The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-12-20
Letter o From Governors Mitchell and
Stone on tho Subject.

COLUMBIA, s. c., Dec. 13.-In Gov.
ernor Tllmau's message to the Legis.'
lature at its present session he was very
outspoken and aggressive on the subject
of railroads and receivers and the atti.
tude of the United States Courts in the
collection OF State taxes.
The question OF rail.oad receiverships
is big one, and ono which has attract
ed q great desl of attention and caused
considerable trouble in other States be.
sides South Carolina.
Governor Tillman sent copies Of his
recent message on the subject 10 several
of the Governer's of the States and has
received replies of very strong endorse.
nent of his position ON the railroad
question. ......-
The following letters written BY Gov
ernor Mitchell Of Florida and Governor
Stone of Missouri will be exceedingly in.
teresting at this time.
Governor Mitchell Of Florida writes
as follows:
STATE OF FLORIDA, -
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.,
Tallahassee, Fla, Dec,5, 1893.
Hon. r. B. Tillman, Governor of South
Carolina, Columbia, s. G..
Dear Governor: am in receipt of
your annual message to the General
Assembly of South Carolina. The mes.
sage I have not read yet, but note with
much interest the contents of your letter
in regard to taxation in your State. j..
Florida has also been put to much
expense in collecting taxes upon prop.
erty in the hands of receivers appointed
by the United STATES Courts. This
question in my opinion should he placed
beyond the control OF tue courts. The
property of corporation, or any indi-
vidual, in the hands Of United States
Court receiver should, by an act Of Con-
gress, be made subject to State taxation
in language 30 clear that no Jud gescan,
after the passage of such Act, prevent
the collection of State taxes upon prop
erty in the hands ola United States
Court receiver and I shall write to the
delegation in Congress from this State
and urge them to assist in placing it
beyond the power of any United States
Judge to interfere in the collection OF
State taxes upon property IN the hands
of receivers.
have recently heard Of q Judge Of
the United states District Court going
North in the private car Of one of his
receivers, and have no doubt this is the
case in other instances. .
This lording it over tho people BY
Judges holding Office for life, and amen
able to no law. should be stopped.
Very respectfully,
81. L. MITCHELL, Governor.
The following letter was also received
from the Governor of Missouri:
STATE CT MISSOURI,
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
Jefferson City, Mo-, Dec. 4, 1893.
Hon. B. B. Tillman, Columbia, S. C.
Dear Sir: Permit me to thank you
for your recent message to the General
Assembly of your State, relating to the
usurpatiOn of the Federal Judiciary.
This is q question to which I have given
some considerable attention and one in
which feel ! profound interest.
send yon herewith q copy of mes.
sage sent to the General Assembly OF
thiB State in February last 1t relates
to another phase OF the same general
Iquestion.
I think the State authorities should
iexert themselves and use every leglti-
mate means to put, or to have put, some
restraints and Limitations upon the juris-
dlction of the Federal Courts. For many
Yeacs, and until very recently, the Fed
eral Courts have been justifying the ap.
prehenslon and fulfilling the prophecy
of Thomas Jefferson that they would
prove to be tie greatest danger to our
institutions and liberties. However
within the last year or two I have been
glad to note some tendency on their part
to retreat from the advanced grounds
they had taken and return 10 the old
and better practice.
It behoovess the States none the less
to be vigilant, to be aggressive, if need
be, and to compel proper observance
of the Constitution and proper recog-
nition OF the State authority Bnder the
Constitution, by the courts of the United
States. These tribunals are as nearly
irresponsible as they can be made. But
even they must yield to the demands of
The people when they have right, jus.
tice and the Constitution upon their
side.
If the States are not willing and able
To resist aggression and usurpatlon then
they are unworthy to wear the crown of
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