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third Wednesday in Oetober, of each odd year. Representatives to ? Congress would then take their seats the following December, com- j mg fresh from the people, and represent popular sentiment on the public questions of the day, with more certainty than if elected as heretofore, the October year preceding the meeting of Congress. If an extra session of Congress should be called before the day fixed; for the election, the Governor might be authorized to order, by j proclamation, the elections at an earlier day, and thus secure the j representation of the State at such extra session. JURISDICTION REMITTED BY THE MILITARY TO TUE CIVIL AUTHORITIES." j The Acts passed at the late extra session, were transmitted to the j Military Commandant of the Department of the Carolinas, at ! Charleston, and on the first day of October last, by General Orders. ; he remitted all cases in which the inhabitants of this State were j concerned, civil and criminal, to the civil authorities. If equal and exact justice is meted out to all the inhabitants of the State by I courts and juries-if the freedmen receive that protection of person and property which the laws now guarantee them, we will not again be adjudged by Provost Courts and Military Commissions, and we will vindicate before the world, oui- high sense of moral right, by enforcing impartial justice, whether the suitor be humbie or salted. Experience will? demonstrate . the wisdom of your enactment authorizing negroes to testify in all cases. It takes away thc impunity which bad men have long enjoyed, in tempting these ignorant people to perpetrate crime for the benefit of the temptors. The result of the experiment at the late Fall Term of the Courts has been entirely satisfactory, and most of the freedmen who have been called to the witness stand, have manifested a highly creditable desire to tell the truth. The extension of the privilege lias had a salutary influence in encouraging and derating their moral setfsea Many of them appreciate their obligations to society, and readily, assist in bringing to punishment evil-doers of their own color. Tiley are invaluable to the productive resources of the State, and if their labor be lost by removal to other sections, it will convert thou? sands of acres of productive land into a dreary wilderness. For this reason, I have felt it to be my duty to discourage their migra? tion. The short crops of the present year should stimulate the planter and farmer to renewed energy and enterprise. He will, however, find his lands of little value, ii he cannot command labor to cultivate them. If the negro remain here, his labor must be made sufficiently remunerative te subsist and clothe him comfort? ably. Schools must be established to educate his children, and churches built for his moral training. Tho experiment of free labor, whilst it has not been entirely satis? factory, is far from proving a failure. Where the blacks li ave been adequately compensated and kindly treated, they have generally labored faithfully. Suddenly relieved from the controlling will of others, and exempted from the compulsory labor which had, through life, been exacted from them, they have performed, during the present year, an amount of voluntary labor which may well excite surprise. Tho indolence of some, and the improvidence of many, will doubtless cause them to undergo much suffering before they are educated fully to the necessity of constant and untiring labor, and to proper thrift and economy. Humanity and sound policy unite in demanding that we should I provide for the aged, the infirm and the helpless, and I therefore respectfully recommend the passage of an Act making it incumbent i on the Commissioners of tho Poor to provide suitable buildings al j the various District Poor Houses for their accommodation and ? to subsist them. Thc Regents of the Lunatic Asylum have wisely and humanely made provision for the reception and treatment of insane colored patients, and the Commissioners of the Poor in the several Districts should be required to make the same provision for their support in the Asylum as now exists for white pauper patients in that Institu? tion. The idiotic and epileptic may be well taken care of at the District Poor House. THE FINANCES OF THE STATE, TAXES AND THE DANK OF THE STATE. The taxes levied under the Act of December, 1805, amount to four hundred and nineteen thousand six hundred and sixty-eight dollars and seventy-one cents, ($419,66S.71.) There has been paid into thc Treasury, three hundred and twenty-seven thousand seven hundred and thirty-seven dollars and twenty-five cents, ($327,637.25. ) Collectors commissions. 32,869 06 Freedmen's returns unpaid, (principally capitation tax) 21,310 07 Jury tickets deposited by Tax-Collectors. 7,062 ll Tax executions issued and in hands of Sheriffs and balances due in hands of Collectors. 29,780 32 Total..'..