New-York tribune., 1877-01-06
THE POLITICAL CRISIS.
COUNSEL TO SOUTH CAROLINA.
THREATS FROM THE REBEL END-WHAr SHALL BE
DONE WITH THE sTATEf

DONE WITH THE STATE
To the Editor OF The TTt6une'
Sir: The Democratic end Of South Carolina, which
used to be the rebel end and which thinks 1t has
right to be the ruling end proposes to resist the Gov
ernment Of Mr.. Chamberlain. The papers oi that
party, and particularly The Charleston Ne"s ana
Courier exhaust the resources OF d0ube-eaded type
and italics to convince the people that they must
resist. The Chamberlain Government, they shrek,
has no authority; it's tax laws are VOID II any
BODY paws taxes to the officials OF that Govern
ment ho does so because he prefers to do it, and not
because he can be compelled" the people" Will re-
member him. Following this mutnons threat is
the bald assertion that if Chamberlain's sheriffs
undertake to sell property for collection OF taxes,
nobody will dare to buy, and 1t will be found npoS-
sible to sell ont the whole StateH should Judge
that some Democratic newspapers in that quarter
were likely to become bankrupt soon, if not sus-
tanned by official advertising and the facilities for
pIfer which some partisan journals enjoy.
II is not by any clear that taxes can be col
Iected in South Carolina by State authority. am
even half tempted to hope that these Democratic
threats NAV he carried into effect The turbulent
spirits Of that State have made this country great
deal of trouble and cost il great deal Of blood and
treasure, and few would shed many tears II they
should persist in bringing upon themselves suitable
State, there should be general coniscation of
property and virtual banishment of the
rebellous and disordery party Of the population
so that if may be understood hereafter that
men who resist the laws do so at their peril. AS
matters stand the Chamberlain Government is the
only one which has the least pretense of authority
Both houses have adjourned sine die. The House
which was recognized by the outgoing State officers
and By the Senate is the only House which can ever
be recognized by the courts. The laws passed by
two houses will prevail in place of laws passed by
one house only. Certain tax laws were passed by
the Senate and the House Of which Mr.. Mackey was
Speaker and were signed by Governor inaugnrated
in the presence of those two bodies and those laws
will. hope, be enforced.
Wht ther it is possible TO " sell out whole state
need not now be asked. strongly suspect that the
money can be found in South Carolina to pay the
taxes which may be levied, if that payment will
secure ownership of all the land and buildings in the
State If it cannot be found there it certainly can
be in New-Yorl or Boston. If Gov Chamber
latl'. officials fd il their dnty, under the laws of
south Carolina to advertise much Of The prop
erty in tie S,atc for non-payment of taxes, hope
they viii perform that duty faithfully. j am sure
the approaching sales will not be wholly unknown
10 capitalists at the North. If the present owners OF
real estate in South Carolina want to diycst them
selves of their property, giving it to anybody who
will come forward and pay taxes on If. there are
many men Of moderate means in this part of the
country who would ike to secure home and an
estate on such easy terms. On the whole, possibly
il might be the very best thing conceivable Tor |
South Carolina and the country to have these |
planters, property owners, and merchants who |
choose 10 resist The laws sold out, and starved out,
and driven ont to earn thcir bread rs best they can
Cfotn fnrol' n il
trouble 1t is sort of fostering Sor" Oh the body
polite. To tow the entire State out into the Alton
t!r and sink it, as was once proposed would be I'M |
insf 10 innocent persons but if the mntnous part !
of the people see fit to sink themselves in ocean
Of voluntary bankruptcy, l. for one, shall shed no
tears. Yours, W.M.
I,rE Dep