VOLUME 14 CAMDEN. SOUTH-CAROLINA. TUESDAY^^NrnG^ DECEMBER <;. DVi. NUMBER 49. J
GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE.
Gentlemen of the Senate,
anil House of Representatives:
Allow me to congratulate you upon assembling
again, under the most auspicious circumstances,
to legislate upon the a flairs of South
Carolina, and by the enactment of new laws,
and the establishment of fresli precedents for j
her future government, to promote her moral j
and social welfare, improve and develop her ;
internal resources, and to increase her commercial
and political importance among neighing
States and nations.
*
Whilst the Constitution, under whose provisions
jou are here assembled, imposes upon
you that highest of all social responsibilities,
the task to provide for the welfare of the people
of the coinmouwealth, uponmedevol.es.
"?U~ nMiiinlinn tn lilV before VOU !
iuc ^.uv.u.uu.x ; J -j ,
from time to time, information of its condition,
and to make such recommendations as I shall
.judge necessary and expedient. The absence ,
'of a comprehensive political experience enables 1
'me but imperfectly to meet all the requiretaenls
of such a duty. In inviting, therefore,
your co-operation to the recommendations
which I shall make, your wisdom and experience
will carry into effect those which are advantageous
; and for the rest that is demanded
by the wants of the State, a safer reliance cannot
be placed than in that patriotism and en-1
lightened view* of public policy, which, under j
all circumstances, either in peace or in times :
of trial, have characterized your legislation.
The year which is past has been one of signal
prosperity to the State. Not only has it
been characterized by an unusual degree of,
health, hut every department of industry ex- i
ists in a condition of thrift and prosperity.? |
Although the growers of cotton are not reaping
as large a yield of their labor as they at
one period anticipated, yet the present fair
price for their staple and a comparative freedom
from debt, place the planters in a condition
of greater independence than they have 1
enjoyed at any previous time. Their property, 1
both real and personal, is gieatly increased in I
value, and fresh sources of revenue are opened ;
to them, by new, convenient, and more expe- J
ditious means of communication with the me- ;
tropolis and other market towns. Improved
modes of tillage and the importation from
abroad of fertilizers for their lands, are adding
each year large amounts to the income of the
State, and are fast laying the foundation of a
steady improvement and permanent wealth.
If possible, the results of the year's labor ;
among the tidewater planters are even more!
flattering. The season has been free from flood
or unusual gales, and the summer rains have
palced at their disposal an abundance of fresh
water for the luxuriant growth of the grain.?
The harvest has been heavy, and the high pi i - i
ces which their grain crop at present com- j
inands, make it the most prosperous of all the !
agricultural interests of the State?as indeed ;
it usually ts in the absence of those calamities 1
which sometimes affect it. In addition to these
facts, in this summary of the condition of the j
State, the city of Charleston, exi mpt as it has ;
been during the summer, from every soit of
epidemic, and presenting in its bills of mortality
a condition of health which will compare
favorably with those of any city apon the continent,
has had a tide of commerce [toured into
her lap, which she has never hefoie received. '
Both the domestic and foreign importations !
into the city have been unusually large, and
? "i__ J.. i_ ,..f11Viu?t
sales nave aueiuy ??c?.-n nicvim ?,>???. ,
nearly as great as in the entire bu-uncss seasons
of other years. Railroads leading into :
the interior, ami into regions beyond the State j
limits, which have hiiherto been in the prog- j
ress of construction, are now pet forming their i
jtroper functions, and conferring their expected
benefits. .This, together with the great health
of the city, has brought to her markets new
and valuable customers, and the daily iucreas- j
ing facilities by rail, to points still more dis- j
tant, will, at no remote period, convert the ,
present confines of the city into the more extended
limits of a great metropolis.
The subjects to which I shall chiefly call j
your attention, are the finances of the State, I
thecondition cf the Blue Ridge Railroad en-j
terprise, popular education, and the subjects |
connected therewith, the condition of the Asy- :
lum for the insane, the construction of a new j
Capitol, the question of boundary between 1
Georgia and South Carolina, the laws regard- '
ing colored seamen, and to one of the articles ;
of the consular convention between the Gov- !
eminent of the United States and his .Majesty 1
- ** . _ i* * I _ ? 1.
tne runperor or me rrunvn.
