Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-10-19
of reform which the people have inau-
81, ratad pith him at tho head


gurated with him at the head.
Such was our "eXact language" on the sub
ject of voluntary contributions in support of
the Hampton government. If there is any
thing evasive or equivocal in single word we
are unable to make the discovery. On the
first of February, after John l.. Watson,
County Treasurer under appointment of Gov.
Chamberlain, made when his appointing pow
er was undisputed, issued his notice for the
collection of the taxes of 1S7G-the Hampton
Government not having been established yet,
and Mr.. Watson being the only authorized
county treasurer, DR.. Robertson acting only as
agent to receive the voluntary contributions
we advised against the payment of the State
taI, but did recommend the tender to him of
the county tax, upon the theory advanced by
legal minds in different parts of the State
that so long as the treasurers appointed by
Chamberlain when he was the lawful Govern
or held over, the time having arrived for col
lecting the taxes, they were the only officials
authorized to receive it. But we advised the
payment or tender only of county taxes, which
would have been disbursed as rapidly as paid in.
This was the grievOuS sin which we commit
ted though our position was fully sustained
by the action of Governor Hampton himself
who, on the 9Th of February, furnished the
only solution of the difficulty by removing all
county auditors and county treasurers in the
State under appointment of Ex-Governor
Chamberlain. But the Charleston Journal of
Commerce, which then sustained about the
same relations to the political system of the
universe as now does Mr.. John G. Wither-
spoon, saw proper to attack us for a lack of
loyalty with which it was superabundantly
supplied, and our reply, from which we quote
the following in our issue of February 18th,
covers the whole ground and fully exonerates
us from any such charge as this last one just
made by Mr.. John G. Witherspoon:
But the question of county taxation was pre-
sented in 4 different light, and as presented to
our view quite q different matter from the
contribution made solely for state purposes.
AS will he remembered, at the last term Of the
Circuit Court for this county, Judge Mackey in
charging the grand Jury recommended that the
County Commissioners should levy tax for
county purposes, and he suggested that they
could appoint agent for the collection of the
same. This proposition as we are informed, was
discussed by the Board of County Commission
ers in executive meeting, but it was ascertained
proper time, and in compliance with the law,
made the assessment for county purposes, which
had already gone upon the Auditors books. Be-
Sides the legal advisers Of the County Commits
siOners assured them that they were not vested
with authority to appoint Il tax collector to dis
charge the duty which plainly devolved upon
the County Treasurer Acting upon this sugges-
ton of counsel the County Commissioners who
had been recently inducted into office, land all of
them Hampton Democrats) 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 would pay their
county taxes when called upon to do so-it being
understood that the County Treasurer would is-
sue his notice at All early day. On the appearance
of his notice, we advocated the payment of the
county taxes, in order to prevent financial en-
barrassment in the affairs of the county. The
fact that the County Treasurer was an appoinee
of Gov. Chamberlain, holding his commission
from Chamberlain, at date when his constitu-
tional authority was not questioned. did not to
our mind enter into the case, there beingno other
person claiming the office. The question of ig-
noring the County Treasurer on account OF his
political opinions, or the manner OF his appoint
ment, no more occurred to us than to reject re-
cent decisions and rulings Of the Supreme Court,
simply because the Justices composing that trl-
bunal are Republicans and were elected to the
bench under Republican auspices. We suppose
the question of the political status of the County
Treasurer did not occur to those having the col
lection of the taxes under advlSement-lt beng
was appointed had not expired, and by provis-
ion of the Statute it was supp sed he would not
be removed until the expiration of his term.
Our remarks on the payment of the county tax
to Chalnberlain's sappointee were predicated solely
upon the assumption advanced by q 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 or
Chambe berain was the undisputed Treasurer OF
the county. We then said that he was the only
lawful officer for the collection Of county taxes
until suppanted or removed. Since that time
Gov Hampton has ordered his removal and we
presume the taxpayers will hardly require any
newspaper suggestions as to their action in the
premises.
Some persons lost sight of the fact that DR..
Robertson, agent for receiving the voluntary
contributions, was not the county treasurer by
virtue of any authority, nor was it SO pretend
ed lie opened his books OH the 10th OF JAN
uary, for the reception of the voluntary con-
tributions, and in the forenoon of that day we
paid to him the full amount of our quota.
Pending the forty days the books were open
for that purpose, we gave the agent shines of
encouragement" every week, and on the day
the books were closed we called upon the
agent to ascertain the total amount he had
received. 1t lacked a few dollars of being
S., 900. and in order to bring it up to that
round number we made an additional cOntrl-
button of the necessary amount so that while
we were among the first, we were also the last to
respond to the resolution of the Hampton House
of Representatives. Under the county treasurer
of Governor Hampton's appointment the reg
ular collection of taxes was commenced in Ju-
ly, and though only one-half of the levy was
called for in that month, yet we paid the whole
of our assessessment-nOt much, tits true
but enough to enable us to prove our faith by
our works. And we are not so uncharitable
as to suppose for moment that Mr.. John {.
Witherspoon was among the laggards, but to
the contrary that he unanimously rallied him.
self under the Hampton banner and poured
out his shekels in aid of home rule and honest
government.
Another serious grievance that seems to
rankle Mr. John G. Witherspoon's manly
breast is the complaint he makes that we re-
fused to allow the ENQUIRER to become the
organ of the York Democracy. We do not
know precisely what he means III this respect;
but if he insinuates that the ENQUIRER is not
true to the Democracy Of South Carolina or
of York county, he simply errs. We do not
aspire to the leadership of the Democracy
yielding that distinguished honor to himself
but we claim to be as true to Democratic
principles as he, though his superior sperspi-
cacity may enable him to take broader, more
liberal and more comprehensive view of all
important questions affecting the affairs OF
this sublunary planet. We do not remember