The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1874-03-18


lS59-lSO 9679tiS 81
lSGj-lSj5. Observation-Disclosures. 2T,24S o.
lSS-lSoI. -............ 9i7.t''' 81
October !, 1867, to April -, 1873,
80, ,4l5; balance, 26J, I2I |...... GOG, AZ ~
These figures do not include in
tcrest On the public debt or the
heavy expenses incurred by the
military Of the United States.
The statement that ''it has been
openly avowed by prominent mem.
bers Of the Legislature that the
taxes should be increased to q
point which will compel the sale
OF the great body of the land and
take it away from the former
owners" is not correct.
1t is, however, q fact that the
present system of taxation, like
that Of almost all civilized cOun-
tries, is based chiefly upon real es-
tate. In the days Of slavery be-
fore the war it was not so. Taxes
were levied by the large planters,
who absolutely controlled the
State, upon trades, professions,
free colored persons, a mere noml-
nal per capita tax upon slaves: and
upon the lands assessed at one
:enth Of their true value.
This method Of taxing lands en-
ahled the planters to acquire and
retain large and uncuItivated
tracts Of land, and thus form that
most dangerous Of all oligarchies--
a landed aristocracy.
1t was from this class that
secession and the war sprung
Our present method Of taxation
very naturally and properly pre-
vents the perpetuation Of this
system, which is 50 repugnaut to
our Republican institutions:
IL IS statcu tnaG "thc 1rult OF
this policy is shown IN the fact,
stated by the Comptroller General
in his official report, that for default
in payment OF taxes Ior the year
1872 alone, 268,253 acres Of land
were forfeited to the State, and
this result proves tn c fallacy
Of the belief that the policy pur
sued promotes the elevation of the
black population, and the acquisi-
ton by them cf tic lands thus
virtually confscated."
We admit with regret that it
is a fact that there seems to be
a combined determination on the
part ofthe owners af tho land to
permit their ancultivated and un-
productive lands to be forfeited to
the State for the non-payment Of
taxes rather than sell them to the
colored people. They seem resolv-
cd to prevent the colored people
from becoming landowners, unless
they can control their labor and
political opinions. The colorcd
men have labored long and faith
fully, and with but LITTLE :cmnne-
ration, and have produced as large
crops since the wa: as in any pre-
vious, as shown in the statistics
and admitted by all; and yet the
land holders Of the State arc not
satisfied unless thoy can reduce
them to 4 condition of serfdom or
virtual slavery, and control their
labor.
The assessment Of property in
Some counties OF the State has
given rise to complaints, and been
Considered excessive. There is q
prompt and complete remedy for all
unjust assessments that may have
heen made by subordinate officers
The Comptroller General and the
Legislature have politely and pa
tiently listened to the representa-
tions made by those who consider
themselves aggricvcd thereby, and
Immediately corrected the wrong
where it has been shown TO be
such, as is seen in the case Of the
county of Marion, that has pc
titioned the Legislature and Comp
troller-General for relief.
The debt of the State under the
Hepublican administration thai
controlled the State from 1868 tt
1872 has been increased from s.,
900, 900 to s16,0O0,000, but $4,000,
900 of that amount has been de
clared by the present Legislature
to have been issued by the office
who had the matter in charg'
without the authority oflaw, an'
mas, therefore, been pronounced
illegal. This leaves the unqncs
tionably valid debt at $40, ,OOo,ooo
Of this amount S., ,O0O:G were IS
sued by the Democrats and "a
100000 by the Republicans WI.
were in power from 1868 to lSI:
But of the amount issued by tn
Republicans they are only reall
responsible for sl,700,0OO issue
for the "relicf Of the Treasury
and the "Land Commission" Th
remaining s3,30O,00O we're issue
to pay the past due interest on tn
debt that had accrued prevlou
TO their accession Of power. and I
redeem the bills of the Bank
!. the State that had been issued bt
fore the war, and also to rcdce'
the "billsreceivable" that had bee
issued during the Democratic a
] ministration of Governor Orr, pr
t vious to the reconstruction. Ii
!, Republicans, therefore, found c