Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-02-05

the fifth circuit, when acting within his coli
stitutionul and lawful jurisdiction, it is Or
dered That Leroy F. Youmans, Esq, be heard
without question, and in his own right as a
counsellor at law in all the courts Of common
pleas and general sessions and in the probate
courts of the sixth judicial circuit. "
The Taxpayers Convention.
- Many plans of relief are proposed for
the action of the approaching taxpayers
convention; and while others are planning
work for that body, the editor of the Port
Royal Commercial, who claims to be an "hon-
est Republican, submits, in the columns of
his paper, the following, which we publish for
what it is worth
The effect of cold or inefficient conven.
ton will be to give renewed confidence to the
cunning rogues who divide the revenue of the
State among themselves. Those who are now
members Of the convention ought to be cut.
ting out the work to be done. OF the first
Importance is a plan of organization. We
suggest something like the following: Let the
convention resolve itself into league let its
members be authorized to form subordinate
leagues in their respective counties, any thirty
tax payers OH real estate to constitute SUBJ
ordinate league. The basis of the leagues
should be pledge to be signed by every
member solemnly pledging himself not to pay
any State tax until he has been released from
the promise by the central league; and fur
ther, that he will not buy any property sold
for taxes at tax sale, and that he will Use
Ill |, ,,l t,,o oon,,;poo tbo,o n
bers that it is inexpedient for them to pay
taxes or buy at tax sales. All this should be
done openly. No oaths, grips, signs or pass
words. Each man should be made to feel
that he is engaged in patriotic effort to free
himselfan his State from horde of despica-
pie tyrauts. 1t should be made so universal
that it would be dishonorable and shameful
not to have taken the pledge. If even one
half of the real estate owners of the State
could be brought to sign such pledge as that
it would be enough. The moral influence
would do the work with the rest. There
would be no rush to pay taxes, even among
the inert, the cowardly and the unfriendly.
For even the man who has gained fortune
by stealing in Columbia does not like to pay
taxes any better than the honest toier. When
the treasurer advertised the delinquent list,
instead of embracing. as it now does, only the
widow, the orphan, the embarrassed, the ig.
norant and the careless, it would show every
real estate owner in the country. When the
day of sale comes let all be present. The
most shameless appointee of a shameless adj
ministration would quail before such an as
semblage, and the heartless speculator who
should feel inclined to buy property at that
sale would come to the conclusion that the
climate was unsuitable to his constitution.
The delinquent land would probably be bid
in by the State, and no taxes could be again
assessed upon it. In the face of such deter
mined people, the robbers would "fold their
tents like the Arabs, and as silently steal
away" Unless some plan of the kind is
adopted to prevent the annual filling of the
Golfers in Columbia, no reform is possible AS
long as two millions year are sent there by
the taxpayers to be divided, the same parties
will be on hand to take it. County and mu-
ncipal taxes might be paid. The proper en-
pendture of these can be watched, and in a
great measure controlled, and the continuance
Of the functions Of local government is neces.
sary to secure our comfort and the good order
of the community. But the State Government
is simply nuisance. 1t would be blessing
if it ceased.
An Old Political Feud Revived.
- The recent publications by H. S. Foote,
some of which affect Jefferson Davis, have ad-
ded fresh material to their wrathful feelings
which originated twenty years ago, when they
were both political opponents in the State Of
Mississippi. The following correspondence
forms the climax of their quarrel, the note Of
Mr.. Davis having first appeared in the Wash.
ington Capital of Sunday, and being private
letter written to q friend in November last.
LETTER FROM MIR. DAVIS.
DEAR S1R:-Yours of the goth instant has
been this day received. l have not seen any
of the articles which you inform me II. s.
Foote had written in abuse of me, nor have
had any desire to read whatever he might
write.
In the year 1851 published him as con-
stitutionaly Har, and his subsequent career
only served to confirm me in that judgment.
Since that date, therefore, | have taken no
heed of the utterances of said Foote.
His fattery, when he was seeking political
preferment in the Confederacy, and his abuse
when, faithless to his trust as representative
in the Congress of the Confederate States, while
he was preparing for his subsequent desertion
to their enemy, were alike disregarded by me.
You are at liberty to use this as you think
proper. I remain, respectfully and truly,
yours, JEFFERSON DAVIS.
BELLIGERENr CARD FROM MIR. FooTE.
In reply to the above, Mr.. Foote published
the following card in the Chronicle of Monday:
AS a portion of the community may possibly
expect from me some notice of the insulting
and grossly aspersive letter over the signature
of Jefferson Davis, which yesterday morning
made its appearance in the columns of the
Capital, though the glaring mendacity of all
the allegations Of fact contained therein might
we'll Justify me in treating the letter itself and
its infamous author with cool and passionless
contempt, yet, for certain reasons, not difficult,
l imagine, to be OWNED, | have thought
proper to take somewhat different course.
l shall not now 60 into detail of past oc.
curences with a view of my own vindication.
1t is not possible for the ruined and disgraced
champion of disunion to say aught of me, or
of my public career, which could in the least
degree disturb my equanim;ty. He has cher
ished an undying hatred for me ever since his
own presumptuous arrogance, on very noted
occasion, compelled me oslap his jaws in this
citv in the winter of 1S47-48. The hostility
thus engendered was afterward much height
ened by my defeat of his reasonable aspira-
tions to the Office of Governor of Mississippi
as q secession candidate in 1851. My constant
and unyielding opposition to him and his ne
farious schemes in Richmond during the war
of the rebellion, for three years, was not at all
.. L., o,,,;ty Mr., froo