G58 TAXATION AND DEBT. 



Plate A exhibits the relation of debt and taxation to population in 

 South Carolina, and for the principal geographical divisions of the United 

 States during the thirty years represented by the United States census 

 returns of 18G0, 1870, 1880. National debt and taxation are not con- 

 sidered, but only State and local indebtedness and taxation, the latter 

 including county, township and munici})al debt and taxes. It appears 

 that the ratio of debt and taxation to population has greatly increased 

 since 1800, and that these burdens become larger in passing from South 

 Carolina and the Southern States to the Western, Middle, and New Eng- 

 land States. The increase in 1870 is in part attributable to the premium 

 on gold at that date, but in South Carolina it was due in a still greater 

 degree to the corrupt character of the State government, maintained by 

 military authority during " reconstruction." The gradation of taxation 

 from New England to South Carolina is more striking even than that of 

 indebtedness, and while it shows the frugality with which the State gov- 

 ernment is administered, shows also how unjust the general and sweeping 

 charges of repudiation are, inasmuch as the load of debt imposed by the 

 " reconstruction " government is still being borne. 



Plate B exhibits the ratio of State and local taxation and indebtedness 

 to area, and agrees in its general features with plate A. The State and 

 local indebtedness per capita of South Carolina is less than one-third 

 that of the Middle and New England States. Per square mile, it is only 

 one-eighth that of the former, and one-tenth that of the latter. 



Plate C exhibits the total burden of debt and taxation, Federal, State 

 and local, chargeable on the State of South Carolina, per capita and per 

 square mile, for the periods of 1860 and 1880. The national debt and 

 taxes are here assumed to be equally distributed according to population 

 and area, and the portion assigned South Carolina is estimated on this 

 basis. Of course the Federal debt and taxes are not actually distributed 

 in this manner. As it is certain that no estimate, as to where and by 

 whom these indirect taxes are actually and ultimately paid, would pass 

 unchallenged, the above is given to show the relative magnitude of the 

 changes which have occurred since 1860 in State and Federal taxation 

 and indebtedness. The Federal debt was : 



In 1860 S64,800,000 



In 1880 $2,120,415,370 



The Federal taxes were : 



In 1860 $53,187,511 



In 1880 8360,474,657 



One thing is at least clear, that however and by whomsoever the por- 

 tion of Federal taxes paid by South Carolina be estimated, they will be 

 found to be largely in excess of all taxes. State and local, collected 

 within her borders. 