I herewith submit to you an abstract of the j
condition of the finances of the State together
with a statement of the condition of the Bank
of the State on the 1st October, which is the
end of the fiscal year. For that period, the.
results of its operations cannot be otherwise
than satisfactory.
The profits of the hank during the year have
amounted to $330,000, exceeding the profits i
of the previous year $21,594.92. From these ;
^profits have been paid the interest on the lire
loan debt, 100,903, and the balance carried to j
the sinking fund amounts to $*229,037. The
account exhibits a larger balance than usual; i
but the Bank has advanced to contractors for
arms, &c., about $51,000 which is a set-off
-against this balance. The sum of $75,000 has
^nlso^been advanced to the Greenville Railroad i
Company, which is the amount of assessment I
on the stock held by the State in that Compa-'
ny, and which, if paid by the State, will make I
a further reduction of the cash balance in the
treasury. The bank holds the notes of the j
Company with security, for the amount of the j
advance
The funded debt due by the State, on 1st of
October, consists of:
5 per cent loan bonds, payable
in London,'58 and '08 $937,777 78
6 per cent. fire loan stock, payable
'GO and '70 805,590 15
G per cent of 1849, (balance past
due not bearing interest,) 8,418 30 (
5 per cent. 1838, balance 45,214 34
3 per cent, at nominal value,
$117,438 40, but at market price
would amount to - 73,980 19
81.870,980 70
Kr
1/
The treasury lias paid from the sinking fund
since 1st of October, ?0,032.50 of the G per
cents of 1S39, reducing the balance to $2,385.80.
The bank also holds of the 5 per cent,
stock of 1838 the sum of ?G,G7!),11, and also
?7,441.53 of 3 per cents., which was purchased
with the sum of ?4,668.10. The amount
of indebtedness is diminished by these several
payments and purchases
The assets of the State consist of the bank
and various railroad stocks. The assets under
the charge of the bank may be summarily set
down as follows:
Total funds in the batik as exhibited
by the annual statement
i i o . i ' (Qmnno.i a(\
WUMJtT, VO,i71 I lu
Deduct bank liabilities, issues, deposits,
&c 4,080,590 22
Balance, being assets, tlie property
of the State *3,833,342 27
South Carolina Railroad and
bank stock 041,000 00
Greenville U. R. Company.... 348,000 00
Wilmington and Manchester Rail
road Company 200,000,000
Charlotte and Columbia Railroad
Company 09,200, 00
King's mountain Rail Road Company
50,000, 00
Laurens Railroad Company.... 34,000, 00
S5,175,542 27
In addition to the funded debt due by the
State, there is due to the bank the sum of
S 177,091 G2 (i?r cash paid to the South Carolina
Railroad Company, when $25 per share
on the stock of that Company was called in.
As the whole par value of the stock is set
down among the assets of the State, it is noccssaiy
to notice this debt in an estimatcof lier
finances.
The item of S51,000 advanced to contrnc
tors for supplying arms under contracts made
by the late Board of Ordnance, previous to its
abolishment at the late session, was paid by
the hank upon the representation of the facts
of the case froin this department.
The late Board of Ordnance was empowered,
under the act providing for the military
defence of the State, passed in 1851, to make
contracts for arms and munitions of war to the
extent of $300,000 The board, during its
existence, inside contracts-to the full extent of
the appropriation ; and all moneys due contractors
were drawn by orders from the Executive
upon the Treasury. In entering upon
the discharge of the duties of my office, I found
the balance of $51,000 still due, and all the
contracts fulfilled according to stipulations.?
I accordingly gave a draft upon the Treasurer
for a portion of the amount still due; but
that officer did not regard himself authorised
by law to pay the draft, as no especial authorty
had been given to the Executive to draw
funds for this purpose after the Ordnance
Board had been abolished. Undertiiesc circumstances,
I presented the matter to the consideration
of the President of the Bank, and
advised the payment of these sums by the
Bank, in order to avoid the injury which would
inevitably result to a portion of the contractors
with the State, and great embarrassments to
all of them. 'The President, with his accustomed
liberality of views, at once acceded to
my wishes, and by bis timely relief prevented
much distress, if md positive ruin, to deserving
individuals, who had been fostered into exis
teucc by the State as manufacturers of arms.
