The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1878-09-06
For the Times.
Economical Taxation.


Economical Taxation.
Like the Israeites when under Egyptian op-
preston and tyranny, and when compelled to
make brick without straw, we have sighed'
moaned and groaned under radical administra-
tion and misrulc. But we trust that day mas
gone its dark sun has set behind tho horizon
of shame and crime, never again to be resur-
rected. Our noble and worthy Hampton took
the field against those daring and exulting Phil
istincs; and his terrible army of bravo warriors
of justice and right spread dismay and confu-
sion through their ranks.
s.Thc bold Ascalonite
Fled from his lion-ramp old warriors turned
Their plated backs under his heel,
Or groveling soiled their crested helmets in the
dust"
We rejoice that we contemplate and expect to
bo ruled by democratic government ip our
State Legislature. That government sanctions
and fosters the spirit Of political economy; its
bones sinews, muscles and marrow, constitute
it's basis and while men in the past have ig'
nored their country and its rights and sedulous-
ly sought the Offices purely from a selfish, mcr-
cenary consideration, we deprecate such spirit,
and we feel authorized to say that our candi-
dates will not in the least affiliate or identify
themselves with such class. We think in our
integrity men who will dsburse tho finances r
the people with strict economy, and in the lan-
guage of q learned Divine, an ex-Congressman,
will afford equal and adequate protection, and
make no distinction account Of Grace, color or
previous condition." and make taxation low,
simple and economical. To take more money
,,..t~
tion demands, Mr.. Calhoun, in bold and terse
language, denounced rs robbery. It is the ty
ranical cx ,rcisc of arbitrary power. II is an
assimilation of radical precedcnts-at least, it
engenders and fosters that spirit. Vigorous and
constant efforts should be made to diminish the
| burdens of taxation, and sleepless vigilance is
| needed to confne the disbursement Of the peo-
! pies money to few and proper purposes. To
take the money of the taxpayers to indulge in
luxury charity, TO discriminate injuriously
brtwixt citizens or classes Of citizens, to multi
ply ncedlessly salaried officers, to pension and
to feed drones, is to use the power of taxation
numerically and injurious!y.
Our taxes are rs high, or nearly so, as they
were under radical jurisdiction. Why is it so :?
we are asked. Did not our Legislature renovntc,
reform, retrench and reduce our taxes as low as
practicable? But, we respond, hay slse not do
more? May she not lay down an economical
precedent? May she net commence the scaling
Of ths salary of her members and extend that
scaling to all Of the salarici officers in the State
as far as expclency and rracticability will ad-
| nit? May she not abolish some Offices and
merge others into one? What use have we for
an Auditor and Tax Collector? Let us return
to the days of our fathers: let us no longer
ignore the wisdom of our ancestors. Let us
Qame has& 10 s;eGaaau at5 teRsf The % tas VIII h
general and universal satisfaction. Under flo
eAis'ihg state OF affairs we hear complaints of
heaVy taxes and salaried officers; AMI we have
hearu the revark made "that scores of comma
tent men would gladly take the Treasurer's Office
as II now stands, with the assistance of an An
uiter' Tor hive hundred dollars" And so with
many OF the other Offices. There arc msnv
perfectly competent men, who are willing 70
olehd labor with honor, who would accent Of
many OF our offices at reduction of the pres
cut s''"ry while, we are sorry to say, there are
o'hers who arc enthusiastic aspirants for office
anu partly we believe, if not altogether, for the
"'oney mat the office affords. We know il ia
not so easy to make money out of the earth as
many would suppose, and the fact has been fullv
developed in the ruinous overthrow or morv
farmers VINO have been taught, educated and
iu'y instructed by physical labor that they were
70 gam their "meat and bread by the sweat of
'ne'r brow" And do not these farmers pay |
'ne TAX With due discretion and proper legis- |
ia'ion taxation could be brought to proper eou
librlgm; Mud uii{ThSyRich the ~ y
leei Il privilege as we'll ns