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EDGEFIELD, S, C., DECEMBER 7, 1871, i,.i.<. ta h nid mio? ->Jt/i.| The Brooklyn LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW" YORK. Paid up Gash Capita! and Assetts, Two Million Dollars. CHRISTIAN W. BUCK, President. Wi H. ' WALLACE, "V -e-President. W. M. COLE, Secretary. D. PARKS FACKLER, Actuary. ' Office No. 141, Broadway, New York. Ivj ()? ;j (>? ?i?Ol] Uli_- r'S! ? '.. ll ? J JOSS E. BACON and W. P. BUTLER, Goaeral Agents for the State of South Carolina and Augusta, Georgia. , As general Agents we take ^pleasure in presenting this well known and responsi ble Company ttfthe public and in recommending it as FIRST CLASS in every way. We might add much more in this regard, .but being interested as its, Agents, prefer to speak through DISINTERESTED PARTIES. Therefore, read and digest the following notices (among many others) from* both Northern and Southern papers as to t(he virtues of this Company. . ?ten-Kolumbas, Georgia, January 27, 1869: "There is no better Company in the land. A comparison wjtu other corporations of asimilar character willconvince all of*th? superior -safety in taking risks -with the Brooklyn Life." . Insurance Times-Now York, January, 1809: "The Brooklyn has placed itself in the van giiard of insurance reform, and is the first Company that has done full justice to the insured," Ac, ?fcc. The Sentinel-Raleigh, N. C; " This great feature of cash surrender value is an important improvement that signalizes the era in insurance." Boston Post- Massachusetts, lNHi: " This pian (guaranteed surrender values) re moves the sole objection existing to making an application for insurance. Each policv becomes a piece of negotiable paper, us easily transferred as a Registered Bond." . Dispatch-St. Louis, Mo., January 7, 1SG9: "A policy in the Brooklyn Life is thus worth so much in ready money, ?v.c. This is the only Life Company that ha? carried this excellent feature into business," ?fcc., Ac. We call especial attention to this distinctive and advantageous feature of guaran teed surrender value of the Brooklyn Life, particularly characteristic ; ana also to the fact that there arc no classes in the Brooklyn Life. All fare alike, whether from th? North, South, East or West. Above all, we direct the public attention to the fact, that Polices can bo obtained in this Companv, owing to its careful management and superior advantages, nt LOWER RATES than in any other Company of EQUAL RANK AND SOLVENCY in America. BACOJV & BUTLER, General Agent*. Office, over Dr. FISHERS DRUG STORE, Columbia, S. C., and at EDGEFIELD CH. Agents wanted in every county and town in this State, and also in the city of Augusta, to whom liberal commissions will be allowed. Nov. 9 tf 4C ISTew Fall Dry Groo d.s. H. L. A. BALK, Wholesale and Retail Dealer in BET GOOBS, 172 Broad Street, Augusta, Ga. I AM now opening a CAREFULLY SELECTED Stock of One yard wide English and American PRINTS, for Dresses, Shirts, Curtains, ?fcc Black ALPACA of thc best makes-Black French SILK, English, French and American DRESS GOODS, Oj ca FLANNELS, JEANS and CASSIMERES for ('cuts and Boys wear, White and Colored Cotton FLANNEL. All wool Plain and Twined FLANNEL, in Reil, White, Grav and Blue, White and Colored BLANKETS and QUILTS, SHAWLS and CLOAKS in groat variety, Table DAMASK. TOWELS, NAPKINS, RIBBONS, TRIMMINGS, BUTTONS, (?LOVES, STOCKINGS and SOCKS, Linen Cambric H'D'K'l'S. Umbrellas, Ac. 3SrPlaid and Striped HOMESPUNS, WOOLENS, Brown SHEETINGS. SHIRTINGS, 08NABURGS and DRILLINGS, I .Sell at Factory Prices ! Also, the best makes of CORSETS, HOOPSKIRTS, UNDERGARMENTS, SHIRTS, COLLARS, Knitted Woolen SHAWLS and HOODS. CST An experience of thirtv vears iustities nie in asserting that 1 can Buv as Cheap as anv one-AS I BUY ONLY FOR' CASH ! cy I can 'Sell as Low as any ono-AS I SELL ONLY FOR CASH. In my establishment every article is marked with thc lowest price thereon, and no ono in my establishment is allowed to ask more. This insures justice to all cus tomers, because all can buy my Goods at the Very Lowest Jfarked Price.' #ar\My assortment is most Complete iii all the Departments. Those at a distance who wish to avail themselves Ut all these advantages, but not having tho time to come in person, cnn scud an order, and save, besides thc time, EXPENSES and FARE. An Extra Discount pf Five Per Cent.' ! on all orders, off from the price every one pays, in order ta reduce their freight expenses on same. I guarantee satisfaction, and should any article not come up to expectation, it can be returned, and the money will be refunded. It is not necessary to send the money with tho order, as it can bc collected on the delivery of the Goods. ^arCut out this advertisement, and be sure to give me a call. Or, in sending an order, address U. ii. A. BALK, 172 Broad Street, Augusta, Ga. I have recently added largely to my jalready heavy stock of SHOES consisting as fo\\^-< : 1 Case M/ifa Heavy BROGANS at $1.50 1 " " " * " $2.00 1 " " " " extra sizes, at $2,25. Cases Men's and Bo vs- BOOTS, lower than ever. 1 Ca<e Ladies' Walking SHOES only $1.25 1 " " Cull', Sewed, $2,00. Cases Ladies' Congress and Lace GAITERS, $2,00 and $2,50. Children, Misses and Boy* SHOES, in great variety, all of which arc guaranteed to bc tho best that can be made. ? Cases .BROWN S&RTINGS, S, IO and 123 cts. Bleached SD EETIXGS and SHIRTINGS, all qualities and prices SADDLES, BRIDLES, GIRTHS, Saddle BAGS, &c. Parties visiting the Village to purchase Goods are cordially invited to examine my Stock and prices bet?re purchasing elsewhere, as I think I will make it to. their interest tod? .