Keowee courier. (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, December 15, 1849, Image 1
**v.- "vKEOWEE
COURIER.
" TO T1IINK OWN SELF IIK TUUE, AND IT MUST FOLLOW, A3 TIIK NIOHT THE DAT, TIIOU CAn'BT NOT T2TSM BE FALSE TO ANT MAN."
VOI,. 1. PICKENS COURT HOUSE, S. C., SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1819. NO 31
TIIK | swering ccrtnin questions The replies I satisfv th?nn ?~"*K n?' " '
ni'iUiTlDIi tODRlDK,
FBINTKD AND FUBMAIIKD WKKKt-Y BY
VT. H. TR1MMIBR.
J. W. N0RU18, JB., )
E. M. KEITH, \ Ldltor8tkikiwn.
One Dollar nml Fifty Cunt* for one year's
subscription when paid within three months,
Two dollars if payment is delayed to the close
of the subscription year.
All subicriptions* not clonrlv limited, will bo
considered as made for mi indefinite time, and
continued till a discontinuance is ordered and
all arrearages n?i<1
Advertitementa inserted at 6 cents per
square for the first insertion, and 87 1-2 cts. for
each continued insertion. Liberal deductions
made to thoso advertising by the year.
Iw All Communication* should l>e addressed
to the Publisher post paid.
GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE.
*
ULl UKUl I
MILITARY AFFAIRS
Immediately after the adjournment of
the Legislature, I visited the Arsenals,
and subsequently nttended as many of the
regimental reviews, in the parishes and
upper districts, as my civil engagements
would per.nit. I regret to acquaint you
that I found the military condition of the
cn?*~ .1 -_i n
dmvv ?icjjiuinuiy ueiecuvc. jnoi only
the ordinary means of dcfence, but measurably
all the materials of war, were
wanting. The martial ardoo, too,
^rliich, it is admitted, distinguishes our
people,seemed to be wtutin&T, and the not
unfrequent exhibitions of listles3ness and
indifference by tho officers, as well os privates,
plainly showed that the absence
nfcxciting influences, was operating injuriously
upon tho true inteicsts of the
OUIIC.
It '13, perhaps, unnecessary to assure
you that South Cnrolina must, hereafter,
exist as n military people The history
f our country, for the last ten years,
affords abundant proof that, as long as
the Union endures, there is to be no
peace for the slaveholder. An p.f^rnnl
warfare against his rights of person and
property, under the associated influence
of the people and States of the North,
and the central power, has been solemnly
and deliberately decreed. For this
reason, it U essential that Ihe community,
of which he is a member, should be pre
pared at any moment, tor every emergency.
TJ,? t? I - J i '
.. ,.v .uvtouiua nilibil IIIV IK'3l UUHpirU
to put the State in a condition of defe ce,
to insure An efficient military organisation,
and to arouse the vigilance, the pride,
and the energy of the citizen soldier,
should indicate your path of duty at this
time.
By a resolution of your last session,
iL. n ....
me governor was required to increase
the number of small arms in the Arsennls,
to 12,000, fit for service and not to permit
a reduction below it, by ordinary issues.
To carry into effect this important
resolution, tho Legislature neglected to
put one dollar at my disposal. Indepen
dent of $5000 dollars for the purchase
and distribution of arms, and #15,000, the
amount that was in the Treasury, to the
credit of the fund, for the same object,
iindop iYin 'Ol T U?..? ?1 1
...... ...-V ui U1I, I Iinrc I:XJH!I1UC'U
and contacted to pay for muskets, rifles, |
swords, and musket accoutrements, ftlO,000
of the appropriation for 'military contingencies.'
Having received from the War Depart
ment, the quota of this State, for *47,
'48, and the present year, there have
been deposited in the Arscnnis, acquired
fron that source, and by purchase since
i1, j conomenceMcnt of my administration,
the number and character of arms specified
in exhibit A.
The cleaned musk'ita, of which the
nuttbuir ill, proportionhllv. verv larrw nnrl
? 0 - I ----those
that have always been in good order,
show the aggregate that you will
find in exhibit H.
Deducting tVe repaired guns, which
are very suitable for distribution, there
wilt exist a deficiency of arms in the arms
in the arsenals, absolutely required for
Cublic service, which, I /rust, will readily
o supplied. Of other military weapons
and materials, the number needed is detailed
in exhibit C. to whifK r
...VI* A IVIUI y %-MI.
To what extent it is advisable to diftribute
the public arms among the poopie#
is a question for your decision. The
repaired musketa and rifle* nro the only
guns that I hav consented nhould be
withdrawn from the arsenals, and to this
rule, unless otherwise directed by the
LeciHlature. I crenerallv adhere.
fn order to nscertain the opinion of the
military on several points of drop public
interest, I addressed a circular to the major
flenorali sf thtfSl^te, requesting th?m
to conveno aboird of officers, in their res.
peetlte dlrWonf. for th<* purpose nn
oi me board arc herewith forwarded. Of
such of their recommendations as I approve,
and to which I nsk your notice, a
statement you will find in the paper mark
ed M. 1 advise also the adoption of the
following measures, viz:
1st. That with the consent of city
council, the magazine be icmovedfrom
.w, .Muovai sue co tne citadel Square,
witliin the corporate limits of Charleston.
