonsti-
tutionsl right to collect FIVE or ten
times the amount needed as three
times the amount needed, which is
what it now COLLECTS. Aud it has as
much right to misappropriate. squan-
der and steal millions as it has 80 to
misappropriate and steal hundreds of
thousands. It is just as right to try to
effect reduction in one case as the
other. Resistance to rapaoity is not
resistance to government. We think
We see in the views Of our friend, sus-
tanned ns they are by his we'll known
character for honor and intelligence,
one very sufficient answer to our ques-
tion. To balance this disastrous infiu-
ence, as We see it. we have the Medi-
am's avowal that the Tax Union OBJ
jects are good and have its good
wishes. And now with a bumper to
the learned lawyers, skillfnl physi-
clans. intelligent merchants and patri.
o4ic farmers and mechanics of Able
vile. and to its press: "May they live
long and prosper" And, but 70. the
fear OF being raped over the knuckles,
We would add: The way to do this is
to form in the line OF the Tax Unions,
and to engage heartily in the great
movement which has for object to
erect cnce more our PROSTATE State.
II is faithful saying: Resistance to
tyranny is obedience to God"
Tho Spirit or ConcIliation.