SUMMIT 10 THE ABBEVILLE PRESS KB BUM.
Abbev'lle S. C, November 36, I860.
?ljc frtss.
A.Bn^zx?xjia( m. o
Friday, V?t?>W 21,1N9,
The Legislature
The S?.ate L^ajiHlHturt' assembled it
<~%>luinbin on Tuesday last, in tlx
chambers whU-h have been fitted uj
for 1 hem in the new Capitol building
Speaker Mows made a long Addrew
to the Houhc of Renreftcntalives
This i'h something new, but wo Pup
pose he was actuated hv the motive
whieh induced Dean Swift to bequeath
most of his property to found
?n asylum for lunatics and idiots
"To show |>y oni? toucli,
Ko people needed it so nitu-h "
As may be supposed he gives a gorgoou*
view of the situation as seen
through "Radical spectacles ? attributes
all the present prosperity of Ihc
State to the beneficent influence of
1ladic?l rule?especially to that disinterested
and self-sacrificing patriot,
irovernor rv jv. rteott ana his associate*.
whom he placer* with praise
individually and collectively. This is
about an preposterous as it would he
to attribute the vigor and health of
some youthful frame to a foul excrescence
which was prying upon its lifeWood.
In the House the following newlyelected
members appeared, were duly
qual'fi^d and took thfir seals: From
Abb.'vii!* Oiumiy. M-^srs. T. A. Sullivan
and li. P. iT'tffin; Fi-k? us. .1.
K. Kag'Mid ; H'KTa. .1. " Pj ultv;
Sn niter. V,'. W Ram^'y;
W. A; C?ir t? .7
Th* * V ?..
m?trnVvr i'roin ? ?Th*
report of i fi?* p* --**- * .
signod f^at* or. Hit* fl.'in;
Mr. Ferriter pnvo r.??ijw tiiKt he
will introdnce a hi'! { > r-.^nlatc the
Pale of col ton.
A sennie oni to regit iate :?n.! <?i-hvo
the Jan* of divorce. a hi!! to ivguHte
tlivorot*, alimony and tho ens) ody of
children, were made the special order
for Friday next, at 12.30 P. M. The
remaining bills on the calendar were
recommitted to their appropriate committees.
The report of the Commissioners
elected to revise and consolidate the
statute, lawn of the State, was referred
to the Committee on the Judiciary.
A committee was appointed to draft
suitable resolutions relative, to the
ur..n.
Mun^n wt ivrwitnviinnLnvrn t'UU
and Pnsenbary, recently members of
thi? HntitJO.
Mr. Feriter introduced a bill to
nmend an Art to oj^aniEe the Circuit
n-?>f-b referred to the
<>r? ?;?* Jrcib"ii?ry*.
Mr r^M*?> '? of ft bill to
?' ? ? ;. ? '.nv. ,>{' In- Slate.
Vr i)' S.t.rt'?' n-?Vt* ':"'*< < of a bill
n km Act i?nti*i?-d "An Act to
lovvijshij^ i.n i t?? d'-riuc their
power* a:i?'l y#ri v-il?;j*es.
At. 1.30 P. II., the Hou?e adjourned
m. _ ,4 j i n Ik
iaj ujcci lu-iHurrow, ?i i~ Ji.
SENATE
At 12 M., "President Corbin calied
the Senate to order, and a quorum be
ing present, the proceedings \v*-ri
opened with prayer by the Chaplain
It was resolved that the Standinp
Committees of the Senate remain at
they were at the last session, subject
to revision by the Senate,
The credentials of W. E. Johnston
Seuator elect from Sumter, (who was
subsequently allowed to qualify,) anc
J". S. Cothrou, Senator clect from Ab
beville, weve refcvrcd to tlft Commit
tee on Elections.
The papers and affidavits of sundrj
persons relative to the contested election
for Senator from Abbeville, wen
roforrcd to the Committee on Elec
- tions.
The Senate proceeded to the con
sideration of the general orders oi
the calendar which were mad : specia
orders for certain days*
The '.'lerk of the House. appears
and Informed the Senate that th
House had met ancS wa< ready to pre
coed with bnsine?s?
The report of the Special Com....tee
on the Removal of P ?!i*iea! T.>i*-;
bilitiew, 011 a joint rcKoliuioii r'-qi.< s'
ing Congress to remove the politics
disabilities of those diHfranchiHed l?;
the foarteenth amendment, was lai
on the ttble.
Tho accounts of L. M. Gentry, T
K. Stokes, and others, were referre
to the Committee on Claims.
