Year: 1870

The state vaIunIOns


AUGUSTA, March 29, 1870


Mr.. EDIToR.-Some paragraphs that seem
to be going the rounds of the papers concern
ing the reception of the Valuation Commits
sloners report, deserve attention at the hands
OF somebody who is in the habit of dealing
justly II not walking humbly; and as all of
which saw and part of which was. it NAV
be proper for me to add word to this history.


l pass over the whole matter of the ineyita.
BILE fault to be found with everybody who IA
ever engaged in the odious business of max
ing taxes. The tenderness of earthly actions.
upon this theme is pretty generally known
also leave without comment the fact that
the State tax has latterly come to be the larg-
est fraction of cent on the dollar, whereas
it was one mill in the high old days before this
happy Republic was drenched in blood, &c.
What was once supreme Indifference has now
come to be the occasion of the utmost solici-
tude, as your readers have been told before
They have also been told of the terrible vexa-
tions of the whole system of tax-making the
Commissioners found, or rather, want of sys-
tenn.


And yet, it not is denied that the best modes
were adopted and that, on the whole, the
work was never done so elaborately and ex-
haustively.


When the first general results were known
and gain of some sixty millions published,
many community protested at the increase
OF their own valuation, forgetting that the new
basis of a fair cash value" would inevitably
carry them above ten years ago. considera-
tion that at once settled perplexities in nine
cases out OF ten. And so the report was duly
accepted by an unmistakable expression, al
though they were faring little hard, which
perhaps may prove true, and which can be
corrected, as such things are always correct
ed.


But there was supplement to it. On the
last day, one or two gentlemen, after the Com
mission Was dissolved. led eff on fierce on
slaueht. !. A strange new light dawned when
the final wild land lists came in. Men moved
mysteriously about and great tidal brain
wave swept along with vengeful and almost
engulphing force, and complaisant legislators
who had folded their hands as composediy as
little cher,tbs sometimes do on aged tablets,
to angelic repose and skyward tendency, be-
came suddenly charged with new force.
With thunder gathering on his brow and
lightning flashing from his eye, Representa-
tive Of a suddenly outraged constituency in
one breath charged folly upon the House, trea-
son upon irreproachable men and cowardice
and completely with outrage upon the Execu-
tive. 1t was a spectacle that one may we'll
wish will never again be seen, but ii seen,
some new phases added, let us hope. Per-
haps it was surprise and not weakness, a con-
sciousness of its wrong and absence of fear
of the consequences, that kept good men ST.
lent, who ought to have pricked the bubble;
but the fac: remains that this ebulition went
out to the people of the State without any re-
buke but the silent vote which refused TO raise
it to the dignity of debatable question, and
was caught up by careless lockers. on as wor-
thy to be seriously considered.


While this was being done in one place, in
another men were being regaled by propo-
stion not to pay the Commission, embellished
with language of so rare exuberance that it
| Seohuo III tuc bcSSlOu, peTudpS
unless one were to recall the humidity distill-
ed on the solemn occasion when eyes were
dimmed and speech thickened around the
Peabody bier.


So much should be written as a part of
the res geste, and which seems to have been
very imperfectly understood by many who
have had their attention called to the subject.
So much ought to be said in justice to gentle.
men who worked faithfully and we'll for the
State, and, in exculpation of great majority
OF the Legislature, from blame in the unseem-
ly demonstration to which have alluded. No
man can complain if he be- shorn of glory
founded on self assumed and fictitious war
fare, ard be is considered an unlearned man
that expects enduring fame as warrior who
rides in unrufaed pIumase upon faily con-
tested field and rears his crest so grandly in
the safe moment when the battle is done.