The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-04-09
TIE SOUTH CAROLINA TAXPAYERS LIN
- THE, WHITE HOUSE.

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Tha c,rresnondent of the Charleston NeacS
ond CoMr;e, furnishes the following statement
of the reception of the South Carolina Tax
navers' Committee in Washington:
hfrhe delegation is full one, consisting OF
the following members present: From Tax
nsyers' Convention W. d. Porter,
Henry. Gourdin, tJ. l. Manning, NJ. L. Bon
ham, j. B. Kershaw, J. II. Screven, n. Q: But
Ter. g. W. Dudley, W. E. Holcombe, L. w.
Woodward, B. 81. Rutledge, G. Fl. Simonton,
Wm. Elliot, J. A.. .Hoyt, J. G. Thompson and
r. Y. Simons.t Charleston Chamber OF Com
rnerce-PresidentS S. Y. Upper and Messrs. T.
Lathers, James Simons, VIM. Aiken, l.. ~
DeSaussure and E. B.. Frost.
On Thursday, most of the delegates betooK
themselves to the Capitol, and for several hours
occupied one of the gorgeously trescoed reGep-
Here thew were met by Senators Gordon and
Robertson. who manifested great interest in the
objects of their mission, and who introduced
successiyely to the delegation such of their
brother Senators as could spare half an hour
from the business of the Senate In this way
the delegates met and had pleasant talk with
ouite humber of leading Northern Senators,
including Carpenter, of Wisconsin, Thurman,
of Ohio, Pratt, of Indiana, and Logan, OF ILL
nois. s.;...a s ;,
AIS NJ, the entire delegation called by
appointment on Secretary Fish, at MS resi-
dence. The Secretary, who had been unweli'
and had risen from bed to receive them, greet
ed them. with marked courtesy. After some
time spent in pleasant social converse, the DEL
egates arose to take their leave, when the sec
retary expressed formally his warm interest," IN
their grievances, and his hope that some con-
stitutional means of affording them relief might
be devised. :a...
Punctually at II O'Clock, this morning, the
delegation proceeded to the White House,
where they were ushered into the Presidents
room. After each of their number had shaken
hands with Gen Grant, they ranged around
the long table, at the head of which the Presi-
dent stood. resting his hand upon chair. Hon.
w. D. Porter then, in that calm but dignlhed
and impressive manner for which he is so emi-
nent among the public men of South Carolina,
addressed the President as follows:
MR. PRESIDENT: We are delegates from the
TAXPAYERS Convention of South Carolina,
and are charged with a mission to the authorl-
ties at Washington, to lay before them great
public grievance under which our people are
laboring and to invoke the sympathy and aid
of the Federal Government to afford us the
relief, which we have not been able to procure
political, of this Government, and believe that
it can, if it will, redress our grievances. 1t is
difficult. in the few minutes that we feel at
liberty to trespass upon your time, to make an
ADEQUATE presentation of the pitlable condition
in which South Carolina is placed. 10 give
you any conception of it, it is necessary to state
her condition at the close of the war. NO one
knows better than yourself, Mr.. President, the
exhaustive processes of the war upon our State.
Her people, with sincere belief that the en-
terprise in which they embarked involved their
domestic peace and safety, and with an uncal-
culating devotion to their cause, staked their
all upon the ISSUE and lost their all. The
single act of emancipation struck out OF
existence $125, 100000 Of their property value
Their moneys, their bills, their securities, Stase
and Federal, perished on their hands. They
had lands, without labor or money to hire
labor: they had houses or cabins, but without
provisions to satisfy the hungry cravings OF
men. women and children. II ever there was
a people upon whom the hand of taxation
sbould have been laid lightly and gently, it
was the people of South Carolina at the end
of the war. If ever there was people whose
condition was a protest and remonstrance
against the heartless and grinding exactions
of the tax gatherer, it was that stricken peo-
pie. 49,, Cath
The reconstruction measures placed South
Carolina in anomalous position. 1t doubled
her citizenship and her suffrage. We are not
here to ask any change or modification IN THIS
respect. We know that this matter has been
rlaced upon the basis of the fundamental law
bv constitutional amendments; and that,
whether wise or unwise, we can expect no al
teration of it. But there are some incidents
and results growing out of the reconstruction
policy. which are curious as we'll as vital IN
their operation, and to the practical effects OF
which we invite your attention, with view TO
some relief
This doubling of our citizenship and suffrage
has divided the State into two classes or stratas
the one property-holding and tax-paying, and
the ether non paying and property
holding. And in the non-property- holding
and non-tax- paying class resides the absolute
political power of the State, including the
great sovereign power of taxation; and :hls
Glass is banded together as a fixed political
majority, which refuses any substantial repre-
ssntation. to the ta4-paying minority. The
practical result is then this, that the people
who levy the taxes do not pay the taxes; those
Who nav the taxes have no voice in fixing the
amount of them; aud the taxes so raised are
expended, not by those who pay them, but by
those who feel really no part of the burden OF
them. We doubt whether such condition OF
things has eyerbefore existed in any govern
ment, which called itself free representative
government. With our knowledge of the en-
tire American feeling on the subject OF taxa
tion and its exercise, we think it may be, truly
sa;d that no free State of the North would
submit to such condition of things either
theoretically or practically ly-for the practical
results are precisely such as might have been
anticipated. Those who do not pay the taxes
care not how heavily they lay them on; and
the more heavily they lay them on, the more
money they have to .expend. In point OF fact
there is 20 check, mo- limitation, no RESPONSE
bility such as exists where the representatives
feel that they owe an accountability to tax
paglh Ilev us, M Pfesidsns, tegroup few facts
which will serve togiVeasolne ideas Of the con
=.h;oh .ro ara 1olaned Our taXahle