The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-12-10
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
HON d. H. CHAMBERLAIN,
,aoyERNoR OF SOUTH CAROLINA,

GOVERNOR OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
DELIVERED DECEMBER !, 1874.
s.7:as.} ;. -. -
sdE7stloD- Citizens of the Senate and House Of
REPRESENTATIVES:
1 have appeared before you to-day, to assume
Hhe Office Of Governor, and to state my views
.of the action and policy on the part OF our
State Government which will best promote the
public welfare. Our recent political canvass
presents one Or two aspects which h are slgain,
cant of the will of the people. The two parties
which sought supremacy were equally, emphatic
an their demand for the correction of existing
abuses in the administration of our govern
ment and both presented to the public the
same platform of principles and policy tor the
future conduct of public affairs. The remarka-
BILE spectacle was thus presented, among peo-
ple hitherto considered most widely divided in
their political sympathies and aims, Of an abb
solute identity Of sentiment upon all the cues
tions which were presented to- the pubic by
either party. It is true that a large minority
of our citizens did not take part In either OF
the political conventions which presented the
respective candidates for State officers, yet In
the election wherein the total number Of votes
cast was more than 10000 greater than in any
previous. election since 1868, only two parties
appeared, both of which profsssed to seek sim
liar ends by similar means. The result Is that
We who have been elected to Office, are united
in the general objects which we seek and the
general methods BY which those objects are to
Be reached. Without intending to over.state
the extent to which our recent party comolna-
tions have bound us in respect to our future
action, congratulate all our people upon the
substantial harmony of purpose which now
L.. nd fr,,no
fact. If we are honest in our professions,
cannot find myself in antagonism to any mem
Der of the executive or legislative departments
of our government, except upon matters OF
detail in our common pursuit of the same ends:
I feel bound to say that, until experience shall
correct me, 7 shall rely for support, in the
course which intend to pursue, upon those
members of the General Assembly who were
opposed to me in the recent political contest as
confidently as upon those who favored my
election. The paramount duty before US may
be stated to be the practice and enforcement OF
economy and honesty in the administration OF
the government. fortunately our evils are
chiefly evils of administration. Our State
Constitution commands the undivided approval
of our people. The body OF our statute law is
believed to be, in general, just and wise: The
present demand is for faithful application
and enforcement of the existing Constitution
and laws in word, good administration.
Wise craftsmanship aims at practical results,
and concentrates its strength upon those meas
ures which are of prime Importance. must
be pardoned if omit to catalogue all the mat
sers of public interest to which consideration
must be given by the General Assembly, and
confne my attention to those topics which
appear to be most pressing.
Our earliest and most earnest attention
Il. - kol 10 orh,o of ho
: tion, appropriation and disbursement of the
+, public funds. These matters are fundamental.
Our recent experience teaches LIS that a gov
{. ernment cannot be strong in popular esteem
which adopts unjust modes of taxation, impos-
es unnecessary taxes, expends the proceeds of
taxation upon improper objects or in undue
amounts, or permits loose and reckless methods
in the disbursement of public funds. Our
= present tax system grows out OF the provisions
of the Constitution which are contained IN
Article I. Section S6, and Article TX Section l.
The leading features of the system are an
8. ad vclorem valuation and uniform and equal
rate of assessment and taxation of all property,
real, personal and possessory, with certain
specified exceptions. Under existing laws the
taxpayer is required to make a statement, un-
der oath, annually, to the county auditor, of
all his property subject to taxation, and to
= value the same 'sat its true value in money"
or usual selling price" It is the duty of the
county auditor to state opposite each taxpayers
name, in the return made by him, any amount
which he believes ought to be added to the
valuation to be made by the taxpayer, and to
give notice of such recommendations to the
taxpayer The returns are then submitted to
- county board of equalization, composed OF
6 ipteMgent tax-payiug citizens, ITO be appoint
ed by the Circuit Judge. This board is re-
.,qnired to equalize the valuation made by the
taxpayer by raising the valuation of such prop
erty as, in their Judgment has been returned
+, below its true value, and by reducing the vaiu-
.4ation of such as, in their judgment, has been
returned above its true value; but they are
forbidden to reduce the aggregate value of the
real and personal property of the county below
the aggregate value as returned by the county
auditor. Under the construction placed upon
the law by the present Comptroller General, in
which concur, the aggregate valuation OF
personal property in any county Is absolutely
ixed by the taxpayers themselves. The coun-
: ty board of equalization merely equalize the
valuations of any specific personal property as
compared with the average valuation of the
other property of the county. A special board
of equalization for the city of Charleston is
provided for with similar powers and duties.
THE returns thus equalized, stand, as to the val
uations of personal property, as the basis for
: taxation; but the valuations of real property
in the several counties are submitted to State
board Of equalization, composed of one mem
Der from each Congressional District OF the
State, the Governor, Secretary of State and
Comptreller General, whose duty it is to o add
to or deduct from the aggregate valuation OF the
real property of each county, or of each town,
city or village in any county, such an amount
as in their Judgment will make the valuations
represent the true value in money of the prop
erty. The returns thus equalized, stand as to
valuations of real property, as the basis for
taxation.
A special board of equalization is provided
for, composed of the State Treasurer, Secretary