The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-10-20
Wednesday, Oct. 20, 1885.
COloneI j. Il. Richardson's Speech at
Florence


We corv tho recent speech ut Florence by
Colonel j. T. Richardson, nominee for Cover
ror, II will be found interesting reading, II
not inStructlvr. We have no unkind criticism
To make Of that speech, but we suggest that II
is as notable for what it does not contain as
for what it docs contain.
As VIC understand noho'ly has ever charged
that our Democratic officers have been cor
rupt. We do not therefore sec the force OF
Colonel Richardson's defence of thcm.
Colonel Richardson says;
"Now If We add tie interest on the public
debt to the levy for State purposes i'll lSCS We
will have about S!6>,0W which Is prcclScly
what The taxation Is to-day, for before lelt
lry Office, ] made the calcu lation and found
tina. The taxation lin lS|Gl is in fact somewhat
3csS than il WAS in ISIS.
Pain tax-paying people are not able 10 uh
tnr.tand that sentence. The tax levy ihis H.
that time increased from ~ to 5i2 mills.
They are also further nonpluSSed when they
arc told that the assessed value of our proper
" is now SSO,O0o,u00 moro than it was in lS>o.
When they are told that the phosphate royal
" was Sl1 ,ai more in lS'5 than 1t was in lSS0,
they are further troubled to make Colonel
Richardson's statements square with the facts
as stated by "A Slrail Taxpayer" from Eerk-
ley county-uhe Comptrollcr-Gcncral,w We pre-
sIEFoa
Colonel Richardson, like other pablic speak.
crs, or writer's for the press holds Up the luna
sic asylum, and the appropriation 10 thcStatc
house. as instances wherc there was an IN
crease of appropriation. az small TaN-Pay-
or, who was defending the government from
the charges of extravaganza made by Mr.. Till
man. admits that there has been an increase
of expenses III nearly every dcpal tmcnt Of the
government. 1t would, We think, have been
interesting to know why there should be an
increase of expense to about fifty per cent. i'll
the Executive Departments, from 1850 to lSSo.
The increase in the appropriation to the luna
tic asylum was in about the same ratio.
Colonel Richardson INDUCES in some hcauti-
iul figures Of speech when he thinks OF our
unfortunate fellow-cilizcrs who are to lie
taken care OF in the asylum, but hc has moth
ing Ut all in particular to say OF the increase
OF expense in the Executive Departments.
What Colonel Richardson has 10 say By way
of comparing the taxes in South Carolina and
other States, in one sense, is very assuring,
but the comparison does not offer sufficient
reason for the increase of tho levy while the
assessment from year to year has Increased.
His talk OF the increased receipts from the
phoSphatcs is of little intcrcs. to us. The Oft
repeated assurance that these phosphate re-
rcipts would reduce our taxes, has utterly
failed, and cur taxes have increased, as the re-
cciptS from pEosphatcs increased.
What advantage is the Increase of the taxa.
bic property of the State, and what profit Is
there in the increase Of phosphate royalty, if
4, tl,n
1ion OF our taxes? Let our politicians come
down to business and explain this?
The per capita tax Of the different States
means absolutely nothing, except to prove
the poverty OF our own people. If we were
richer, we would pay more taxes. For in.
stance. the man who owns S2),0OJ worth Of
property would pay $3.50 in taxes while the
man who owns only $50 worth would pay on
ly fifty cents. Has the man with only so,
any thing Of which to congratulate himself in
the matter of taxes? He has not, but il
means us much rs the comparison OF the
State taxes by Colonel Richardson.
By Colonel Richardson's statement. we
would infer that the average citizen of New
York is about seven times as rich as the aver
age ci.iz n Of South Carolina. To prove that
this theory is correct: Charleston, with its
5000 inhabitants pays about the one-fi!th part
of the taxes OF the State, while Abbcville
with its 10000 inhabitants pays about tho one
thirticlh part of the State taxes. The per
capita then for every man, woman and child
in Charleston county, is, If we have made no
mistake in the calculation, about s. co, While
the per capita for every man, woman and
child in AbbcviIie county is only $l.25 and
yet the same taxes are levied upon the value
Of the property owned by each citizen, no
matter in what part Of the State he may live.
Colonel Richardson's talk on the situation
of ten years ago, repeats q story which is E'-
miliar to al! OF South Carolina, the truth OF
which may be vouchcd for by every citizen.
That paragraph in reference to the debt and
the manner in which the fraudulent debt was
separated from the actual or valid debt was TO
The point, and entirely crCditable 10 the
speaker and to the State.
His reference to Charleston, and her recent
misfortune was we'll said, and entirely appro-
pirate.
II Colonel Richardson, or any other we'll in
formed person,-omit:lng all buncombc and
spi picad-cagle-Fourth-of July flights Of oratory
would do public service if he
would come down TO plain facts and tell the
people why our taxes have been increased
while the total amount Of our assessment has
also been increased, and while receipts from
the phoSphates has kept pace with them
in the increase. The stubborn fact is
known of all men, that our taxes have been
increased, and it might just rs well be admit.
ted. The increase is fact which cannot be
concealed. The only question is have our
Legislative and Executive officers acted wise
ly and for the good of the people, in incrcas
ing the expense Of the government? That is
she question.
Let our politicians acknowledge the fact
which is patent to every one. and devote their
1imc and talent to explaining tie necessity
dor the increase.