Wilmington daily gazette., 1874-04-02
From the N. Y. Journal of Comme rce.
Poor south Caroline


Our recent article about South Carolina,
entitled 1.-THE Worst Government in the
World was the subject of In eh comment
at Washington and the South, but NO friend
OF negro rule has been able TO challenge tho
accuracy OF the statements there made IN
further corroboration Thereof. we present
to day report from Washin inston of the
views Of committee OF the South Carolina
Taxpayers Convention, who have visited
the Capitol to lay their intolerable griev-
ances before the President nd Congress.
Following are some OF the facts which these
gentlemen are prepared TO authenticate Tor
the complete satisfaction OF all inquirers
The State expenses under negro rule are
about six times greater than ct the close of
the war. Salaries have adyap ced frcm$ $7G,-
OO0 to $4,000, printing from s17, 900 TO
sSil 900; Legislative expenses from $4,000
to $291,O00, sundries from $S3, GOO to S29S, 900
and every other appropriation in propor-
ton. The total cost of lunning the State
for the fiscal year of 1S723, Including de-
ticancies OF $540, 900, was in round numbfr rs
Sl,S96,0OO The expense oftbo misgovern-
ment is but one of the evils. If the thieves
at Columbia would contine themselves 10
robberies, and would not oppress the tax
payers additionally, from pure malice aud
hatred, the situation would be more sup
portable. In the worst days of the Twesd
gang, those creatures never prosecuted de-
cent people for the love OF tnr,uring and
running them. They were content with
stealing money, without legslatinx cIes,
meaaures to rob their victims of house and
home and reduce them 10 beggary. But the
Williams at Columbia are not satisfied with
taxing the State to death in order to s,eaI
the money raised, but they must assess and
collect the taXes in such a way A. To mnka
| the burden fall with perfectly crushing et-
feet on the respectable white nliuoritv nj
the State. The policy OF the Legislature i.
to dlspcssess the white owners OF their
| lands. and this Is accomplished by making
the taxes enormously nigh, by discouracipS
business enterprises of every dssc,Iption
by repelling immigration, and by passin,,
| ana enforcing laws of the utmost severity
| ior the eolleeuon OF taxes. The scheme is
bat teo successful. Rents have fallen Off
to such point, under the bsleful sway Of
the Legislature, that they are now beiow
| the taxes. Twelve hundred farms-so,na ~
them the finest in the State-have been sold for
| taxes, and passed bv collusion int 49,
hands. In 1872 alone tho land sales for ne,'
| payment OF taxes throughout the State amount
ed to 900 acres. Nearly one-tLird ot ias+
years taxes in Charleston is in default. Ir ~
easy 10 rent estates Tor The taxes; but no pru-
dent man would take South Carolina ta,a,
| even on those seemingly tempting terms white
negroes and carpet-baggers govern the state
| The prospect now is tor 4 worse rule benrs
lorth than that under which the State now
sroahs ior Immunity from punishment i,
making the thieves bolder. Unless summariio
| checked by political revolution at home. or hS
Congressional interference, they will NOT ~,
tn they have starved out and driven forth NJ,
the honest white men in the State, The cr;Sin
IS most serious, and demands full public at
enuon without delay. The able dele1ation ~,
oouth Larohna now at Washington xeem ~
have no hope outside OF relief from Coner.ss
Ihey argue, and unansweraby, that a, ,eio,,r
gress assumed the power to adopt their S,nis
cons'ltution m over their heads, Congress should
now take tho liberty ofsaving the Sta,a tronl
destruction by stepping between Tie IIieys.
ana honest people, ths mora especially Az II =
mlseres from which the State suffers are ~
uittct consequence of Congressional msddlnS