At 1.15 P. M., adjourned.
tgL. Sco notice to creditors by Pai
leer & Thomson.
Sco notic? to flaflorots fro!
' * ~r- Ate!
JtBthw?y If*., by W. T. P?nnt,.
4 ,
*
I Tub State SuitviTun's AssociaJ
TloN.?The Association mot in f'har.
leaton on the 10th. Twenty-three
I district associations were represented,
on. J. C. Kershaw whw called to the
cuAir j Be louowing omeei'B were
?looted:
Lievtenant-General Wade
President; 1st Vice-Pre?idefjt, I<ieatenaat.-General
R. H. Anderson ; 2d
Vice-President, Major-GenenU J B.
* Kershaw; 3d Vice-President, Briga?
adier-General S. McGowan; 4th Vice'
President, Major T. G, Barker; Sccrr*
tary, Colonel A. C. Ilaskell; Treasur'
ci\ Captaiu W. K. Bach man.
The following Executive Commit*
toe were appointed; Colonel E. Mc>
Crady, Colonel W. A. Wallace, Gen:
eml IS. Capers, Co'onel J. H. Jiion,
Genef'al James Conner, Col. C. 1.
Walker, Colonel J. McCulchcii.
The following resolution was adopt
eu : i
Resolved, That llii^ Convention
cordially recommend the Confederate
Widows' Jlome, of tlie city of Charleston,
to the faithful attention of the
Survivors' Associations throughout
. i
the State, and that the members now
j in attendance pledge themselves on
I their return to their home*, to use 1
1 .
their best efforts to obtain contribu- I
tions to so noble a charity.
Guano Lodge A. F. M.?The fol
j lowing arc the CJrand officers clcclcd
! to serve lor (he ensuing Masonic year:
Grand Master ?M. W. Brother Jas.
i Connor, Charleston.
i v (lrand ?R. W. Bro;
tlit-r W. K. B'jtki', of N|?art:?!ihnr.?r.
j Senior (Jr?n<5 War-hit.?V. \V. M<
Csiil 'C'l. .>'? ?*? :* 11 villi'.
! J 'i 11 / !<! \\ ;i. ?!: "I \ . Y\ . .! >'
r.i.is:. Ol' ( .lit*
I 1 re -. W.
1:>. ....
.7 ] . r..- .
; * Tfe.. r.>.;.k? .. .. ,.;v.., . .... .4... : .
j od In M:
j ??? ? ; * i :'n .-ii . i .
: F. W < V. i! <: K?i.:: i. ;n.-\ W.
Itroii. i .'Viii;-t<?:t, ??i M;ti lin.ro'.
j Junior <->ruud l)? avons W. l>rot!ij
OIK C. P. TdWIiM : !. Mil' 11?? ! ?*, (?.
i M. Jordan, ot A :ilu>vi;!. .
(ir&ud Mur^J?:: 1 \\~ u-r I*. i\.
; Cohuni, of Sunjiucrvu; .
Grand Pursuivant?\V. Brother C.
j 0*. Jacgvr, oi' L;iti:*fn.<.
senior Uruii'l iSi?!\var?Is?W. IJroihevs
I>. E. CtilchriKt. of Mai ion. and .i.
M. JK-J jormo, <d' K'in.itr.
I (iruiid 'l\y!< ! ?W. !:. : i'.-i- V?*. A.
j WiUon, of (.'hurlcMon.
Aflor tli?' t icction lis.- 1.
culled otV u mil la a !t* j#s??? !?!? < ? <!
' P. M.
OUR DDTY AND OUR DESTINY.
: Oration oi General Wade Hampton at
I the Georgia State Fair.
j Res Views en Labor and Planting,
j
The ovation of General Wade
Hampton at the Georgia State Fair
I on Wednesday last, was a splendid
eiFort, and wns received with enthusiastic
applause by the immense
^ concourse who had assembled to
hear him. We make room lor that
, J portion of the orration which will
be read most eagerly by the Southpublic
generally:
, civ, w. l..w ll-JUC* ?.U
L which I beg to cull your special attention,
as deserving all the care
, and thought you can bestow on
? them, and as tending to that grand
I result we all have in view, the pros
perity of tl?e South. VVc are es
scntially an agricultural people, and
we must look to this great interest
* as the basis upon which to build up
- the permanent welfare of ourcoun3
ttiir /lr\ fU'w ~ll
ii v iu uu lwio iyo inunu usu UI1
* the means which experience, guided
by science, lias placed at our
disposal. How shall this host he
j done? The two points which present
themselves most prominently
,j in this connection, arc, tirst, ,th?*
0 labor by v liicii we cultivate ? :>r
lands; an<?v sec.-.od r 'n??t
cultivation. The :?? . u- si?ir?tm ?
