Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-02-15

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THE COUNTY TAXES.
Our position in regard to the Hampton
contribution of ten per cent and the payment
of the county taxes, seems to be misunderstood
by the Hampton Herald and is misrepresented
by the Charleston Journal Of Commerce. The
latter paper would convey the impression that
we oppose the Hampton contribution and are
urging the people to pay their taxes to Cham
berlsin's appointee, thereby recognizing the
authority of Chamberlain to collect the tax.
Such are not the facts. In our issue of JAN
uary 4th, noticing the fact that public meet
ing had been called in York county, we took
strong and positive ground in favor Of paying
the contribution called for by Gov. Hampton.
In that article we said: "In the present
"anomalous and unprecedented condition of
affairs in this State, the duty of the people
"is plain. They voted for Wade Hampton
e" and believe him to be the duly elected Gov
" ernor of the State. Such being the fact it
"is the duty of the people to sustain him in
" that position by every peaceable and lawful
means within their power. 1t is
"the duty of all who voted for Hampton and
" who believe him to have been fairly elected
"to respond to this call, bringing to his aid
"the necessary encouragement to ensure the
" triumph of home rule and honest govern
"ment, the principles so earnestly contended
"for in the late campaign. In other words,
"let those who advocate his government come
forward and prove to what extent they en-
"dorse and uphold it by contributing of their
"m means to its maintenance"
Surely, this language is unequivocal; and
if not said with the same grace and felicity
characteristic of our able Charleston cotem-
porary, it was at least written in candor and
earnestness It was and nowNis our desire
that every taxpayer in York county and in
the State of South Carolina contribute OF
their means to sustain Governor Hampton.
But the question of county taxation was
presented in different light, and as present
ed to our view was quite different matter
from the contribution made solely for State
purposes. As will be remembered, at the last
term of the Circuit Court for this county, his
Honor Judge Mackey, in charging the grand
Jury, recommended that the County Commis-
sioners should levy tax for county pur-
poses, and he suggested that they could ap-
point an agent to collect the same. This prop
osition, as we are informed, was discussed by
the Board of County Commissioners in exec
utive meeting, but it was ascertained that
their predecessors had already, at the proper
time, and in compliance with the law, made
the assessment for county purposes, which
had already gone upon the Auditors books.
Besides, the legal adviser of the County Com
missioners assured them that they were not
vested with authority to appoint tax collec-
tor to discharge the duty which plainly de.
volved upon the County Treasurer. Acting
upon this suggestion of counsel, the County
Commissioners, who had been but recently in
Quoted into office, and all of them Demo
crats-wbich we mention for the consolation
of the Journal Of Commerce declined to take
any action, but decided to let the taxes be
collected by the regularly appointed County
Treasurer, being of opinion that the people
generally would pay their county taxes when
called upon to do cot being understood
that the County Treasurer would issue bis
notice at an eatly day. On the appearance
of his notice, we advocated the payment of
the county taxes, in order to prevent financial
embarrassment in the affairs of the county.
The fact that the County Treasurer was an
appointee of Governor Chamberlain did not
to our mind, enter into the case, there being
no other person claiming the Office. The
question of ignoring the County Treasurer on
account of his political opinions or the man
ner of his appointment, no more occurred to
US than to reject recent decisions and rulings
of the Supreme Court, simply because the
Justices composing that tribunal are Repub-
licaus and were elevated to the bench under
Republican auspices. We suppose the ques-
ton of the political status of the County
Treasurer did not occur to those having the
collection of taxes under advisement-it be-
ing understood that the term of office for
which he was appointed had not expired, and
by provision of the statute it was supposed
he would not be removed until the expiration
of his term.
Our remarks upon the payment of the
county tax to Chamberlain's appointee were
predicated solely upon the assumption ad-
vanced by legal mind that he was the only
person authorized by law to receive it. Our
sin was this and nothing more. At the time
we penned the article, an appointee of Cham
herlain was the undisputed Treasurer of the
county. We then said he was the only law
full officer for Ae collection of county taxes
uasil supplanted OF removed. Since that
time Governor Hampton has ordered his re, re-
moval, and We presume the Taxpayers Pave Elll
hardly require any newspaper suggestions rs as
4 +ho;r oot;on IN tho nremises.