-o. My St ;ck is. large and complete in all departments. * 0. F. CHEATHAM. Edgefield, S. C., Nov lp tf 47 Hew Fall Goods ! . JLI. uti BEY GOODS IIEC??ASTS, ?63 Broad Street, AUGUSTA, GEORGIA, J^EG to inform their Frier,.ls and Customers of Edgefield and vicinity that they have now Received their EXTENSIVE STOCK of 33 I? Y GOODS For t?o Fall Trade of 1871 ! These Goods arc all of thc FINEST and BEST DESCRIPTION OF QUALTY, thc Purchases being very Heavy, and all for CASH, have been bought with Extra Facilities and Advantages, and are well worth the in spection of Visitors to Augusta. To the Cash Wholesale Trade they offer the most liberal inducements, feeling assured thaCall purchases made at their Establishment cannot fail but give complete satisfaction. MULLARKY BROTHERS, DRY GOODS MERCHANTS, "Broad Street, Augusta, Georgia. Sept'lo _ 3m_ 38 W. D'. TURNEr And Dr. W. NICHOLSON Of Edgefield, S. C., WITH A. Brandt, BOOTS* SHOES, HATS, TRUNKS, VALISES, UMBRELLAS, ?fcc. 324 Broad sire ct. V\ poMte Planters Hol-I, AUGUSTA, GEOkGlA. J6T Prices guaranteed as" Low as any House in the City. Oct 13 ?rn 43 GOV. SCOTT'S MESSAGE. STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, ] EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, \ COLUMBIA, NOV. 28,1871. J Gentlemen of the Senate and Souse of Representatives : You have assembled for the fourth time since the establishment of a system of free government in South Carolina. Pursuant to the constitu tion, it is the duty of the? Governor to " give to the General Assembly information of the condition of the State, and recommend ?to their con sideration 6uch measures as he shall judge necessary or expedient." The present financial condition of the Stale especially demands a rigid and unshrinking compliance with the constitutional requiiement, in order that the General Assembly and every department of the State government may unite in a common effort to cor rect sucii evils as are remediable, and prevent their recurrence. In this, the last annual message that I shall transmit to the General Assembly, I propose to state my views frankly upon the chief matters of public in terest, and to give all thc facts within my knowledge, without reserve, as alike due to the people, and 'inposed l>y my official obligation. I will thus I trust, be enabled to correct gross exaggerations that are being diligent ly circulated in reference to our fi nances, and the entire administration of the State. In performing this duty I shall no) shrink from charging upon others any just share of their responsibility for evil consequences of their acta, and will not hesitate fully to admit my own. THE STATE DEBT. Gov. Scott here appends a lengthy exhibit ol what he calls the " actual debt of the State." This exhibit is the work of Treasurer Parker, and the Governor says he knows it to be full and correct. The mountain of I figures piled np by Treasurer Parker, we omit. Very few would care to rend them. But we give thc grand sum total : Uid debt, % G 453,908.98 Amount of new Bonds sold 5, 541 00000 $ ll, 994.90S.98 This is the entire public debt o! the State according to Scott and Par ker. And against this we hav? the official evidence that the issue ol Bonds is considerably more than twice the State's debt. TAX LEVY, TAXES COLLECTED, AND DELINQUENT TAXES. Many and extravagant statements ha vc been made regarding i he assess ment and collection of taxes, and those not familiar with the actual facts, when compared with collection of revenue for the saiue purposes ii: other States, are doubtless frequently led to believe that taxation is extrav agant and unusual. I undertake to say that not a Mate in the Union has collected less tax in the same length ot time in proportion to its population and resources. The following is a correct exhibit of the appropriation of moneys, the levy of tax, collection of revenue per annum, and the de linquent iist for the yeats 1808, 1809 and 1870 : STATEMENT OK AMOUMT OP TAXES r.EV . JED, AMOUNT'COLLECTED,- AND Al'l'tto VUIATIONS MADE, DUKIN O YEAHS 18G8, : lfcffJ AND 15570. Total- taxation for 180<S rate of-ta'x. ation, Stale, 7} .N" mills Hl,;>:tS,742.1i* "*> Total amount col lected 1,103,053.28 Delinquent $175,088.91 Total aijyu-onna tions for the year IS68, exclusive of interest on pul die debt, for-whieli no appropriation was made SS17.?M?X/JS Total taxation for 1860, rate, State, 5 mills, si,ui4,')'il.K> Total amount col- ; lected, 700,7:?0.08 