$110,668 71 This estimate does not include executions issued by the Tax Coilectors, against persons who have failed to make returns, and who have been double taxed. The statement of the Comptroller General is herewith transmitted for your information. The entire revenue received into thc Treasury from Taxes, Bills Receivable registered and carried to cash and other minor sources is.$477,743 07 There has been paid out by the Treasurer, on appropria? tions. . . 301,688 04 Leaving in the Treasury a balance, on the 31st of Octo? ber last of. 173,055 03 Subject to draft, of which sum there was in National currency. 73,245 35 The Treasurer has, in obedience to the Act of 21st of September iast, '"to provide for the redemption of Bills Receivable, issued by this State?" promptly exchanged National currency for the Bills Receivable when presented. This will rapidly reduce the amount he held on 31st October. The undrawn appropriations, and such additional appropriations as may be made at the present session, must be paid, principally, in Bills Receivable, until the taxes for the fiscal year, commencing the 1st of October last, shall be paid into the Treasury, which payments should be required to be made by the Collectors as early as June next. If the General Assembly re? enacts the clause in the Tax Bill t; ~" the last year, requiring that all taxes shall be paid in gold or silver, National currency, or Bills Receivable, and continues the auth. ~ity to the Treasurer to exchange the Bills Receivable for National currency, there is no good reason why the value of the former should not be at par with the latter. The Comptroller-General estimates tho appropriations for the present year at thrco hundred and two thousand seven hundred and ten dollars, which sum will be increased, if the recommen? dation hereinafter made, to provide for the payment of tho public debt, should be adopted by you. Tho payment of taxes is, at all times, onerous to the public, but is peculiarly oppressive to the people at the present time. The ordinary expenses of government, however, must be met, and the faith and credit of the State main? tained untarnished, and taxation is the only resource left us. The burthen should be rendered as light as possible, by the most rigid" ecenomy in making appropriations, and by requiring a strict accountability from all public functionaries. Material changes in the subject matters of taxation and modifications in the rates are requisite to render taxation less oppressive. Assessors should be required to make new assessments of the value of lands, and town .aud city lois. The Capitation Tax is onerous, and is not propor? tioned to the general scale of taxation; it should be reduced at least one-half, and the employer should be held liable for every poll in his service on 1st March next. A general system of licenses to lawyers, doctors, dentists, millers, cotton pickeries for toll, mer? chants, shop-keepers, tradesmen, auctioneers, livery stable keepers, hotels and eating houses, non-resident merchants and drummers, and others should be introduced. Taxes should bo imposed on money at interest, bonds and solvent credits, also upon all articles of luxury, embracing jewelry, gold and silver plate, and c atches, carriages, buggies, ?ill horses not used for agricultural purposes, pianos, playing cards, etc., upon the capital stock of all incorporated | companies, includinj: railroads not exempted by law from taxation, j I legacies, distributive orares in intestate estates, pistols, bowie-knifes, ' j patent medicines, and thc gross profits of brokers, factors and bank- | j I iug corporations. The taxes heretofore imposed on express, | I ! telegraph, . gas-light and insurance companies may be very j materially increased as these companies are realizing large profits J on their several investments. j j AU public officers who, by law, have a seal, should bc required to j I affix a stamp, in value from fifty cents to two dollars, regulated by I j their value or importance, on all papers where the seal is used, the i | party procuring the paper being-required to reimburse tho officer for the same. And lastly, a tax should be levied on all salaries and incomes j exceeding five hundred dollars. A Tax Bill embracing these new features would raise a sum abun- j dantly sufficient to meet ah the current wants of the State, and provide for the gradual redemption of the public debt. The pay- | ment of taxes thus levied would fall principally upon the wealthy i and those whose employments yield them ready cash, and would occasion comparatively little inconvenience to the tax-payer. Heretofore, thc interest on the public debt has been paid by the j Bank of thc State of South Carolina, but its loss of assets, growing ! out of thc war, together with its large outstanding circulation, pre- | eludes the possibility of relying further upon it, and the debt, prin- j cipa! and interest, must bc met by taxation. Thc Treasurer, with the assistance of mi additional clerk, can pay ? out, in future, all claims from his own counter; and I recommend ! that an