I trust that the course which has been pursued
w II meet with the approval of the Legislature.
By the net of incorporation of the Blue
Ilidge Railroad Company, passed by the last
General Assembly, (tie guarantee of the State
upon the bonds of the Company, to the extent
of *1,250,000 was secured upon the following
! I i 11 i o l-'ir-w'f t!i?at flAH elinnltt ltd nro
viotisly Kui(scribed to the capital stock of the
said Blue Ridge Railroad Company in South
Carolina, by responsible persons, companies or
corporations. Secondly, that such subsetij>tions
should be made, or aid furnished to the
Railroad Companies in North Carolina and
Tennessee, designed to connect, with that portion
of the Road lying in this State, as would
give reasonable assurance of the construction
of the said N. Carolina and Tennesse Roads.
These conditions have been complied with.?
rJ'he City of Charleston has subscribed $500,000
to that porsion of the Road lying within
the State; and Messrs. Anson, Bangs and Co.
have contracted for the construction of the en
tire Road, from Anderson in this State, to
Knoxville, in 'Tennessee, which renders the eonuection
not only reasonably assured, but as certain
as any enterprise of such an extent can be.
By tl ie terms of this agreement the contractors
are to receive in payment one-half in cash, and
the other half in capital stock and mortgaged
bonds of the Company. By this mode ??f payment,
the ultimate estimated cost of the Road
is brought much more nearly within the scope
of the resources of the Company than is usual
in enterprises 01 sucii magnitude. .vi rates
agreed tipon with contractors, the. entire cost
of the road, from Anderson to Knoxville in
Tennessee, together with necessary appurtc
nances, including interest accruing upon the
bonds of the Company until t he completion of
the Road, will amount to the sum of ?7,500,000.
To meet this outlay, the Company estimate
their resources as follows, viz:
Subscription by the city of Charleston
to the Jllue Ridge Railroad
in South Carolina ' ?500,000
Subscription by the same to the
Rlue Ridge Railroad in Ceo.... 519,000
Subscription of Knoxville and
Charleston Railroad Company.. 500,000
Other subscriptions, estimated at.. 151,000
State endorsement of bonds of the
Company 1,250,000
Estimated amount of stock and
bonds to be issued to Messrs.
Hangs At Co., being one halt" of
*7,500,00 iJ,750,000
?(>,700,000
It will thus be seen that the means of the
company will fall short of the estimated cost
of the work, about ?800,000.
This enterprise is undoubtedly the wisest
and the greatest which has ever been projected
in this State, and the ultimate results will be
as beneficial to her interest, proportionality,
as the great western lines of road to New York
or the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad now are
to eaeli of those cities respectively, and commenced
under circumstances much more favorable
to its completion. It is a more important
measure than the proposed Charleston,
Louisville and Cincinnati Railroad, because
it is a shorter route, embracing all the advantages
of the other, and is less liable to the diversions
of trade from the valleys beyond the
I 1 llAfrkntiiAD HMnnliiiii ln/k*lOlltl - I
.HIU^IIcllllC^i UWIIIg I U I I O IV\.?VI"?M
By an arrangement shortly to be consununatoil,
the charters granted in Georgia, North
Carolina, and Tennessee will have all their pri
vileges ceded to the Blue Ridge Railroad Coin[
anj in South Carolina, so that the latter named
corporation will exercise entire control over
the affairs of the whole line of road. By this
it will be seen that all means have been adopted
to give security to whatever capital the
State, or the citizens within the State, may
: contribute to this great work, by confining the i
control of its affairs altogether within our borders.
To perpetuate this power is in the highest
degree desirable. It will give to the State
the indefeasible riglit of a railroad communication
fiom ICnoxviile, in Tennessee, to Charleston,
and the exclusive power to control and
manage the affairs of this company; thus establishing
in perpetuity a highway of trade and
I travel from the remote west to our own seaj
ports, the value and importance of which can
hardly be estimated.