Delinquent, ?248,1(15.75 Total appropria tions for the year 1.S09, including in terest on puhlic debt, ?1,liil,805.09 Total taxation for 1S7?, State, ? mills 1,070,003.00 Total amount col lected 1,140,?:'.7.96 Delinquent &>24,02C.OO Total appropria tions for the vear J ?70 $1,004,053.54 Total delinquent taxes S!)47,sxi.2() Twenty per cent. penalty 18i),?7U.2? Total $1,137,457.51 If the taxes, as shown in the fore going statement, had been paid, ns they should have been, it would have saved the State at least two millions and a half ol' bonded (?cut. BONDED DEBT. Gov. Scott's next chapter is a very long one on the Bonded Debt of the State. And in this chapter the Gov ernor is singularly and conspicuously un ti uthfiil. He first says that the in crease in the bonded debt has not been cr? ated by him and the members of his administration, but represents liabilities contracted under previous administrations. And then follows this: " The seven hundred thousand dol lars of bonds issued for the Vi nd com mission form the only portion of the debt actually created by the present administration, and for this the State hap an ample equivalent in the lands purchased, which will ultimately re pay both principal and interest." Deducting this $700,000 from the $5,541,000, stated by Gov. Scott, a few paragraphs eailier, as theamonnt of new bonds sold, $4,481,000 are left as a debt created by former adminis trations. And after this extraordi nary statement, Gov. Scott quits fig ures, and shows that any depreciation in our Lauds ia ?he result &f tluliber ate conspiracy on the part o white people, the Democratic and the Taxpayers Convention, these he abuses in round terms in a spirit of great bitterness. THE FINANCIAL AGENT OF TI STATE. When the present State Goi ment was inaugurated, (July G. li there were only forty-five (45) dc in the State treasury. A large b ed and floating debt, incurrec former administrations, had tc provided for. The ancient cred tho State, that had once stood so, ly high in the money markets of world, was gone. 1? had been bl away with the smoke of the first fired at Fort Sumter. In order to meet the current ex ses, until money could bo real from the tax levy, it was necesi for the State to borrow on its sec ties. To effect this object on the terms for the State, the General sembly authorized the Governor, torney-general and the treasu "to appoint, under a commisi signed by them, some respons bark or banker in the City of ? York, to act as financial agent of State." To this end I visited New Y and conferred with leading bar They all declined the agency, all ing that the duties were arduous ? the time of payment uncertain ; t we were only borrowers in the ra bet. While thus endeavoring o sec the services of a responsible and ? clent financial agent, the name Mr. H. H. Kimpton was present He was highly endorsed by proi nent officials in the State, and leading bankers in New York, ame whom were the presidents of 1 Broadway Bank and the Bank of 1 Republic. Although averse to appointing a individual banker financial age for reasons which time has since ii tified, there then appeared to be other alternative, and I, therefore, one of the financial board, cave r absent to the appointment of ^ Kimpton, but on thc condition tl he would give a bond t? the State the sum of five hundred thousa: dollars ($500.000) conditioned 1 the faithful discharge of his trust financial agent. Mr. Henry Clews prominent banker of New York, w proposed and accepted as bonds-ma and I was afterwards informed 1 the treasurer that Mr. Kimpton h; executed and filed his bond. It is proper that I should here r mark that the law did not requi the financial agent to give a bon nor are bonds ever required of the financial agents by other States; bi I insisted upon it, ont of an abu dance of caution in the interest the State. I mention this fact si mp! to show that this trust was not. car lessly conferred. lu referring to it do not me to intimate that the d predation in our securities bei: rs an relation to the bond ol' the fi nanci; agent, for, even I hough his bond ha exceeded in amount the total valuei our securities in his hands, thatd< predation and the consequent loss t the State could not have been thereb prevented, as it would have indemni lied the State only in the event < damage received through neglect c fraud on thc part of thc agen neither of which is alleged agaius him. Subsequent ?vents have made i manifest that it was a grave mistak lo appoint iin individual instead of ; chartered company ns our financia agent. Au individual I nker, whatevei may be his capacity as a financier, cannot, in the management ol' larg? money transactions, command tin sauie high degree of confidence or the part of capitalists ihat a corpora tion can. Especially is this thc case when thc basis of thc proposed negotiation consists of a class ol securities new to the market, at a time, too, when there was au active speculative move intuit in the stocks and bonds of all the Southern States, and the value of tho currency to holders was con