appropriation bc made to meet thc salary of such clerk, and j that the Bank be discontinued as thc ti seal agent of thc State. The loss of assets, and the imposition, by thc general banking j law of Congress, of so heavy a tax on tho circulation of all other than National Banks, make it manifest that the Bank of thor State of South Carolina can never resume business; and I recommend that its charter be revoked or declared forfeited., and its books, papers and assets put in the hands of Commissioners for as early liquida? tion as may be practicable. TAX-COLLECTORS. The Tax-Collectors-have heretofore been elected for the Election Districts in which they reside. Since the abrogation of the Parish system, the former legislation has not been changed, and Collectors are still elected by the voters within the former Parish, lines. Beau? fort, constituting, now, but a single Election District, still has four Tax-Collectors; and Berkeley Election District has eight Tax-Col? lectors. The reason for a Tax-Collector in each Parish ceasing to exist, the law should be so modified as to elect one for each Election District. The additional numbers require an increase of the books to be furnished by the Treasurer, and a larger number of returns. The commissions are insufficient to induce business men to accept of these small places; in one of the Parishes, the Collector's commis? sions are less than fifteen dollars; and in another, (St. John's, Col leton,) no collections have been made, because no one, within my knowledge, would accept the office. I recommend that thc law be so modified as to provide for the election (d' one Tax-Collector for each Election District. THE pennie HEBT. The Comptroller-General and Treasurer, pursuant to the require- | mont cf the Act of 21st September last, prepared and forwarded me a statement shewing the aggregate amount of the principal and interest, calculated up to July 1, 1867, on the stocks and bonds past due, which the Act provided for funding, a copy of which is here? with communicated; and my proclamation has been issued, calling on these bond-holders, to fund their demands, conformably to the Act. A contract has been made to have the bonds printed, and it is agreed that they shall be delivered here by the 10th December, when the funding may be commenced. The amount reported as due, on the 1st day of July, 1867, by the Comptroller and Treasurer, is one million two hundred and ten thousand eight hundred and two dollars and eighty-five cents, ($1,210,802.85.) Provision must be made, at the present session, to pay the semi-annual interest on this sum on the 1st of January, ISON. I transmit their statement here? with. There was no provision made by the Act to fund the interest now | dut: on the Stocks and Bonds of the Fire Loan-the principal of the 1 former redeemable in 1870, and the latter in 1868. The interest due on the 1st of October last, on stocks and bonds, was sixty-eight thousand two hundred anti twenty dollars and fifty-five cents ($68,220.55,) and I recommend that authority be granted co fund thc interest now due, and that which will accumulate up to the 1st January, 18G9. The whole amount of thc public debt, principal and interest, of this State, not including the debts contracted for, or on account of the war, AS as, on the 1st day of October last, live millions two hundred and five thousand two hundred and twenty-seven dollars and seventy-four cents ($5,201,227.74.) Of this amount, four hun? dred and eighty-four thousand four hundred and forty-four dollars and fifty-one cents ($484,444.51,) is redeemable in 18(58, and three I hundred and eighteen thousand ono hundred and fifty-nine dollars} and twenty-five cents ($318,159.25,) in 1870. The remainder of the debt, (not including three hundred and ten thousand dollars (310,000) already provided for by Act of 21st Sep? tember last, authorizing its funding) is redeemable from 1875 to 1890. The interest on the whole (except the Fire Loan,) is provided for (if thc holders of the securities will consent to fund it,) up to the 1st day of January, 1868, by which time it is hoped the State will be in a condition to promptly pay interest as it falls due. The statement of the Comptroller-General, showing the debt and the several periods when it falls due, is herewith communicated. It is, however, eminently proper that some financial scheme should bc now ?adopted to prepare the State to meet the principal of the debt as it falis due. If thc interest is regularly paid on the debt, one. hundred thousand dollars annually set apart as a sinking fund for twenty years, invested in safe securities, yielding six per cent, per annum, the principal being further increased by the investment of the interest annually accruing, will accumulate the sum of three millions eight hundred and ninety-nine thousand three hundred and twelve dollars, which will be nearly adequate to the payment of the entiro debt then due,"and I recommend that proper legislation bo adopted at the present session to inaugurate