In addition to these results from abroad, the
efleets of such a highway of trade and travel
through the State will exercise a great influence
upon her internal prosperity. The improvement
of the upper portions of the State?the
increase in the value of property?the many
increased facilities it will give for commerce?
the employment of their labor in construction
.?the expenditure of large sums among them
; for material and mechanical skill?and the in
j created value that will he given to stock in I
: railroad companies already in existence, in
| which the State also is largely interested? are
J considerations which must influence your calm
i judgement to promote by every safe and judij
cious means the successful accomplishment of
; this great work.
| My the communication which was establish*
ed by the charter between this department and
I the Blue Ridge Railroad company, I have been
j enabled to ascertain, that by the terms of con!
tract between Messrs. Bangs & Co., the work
' was to be commenced on the first of this
j month?and that a large portion of the surveys
I are completed, and found to present fewer oh!
stacles than was at first supposed. A location
' has been made for tunnelling the Blue Ridge,
i and work allotted to contractors,?that their
I
I preliminary arrangements are in a state of fori
wardness,? that, the Districts through which the
road will pass in this State will abundantly
supply all the necessary labor,? that the citizens
both in this State and beyond it have with
extraordinary unanimity ceded the right of way
! without compensation,?and that every cir:
cumstance tends favorably to an early and
thorough completion of this enterprise, which
! was projected by the President and Company
j with so much patriotism and zeal, prosecuted
j with such signal industry and ability.
I have thus laid before you at some length,
hut as briefly as possible, all the facts in my
i possession with regard to the condition of the
Blue Ridge Railroad enterprise. I now reCommend
that the State sub-cribe to the coin*
j panv the sum of ?750,000, in order to put the
enterprise beyond the reach of ordinary revcr*
; ses, and in this way to secure to the citizens
; in this Slate the control of u majority of the
1 stock of the Company, in reference to the conI
tiiigem i?s which may frequently arise, where
! A _ . .1 .. . . ) A 1 ... II I <
iruue auu commerce are 10 ue columned lor
I our benefit. Nor would such a step be unusual
or partial, since the Legislature has nut only
extended important aid to railroads constructed
entirely within the State, but to roads wliieh
have been projected beyond its limits, as in
the case of the Charleston, Louisville and (Jin|
cinnnti Railroad, and in the Wilmington ami
: Manchester Railroad. The endorsement of
the bonds of the Rlue Ridge Railroad CoinpaI
ny cannot be regarded as a subscription, for it
j Is totally dissimilar in its character, and far less
! beneficial in its operation. In the one case
the State becomes ?a copartner, and risks her
capital, and awaits the distant returns of dividends;
in the latter case she simply makes herself
liable as an endorser, and takes the first
mortgage on the property of the stockholders
co secure herself against the possibility of loss.
Undoubtedly the most important measure
which I shall bring to your consideration is the
reformation of the present system of public in
struclion in the Slate.
If, as lias been frequently stated, education
. is the oilcan defence of nations- and (ho norma- !
I nence of republican institutions depends upon j
the enlightenment of their citizens, you have
! but little security for the prosperity and happi*
j ness you now enjoy. Education has been pro-1
j vided by the Legislature but for one class of j
; the citizens of the State, which is the wealthy j
class. For the middle and poorer classes of so- j
I ciety it has done nothing, since no organized
i system has been adopted for that purpose.? !
i You have appropriated seventy-five thousand J
dollars annually to Free Schools, but under the j
present mode of applying it, that liberality is
really the profusion of the prodigal, rather than
the judicious generosity which confers real benefit.
The few who are educated at the public
expense in those excellent and truly useful institutions,
the Arsenal and Citadel Academies,
form almost the only exception to the truth ot
this remaik. No State can boast of nobler
j institutions than the South Carolina College
and the Military Schools. One lias already
conferred untold benefits on the State. In it
have been nurtured for half a century most of
the character and genius of South Carolina, and
it is now sustaining her reputation for scholarship
and intellect. The others arc dispensing >
' such scientific and practical knowledge as be- ;
comes more sensibly felt each succeeding day.
lioth ought to receive, as everyway worthy,
a continuation of your care and benefactions. !
Hut still there is wanting a system of public
instruction, which will educate better, and in
greater number, the youth of the State of all
classes of her population. It should not be an |
eleemosynary proffer to those whose pride and |
ignorance make tliem either reject the gift, or ;
receive it without henefit or gratitude; but rath- j
era fountain flowing for all, at which they may j
freely partake. Upon the same school forms j
ii .1 * _ . I II 1 . a !.*. aI. _ I
anil uy uic same masters snouiu ue uiugnt inc
element of eilucations to all the youths of the
State; and let those who tastes or means enable
them to do so, pursue those other avenues
of knowledge which will lead them to a more
ambitions eminence, and a wider field of display.