stantly tmule to fluctuate by opera tions of speculators in thc acid mar ket. Hence, I again visited New York a year ago for the purpose of (.'fleet ing a change in the-financial agency. I lound this impracticable, as thc State was indebted to thc agent, and could not then arrange to liquidate that iudebtedne s. The financial agent has probably done the best he could, under the cir cumstances, embatrassed and checked as he was by constant " bear" move ments, originating in the State, as a part of an organized scheme to dis credit its existing administration. Nearly every leading man of the opposition-those who had capital and those who had none, but preten ded io have it-joined in this scheme. I am ready to take my share of the responsibility for our present fi nancial embarrassment, but those citizens who combined against the credit o? the State, at home and abroad, and systematically deprecia ted tl* market value of its securities, cannot evade theirs. I ara, in public estimation, held responsible for the action of the fi nancial board, when, in law and in fact, the Governor has no more power in thc board than any private citizen who might be a member of it. I would add, in reference to the finan- j cial agent, that he has been greatly embarrassed by the practice, ou the ! part of the treasurer, of drawing | upon tho agency for funds to meet i thc current expenses of the State, in j the interim between the periods fixed ' for the payment of taxes, thus ere- j ating a floating debt constantly in j advance of the revenue. I do not mean to censure the tresurcr for this ! course, as he doubtless thought it| j warranted by the exigencies of the j {treasury ; but the practice is a bad I one, and I would recommend that it I Ehould be prohibited by proper legis-1 : lation, which should at the same time , provide that hereafter no money shall be borrowed or debt contracted lo uu??4i.Jr' liivi ClU'l'biii UApciioB? of ?Lu ??tate Govta-uuoiut, hui Jet ?ii ?hose ' towlioin money is due from thc State await the collection of the tax es. This course, coupled with a sys tem of rigid retrenchment, will soon lift the State above all present finan cial embarrassments, and prevent their recurrence in the future. For a detailed statement of the transactions of the financial agent, I refer you to his report to the comp troller-general, for the quarter ending September 30,1871. EXPENDITURE C?F THE STATE GOV ERNMENT. ' While holding the political oppo nents of the State Government re sponsible for the great depreciation in the market value of our securities -a depreciation directly due to their conspiracy against the credit of the State-I am bound by my sense of public duty to expose to thc reproba tion of the people the improvident expenditures incurred by the General Assembly, and the extravagant and illicit disbursement of the State mon eys, to which the legislative depart ment has given"cither its express or implied sanction. In so doing, I do not wish to be considered a-s. wanting in a due and proper respect to a co ordinate branch of the State Govern ment, but I desire to appeal, in plain and earnest language, ro the sober judgment, the duce .t self-respect and the public spirit of each member of the General Assembly, to give his active aid in effecting an instant re form in this direction ; for the whole people, with united voice, demand it, and the condition of our finances, and livery instinct of self-preservation, require it at your hands. It would scarcely have been possi ble for the men who combined to de stroy the credit of the State to have executed their purpose so successfully had not the General Assembly lent them its practical co-operation by ex hausting, through its extravagance, the funds in the treasury, thus leaving the State without any reserve bal ance to meet the financial exigency. I instance the following among many other items of extravag int expendi turee: The money drawn upon the orders of the presiding ofiic rs of the two Houses during the last session for current printing amounts to $68, 904 00. In addition to this large sum, ^30,000 were appropriated for current printing for the same session, making n total of $98,004,90 expended on this item alone. There was further drawn from the treasury and disburs ed by the clerks of the Senate and House, for printing the laws, &c, the 3um of $103,651,44. Those figures ?how thc enormous aggregate ol ?1202,550,34 expended on printing alone during and incident to the last session of the Genend Assembly, while large claims for public printing are still outstanding. In addition tu these expenditures, the sum of $29, $14,05 was drawn 'upon the orders ol Dbe president of the Senate and the speaker of the House for purposes not ve.ry well defined, but designated i ? as " coruingont expenses and repairs,"' | (; making an aggregate for the above specified objects of $2*32,370,30-a sum startling in its magnitude for one session of the General Assembly, and which may well bid thc legislative department, pause in the path that it. has been pursuing. The