l >ng
; s >"
t. jiud hi? ir\ to s:ii tl.e di?
i] verities of '>(!? '*!ii.itc. to make a
y more .llivient ..wy
d other. Ksperia . ' * . bin true win-jj
the labor is to be jcrlornio'I in Ihc
5. more malarial portions of cur cound
try. Our object, then, should* he
i ? - -
to acvcjop 10 me utmost his capacity
as a laborer. To do this, time
is requisite, and we shall have tc
p. exercise great forbearance, con<
stant prudence and steady kindness.
We mnst make him feel thai
dx his interests are indidstflubly bound
un with ours; that high jricw foi
* .
our products insure high wages f<i
him; thsit we have no animosit
towards him ; hut, on the contrary
that we cherish the kind feeling
?nge? tared hy onrly association
and old memories. Let us he scru
pulously just in our dealings witl
, him, let ua assist him in his atpira
tions for kuowledge, find aid hin
in its acquisitions. Try to elevat<
him in the scale of true manhood
i of civilization and of christian
j ty, so that he may he better fitted
! tor till* irrHvn #lnttr?o .? ?/!
?- ? ??utivo <iuvi iii^is i I;J>ponsibilities
forced upon him by hi?
new position. In a word, convince
him that we are his best, if not bis
only friemls, and when we shall
have done this, we shall not only
have placed our labor on a sound
fooling, but we shall have gained
in the laborer a strong and zealous
ally. On this subject 1 speak not
from theory, but experience, an experience
which has taught rne that
the kindest relations can exist between
the planter and his former
| t 1
I slave resulting in mutual advantage
I to both parties. My old slaves are
'cultivating the land on which they
j have lived for years, and there lias
| been a constant and marked imj
provement in their industry in each
I year since their emancipation
i ?1 1 - - --- - - " '
| uiL*> I lei YU IIUL J'CI U LIU 1110(1
| the same ellicieney as laborers they
| formerly possessed. I have prom!
ised to put iip for them a schoolIhoii-e
ami church, and to pay a
porJsoi. ?>f t!i? .salaries of their
te;j?-hers Such u system, if ajeuer1
:*.lly adopted, would teu?l greatlv to
; lis. '.If.* ! tliotvrs t?> the sei!, ami
**?!5-! i?\ }??J?11n?r t<? their content
. . result in vust ulti...
> ; i;.M?ll.?r.|. That
I-.' <i":llill^, I'.litl
?- . > . - <.? ... "\e their eon iii
i? . .< . i A"!':.. cHV?<t upon
':t*-;i !<^ i ro\ e*i l.? the bier. i/rat ifv
t.. it:it T am nmv <>n
in n- [: Mi sissipjii. by tl ?; re|
(j:n* ! : hnodtvds of negroes, Lu?|
side* rsn own laborer-;, to advise
. them vv'-i ; to pursue i . the
' |i jil ujvi.i t. i liw'V I ; i ii i
i not of <ii > ;* \v:io ir.icvo that the
[mere rudiments
i)l' C'llUMtj'T. : Btrouj
ger, hotter or hapjiw-r: huh* learn!
ing is a da Si'O'l< (I:iinl nn
less moral education . i. iii-l-inhand
with i111?'i!? ! i h:siiu: su?\I< <?1
i
j knowledge will ho sown ou ;) bari
ren soil, or will produce hut thorns
:i".l iInitios; hut 1 do believe, that
:? proportion as yon make all labor,
jfiiiior thun compulsory, intelligent,
you render it profitable. If this is
Inn-, wu should educate the mind,
the heart and the soul of the negro,
looking at the question only in its
material aspect and leaving out ot
consideration altogether those higher
and nobler motives which should
j prompt us to do so. A longer cxj
tierience of his aeouisition of hisrh
cr intelligence, will teach him, not
only his dependence on the white?
of the South, but the great truth
which no laws can change,
" in every soil.
That those v.-ho think must govern
those who toil."
It is our duty to assist him in
qualifying himself for his changed
condition; time alone can show
whether that change has lieen foi
his benefit. '' lie South will look
with profound interest to the nexi
census to see how freedom has ef
A. ^ .1 ? I 1
i iouiuu mu inunuers 01 111s race; 101
wc can tell with absolute certainty
what those numbers would hav<
been had no convulsion shaken oui
entire system. Several years ago !
had occasion to collect some dati
bearing on this question, and thej
give the following facts and calcu
lations. Taking the results of tin
census of 1840 and that of 1850
| we find the ratio of increase anions
; the free blacks t<> be 1 >.48 per cent.