But let the basis of the education of the
young of the State he laid in her primary
schools. This will afford that patronage which
is necessary for the support of any system. It
will not he done immediately ; hut by pursuing
a judicious design, to be carried into effect by
capable individuals, this end will be ultimately
accomplished.
Such a design does not preclude the existence
of private schools. Extend instruction,
and the more instruction will he required ?
Pierce this barrier of prejudice and ignorance,
which refuses all approach to the adoption of
better views of public instruction, und for one
school established, fifty will spring into existence.
'len years ago, twenty thousand, adults, ,
besides children "were unable to read and write :
in South Carolina. Has our free school system
dispelled any of this ignorance ? A re there 1
not reasonable fears to be entertained that the
number has increased since that period? Are
generations to come and go, and still see 110
improvement in the cducatiou of the humble
portion of your population ? If no change is
effected \Vith increasing commerce, with 1,300
miles of railroad, with your machinery, with
your unimproved lands, who are to be your
merchants, engineers, machinists and mechanics,
and your farmers ?
A reformation in public instruction, if any
be made, cannot be effected directly by yourselves.
It must I)1 done by your agents. I
recommend tc you the establishment of a Board
of Education, and the appointment of a Cointnissioner
of Public Instruction, whose duty it
shall be to gather facts with regard to this State,
and thoroughly inform himself upon the systems
of such other governments as educate
their people best, and report the result of his
labors to the board or commission, who together
shall digest a plan to bo submitted to
you for ratification or rejection. Pay them
either by an appropriation, or by a per centnge
from the free school fund.
The Board, I suggest, shall be appointed by
you; the Commissioners of Public Instruction
to be chosen by the Trustees of the South Carolina
College by and with the consent of the
Executive.
Accompanying this communication is a letter
from the President of the South Carolina College
upon the subject of Public Education,
which contains views so well considered and
able, as to induce me to lay it before you, with
the hope that you will give it such attention as
the importance of tbo subject demands.
The subject of .Medical Education is one
which I think should engage your attention,
and receive, as gerinain to a general system of
education within the State, a portion of your
carc and assistance. Nor is this an unimportant
part of such a system. Occupying as we
do a region which is not exempt from malarious
influences, we should be particularly interested
in all those means by which the natural influences
of the climate can to some extent be obviated,
a knowledge which is best acquired in
latitudes in which those diseases are most prevalent.
It is doubtless known to you that about thir
ty years ago the first effort was made to build
up and sustain a Medical College within the
borders of our own State, and thereby to offer
to our young men the means of acquiring at
home a medical education as thorough and
complete as they could obtain abroad. There
were valid reasons why this effort should be
made; and subsequent experience has afforded ,
the most convincing proof of the deep interest
our people and State should feel iu the sucess
of such an enterprise. Thus far the Medical
College of the State of South Carolina has
grown steadily in prosperity and reputation, :
until it bus obtained in point of respectability ;
an equal fooling with the most respectable of
similar insti'utions in the United States. For
this success it has been mainly indebted to the <
zeal and untiring efforts of its Professors; for
whilst other States have been most munificent ,
in cherishing their Medical Institutions, South
Carolina, although she has done something, has i
fallen far behind most of the States of the Confederacy.
In this age of active competition,
the absence of adequate means has placed that i
Institution at great disadvantage, and at the
present moment especially, when the rapid advancement
of science, growing out of the (hilly
development of new truths, forms more multifarious
and complex processes of investigation, ;
the appliances necessary in a thorough system
of education and illustration have become so i
timmovmc <iiwl OYnonaiv/o na tn ho oiilii-uhr ho.
yond the limited resources of a Faculty dependent
exclusively upon the fees of the students
for their inadequate compensation. This
natural wear and tear of property and of their i
means of illustration already at command, im- :
pose an additional burden upon the Professors,
which they cannot well sustain.