appropriations, including those vetoed bv the Executive, aggregate a total of &4S0.0C0. To this is to be ulded the amount of $103,651,44, as shown above, drawn upon the certifi ;ales of thc clerks of the two houses J! the General As embly, on account jf printing tLe laws, and the grand total of expenditures, on account ol . legislative expenses," amounts tu r5So,651,4l. As tin evidence of the pernicious ;onseq Hences of per mil ting til is "mon .y order" system on the part of tin ?residing oliiccrs of the Senate nw! House, 1 refer to the fact, welt known t ? ,o the members of the General As ?emily, that during tho past year, ipon the order of the speaker of thc [louse, an alleged liability against the State was contracted to the amount )f $91,500. for furniture for the State-house. This was entirely with )ut warrautof kw, and if the princi ple is admitted that moneys can be .hus drawn from the treasury, or I eb ts contracted without " appropria ions made by law," then all proper safeguards of the treasury are bro cen down, and a few ministerial ofh ;ers in thc State may mortgage its .evenue in advance, or deprive it at viii of the means of meeting its legal labilities. THE PAY OF MEMBERS OF THE GEN ERAL ASSEMBLY. ti 'I he first important measure of re trenchment demanded by our finan ?ai condition, is a great reduction n the amount received by members >f the General Assembly for their icrvices. The constitution provides (article [I, section 23) that " each member of :he first General Assembly under this constitution shall receive six dol lars per diem, while in session, and the iurther sum of twenty cents for ?very mile of the ordinary route of travel in going to and returning from the place where such session is held, after which they shall receive such compensation tis shall be fixed by law ; but no General Assembly shall have the power to increase thc com- c pensuliou of its own members." I a would recommend that, in lieu of a o per diem, each member shall receive ? an annual salary, lo oe fixed at such P a rate as will greatly diminish the ti cost to the State of the sessions of the a General Assembly, as compared with 5 the amount now paid under the sys- c tem of per diem compensation. It \ will also enable the General Assem- a bly to provide an assessment for the \ amount required for ths pay of its ( members, and will enable them to ob- a tain their pay with certainty. I c am satisfied that a moderate, yet ad- c equate salary could be provided by J law, and a great saving be thereby | ? affected to the ?tate treasury. I ( You would thereby also greatly di minish the incidental expenses of the ? t General Assembly, by destroying j what might ofler a great inducement: t to many members ' prolong tlc ???? f Siuud. I j I cannot refrain from expressing the Jj tic-pe that the present session of Legislature will be a short and domical one, as thc financial condi jf the State will not admit of unnecessary expenditure of mo: A.11 the influence of the Executiv the State will be exerted in ace plishing this end, and he trusts 1 ie will Dave the active sympathy ?o-operation of each and every m 1er of the legislative department. The large amount of money r ,o the attaches, such as clerks, n ?engers. porters, &c, is withou )aral lei in the history of legislat lodies. It was claimed at tue ti >y the members that most of th vere men who had been driven fr ;heir homes on account of their itical opinions, and it became luty of the General Assembly provide means for their euppt ?Vhile this may be true, and tba nay have devolved upon the St jovernment to provide some mei or their protection and support, ) . very unusual and expensive rac 'f extending that support was ado d. It might have been but just 0 have made a regular appropriati nd levied it upon the counties fn /hich these men were driven ; th he victims of political ' prejudi fonld have been provided for a he actual perpetrators of these ot ages made to feel that it was an ? tensive way of controlling politic pinions. THE CODIFYING COMMISSION. The commission io codify the la'1 as been in existeuce for nearly thr ears, and has cost the State abo fty thousand dollars ($50000,) ai ;s work is not yet completed. It is the opinion of some of tl est legal minds of the Slate th bis work could have been doi lioroughly ata cost ot. not more tin ve thousand dollars. I would, ther )re, recommend that this staffl?ir eproach to the State Governmerj nd unnecessary drain upon the trea ry, be removed without delay, t bolishing the code commission ar mploying a competent jurist to coe lete the codification of our law3. .'HE OFFICE OF LAND COMMISSIONE: 1 recommend that the office of lan omtnissioner be abolished, and th? he duties of the office be devolve pon tiie secretary of State. THE ScnooL COMMISSIONERS. The thirty-one school commissioi rs, at their present salarie?, whic re exceedingly large for tl?e amour f sei vice that they render, cost tl tate thirty-one thousand five hui red dollars per annnin. I, then 3re, recommend a materia! reduct io ii the sa aries of school commissior rs, so as to reduce the expenditure n this accouut to a sum not exceec tig ten thousand dollars per annuu IENEBAL REDUCTION OF SALARIE! There is grout and instant nee JV the reduction ol' the salaries c Irate officers, and for a decided di i i n it tion ol' the .clerical force ej&pjijy d in many offices of the Executiv epartnient, In some cases the Stat ? paving clerks to perform dutie hat should be, and can be, dischare d by the officers themselves. In QI; pinion tue salaries of all officers, ex ept tho judges, should Le reduce? nc-third. ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE? The office of assistant adj utan en eral should be aboli lied, and tin dj n tant-general should be require J perform the duties ol' his office. STATE AND COUNTY AUDITORS. The offiee ol' Slate auditor yhoul? e abolished, and ?te duties perform tl by the comptroller-general. The office of county auditor can b( ?j?pensed with without injury to tin ublic sei vice-, and the duties of thu! Sice devolved upon the conn!} ea.su 1er, thus e flee ting a saving t?. ie State of not less than fifty thou md (50,000} dollars [?er annum, and 'curing even increased efficiency in ie collection of laxe.-.. TRIAL JUSTICES. I invite your early attention to the 'commendations ol' my last message i regard to trial justices. The ag r?gate cost of this class ol' offio ra is ery near ono hundred and twenty lousand (120,000) dollars annually, he trial justices in the City ol harleston alone entail upon the aunty an expenditure ol' about thir ?r-tfve thousand (35,000) dollars a ear. I would, therefore, urge, in ddilion lo ray former reeomraenda ons on this subject, that the office ol' .ial justice be abolished in the City f Charleston, and that, in lieu there f, three police judges be created for lat city, who shall receive adequate ilaries, and shall exercise the juris iction vested in trial justices. T ^ould further recommend tho ap ointment of one police judge in ach ol' our principal towns, dispeus ig with trial justices therein, aud esting in such judg'-s tbe judicial ewers now exercised by the mayors' ourts, as, under existing acts, the myora and intendants of our cities nd towns may crowd our jails with risoners sentenced for trifling of jnces, thus incie ising the expenses f the several counties. IECORDER OF THE ClTY OF CHAR LESTON. I recommend that the office of re order of the City of Charleston be polished forthwith. This is a State iffice created by act of the General Assembly many years ago, but it has or a long period fallen into utter dis ise. Although the recorder receives . salary of twenty-five hundred (2, i00) dollars per annum, and basa lerk at six hundred (600) dollars ?er annum, payable by the city, I .in credibly informed that he has not leid more than two sessions of the Jity Court, for the trial of criminal .nd civil causes, during the past ten ir twelve years. It is a mere excres euce on our judicial system, and the leople cf Charleston should no long >r be taxed to sustain it. CLERKS OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE. I would especially direct your at ention, in this connection, to the iropriety of reducing the sa'aries of he e'erks of the Senate and Ho- se. faking the number of days on which fhese officers aro presumed to be ern roy ed^ their compensation ^r dieny if respectively, is more than five ti greater than, that received by a rx ber of the body in which they subordinates, while the annual ea of each equals the highest rcee: by any ofhcer in the State, except I chief juscice. This is an anon without precedent in any other St and unwarranted by the present < dition of the State treasury. ADDITIONAL LEGISLATION. EEQUI TO REGULATE PUBLIC PKINTIN< I recommend that the present ? tem for the public printing be cha ed without delay, and,the great dr upon the'treasury, caused there checked at once. The authority vi ed in the clerks of the Senate ( House, in regard to the printi should be rescinded, and a pro safeguard and a rigid system of countability instituted, to insure I strictest economy jn this very cons ?rable branch of the public expen tures. It should not be left to 1 discretion of surbordinate officers the.Ueneral Assembly however he est and judicious they may be in t discharge of such a trust. The t ?-ting system has involved an exp* dilure for printing so great as to ha proved a real calamity to the Sta It has certainly eventuated in a co tract for the public printing whi is a flagrant fraud upon the treasur and eliould be instan tl v anuulled. ? have ascertained t?iat the comp ny with which the printing contra has been made, to-wit : the Jiepub can Printing Company, neither ow: nor controls any journal orprintii establishment, and is even withoi legal existence, but has the work e ecuted iu this city at thc reguh market rates, and thus derives * immen.