The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-05-07

conditions of our people, and in some respects
is burdensome and oppressive. We therefore
urge the Legislature to call Constitutional
Convention at the earliest practicable day to
give an organic law suited to our wants.
ResoiVed The Lien Law has. in our opinion,
been most pernicous in its effects on the agri-
cultural interest of the State, entcing people in
debt, encouraging extravaganza, undermining
that sturdy independence aud self-relance so
necessary to the preservation fthe high morale
of any people, and we Recommend its repeal.
Resolved, We believe the Independence and
efficiency of our judiciary would be increased
by making their tenure of Office during good
behavior up to seventy years.
Resotred, We believe that Legislature anx
ious to be economical can lessen taxation by
abolishing useless offices and many minor ex-
penses, which in the aggregate amounts to thou
sands of dollars.
The Committee Permanent Organization
recommends that an organization be formed TO
be known MS '.The Agricultural Association Of
South Carolina; that tho members of this asso-
citation shall consist of delegates elected by the
County Associations on the basis Of the repre-
sentstion of each in the General Assembly of
tho State, said delegates to be elected on sales
day in October, and to hold Office for one year
or till their successors arc elected; the first
meeting Of the association to meet in Columbia
on the second Tuesday in November.
they have not sufficient time during the sitting
of the convention to draft rules and regulations
for the government of said association, rs they
deem that matter of too much Importance to
be hastily drafted and they respectfully re-
commend that the President of this convention
appoint committee Of seven, one from each
Congressional District, to draft rules and regu-
lations for the government of said association,
to be submitted to the first meeting of tho State
association. The committee further recon-
mends that the delegations in the convention
| from the Counties that have no organization
take steps looking to the formation of such or
carnations so that all the Counties may be rep
resented next November.
E. 7. SrAoKuoU,E, for Committee.
The following was offered as au amendment
| to the above:
That an Executive Committee Of one from
each County be appointed by the President at
his leisure, who shall take the necessary steps
| to organize the farmers of their respective
| Counties, continuing the present agitation till
after the next election, so as to secure Legis-
lature which will carry out our course rs ex-
pressed in this convention.
Mr.. Sigh of Newbsrry offered the following
| resolution, which was adopted:
Resolued, as o sense of this convention, That
the tariff ought to be reduced rs low rs possible
consistant with the actual necessities of tho
government, wisely and economically admins
tered that, as far as possible, raw material and
| the prime necessaries of aud important in
dustries ought to be admitted free of duty; and
that our Congressman be requested to use their
best efforts, at oil times and oil occasions, TO
| secure the modification, in this sense, Of our
present most unjust aud burdensome tariff
| Mr.. Donaldson of Greenville offered the fol-
lowing, which was adopted
| Whereas, The reports of the Comptroller
| General show u most unequal aud unjust dis
| r N nj ho bu 0f oh
wan. Of proper equalization of the property Of
| the State, both real and personals; aud whereas,
it is also shown that large per centum Of the
property of the State is not returned for taxa
| ton, aud that tho property returned is not as
sessed at its market value, thus depriving tho
| State Of her just revenues, and increasing the
burthens of those who honestly pay their taxes;
and whereas. the burthens of taxations are
| being annually increased by the steadily in
creasing amount of the lands forfeited to the
| State for non-payment Of taxes, and now
amounting to 902, $40 acres, upon which there
| is $355, Ill due; and which land, while nomi-
Inaliy the property Of the State. and paying no
| taxes, remains in possession Of the owners, who
continue to enjoy it's possession and profit; and
| whereas, these and many other evils are attri-
butable, in part, at least, to defective system
| of taxation; therefore, be it
Resolved That the taxpayers Of the State
have right to-demaud of rhe Legislature sue h
|
| correct the defects complained of.
Resolved, That it is the sense of this convent on
| that the laws Of the State should be so amended
rs to affect particularly the following results,
to-wit: A fuller and complete return of per-
| sonal property; more correct valuation Of oil
property, real and personal; such an equaliza-
| tion OF the valuation Of property as will fix
the assessed value and the selling price
| throughout the State upon an equal basis, aud
| throw upon each County only Ito just proper,
ton Of taxes; and such disposition of the for,
feited lands Of the State rs will SECURE tho tax
es due OH them and restore them 10 the tax
books, as we'll as provide remedy for this
evil in the futuye.
Resolved, That until our people take more in
terest in and acquire more knowledge Of the
| duties Of this most important department of the
government they will not realize the necessity
of Recommending for appointment as Audi
tors and Treasurers only men specially fitted
by education and experience for the work re-
quired of them; that we believe that the failure
on the part of the Legislature to correct the
defects above cited, notwithstanding our State
officers have regularly called attention to them
is due in large measure to ignorance not only
Of the law, but Of the whole machinery of the
tax system, and as voters as we'll as taxpayers
we call upon every member-el Of the Legis
lature to inform himself upon the subject and
to devote sufficient time to study Of the duty
of Auditors and Treasurers as will enable him
to discuss intelligently all questions Of tax law
and to suggest needed remedies.
Mr.. A. Il. Jones, ofEdge6eld, offered the fol-
lowing, which was adopted:
Whereas, We believe that the present i'm.
poverished condition of the farmers Of the
State are attributable to the following causes;
First, an idea Of the profits of cotton crops
second. n ruinOus system of tenantry; third, q
ruinous system of farming without care for the
preservation of the fertility of the SOIL fourth a
careless and willful giving away of bard-earned
money for worthless commercial fertilizers;
fifth, the shameful neglect of raising the nee
essary supplies for homo consumption; sixth