I herewith present a memorial from the Modi i
en I College of the State of South Carolina, i
which sets forth more in detail the necessity for
an appeal for State aid; not only for reasons
already given, but for others which are therein i
clearly and forcibly stated. Not the least im
portant among them is a necessity for the repairs
of the edifice, and increasing its convenience
by enlargement. I cordially recommend
an appropriation for the required aid. j
'1 lie State makes provision annually for the
education of one of the youth from the Charleston
Orphan House, to be selected by the Com- i
missionors. This liberality on your part has <
already been extended to several young gen- I
tiemen, whose subsequent advancement and i
usefulness in life have proven the wisdom of ;
your benefaction. Through me the commis
siwuro now riMv i II.lb jji im lanMj iiiwy uc uiauu < j
by you for the education of another youth upon :
the. same conditions ns in the other case. I
take great pleasure in adding my rccommcnda- i
lion to their request.
At your la>t session an appropriation of ]
?50,000 was made for the continuation of the J
construction of the new Capitol, and during j
the past year t he work lias progressed to an
extent commensurate with the amount appro,
printed. The plans have all been perfected by I
the skill of a competent architect, who has al-!
so the supervision with.the commission of the |
whole work. Ample and convenient arrange- j
ments are made for all the departments of the
State Government, and the building, when com
pieted, will be one of the most elegant, commodious
and desirable in the Union. Every I
improvement which modern skill has devised
lias been incorporated in the plans. The gran- i
ite of which it is constructed is found in great ;
abundance convenient to the work. If com- '<
pieted upon the plans already determined upon,
(at a cost in my judgment by no means un- i
reasonable,) this edifice will be fresh in its !
massive strength and beauty when many generations
shall have parsed away, and will remain
for ages a monument of your taste, State pride,
and liberality. I recommend such liberal appropriations
as will warrant an active and energetic
prosecution of the work, and insure its
early completion.
I shall now proceed to lay before you a subject
which will engage your judgment, as well
as interest your sympathies.
Undoubtedly among the first duties of goveminent
arc to legislate for the security of life
and propeitv, and the protection of morals.
Next in order is the educatiou of all classes of
citizens. The third is to make provision for
those who by natural cr other infirmities are
unable to care properly for themselves in die
affairs of life. Among all nations the performance
of this latter obligation is regarded as
the highest evidence of enlightenment and civU
lizntion. Those who are selected by their fellow
men by reason of their superiority of intellect
to provide for all their social and politi- v
tal wants, ought surely to he such as are most
regardful of the condition of that class of society
from whom the light of intelligence and
reason has been removed, and who are already
the most unhappy of mankind.
In the year 1821, when the Asylum for the
Insane of this State was established, the arrangements
made for its inmates were far in
advance of those rtf any similar institution, not
only in this country, but in Europe. In it the
system of coercion was abolished to a greater
extent than any other similar establishment;
the personal comforts of the patients more amply
provided for; and the whole system, as
formerly adopted in the Bicetre and Salpetr'ere,
where the insane were regarded as condemned
felons or brutes, was superseded by a more
gentle and humane treatment But since that
period, whilst this institution, from the character
of the building erected for the accommodation
of patients, together with its unfavorable
location and the limited extent of the grounds 1
about it, lias from necessity remained stution* 1
ary, others, both in this country and in Europe, 1
have left it far behind in the improvements ?
which science and experience have suggested ; 1
and they now present as in turn examples from
which our own system can be greatly amended. <
I have made it a portion of my public duty <
to examine into the condition of the State Asy- J
lnm for lunatics, and the result of my observe- '
tion has been to recommend to you a thorough 1
change from all the present arrangements. Pro- I
vision is made only for 120'patients?against t
about 400 lunatics, which are estimated as the <
number in the State. The accommodations,
therefore, are too small; and the duties of 1
legislation upon this subject will be but imper- t
fectly discharged as long as there remains a j
single lunatic unprovided lor. The situation i
is within the corporal limits of Columbia, ex- <
posing the inmates, without the possibility of J
avoiding the difficulty, to all the noise and bus- a
tie which prevails in a city, thus defeating very I
often all the regulations for their perfect repose j.
by the Physician and Superintendanl. A location
in the country, surrounded by a farm and I
gardens, with other conveniences of air and ex- t
ercise, are regarded as indispensable to a pro- i
per treatment of maladies of the mind. These g
advantages cannot be had in its present position ?
nor can there ever be a sufficient increase of t
accommodation from the limit- d extent of the t
grounds, as will meet with the present wants, c
still less for those in the future. f
The construction of the edifice is altogether .