this scheme. Under the Act of September 21st, already referred to, provision was made to fund thc interest on stocks issued under authority of the Act of 1863, to continuo tho construction of the new State House. The whole amount issued was twenty-four thousand eight hundred and twenty dollars ($24,820). The issue was not made until some time during the year 1864, when there was a heavy de- j predation of the currency, and when labor and materials were in a corresponding degree appreciated. Four hundred thousand dollars were issued in 1862, under authority of the Act of 1861, when labor and material had appreciated very little. In my Proclamation I excepted these two issues from immediate funding until the General Assembly met and determined whether these stocks shoidd be ' scaled to the real value received by thc State for them when issued. Tlie Convention adopted a rule for tho government of transactions between individuals during this time which was just and honest, and no reason is perceived why che same rule should not be applied in transactions between the State and its creditors. If the General Assembly should determine to scalo these stocks of either or both issues, a commission must bo appointed to fix tho rates, and the interest can be then computed accordingly. Should the General Assembly take no action upon this subject during tho, mum '?IHM iiinmn'imnai?miii III ? M- II IIIWI' mr II ur i ?MBM wi.-?[ HM.| present session, the funding will be executed in conformity to the provisions of tao Act aforesaid. TUE PENITENTIARY. Pursuant to tho provisions of the Act of thc late extra session, to establish a Penitentiary, I appointed Messrs. William Gregg, of Edgefield, William li. Robertson, of Fail-field, and Archibald Came ron, of Charleston, "Commissioners of the Penitentiary" "to select and procure a site and to crec?, a suitable temporary enclosure and temporary cells.'' They have performed the duty of selecting and procuring tho site, and have ordered tin; work on the cells to com? mence. I submit to you herewith their report, together with the plans, estimates and drawings of the entire establishment, prepared by Capt. T. 13. Lee, the Engineer and Architect. The site is within the corporate limits of the city of Columbia- a plateau of several acres of level surface, with a bold bluff on the canal, rising some sixty feet above the level of the river. A trackless than half a milo, nearly at grade, will connect the building with the Greenville Rail? road at. a point one-half a mile from the depots o? the South Carolina and Greenville and Columbia Railroad. The water now running through thc canad will furnish ali the motive power that will be needed for many years, its accessibility from every part of the State by railroad, -and tin1 facilities thereby afforded for the transportation of prisoners, provisions and materials, and for ship? ping the supplies manufactured, make it 'a most admirable and advantageous location. Granite, in inexhaustible quantities can be procured, if not within the walls, certainly within a stone's throw of them, without any cost of transportation. Ks location, within the city limits, wifi allow the number of guards to be reduced greatly below the force which would be requisite for the safe-keeping of the prisoners in remote localities where the population is sparse. It is believed by the Architect ?md Engineer having the work in charge that cells maybe in readiness by the first of January to receive convicts. The Engineer and Architect estimates the appropriation needed for the rapid and successful prosecution of the work for 1he next year at forty-five thousand dollars. I directed Lite Commissioners who were ordered to sell the build? ings, machinery, &c, of the State Works at Greenville, to reserve such machinery as might be usefully employed in the manufacture of wood and iron in the Penitentiary, when fully in operation. The reservation was made, and there will be in the future only a trifling outlay needed for machinery to operate most branches of manufac? tures of wood and iron. THE LAND SCRIP FOR THE AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE. In obedience to the resolution of the Generad Assembly,passed at tho special session, I appointed John S. Richardson, Esq., Agent of the State, for the purpose of procuring ami selling thc land scrip to which this Statte was entitled under the Act of Congress,establish? ing Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges. He was furnished with a certified copy of the resolution, duly authenticated,and filed it in the Department of the Interior. From a communication addressed to me by tho Hon. 0. H. Browning. Secretary of the Interior, a copy of which is herewith communicated, it will be seen that he declines to issue the scrip until the Legislature accepts, by Act. tito donation in conformity to the provisions of the kw of the Congress of thc v mud States, making the grant. No time^should be lost in securing this munificient donation to the cause