I of slaves 23.32 per cent. By thcsi
fa'es of isiera.jHe. tli <:* e *h?>u?d havi
. '.von in the United States in
IViv. Slave. Total.
1 R-"> I . '.3P7:! 112.700 4.616,511
l?7rt ...">4s 712 o 'H7.427 5.808 13!
!-??>. . 0.17.nil Vtlft.DlM) 7.407,10
W;?'? k-;y 21 ' ' ? ^ ii.!)"?2 9.518.26
Tli.{-?e ! >: '* ; I'WC'l oneo
two ot-iOf sijcn*iu*.aut fa??ts. which
as hearing <?n an exploded sv^cm
. might as well !>e placed upon the rc
s' cord to aid in the gen< ral an m mar
I that will be made at some futun
> daj-. By these it appears that th
> deaths amon^ free blacks were 33
percent; that births among the fre
- were 33 J per cent* lew than amon
t the slaves; and that the netincreab
I j of slaves was 130.63 per cent, greal
'er than that *f tk? fr?? black
?t?wt ' *j.w L'^'u*11
?r Th<><c statistics may be valuable as
y enabling us to approxomate what
, will ho, or what, sliould he. the
s number of negro laborers in the
s South during any year up to L81J0,
i- and to ascertain what e fleet free?
i dotn has had on the mortality and
the mtio of iuere?ye among the
1 blacks.
5 Turning, now, from tho labor to bis ;
work. IhIVA fn r?AncIilni?
"I 1 r" ~ " " """ ""'1" " """ ' J j
-1 torn of culture is the most productive
I '?and here I have no hesitation in ,
. saying that the system which rails to !
, its aid all the appliances of skill and ,
, scienco will always, other things he- '
, 'n.g equal, prove the most successful. |
T dn not propose to enter into the do- i
tails of cotton planting, nor t** give |
j the hest plan for its cultivation,, he-J
j bause the same rules will apply to all 1
localities, and because time will not
permit me to do more than touch- on
the grand fundamental principles
which should govern all intelligent
; planters. The problem for our solnj
lion is how we can obtain the maxim.
i utn production at the minimum cost.
' We cheapen labor by increasing its
| productiveness, for while we may,
| in doing the latter have to pay higher
wages, we receive for the work done
larger profits. Our object should he
not to enlarge the area of cultivation,
hut make every acre yield to its highest,
capacity. The luhor with which
we cultivate one acre producing from
COO to 1000 pounds of seed cotton
costs as much as that which would
make that same acre hring 30110
! pounds it is economy to use lahor.
J which is now money, so that it. will
j only make from ten acres what il can
i an tiimij iikiku worn rive r ji our iaj
hores cultivate ten acres to the hand, I
J is it not licst to plant only half that j
| quantity in cotton, working our crops J
j under the improved system which oxI
ponence and science have taught, and
| to devote iho other moiety to grain
I ami grasses V These proposition* do
i not admit of n douht.nnd the (question
then arises, how is the productiveness
of our lands to he brought to its highest
price? Here, again, I refer you
toyoiir own great authorities in Georgia,
only saying that the prime secret
of planting is in thorough prepara|
tion and cuivlu! eulmre A crop that
i? properly planteii is already half
made, and its subsequent cultivation
i- '-oinpaiMtively easy. But in order
to prepare and cultivate our land
|.wjKwlj\ we tn'ist use all llit; mounts
which modrrn s!<iil wn-1 recent science
.! iiave ortVroV Thin skill lias placed in
our hands improved implements oi'
iiu.-.handrv. while science teaches u-<
how lo u*e tii. in, what li'i tili/.ers to
apply an?h tin* besf nnde of their application
It. was l.?v means of her
luhor-saivini; machine* that the North
i was al?ie 10 keep up her agricultural
ami mechanical interest during the
i. ja. .L.. i -l
vim, ni/in iLiin(iiii<mi^ im: nuavy uram
, on her laboring population. England
has increased the. yield of wheat four
bushels pjjr acre by the use of the
steam plough, while M.e:~'ormiek's
reaper performs the work of many J
men in hat vesting the golden sheaves. !