-e profit from the treasury the State, without any outlay on tLe part. STATE REVENUES. Under existing laws for the asses ment and collection of taxes real e tate is made to bear au undue pr< portion of the burdens of taxatioi For the purpose, therefore, of raisin a sufficient revenue to defray the cu: rent expenses of an economical ac ministration of the State, and mei its obligations to its creditors, whil at the same time lessening its tax o realty, I make the fol'owing recoil mendatione. These recommendation! if judiciously carried out, will seem thc payment of taxes on classes ( property hitherto practically exomr. from taxation, and tend to utilize ri legitimate sources of State revenue Thc bulk of the cotton and rice i shipped from tbe ?tate or sent t market, iii the' interregnum betwee the annual assessment of taxes, an is thus practically exempted froi taxation, contributing but a sinai share to the amount of revenue de rived from the tax on personal prop erty. A tax on these important an< valublc products, such as they ma; reasonably bear without checkiiij producion, and, according to valut should *fi ffitiftiiiilLyn iirTi??ii^dg.fti and the necessary measures en ac te? to insure its collection with cer tainty. TUE PiiosntATE DEPOSITS. ; This vast natural source of reve Imo has not yet been utilized,, but i comparatively small revenue haviii/ thus far beeu derived from it by th< State. I recommend that; some prop er otlicer be designated by law whosi duty it shall be, by actual inspectioi and measurement, to ascertain th< number of tons ot phosphate belong ing to the the State, that are excavated by the several chartered companies and to certify and to collect thc royalty due upon the same. LICENSES. I recommend that all persons en gaged in the sale of liquors, and ah merchants, factors, lawyers and phy sicians be requited to take out a ?tatc license. INS UK A s c E CO M PA NIES. A tax should be levied cu all pre miums received by insurance compa nies. TAX ON RAILROAD TONNAGE. All the most important railroad companies iii this State pay no taxes upon their property. I earnestly re commend that a tax be levied on every railroad company in the State for every passenger and every ton o? freight transported. DELINQUENT TAX SALES. To enforce the more prompt pay ment of the taxes, and to check the growth of the present enormous ar rear hst, I recommend that the law be so amended that real and personal property, subject to taxation, shall be sold at public sale, by the county treasurers, within thirty days after the same shall have become delin quent under ihe tax levy-the per sonal property to be first exhausted, if necessary, to satisfy thc tax, before sale is made of the realty-and that bonds of the State be taken in pay ment at par for all real estate pur chased at delinquent land sales. I further recommend that the several county treasurers shall be author ized to give absolute titles to all real estate and personal property so sold, within sixty days alter the date ol such sale ; that the State shall war rant and defend such titles, aud they shall be held and taken by all courts in the States as titles in lee simple ; and that, in all legal proceedings, the said courts shall be concluded by said titles as to all matters touching any irregularly that may have been had in connection with such sales, and which may be alleged agaiust the validity of the said titles. This pro vision, as to time ot sale and redemp tion, not to apply to the property .of minors and persons who are non com pos mentis, or confined in public prisons. I would also urge that tho provi sion of law requiring county auditors to purchase lands for the State, at de linquent land sales, be repealed, and that all such lands, heretofore pur chased by the State, be sold without delay, subject to the claims of those who may hold any of such lands un der the State lease, aa provided by law, should there be any such unex pired leases at thc time of sale. AMOUNT OF TAXES IN ARREAR. As an evidence of the need of ad ditional legislation to enable the State j ? -- *" -* to realize the delinquent taxes,' - h mention the facto that. the amoitnts; due on the arrear lists, ?or the V?are1* 1868,1869 and 1870, aggregation^'' million one hundred fln^tlurty-sefcn thousand four hundred" and thirty three ($1,137,433) dollars. . ' ;a SALE OF STATE LANDS'. I further.recommend that the laud* purchased by the land -cominis/don,, tindall other lands owned by the State, be subdivided into suitaWe1 areas, and sold at an early pf ri od, at a rate per acre to be fixed" by Jaw* according to classification, and that hqnds'oi* the State be tak?-?n in Ray ment, at par, for all sucfi^1$^^^ -T^e; State lands are now^fimafecF' to be worth one million Q.oO.fJ?O)* dollars, at' a minim?rh valuation.-'*''* Thc Governor,_next r^vfowi? ati gr^atc length the Ku Klux trouble?, and gives the causes which lcd him to ask thc su&j-J [lousion of the'huleas corpus, asjigji^rT :he Ku-Klux law he bairns ti i at cou eil ia-> :ion proved uselexsj-and the Court* weald lot act, and thai the whites n??sto?l? mplmity Xor wea^nesSfHe declined lo . all out thc militia beta USC it consiste-I )f negroes who w?nh?huve beeivriangh ered, and poeple led ro holk-vo that the"' :onflict was between negroes and whiten? ? n stead ol' between friends ol'tho Govern ucnt and its enemies. AM late as tu*t ?pring many prominent ci'?'