.u_ - ?
Ut'lCL'in C. J IIU Jlv'l III I <! t i Ul 1 Willi III ill C an llll VX* II ?'
together as to prevent anything lik? a classili- )
cation of the patients. The refined and sensi- I
live, more alive perhaps to uncongenial associ- t
at ions than persons ot sound inind, are from r
necessity made to associate, to some extent, i
with those who by their misfortunes have do- f
scended to the lowest thoughts and habits pos t
sible for human beings; so that from this cause o
many patients of the former class are under
tlio necessity of being provided for by their c
friends without the State, in Institutions which J
are more judiciously arranged. The basement, g
which was intended lor patients of a certain ij
disposition, and which is perhaps one of the j g
most important portions of the structure, from | j
its excessive dampness and wretched venlila- j
tion is totally unfit for habitation. The dormi- |
tories, or rather cells, for they can hardly he 1 i
dignified with a name implying convenience : t
and comfort, are not large enough for a person | (
in health, still less are they adapted to a class j (
who, from one of the peculiarities of their dis i >
case, require a greater amount of pure air. Their!{
dimensions are six teot by eight, and ten feet: i
in height, affording only 384 cubic feet of air, I i
which by persons scientifically and practically j;
acquainted with the treatment of insanity, is j
regarded as but. little more than half enough. 11
From the confined limits of the ground, and t
the necessity for fresh air and exercise for the f
inmates of the Asylum, permission has been <
given to a portion of them to walk on the pub- c
lie highway and in the streets under careful c
restrictions; but such liberty has always been j t
attended with results so unpleasant and injuri- i <
ous, that the authorities have been forced to 1 1
limit their movements to circumscribed courts c
of a single acre of ground, where 170 patients ; L
are assembled, and so shut in by building and 1
wall as almost to exclude from them the pure 1
air of heaven, and hide from their view its blue r
sky. ! f
The institution 1ms been managed, in my t
opinion with great judgement and ability. 1 t
believe that no body of Regents in any A<y r
turn are more able or enlightened in their views 1 t
than those who preside over the alTatfs of tbii.
I believe tliem to l?e active and benevolent mi bH
the discharge of their duties. So also with the
Physician and Supci attendant.- They imdtg,^H
the best use of the means and appliance* which
are afforded them. But under more favuntblfe^^|
legislation at your hands they can achiint^^H
more, h is an ascertained fact that, in a pnrijfll
perly constructed building, located in the cou<ir,^H|
try, with sufficient area of ground ab-.ut
and other advantages known to sientitio mtmjo^H
the rate of cure is about fifty to sixty per ceftlj^H
Under circumstances the reverse of those, thej^H
rate is only about 22 per cent Is not this
in occasion for the exercise of your beucficcu^^H
and libc-iil interposition?
I submit to you, therefore, the nronriciv of^BI
removing the Asylum to some convenient and?^H
Ileal thy country - location near the town, and^Bfl
give to the insane a habitation constructed iij
lewer and better principles, which shall be tq|^H
them a comfortalile and agreeable residence,
where their happiness and health can he proA^^H
noted by a proper classification, with other aH
great advantages. Enable them to enjoy the
fresh air, the sky, and Lite recreations to be do
ived from t!ie cultivation of trees and flowers
md to see nature in her thousand plensat.t
onus. Enable their guardians to mdut^raegfi
to take an interest in surrounding agreeably
>bjccts, and insensibly to -woo their minds
rum the contemplation of the . secret source4
if their own excited fancies, and by promoting
heir innocent and admissible pleasures prevent
-hem from brooding in hopeless de.spondeuc.jf
upon the chaos of ideas, which momentacf ,V|
gleams of intelligence only serve to make more
terrible to them. .