It should be a source of ivide to us i
1 t
that these two great labor-saving ma- i
' cbines, which are revolutionizing I he j
1 agricultural operations of the world, j
are the inventions of Southern men ; !
for Bellinger the inventor 01' the'
1 plough, was a South Carolinian, an i
McCormiek a Virginian. If \w hope
1 I to keep peaee with the enlightened ;
I farmers of other eonutrh'R, we must '
' hasten t<> employ the means that u,ive !
r inrm sticc'-ss. lwery advantage ol
: soil ami ol" elimate is with hs, and if
I we fail in lhe great race the fualt will
bo ours. Let us then, m}' brother
r planters, strive manfully for that ru,
premaey which onr kind mother, Nature
herself, intended us to enjoy.
Let us prove ourselves worthy of her
beneficence'; let us leave lo place
men and partisans the troubled field
* of politics to seek peace, recreation
f and happiness in those more cong--*
" nial, more alluring and more honora3
ble ones giv- n by her.
* N'ol Fur t H-f-"? ?J v A inl
X Cli'i k * t. ii |??i .< ?m u ! 11I ii . j
O i f.iie -jiud ftM*. if -mi t.* u . oin,
1st Jul .f? iiftr-?*stn, iv? 1 .ti ii' lniowii h t'i>rf
A?l-> you.* Ito ors??iili laden.nl -k 1 I niijmr.
* w i-hnrm* V> Na*nre In l.li?r !? Ip { Art
Tench pl.ins ?<f tlier clin.i-f, nud i?ir<t'g?'V
fl.?w?-re,
[. r?, liri-i'lie tlifir fiflgvanoe on your rntive
rj bou.rs
ff'l'i fiiiif*. herd* th>- dair\ wealth i?C*?ai*e ;
^ ?n ?i"u flouk* lusstu v a fine fle-'C'*.
9 <)iv t '.Ii ?*"Uii>??i? !.> swf-ep "fur
r coil t.f B P-UII MI throUiT'l tl?? fi 1 !* of
wa-.
(l' ft n. till, with i.i.'er hnnil prep r?
* Kit-M. mo:! !o v. oroh ml, *vi h infireu air p earv
i- -^'p. wi'ti ifliM-r open hand, the iii-iglilmr'a
y need.
g On wi?h 'he p ough enrli generonfl feelinir
BpcCd
? T .o gt?n a! boar.l pr-pnra with tr"?h delight,
} Ytt warm, r mafco em-li licpitnUie Hie."
0 Thesa arc the calm and puro pleasr?
ure which a^rieulture holds out; thcao
0 aro the duties it exacts from its votct
rieSk Oar duty to oar country de8
ictnodB that we ?bcratd devote ?J1 onr
'* ?rp?rr x\s \
I encrgivH, our hands, on; hearts, on
| sou is to tho restoration of prosperity
to tho re-establishment of lnw and or
dor; of smiling peace and tranquil
happiness throughout all tho limits ol
! our beloved South. .Let us lift her uj;
IVoin the dust and show that she stili
has loyal and devoted Rons. Let m
cling with reverence?a reverencc
made deeper and holier by her misfortunes?to
this our native land; lot
no promise ol' wealth or advancement
tempi, us to 1'orsjiUo her. When the
barbarian horde destroyed Home, and
her sons in liosnair and sorrow wl?i?i?i?
ahout to forsake the l'hcrnul city, wo
hiv told that tlie impending doom was
averting l?v a happy omen. A Centurian
passing with his company to relieve
gua I'd where the sad concour.su
were deliberating on the proposed re.
moval, gave the usual word oi' command:
"Kusign. plant your colors;
we will remain here." The senators
ru?liing from the temp!?, exclaimed,
"The Ciods have spoken ; we ohey."
The populace took up tin? cry and
rent, the skies with shouts ol" "Rome
forever!'' Let us, my countrymen,
an we stand amid our ruins, plant our
colors on the graves of our ancestor*,
and invoking reverently tlio protection
of our (Jod, shout with more than
Roman patriotism, with one voice,
"The South now ! the South forever 1"
TUff P.nVtfttMnD'C! MPOOiPP
iu.u uu? minim u iiUjOiittUft.
Fellow*Citizen* nf tlie Senate i?d Gen
tfrmeii nf the House of fie/trexentii tires :
In transmitting in}* second annual
message to the General Assembly, it
gives me much pleasure lo congratulate
you upon your occupancy* of your new
halls of legislation, which contrast so
favorably in appearance and adaptation
t?? tlicir purpose with those you
recently occupied. May their lus
tt*o:iH beauty be typ".cr.l of the brightening
prosperity of our beloved State.
of her unstained honor, ami untarnished
credit; and may it witness the
purity, the patriotism and tho wisdom
of her councils, until her principles
are a* firmly established as the
foundations of t Ins cdifice, and peace
and prosperity prevail within her
borders.
