The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-09-03
To THE CITIZENS OF ANDERSON COUNTY.

that should state that L may De candluate
for the State Senate from this County. l
have good and sufficient reasons for not de-
claring myself candidate now it may be ne
cessary for me to make an issue in the interest
of Anderson County, and if it comes to the
point shall do so, without fear, favor or re-
ward and this I can do more successfully by
not being candidate. Rest assured, shall
not fear to do my whole duty by Anderson
County and will not lend myself or influence
to the elevation or election of any man to posi-
tion in our County, whom I consider incom-
petent or unworthy, in order that I may be
made State Senator. To avoid it would GER
tainly decline, and to prevent it would risk
defeat. 'ris an easy matter to traverse the
county, and tell you in long-winded speeches
what you already know too we'll, that you are
heavily taxed and oppressed, but l am practi-
cal and matter of fact in my views, and suppose
you will prefer to have practical remedies sug-
rested for the evil. I, therefore, submit to you
nv platform, and on it shall stand, whether
| become candidate or not: I will first state
that l stand by every principle and act of
the great National Republican Party; those
PRINCIPLES are firmly cemented upon the rock
of freedom, and in the hearts of the majority of
the American people the waves of party pas
sion may for time submerge that rock, never
theless, twill only be for season. You might
as we'll attempt to dam the Mississippi with
bulrushes, or roll back the waters which take
their fearful leap over the rocks of Niagara,
as to throttle this child of freedom in its
growth, or hope to see the God-given rights it
has secured to the new-made citizens OF the
South taken from them and, in order that all
may understand, hereby pledge myself to
work and vote for the perpetuity OF the great
principles laid down in the platform OF the
National Republican Party.
A MODIFICATION OF OUR TAX SYSTEM IN
SUCH MANNER AS TO RELIEVE THE AGRI-
CULTURAL INTEREST OF THE STATE.
With q full and proper appreciation of the
great disproportion which exists between the
profits of the agricultural interests, and all 9TH
er employments, and recognizing the fact that
land and personal property incidental to agrl-
culture, form the great basis of taxation, l
shall advocate such constitutional modltca-
ton of our present system of taxation as will
more certainly produce real equality between
the different employments, and great reduc,
ton of taxes now levied upon the agricultural
interests. BY this system, l hope to see dl-
rect tax levied on the real and personal prop
erty for no other purpose than to pay interest
on the legal public debt, and the support of the
educational and charitable institutions OF the
State, and for County purposes. propose to
submit the full details of said system to the
people during the present canvass.
CHEAP TRANSPORTATION FOR THE PEOPLE.
AS all railroads and other corporations created
for profit, receive their franchises from the peo-
pie, therefore they should be rendered subser-
Went to public good; to enforce this, favor
the enactment of such constitutional legisa-
ton, as will produce equitable and uniform
rates of charges for travel and freights and pre-
vent improper, unjust and unreasonable dis
examinations between through and local travel
and freights. Another method of bringing
about this much desired result would be to
UTILIZE OUR CONVICT LABOR IN CONSTRUCT
ING RAILROADS.
Every man will recognize the fact, that the
present impoverished condition of the people,
the high rate of taxation and the want of pub
lie credit, all forbid the resort to the former
mode of State aid to railroads and other pub
lie improvements by issue or guaranty OF bonds,
whilst the necessity for many enterprises is ap-
parent hence, will advocate the use OF our
convict labor for such purposes, believing that
in this way, that eventually our penal system
can be made not only self-sustaining, but incl
dentally profitable and advantageous to the
whole people. Such use of convicts, however,
to be carefully guarded by such necessary laws
and stringent rules and regulations as will be
conducive to the reformation of the convict,
and secure good health and humane treatment.
HIGH RATES OF INTEREST
Are as detrimental to prosperity as high taxes.
In 1866, under the recommendation of the late
Gov. Orr and many other influential citizens,
the Legislature of the State was induced to re-
peal the usury laws, under which we had lived
and prospered from the foundation of our State
government. In this way they placed money
on the same basis, as commodity, in common
with all other products. The great practical
argument used at that time was that 1t was
right in theory, consistent with the progress OF
the age and would induce capital to flow into
the State in such quantities as would reduce
the interest below seven per cent, and build up
railroads and manufactures of all descriptions,
thereby making us rich, prosperous and happy.
The result Of eight years experience has Ia
mentally proven the reverse. All the foreign
capital introduced has been by monied men of
New York and a few Eastern cities, VINO,
through the agencies of banks and brokers,
have loaned money to the citizens at IL, 18 and
20 per cent, dividing the profit between and
I pcI C0ut., loShl saS0 Va e-) :,
the extortionate rate here. However beautiful
the theory of treating money as commodity,
or the demands of progress, it seems that many
of the great Northern States still cling to the
old usury laws, and the consequence is money
can be borrowed there on call at from to 8
per cent. interest. They prefer to make cat-paws
of the poor Southern States to introduce the
new system, and as usual pay well for it. The
result all can zee, Money for loan or hire by
banks or individuals in this State commands
from 12 to 18 per cent Investments in rail,
roads and manufactures substantially chilled
and checked, and even the farmers, who at
tempt to plant on credit land the majority are
compelled to do so) are in this way forced to
pay at least from 33 to 80 per cent over cash
prices for supplies, consequent on the hlgh
ton. With such facts before me, do not hes
itate to announce that will advocate return
to 7 ner cent. as the legal rate of interest, with