Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1893-12-07


but more surely resting on the
love of power and in this instance
having no other foundation. One
had to give way; which should it
have been?"
The right of the State to levy
and collect taxes has uever been
disputed. South Carolina derived
that right from the Kings of En-
gland. 1t is right which rests at
the root of government, and with
out it government, would cease to
exist. It has never been resisted
when exercised by a sovereign
except by revolution and an ap-
peal to arms. In all free govern
ments, the right is exercised ac-
cording to law, and ample pro-
vision are made for unjust or in
equality in the levying of taxes"
We cannot undertake to review
the lengthy and meritorious argu-
ment by which he shows that the
authority which receivers and the
Federal courts now arrogate to
themselves over proparty in their
hands is only a recent interested
and technical assumption of the
court as against the fundamental
right of the State to levy taxes 60
prevent paralysis of government
We can only make extracts here
and there of the authorities he
quotes and Of the points which
be enforces.
One striking instance is his
presentation of the evidence of
Alexander Hamilton, the father
of the doctrine of Capitalization
himself, as to the intention of the
founders and makers of the Con-
stitution with regard to the inde-
pendent and sovereigr autonomies
of the several States. This un-
exceptionable authority as against
the upholders of national inter
ference is quoted as saying:
"I am willing here to allow in
its fnll extent the Justice of the
reasoning, which requires that the
individual States should possess
an independent aud uncomfortable
authority to raise their own re-
venues for the supply of their own
wants, and in making this con-
cession affirm that with the sole
exception of duties on exports
and imports they would under the
plan of the convention, retain
that authority in the most absolute
and unqualified sense; and that
all attempt on the part of the
National Government to abridge
them in the eXecise of it would be
a violent assumption of power,
unwarranted by any article or
clause of its Constitution"
TO which the Governor
judiciously add:
II may remark in passing that
when this was written the Con-
stitution had been ratified by only
four States, and Hamilton was
trying to allay the distrust of the
States. Had such claim been
made then the Constitution would
meyer have haep ratified y
The Governor is moderately CON-
tanned until he comes to mention
the persons who have been in
strumental in thwarting the State
as he believes, of its just dues.
Then his Indignation knows no
bounds and his language in
characterizing them is unmeasured
and doubtless too strong.
"One," he says, "a Judge who
sucked States rights with his
mothers milk and now plants his
dagger in that mothers breast, the
other an ex-carpet bagger, who in
days past did his utmost to
thrott lie Anglo-Saxon civilization
in South Carolina, and who has
returned after fifteen years absence
to gloat over her humiliation at
the hands of his obedient instru-
ment. This is very strong language
but let US see if I have not warran t
for It,
He quotes Receiver Chamberlain's
letter to him asking for an
amicable conference and arrange
nent in which that Receiver, the
alleged servant of the court, poses
as it's master, and offers of "guaran
tee the most cordial assent to the
court" to an arbitration into which
he Chamberlain, will undertake
to bring every railroad now in
litigation with the State"
"It will be seen," says the Gov
ernor 'that this humble servant of
the Court, while speaking with all
due humility and respect under
takes to guarantee the reasonable
efforts to bring about an end to
this fight; but covetous of the