Orangeburg news and times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1875-1877, 1877-05-12
SATURDAY. MORNING, MAY 12, 1877.

uitioHS 10 III Joui Judgment snail DC
equitable to the State and it's crcdi-
tors.
| cannot too earnestly urge upon
you the necessity Of reducing the ex-
penscs of every department OF the
government to the most economical
state consistent with the dignity and
security Of the, State. You will find
many Offices which arc not only cx.
pcnsive but useless; and others which
while necessary, can be well filled for
compensation much less than is now
paid. 1t is, | am sure, only necessary
to invite your attention to this subject
to secure your wise and cordial CO.
operation i'll tightening the burdens
"hich have so greatly oppressed the
energy and industry Of our people.
But after ihe most rigid reduction,
the expenses ofgovernment, funds for
the common schools, and to meet the
interest on the public debt, must be
provided; and- this can only be done
by tax OH lie real and personal pro.
perty of the citizens It is one ofour
gravcst difficulties that we have conc
into control nftLe government after
the period alswhich taxes can most
easily be paid. Ours is essentially an
agricultural community. Our pro
ducts are harvested in the latter part
OF the year and sold in the earlier,
and the rule which has always obtain
ed oi'caIIing for the taxes in January
and February had its origin, not IN
the arbitrary will Of the Legislature,
but was the natural nutgrowth of an
agricultural system.
The late political struggle has been
protTactcd until the proceeds of The
past years crop have been exhausted,
an'i the present crop is not sufficiently
advanced too enable the farmer to
realize anything Supon it. Every
available dollar Of cash, or Of credit,
is the controliofthe farmer is alread Y
applied tostL Il q esnn- and he
Il ,fs..t...sa. '6yaDleEt aniliear'y day
would seriously cmbarrass not only
the ayriaultur,I, bnt every other IN
tcrcst Of he Stale. The money is IL !.
III the country. l., could only be
raised from loans to the farmer by
bankers or merchants, and it is qucs.
tionable ii it could be raised even in
this way. 1t is, therefore, incumbent
upon you, while reducing the lax TO
Its minimum, to arrange fos its col
lection at such times, and in such
manner, rs will Tighten the burdenr
OF the people as much rs possible. A
portion Of the tax absolutely ncccss-
ary could be called for in June, and
the residue, which should be the
larger portion, in October, when the
proceeds of II part, at least, of the crop
sill be available for the payment Of
taxes.
by the resolutions Of the House Of
Representatives, adopted at the last
session, | WAS authorized to call for II
contribution not exceeding twenty
tive per cent. OF the amount of taxes
levied last year. Under this author
lly n call for Il voluntary conlribu-
ton onc-tcnth Of the amount Of the
last tx was Issued, and was respond
ed to with an alacrity and patri-
oiIc zeal most honorable to our people.
as an evidence Of their confidence in
my administration, the response was
as gratifying as it was unprecedented.
With II view t the proper care and
disbursement Of this fund | directed
that amounts co lectcd should be
placed i'll the hands of Gen johnson
llagood requesting him to serve MS
acting comptroller general and treas
ury, and no appropriation has been
made except upon his check counter
signed by myself. His devotion to
this work. his activity and his great
financial ability have proved if in
caicuiablc assistance to me. The net
receipts iror, contribution and from
office fees amounted to s135,S59 4S,