?ons proni scdhim their co-operation i in tho sup >re*siou of Ku-KIu.xisiii, bat they effect-'' td notl?ng, and civil ' pow pr hoi ug cx ?auxtod, thc Governor ???plied, to tho Xa ional Government to protect? tho State ignlhst domestic violence. We will 'r.ub-: ish ?io Ku-Klax portion ol' the ;Goyor ?or's Message in our next issue. -THE J AXEAYEES' CONVENTION. lu the mouth of May: last a highly^ espectable body of citizens^ styling ?hemselves " The Taxpayers' Oonv?n ion," assembled at the State.capital"i br the ostensible purpose of making nquisitioii into the financial admjniB- ? ration ot* the State, M they were fur^ ' lished every iaoilityj to pioaecutetheir iroposed investigation, apdtbe booksy .> .ecordd and papers of the several-bu .eaus in the Executive ; department . vere unreservedly daid open -to then*'' nspectiou; The result of thi^inves-*' igation, prosecuted .-with great dili-'' ;ence, was that they gave a re?uctant'-' :onfirmation, iii the^ma?n, to the offi-: :ial debt statement, whiebftbey hrtoH )rincipally asaembted-to' dij??r?Uit; . * .>. Having been requested-by the eon*': rention, through its committee; fo?x*i: ;end the time for the'paym?ot ofL;th? I axes, in the cases of those tb;\**h?8?i6 vas- not expedient; to -'pay- ;b'r'\vhb:i ?ould' not make payment ^tnitt* fh?'? rirescri bed period* -1 rnfoftted: Sherar' ;hat.the Cox-'hooke would -be ripened ii November for the receipFOl' taxea,m Dut in cases where parties arc unable lo pay, or could not puv-: wrthoat-'a' jacritico, 1 *rould extend ihe titae-t?^ March theist. withoutthe delinquent^ penalty luttaobing. PurB?ftnt.',^oI.riy!, promise, 1 haV? directed the proper'0 jiticers to grant an extrasio&io wsefr?_ KicTT'case that muy be certified to i them by the person asking it.7' MINORITY REPRESENTATION. Y-; I Thc- subject of minority representa-: tion encaged the earnest attention of; the "Taxpayers' C?uyention," ' and' they presentea*mauy cogent reasons For its ' immediate adopS?ii into the ?lee'ive' system of this State. In ac-. jordance with my promise to thiiu.T present this important matter for your" gravest consideration. I recognize the principkof minority representation as both wise and just. lt secures to the several party divis ions in the State a direct and propor tional rep re entatiou in its adminis .ration. lt thus institutes a check . ind balance against that injudicious >r oppressive exercise of po.w'er that s too apt to ensue where ita undiv? led possession is held by a large party najorify. The advantages of thesys Sem have beeu recent y exemplified u practice at elections iii England iud in tho States of Pennsylvania and illinois. .In those States, however, iitizens divide into parties uponques ions merely affecting the State or National policies, and they seek only >y legitimate means to elevate to jower the exponents of their views. Chere no man's party affiliation fur lishes any just presumption against lis loyalty to his country, and no eit zen * ho is loyal, is, torthatcau.se, iubjected to the hazards of murder, ixile and the lash, or the certainty of >ublic and social proscription. Here, on the contrary, Ihemiuority ire organized upon a basis which iractically calls in question th??, very lrinciplcs and the lundauiental law ipou which the State and National jovcrnments repose. The end sought by the proposed ?ystem could long since have been Hectically accomplished, but for the jitter spirit of intolerance engendered md fostered by party leaders of the jpposition among their followers. I have been at all times ready, as s well known, to co-operate with all noderate men, without regard topar*' y affiliations, iii securing the election o public office of those only who vere worthy and well qualified. My >wn course in this regard has not mly been illustrated by the . Exeeu,-, ;ive appointments, but by the personal tid that I have invariably extended o elevate to public position.thpse na ;ive whites wno, although classed at ,he time with the opposition, .were, ?entlemen of character and intelli-.. >ence, and fair and temperate in thaic Political views. In proof of thia J; nstance, with great gratification* Dhiof Justice Moses, ..and Circuit Tudges J. L. Orr,-,-.Grjeen, Melton? braham and Farmer-the last an a? Interim Executive app?inttneut--.<to> ivho8e elevation to.ihe bench I gave my cordial support. These gentle men were a1! trusted and honored: ?f H 1er the ancient regime, and will.ee: v pare favorably, in point.of personal character and capacity, with anylciti izen of the State. I submit, however, for your, delib-1 erate consideration, whether the ?nen who are now,-demanding- the etfab lishment by law of-the syBtem of mi nority representation are entitled td this act of magnanimity at your hands. Ti is for yr>u to dete'fu?h? whether the 'line of policy pursued by them, before and, pince the* journment cf,.t^_Taxpayers' Ogy