TIA1LH0AD AID.
I am gra'itied in being able to inform
you that much progress has been
made during the past year in securely
placing the finances of the State on a
firm and healthy basis. Thisie owing
threat ly to the decided stand taken by
you at the close of the last session in
declining lo jopardixe the State credit
l?y yielding to the presur?? brought to
bear upon yon by individuals and
corporations lor State aid tor the construction
of railroads. The financial
reputation of a Commonwealth, like
that of an individual, depends upon
the caro with which it cherishes it*
resources and the prompitude and fide.
itj* with which it meets its obligation*;
and the correct and honorable
businesss man who desires success if
careful that liis reputation and credit
is not tarnished hy unwisely lending
tiu? use r>i" iii-; !:;ui? to pa.itie* wlic
ii:;\ e K-i' lie*,- e" : or ivpti :'tion tc
' ? ;n i
THE STATE DEBT.
I ii' s". 5i'enient exhibits
til in i-.'h'I'll:u?< and the assets of Ihl
Strt.f, Oi'ioiii-r inOO Funded
dent of i!:o State six millions one Itun
Jrod and eighty-three thousand ihrci
hundred and lorty nine dollars an?l
seventeen cents. Tin* nm-?: ill
of assets held l?y tlio .State on thai
date \vj.K two million seven lain
dred and fifty-four thousand six hun
I drcd and sixty dollars; interest falling
due dliving the fiscal year of Oetobei
30th, lSG9, three hundred :i>i<l eighty
eight thousand six hundred and nine
ty-threc dollars and eight3--six cents
For a fit'1 and detailed statement <>
the financial condition of the State. I
would n-spectfully refer you to the ie
| ports of the Comptroller and Treasn
i rer. The State debt is eomparativel\
| ^insill. amounting in the aggregate t<
' ahmit ^ix millions one hundred ant
eighiy-three thousand three hundred
and forty-nine dollars. The taxah i
property, at a low valuation, wil
amount to one hundred and ninety
millions ef dollars. During the pas
fisonl year, at a season, too, when oir
capitalists, merchants, 'farmers, me
chanics, and others had all their mon
ey invested in their various hranche
?c i ? :ii:? -c .i_it o
II UIISMIIU?*!*, ?V IIIIIIIUI1 U1 (lllliaiM io
taxo-4 was received in into tho Stat<
Trr?w?iry To moro fully illustrati
th<? nbilify of our people to meet al
n cessarv taxes, wo may refer also t<
the pavment by our citizens into th
Federal Treasury, as Internal I?evc
nue, a tux amounting to tho sum o
82.622,G00.G9, makinp an a^reccato o
taxes paid into the Stato and Fedora
Treasuries tho past year of over thro
and half millions of dollars.
REDUCTION OP TAXES.
I would hero recommend that yoi
momorialinoyour members of Congrera
IIL . BagnBBaggaEflgaBgsaggsag
i- to use their efforts for a reduction of
; l hi- Infernal Revenue tux collected, to
, such an amount as will meet the liaI
bililicH of tho (joneral Govern['
j mont, but relieve our people us muoh
> | us possible ol' the tax collected lo pay
I j the National debts. Wo beli'-vo tbat
i ; the present generation should not bo
s j compelled to puy too much of the debt
. | of a great country that is to bo left
i i by them as a rich inheritance to pos,
' tcrity. The present tux s\'stem was
new to our pnnple, and it rould not,
. perhaps, but bo expected that much
! dissatisfaction would be felt in conse-j
I queues of tho change. But, is gratilying
to bo able to state that the taxes
! i....... i _ i
I uuiMi paiu as promptly as those
j of any .State in the Uiiion.
When the present State Govern I
! rneiit came into power we fowri'l that !
! the Provisional Government controlI
ling tlie State from the closo of the
I
: war, had contracted many debts, for
! the prompt payment of which, as well
J an to meet the current expenses of
the State Government, it was ueecssarv
to provide. Arnonjj the liabili-!
i .->
ties whs a floating debt anionting to !
1477,9tjr?.y0. This debt win due to |
various county officer*, sheriffs, nie^- ,
istrates. coroners. and other claimants
a rainst the State. By authority of
law there been put in circula-j
tion bills receivable to the amount of!
