The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-08-26
FORSAKING TIE OLD PATHS.
GENERAL JOHNSON HAGOOD PLEAM;
FOR A MIXED IUSDANDRT.

summer Meeting on August 4, 1856.
1t is doubtful whether, in all the time
since South Carolina was the hunting
ground of the Indian, any single fifth OF
century has witnessed within her bord-
ers q relative progress III material welfare
equal with the last. 1t needs no com
pilation of statistics to show this. Look
at Columbia, the beautiful city i'll which
you re holding this summer meeting.
Compare her in 1865, sitting amid ashes
and her population feeding on the refuse
cattle of Sherman's supply train, with
her condition to-day. See her waste
places rebuilt, often more substantially
this II before; her homes once more sur
rounded with the comforts of life, and
her people on the streets and in the
marts again steadily asserting themselves
i'll the battle of life. Columbia in this
but represents the State, and in the de-
gree of her rehabilitation docs not more
than equal the general progress. The
uncomplaining fortitudo, the incompara-
bio energy of the South in the struggle
to restore her fortunes, broken in the
late civil war, has been witnessed with
admiration by al, and to my mind presents
as much of the heroic element as any
thing III her history, from Sumter to
AppomattoX.
AGRICULTURAL DEPRESSION.
Yet, Notwithstanding this successful
progress, and at it's close, our agricultu-
raj interest finds itself depressed, the
chief product of its industry selling at
best with no sufficient margin of profit,
and often, i'll individual cases, at point
below the cost of production, which i'm
pcrils the accumulation that has been
made. The agricultural mind is earn
estly and with justice demanding the
reason why.
1t has been suggested that it is to be
faund in oncrous financial legislation and
wastcful public expenditure. Others,
going deeper into the analysis, have
sought the chief cause Of the trouble in
the faulty business system upon which
our industry is based. There is DcrhaDs
truth III both these suggestions, and each
deserves attention, but as to their rela-
tive and practical importance in the con-
slderatlon of meeting Of South Caro-
lima agriculturalists few thoughts
occur. The taxes paid to the General
Government, indirect though thcv be,
arc probably the largest levied upon our
pursuit; but Ill their levy and cXpcndi-
turc VIC have an interest and control in
common with fifty millions OF people.
lndlrectlon makes it difficult to asccr-
tain what we actually do pay; and cx-
tcnsive community of interest both com
pllcates its effect upon our special indus
try, and makes the desired change hard
to accomplish. With in overwhelming
voting majority at the polls, and with
ordinarily majority of representatives
in the State Legislature, State lcvics and
expenditures have been and remain
within cur immediate control. The sup
port Of Government is necessity, but
every cent taken from the TAXPAYER be-
yond its economic and efficient adminis-
tration is oppressive. Docs the present
management of the State Government
favOrably meet the requirements of this
proposition? | think it does. 1t is not
pretended that there is no room for re-
trenchmcnt and reform. With some
special opportunities of observation it
has seemed to me that improvement may
lie sought III the direction OF q more
simple and q cheaper county administra.
ton; of contining the disbursements Of
the charitable institutions of the State,
Wnlcn exclusive OF the interest on the
public debt consume onc-third of the
State levy, more rigidly to those who are
proper recipients OF charity, and in MAX
ing the labor OF conylcts source of i'll
como, to the relief OF the taxpayer. The
itXr n1N to-,
for taxation and the failure of the for
feltcd land laws to enforce the collection
of taxes operate injustice and demand
redress All Of these may be looked to.
When in position to do SO, / have myself
urged them upon the attention of our
law.malIng power; but it has not been
indicated where rctrcnchmcnt AM reform
to an extent apprcciablc in this cOnncc-
ton, can go further at this time without
In my Judgment impairinG the efficiency
OF the public administration, or curtail-
ing expenditures in the best interests Of
the people. BE this as it may, however;
take things as they stand, and let us con
sluer. The State and ordinary county
taxes, together with the two-mill school
uIA' are, one year with another, about
70 Ien i.l11' MUS upon valuation of property
OllC-llhll llS SCllll8 price,
ana estimating them per capita they are
about one and two-thirds dollars to tic
population How much can the burden
OF OF M such !, a tax affect any healthy industry
Now subtract from the sum thus taken
from the farmer what he must pav for on
efficient and well ordered government, i
this be not such, and you have the mems.
ure u! OF practical retenchmcnt; but in tn,
mhmteslmal proportions of the sovine
made when distributed among the indi.
vidu9l farmers have you found @ adcnIotl iotl
our calling >''f'i'''''on ol
There are other assessments unon +b,
industry OF the farmer and liens MS nnnr ,rr
his land which pass undor the nor'n "i|r -,
and are collected as taxes. These 'i,o hoinr ~
in no just sense taxes, breed confDs;ntE finE
in the popular mind as to the amnnmt mo, rr%iol ~
taxation. / nlludo to county and ,U town "
ship subscriptions to railroads TThn, Thar
are simply business investments modn I'D
the county or township upon bushes, S
considerations; stock in the railrooda ,,
always given in return for the gunscri,1
ton. and expected improvements in III, h