Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1880-05-13
GEN. GARY'S SPEECH BEFORE
THE COUNTY CON ENTiGN.


I am at all times ready to respont
to any call from the Democracy Q.
this State. The ties that should bind
us together are greater and should be
stronger than those Of ordinary party
associations. With us it is not only
a contest for the enactment of a "a
vorite measure or the adoption Of g
particular principle, but it is a strug'
gle to preserve the civilization of oul
race. 1t was from such an apprecia
ton of the Democracy of this State
that 1, in obedience to the unanimous
voice of the Convention and from a
sense of duty that l owed 10 the
county and State, accepted the lead
ership OF the Democracy Of this coun.
ty in the campaign Of 1876. Bef re
that year our party had been invaria-
bly, defeated, but after o. exciting
and brilliant camp ign We won a
grand victory.
As your State Senator I have ad-
vocated the policy Of white suprema-
cy, and the principles Of Straightout
Democracy, as received from Jefer-
son, Madison and Jackson, the great
leaders of the party.
I opposed the secession of the Dem
%ocratic Senators from the Senate,
against the wishes of the leaders of
the party, on the ground that such a
step would be in violation of the
Constitution of the State, would be
revolutionary, and would be in effect
to throw away the fruits Of our splen-
did victory at the ballot box. Time
has INDICATED the wisdom Of those
of US who refused to recede, and
thereby saved the State from lapsing
again under Radical rule.
l favored a restoration of the usu-
|ry laws in. order to protect the poor
aud needy from the unlimited usury
Of the money-lenders. Ioppcsed the
amendment Of the Constitution which
levied annually not less than two.
mills on the dollar for educational
purposes, as being without precedent,
in conflict, with other portions Of the
State Constitution, and against the
$ irit and letter Of the Constitution
Of the United States, and for the
further reason that this iniquitous
measure was conceived by the leaders
of the Radical party.
| st%renuously opposed the educa-
ton of the children Of the whites
snuzF7acE5 III the same sShaAL"-a
colleges. I favored the passage Of
the act that prohibited the intermar-
riage Of the whites and blacks. l ap-
proved the passage OF the act that
gave to the Governor the right 70.
MOI. pros. indictments found against
Radical violators of the. law. was
III favorof putting into the hands
of every honest man whip to lash
the rasca!s naked thro Oh the world.%
i opposed the pay OF eth + the
principel or interest Of the lraudu-
lent bonds issued during the ely. t
years OF Radical rue in this State.
| favored retrenchinent and reform in
all the offices Of the S ate. l advo-
Gated the election Of new judges, and
the throwing out Of Office all judges
who held office under a Radical ad-
ministration, I advocated the reduc-
ton OF county and State taxes within
five mills on the dollar. l am sails.
fled that a prudent and economical
administration Of the finances Of tie
State will reduce Il present enor-
nous taxes, which a:e about one per
cent. on $40, 55l GA the amount ol
kthe present taxable property OF the
Before lie Wal the aggregate
taxable popelty OF the state was
1892. 530,552. Our taxes then lcr
T-.,te aud county purposes were irom
three to fur mills O.. tie dollar. Ihv
valuation of property under the pres
ent R.dlcal system Is III unjust, une-
outI anda fictitious J@e; the Value
gwen to property by the auditors IS.
not upon the rresel., standard OF the
value OF the property, but it is refer
Iled back to what 1t was worth before
the war, aud is Il u!.lv valued 1T
twice the amount it wili sell for IN
open market at the!rsseDt time. The
practice. operation Of this systema'
10 cause the taxpaye 5 of the State
T. pay about twenty iour mills ON the
dollar instead of eleven and three
quarter mills. the ann INT OF the tax
imposed Tor the county by the last
General Assembly. Tie system has
driven capital out of the State an
has prevented capital from coming
into the State. This is a dreadful
and oppressive evil upon the poor
taxpayer, for the last analysis of
taxes makes those who cultivate the
soil Pay the taxes Of the Government.
This hidden and insidious system Of
taxation can but alarm all who are
acquainted with the laws that should
regulate taxes, for they a but see
a.