$222,00:). In addition to thi-* was the
i past due interest ori the State debt,
j which had accrued from the 1st of Ju|
ly, 18f?7. All of these various amounts
; have been paid, and the bills receivable
have been redeemed. At. the present
time there is but a small floating '
debt that the Stale Treasurer will be j
compelled to meet. Owing to these |
payments the expenses of the State
Government were Tieafier la^t year |
than they wili be for the present fiscal j
j year, ami the PMeosmcnt of taxes may I
j therefore l>e considerably reduccd for !
the coming year, and the tax burdetfi
upon tlie various brunches of industry
made lighter than the tuxes oi almost
any other State.
8TATK AID TO RAILROADS.
We have escapcd from the disastor
of lending the State credit to'railrr>a;lfl,
! so earnestly pressed and demanded at
the session of the flcneral Assembh*
*?
Whatever the opinions of individuals
may be, or however much they in ay ?
feel that their interests have suffered
from the failure or refusal of the Legislature
to comply with their wishes,
e.11 ixiuet concede that the examples by j
, which we are surrounded of the liber-1
ity of other Stales in this di- j
roetion, anu the financial results
of their notion, justify your j
, eoin'so iu refusing to comply with j
their demands. It is to be hoped thftt
the hume cure and the same course
will continue to characterice the ac,
tion of the C en oral Assembly.
TITE CKEATIC5 OF A 8TNCIN* FCN'I).
i Thera are in tho State Treasury $2,755.
00 of railroad bond"* and nthar securities
which I recommend be helrl and ultimately
u?e?l as a sinking fund for the liquidation
i nf theStete debt, as they are of a class
- and character which mn*r. increase in *al;
o-. In addition to this I would sugrest
> il><? propriety of taking into consideration
? ih?* v? ry ;il>le p!*n devised '>\ .T. G-. Holmes
E*q.. of Charleston, lo provide for a small
s i.wiii? fnnd, by wliieh ths aatire Seate
. d"l?t may be paid off by the redemption
? nmn tlly of a small amount, of State se- j
I cnm ipc. 11 is oenevM mat thin plan
wmiiil enable ni te pay our entire debt in
, a few years, and would convince moneyed
| men, at liome and abroad, of our determin*iii>u
to povide for the prompt payment
^ .,1 all our acc.ur'.iies a* th?v become due.
flu; S -i being sovereign, no action csn
bought. against it to enforce payment of
r *g?itist he-v 11 r credit, therefor*
. u. : iht* prifc" of its bond", depend upon
i - m-h ttrsr*. ib? hon..r and good faith ?f
;i. S ?>? ?*>>fcrnni'-ne. The credit of the
S an* *ii?iii'd tie unaided as a cacrod trust.
f V.EbVMriti'S ofr sPECt.i PAYMENT,
[ A a.;??* piri ol our debt was incurred
. i?i? or.- i lie pai?si{j? of ilie Legal Tender
. Act. Till c-reiiUor# of the Stato loaned
;*-ir muuey when gold wasths legal ton,
<i?r of ?!i? couniry. The creditor nm
| piomi-ed, and >x >( to receive the
1 . quivalent ot his loan, both in principal
3 and interest. Wero this and the other
] S ates of (lie Union to take this view of
. their ve-pon ibiiiiies, and decide to pay
^ ihcir obligations in gold, it would be a
r ^reai step towad the resumption of specie
payments, and assist very materially the
policy of the present ablo Secretary of
a he Treasury, in btinging gold and curr
rcncy on a par. It would also prevent
D the possibility of a recurrence in the great
p moneyed centres of wild and reckless
I speculations in the gold of the country.
^ F regard it as n matter of the highest imnurl
i'im. (hat rmi ?hnn!il nt-? ini? ???
15 | ? J~ "? " ?? ?"Usideraiion
the propriety of authorising the
f Slate Treasurer to meet.in futuie the interf
e-t dne on the State debt in specie bel
Having that but a short perio l muwt elapse
0 befure it will cont no more to pay in sp*ei"
than in currency. Oo the other hand,
capitalist*! seeking permanent inrestrtifln'f
[l oi their surplus funds will be assured that
a it is tho intention and determination pf
*
I iMs Rinio to malce its bonds equal na nn .
| investment. to 'lioso ?>f any ill the
j Union, even to tho?e nf die General Gov|
erntm-nr. B\ Mi- n.lnp'ion of lhia plan
we at onro fix the vu'tK- of our securil:fe3
where the rootii-ces of the State s'ioiiM
plnce them. This measure would attraet
foro'gn o ?piih!, cno. tir.150 emieration. and,
as #ur cr*??lit increases, individual projp?ritv
will enhartfo in value, and the c;??neral
prosperity ?f our citizens ho promoted.