of educa? tion and science, and i recommend that an Act be passed for that purpose. This step will certainly be accepted as a compliance, with all the requirements of the Congressional law. In some of the Northern States, the fund thus raised has been used in establishing .schools for teaching the branches required by Act of Congress, in existing Colleges and Universities; and if this policy should commend itself to your approval, the agricultural and mechanical features of the College may be engrafted on the Univer? sity of South Carolina, and save the State all expense for lands and buildings required to be furnished by it. The buildings of the University are commodious enough to accommodate all students that may desire to matriculate, anti the lands adjacent to and owned by the College will furnish sufficient land for an experimental farm. It is \a ry important, if the donation be accepted, that suck legisla? tion shall be adopted at the present session, as will make it avail? able, independently of, or in conjunction with, the University. Tilt: SOUTH CAROLINA UNIVERSITY Was organized early in January last, ami lias now about sixty five students, but its number of matriculates has not been equal to the expectation of its friends. The Act of last December, estab? lishing an University, requires further amendment, by providing for Medical and Law Schools as a part of the general system of University education. Many of the young men who ge to the Universities of other States, to prosecute their studies in these professions, would willingly avail themselves of the opportunity, if offered, of pursuing them' here. With one Professor of Law, and two Professors in the Medical School, in conjunction with the Pro fi ,'ssor o? C hemistry already there, these schools could be put into complete and successful operation, and the hope might then la? reasonably entertained that the number of students would be largely increased. The Board of Trustees, for reasons which were, doubt? less, satisfactory to them, declined, in May last, to fill the chair of Modern Languages. This important branch of modern education should not longer go unprovided for, and the Trustees will, doubt? less, till the vacant chair at their annual meeting in December. The Institution, as organized during the present year, though bylaw an "University," has been practically nothing more than the College revived. No new branches have been taught, and so long as pro? vision is not made for teaching the modern languages, and for organizing Medical and Law Schools, so long will the youth of the State seek other institutions, where these studies may be prosecuted. Until the University can be made to merit the patronage r>f the State, by enlarged facilities for acquiring knowledge in science, languages, and the learned professions, its friends cannot expect to command a general public patronage to sustain it. The Board of Trustees now numbers nearly forty members. This malees it. a? very unwieldy body. Its numbers destroy all sense of individuad responsibility in t e management of the affairs of the University. Nearly one-half ol the Board are Trustees ex officio, timi, with rare exceptions, these ex officio members constitute, by reason of official engagements which call them to Columbia in May1 and December, the majority who attend its session. It was found nearly impossible to secure the attendance of a quorum, (one-half of the Board,) and you provided by law, at the last session, that nine should constitute a quorum in a Board of thirty-nine members. A smaller laxly would realize more fully their responsibility to the State for th? proper management of its principal educational insti? tution. I therefore recommend that the Board be reduced to seven members, and appointed in such manner as the General Assembly, in its wisdom, may direct. CONCLUDED IN Oft NEXT. Columbia Iron Works. COLUMBIA, S. C. JOHN ALEXANDER, Proprietor. ; THE above Works can furnish .ill kinds, of IKON aim ?JKASS CASTINGS, JU Dt?lNEUY, GRIST and SAW MILL IKONS, GIN WHEELS, of different sizes, ?fcc., at short notice and on reasonable terms. A now, largo Foundry having just been: Snished, tho proprietor is prepared to cast: HOUSE FRONTS un.1 any other CASTING, >f every description and dimension, and will guarantee satisfaction. A Portable and a Stationary 25 and 30-? horse power Engine for salo for cash, at a reasonable price. It. MCDOUGALL, Attorney. Oct ll Snio Superintendent. Cabinet-maker, Upholsterer and Undertaker. jMMf^p^ HAVING resumed the ^^^^^^^HKabove business, 1 am pr< ^^^^^^^^ppared|to execut. Jail kinds 01 work in tile above line at t o shortest notice and most reas n .blo pr ces. A variety of COFFINS toi stantly on h: ni. Funerals promptl\| ito iidod. Aug 30 M. tl, UKI.HY. \t Brennan A Carroll'? Carriage Factory. Fire-Dogs, Shovels, Tongs, &c. AC the Shin of the Golden J'nd-Lock. ALARGE V'AUIETY of FIRE-DOGS, SHOVELS, TONOS, POKERS, FIRE SHOVELS, Ac, kc, in ?tore and for stlo very low, by JOHN C. DULL. Nor 8