During the past year the sum of $30,000
was appropriated by you to enfarge the As/:
nut. A portion, I believe about 13,00<) luts
x>cn expended in providing U mporary aceo.nl- jH
uodations without the walls. A moderate ap? Afl
iropriation by the State annually, with the
sum already in the hands of the Regents, will
n the course of a few years erect new and im-r -fll
noved buildings, in a situation better adapted
;o the ends in view. Wlien such a new build.; IB
ng has been made to progress towards coiq* B
pletion, the State can be refunded to the extent JH
jf a portion of its outlay by the sale of the
present Asylum property,' which is valuable jfl
md becoming more so daily, with the increase BB
n the value of real estate in tlie town., .^j^B
At tiie last session of the Legislature the IB
Governor, in connection with the Attorney B
General, was directed to take such steps toq>r.o- M
tect the rights and jurisdiction of South Caro- B
lin^in the coutrovfcrcy now pending between tB
Georgia and this State, upon the subject of B
boundary, as they might deem necessary lu B
uniformity with these instruction*, the Altor- .B
ley General addressed a full and able articl^ jB
to his Excellency the Governor of Georgia, iij B
reply to a communication from him to my im- I
mediate predecessor in which the rights of the
State to the thread of the stream" of the Savan- fl
lah river, following the most Northern branch Bj
is the true boundary botweed the Stale*, are B
dearly set forth. 1 am now Continned in the fi
opinion of the equity of this view of the case, B
tince by examining a certified-copy of the oil I
lal charter of 1732, and other records among B
lie archives of the State, 1 find the express B
angunge which this State claims to Itave.been 8
iscd in the original charter, and under which 8
>ur title is urged. B
This State has a right to rely upon the fol- B
uwiygu conclusive in the controversity1st; B
lie words of the Georgia charter of 1732, 8
is given by Whitaker's Report in 173G I
ind half a centuary later by Watkins, and a
;opy of the original charter, certified by the "9
jord Mayor of London, and now among the
irehives of this State; 2d, the convention of B
3eaufort in 1787; 3d, the Constitution of Geor- I
ha in 1797, defining her own boundaries. I
I perceive by the late Message ofHis Exce'- |
ency Governor Cobb, that be recommends to . 9
he Legislature of Georgia to suhurit the qoes- .9
ion of boundary between the States fi>r final 5
ettleincnt to the Supreme Court of the United |
states, in compliance with a proposition from 1
he Attorney General of this State. I sutrccsf 1
o you the propriety of assenting to such a ref
srence as liie most complete mode by which a {
in.'il settlement of this (pieslion can lie etlected.
In the last Annual Message of my immedi*
ite predecessor, a communication was made to
'on in regard to certain proceedings instituted
>y her Britannic Majesty's Consul, with a view
o test the validity of the laws of South Carolfc Jfl
la regulating the admission of colored seamen >*1
nto the Port of Charleston. I rtin glad to in- 4
orni von that both of the elasses thi-.n r<>f??ppMl J
o, that of Manual Pereira, and of Reuben Rob*
(its, have been settled.
The case of Pereira was placed on the I >.?ckit
of the Court of Appeals in Charleston at the
hinuary term of the present year, and was coilided
by the Court, which refused to hear ?r*
;ament on the merits of the case and disniis;ed
the appeal on the ground that I'ereria being
ilre.idy at liberty, Habeas Corpus could not be
irosocuted in his liehalf.
The case of Reuben Roberts vs. J. D. Vate*,
nstituted in the Federal Court came tip fur *
rial at the Spring term of that Court, Judgo
iilchrist presiding alone. In the charge, the
Joint sustained the validity of the law, and a
erdiek was rendered for the defendant. An
ippeal was had to tl?e Supreme Court at Washington,
hut in July last the Attorney General
,vas formahy notified that the appeal had been
ibatidoiicd, and the cost of suit paid by the
ilaintitf. Thus has the validity of the laws of
lie State upon this subject been fully vindicated,
and the matter now remains as it did bebre
proceedings were instituted. The question
>f a modification of them is relieved of all its
Miihnrr:ts?anctir ??.! mn- with oiiti
- t " *
omc before you for consideration as a new qu?*sion.
Tito oourso adopted by tlie Rritisli gov.
irnment in the latter stages of the proceeding i
ins been so tirelv enpropcr and respectful, as to
laim from you a conciliatory spirit in your legislation
noon this snliienf.
Entertaining, as 1 do, the opinion that the
aws referred to can he so modified as to remove
dl complaint of injustice and inconvenience, and
it the same time to protect the city of Charlcson
from all injury resulting from the intruduc*
ion of such a class of persons into it, 1 cordially
( commend such measures as you may deem uecssarv
for the accomplishment of such a result,
. .