The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-12-12
Wednesday, Dec. IL, 1883.
Have the People No Friend at Court !?

nave the FeOple NJ TiSh" ~
Only a short whilo ago the Supreme Court
pronounced the issuing Of township Donds
as Illegal and without proper authority Of
constitutional law.
Immediately thereafter our respected daily
contem poraries OF Columbia and Charleston
smoke cautiously OF the matter, and deplored
any decision which might possibly impair
the credit OF the State in the matter Of float
ing her bonded Indebtedness, which will very
soon become due.
The Legislature Is in session, and now l,
seems that the bondholders, or their friends
propose to validate" the bonds which have
been issued contrary to law, and thereby I'M
pose o hardship on the taxpayer to the In
tense satisfaction and infinite profit Of the
bond-holder.
When we review the legislation of this
State, and when We recall the editorial POSI-
tions Of our leading newspapers, whether VIC
are in error or not, the impression Is forced
upon US, that the people-the taxpayers, the
farmers, the bone and sinew of the country
have few defenders either In official or politi-
cal circles, or among the leading newspapers
OF the State.
The Repister has filled columns of Its edito'
rial space with figures and hypothetical con-
illusions to show to the world that one-half OF
our farmers are tax-dodgers Of the ugliest
kind. When We show that newspaper that
some OF the country banks are paying about
two.and-a- half times as much per cent. taxes
as the Charleston banks. 1t cannot be induced
TO say word. We say this too, with the full
recollection that we believe the Register is as
honest and true to principle as any paper
that is published within the bounds Of the
State. We only note the persistency with
which the little onemule, or two-mule, OF
thrse-mule taxpayers were held up to ridi'
enle, while the rich bankers 60 scot free o.
criticism.
When the Attorney General decided that
the banks must pay taxes according to law
did not the Ne,cs and Courier Immediately
thereafter boastfully announce that the
Charleston banks would not pay as the coun'
try banks had paid and are still paying? The
records prove how faithfully that threat has
been kept.
In Abbeviile county, we learn. that poo1
white men have been thrust in jail because ol
their inability to pay one dollar to the school
fund. Is It not known to the Governor, the
Comptroller. General and the Auditor of Oco
nee county that rich old man there, possess
ing 100000, returned only $500 for taxation
As faras We are informed no action has been
taken TO bring the colossal tax dodger to JUS
tice. Do you see an equal administration oi
the law, as regards poor white men In Able
willie and rich tax-dodger In Oconee and mil
nonaire bankers in Charleston?
And again, Abbeville county, with popu-
lstion of 10000, pays on over 5000 polls.
Charleston, with population Of $4,000, pays
on about 1000 polls. Has the News and Cou-
rier or the Register ever thought Of this mat
ter?
To return to the validating" act Some
people might vote for that act under the
thoughtless impression that the credit OF the
State would be in jeopardy. This argument
10 too weak and too groundless TO impress any
ono who would refer TO the fact, that the
bonds were issued contrary to law; that the
State Of South Carolina only few years ago
repudiated one.half of her Indebtedness be-
cause OF alleged or actual fraud that the State
of Georgia repudiated Radical bonds, and
when Democratic bonds were recently put on
the market they were Immediately taken by
investors at the lowest rates OF interest.
Inc De6t way 10 sustain Iue creulG VI the
State IL not to assume unlawful indebtedness.
Such act is more damaging to the credit and
business tact OF our State than any cry about
the sacredness Of unlawful bonds by town
ships.
To say the least, there would seem to be
room for honest difference of opinion, but 1t
seems that the validating" act is to be hur-
ried through for the benefit Of the bondhold-
ers without even consulting the taxpayers.
II this act becomes y law, we trust the vote
OF the different members may be recorded
and published.
There were q number of good citizens who
protested against this tax both before and af-
ter the unlawful election whereby bonds were
issued.
They went into Court to have their rights
protected, and the highest judicial authority
in the State has thrown the protection of law,
justice and common sense around them. 1t
10 now proposed to legalize wrong on inno-
cent taxpayers, and leave them to the tender
mercies Of the voracious bondholders. We
shall see what we shall see.