Ono important reason why tho interest
should bo paid in tho medium
originally intended, ami one that will
wtrongi}* commend itself* to your
judgement as an act of justice to our
creditors, is that some of our liabilities
b^nome duo during tho coming
year 1870, fn? which provision must
he mado. It is therefore for tho purpose
of arranging theso liubdities
with th<* creditors as they become duo
th:it it is important that wo should offor
thfin rv security. cpmily a^ good
tho original it:v???tment. Ifot ouly
is lb:c our iutcrest, but good faith and
justice demand it. It will bo th.->
means of mealing claims 'ailing duo
as the oriiiinal obligation oontomplated.
To meet ' i. ** !i*!>ilitie? at
<?ent, would involve th? necessity of =<f
large au additional taxation that it
would impose too heavy a burden
upon the tar payarj. Not to provide
for thesa liabilities mijjht l*?ad holders
to infer by our sileufo that wo neither
fft'd uor intend to take any intor?^t
in their redemption, and they
would necossarity becomo an uudosir
ble aed unsought investment.
Should suca au impression b^como
current, theso securities will bo
thrown upon tho market, and the credit
of our Stale bonds will suffer from
adeeming indifference or carelessness
of our credit. I trust, therefore, th;vt
you will take this matter under earnest
and careful consideration, and
your favorable action nay bo the first
stop In agisting the financial men of
our country in the ^old problem. Ifr?
sec ion of country i* no well prepared
to both pay in gold and demand gold
in return for the products of the soil,
furnished the markets of th? world
If our business men could adopt the
specie basis for all transactions, they
would at all times be prepared for the
financial crash that mav come when
tuo Genaral Gouerument determines,
to return 1.o specie payment
insurance compantbs.
"With the increase of commerce and
intelligence insurance upon both life
nnd proper*v ha* bocoine a favorite
.,vv.... v_,. *?u> ? ui uiii uusmcss is
in carri ?d on in this State by companies
in no Tri^e subject to our laws. Thoir
property cannct be reached by tho
process of our coarlp, their solvency
cannot be determined, and there is no
a lequate provision to sccnfc tke capita
f owr own companies to mert
large ov unexpected louses. I recommend
that a law be passed requiring
each company ef7i?ctin?r insurance in
this Stat? to deposit sufficient security
with the Comptroller-General, indem-nif3'ing
policy holders * cai'?v losacsi.
I Tho deposit should be graduated in
proportion to the business and capital
a. - -
m iuc cumpmnj-, manitg it a misdeI
mcanor, with adequate punishmon*,
i in any agent, attempting to effcct in-uranee
until the company he repro|
*cnts has made doposit of ample securities
to protect^ policy holder,
against fraud or attempted frauds
TITS BAKES.
In this connection I would farther
recommend that all banking institutions
that were banks of deposit, other
than Xational Banks, alno Savings
Banks, Trust Companies, Ac., be required
to deposit with tho Comptrollcr-Gencral
sufficient securities in bonds
and stocks, to protect dopositors
against loss in caso of failure. Some
r\f nrir V>inVin<-r inof If nl!nn? --- ?
^ _____ . ...yn u? vtvyjio (VI O HV?Y
receiving deposits where neithor th?
; stockholders nor any of ths officors
i tho banks are in any wp.y personally
responsible, and if in Vho evonfc of
flnctnations of tho money market any
of tho=io institutions should fail, tho
depositor would havo no security to
protect him against loss. It has boeu
the policy of all old States to proto' jfc
tho poor man, tho widow and the or.
phan, for whoso benofit theso * 0^]^
are professedly used, by limitr t^oir
investments to certain seo' Jrities. I
would also recommcnd. *1--^ '
mm m in?
1 caso of guardians and c t\l0r3 having
I money of minors and O*chors in trust
1 investments in Stat'd bonds, shall proI
teet the guardiar m courts or partyholding
tho tru' jj; against the
tions of tho money mar1^ Thia
will operato as a groatcv* security for
a careful a' nd judicious administration
of the io' vestroenJi;. Therois no possibility
o'f the security becoming worthlees?
and it r,fotects the guardian and
trustee Against chaitft?? ** ?
? ui invests
i n??ents m something ipioro perishable
'j or d.oubtfut, , '
I TAXATION AND tQUALTZATTOX'.
Under the law for the colleotion ef
taxes on the**-/ vqtortin system, there
wro exjwcfccfd to gmto***