2d. That the city council of Charleston
paying onc-tlurd of the purchase
money, that the lot, the property of Dr.
Waring, on tho South side of the Guard
House square, be bought at a fair voluation,
and that there be erected thereon
Cljn cnriinofn ' * "*
i WlllO| (II1U U SUll\4vlC UUll* |
ding for fixed ammunition.
fld. Flint for the purchase of nrms
and munitions of war, and to meet extraordinary
expenditures, $50,000 be appropriated,
and $30,000 for the contingent
fund, subject to the draft of the Gov
ernor. j
I ovniviiMi'ilAL bUKVKT STA.TI8TIC8. j
j In a State so strictly devoted to the
j culture of the earth as South Carolinn, it
i* surprising that no inquiry by the constituted
authorities has ever been instituted
to ascertain her agricultural resources,
and indirectly her capacity for commercial
and manufacturing enterprise.
Of this knowledge, easily acquired, nnd
imnortnnt. If if* 1
r , * ?> MV 1UVVI \/OWJ uu UUllbUIl*
ed, to every class in society, probably
not one member is accurately possessed.
It is from this cause mainly, that only
2,600,000, of near 20,000,000 of acres,
of our arable grounds, are annually in
tilth; that ?o the best soils the plough is a
stranger, tnat the intrinsic value of the
pine lands, comprehending over 0.000,- |
HAA nf ?*? /?" 2? * 1
v.i nbKo, ?a uimpprecinica; ana that
the swamp region, of 200o square miles,
generally well adapted to the most valuable
crops, continues unsubjected to a
'.rial of its productive powers. I tit,
therefore, wonderful that the spirit of em
igration should, at times. lm\ 3 beer
awakened; that sections of the state should
retrogade, or remain stationary iri popu
I union; and that a feeling of disquietncss
has been generated, which time, under
ihc circumstances that exist, is incapable
of subduing? If full and authentic
information, for their guidance, were in
possession of the people., the prominent
motive being withdrawn, but few would
elect to dissolve the ties that connects j
it !*1- ? " * * " "
uiciii wun nome, Kindred nnd friends.
It is personally known to me, that
there arc millions of acrea of fortil* highland,
suitable to the richest crops of the
world, still in a state of nature; that where I
from exhaustion, extensive tracts have i
been abandoned, the means of resuscita-1
tion are at hand; and that an immense i
area of swamp and low ground, value- 1
less in its present condition, is ready to
reward the effort of ordinary industry.
My late tour through the northern districts
has codvinceu me, that whilst the
railways and other roads, in the progress
of construction will effect a radical change
in our Agricultural habits and practises,
they will introduce the people of the middle
nnd lower cuntries to a region unsurnnea/k/1
1 1 *
fnwowi ??ji mo HHiijricu oeauiy anu grandeur
of its mountain Keener}*, purity of
water, invigorating atmosphere, and for
the various purposes of extensive r.r.d profitable
farming, and other industrial occupations.
To ascertain with correctness the resources
of a country which a benificent
Being has so prodigally endowed, is
among the paramount duties of the rcD
resentaiivee of the people. Their development
and improvement, when ascertain
edt might properly be entrusted to the
people themselves.
As insepernble from the enterprise,
should the wisdom of the Legislature determine
to prosecute it, I recommend the
careful collection of statistical information
on nil the branches ot industry. By the
possession of facts and materials, lucidly
arranged and methodized, we fih.ill he
furnished with complete data as to the
present state of the population, white nnd
colored; eonoenvng agriculture, commorco,
Navigation, manufactures, trades,
finance, health, and indeed of whatevor
may l>e interesting or instructive to our
/?Ut7Ana an/1 IT-J*.
ouu vi v t luiom. wu'.icr our political
organization, and in the condition of
sociaiy which tho Southern Statvu exhibit,
the viiluo of this knowledge will soon
become m nifest and duly estimated. It
will tend materially to facilitate many of
the most important duties of the public
functionary; enable the Legislature to adjust
and regulate the various interests of
Kociciy, *nu loreiiuce n ehnc* of details,
on m ittors requiring their action, into rorder
and system. Nor will the people
,themselves be less benefited. To know
all that concern# the land of their ttrth,
is a matter of pride and deep interest. If
thfrMuW oftn agrKultur*! evplorstion '
j ... uiiuui vurxjuna, in all
the elements of strength and prosperity,
occupies a higher rank among the members
of our great political family, than is
now generally conccdcd, contentment,
with its inspiring concomitants, will impart
increased energy to the arm, and infuse
new blood into the veins.
The late geological survey having laid
me iounualion tor the graduates of our
oollcges to eroct a superstructure upon,
concerning an important branch of knowledge,
a practical and more satisfying effort
should now be made to diffuse the
benefits which an acquaintance with the
i rssources of the Stntn nre sn nni?.._
latcd to bestow. Under this conviction,
sound policy and the public good induce
i me to advise, that a competent parson be
chosen to make a thorough agricultural
and physical examination of South Oaroi
lina, and to collect full statistical information
on every industrial pursuit, with the
addition of vital statistics; further, that the
task of collecting statistical information be
renewed every ten years,
RAILROADS AND OTHER rUDLIC HIGHWAYSThe
railways in tlns?tate, already finished
and in progress, furnish strong evidence,
that the foresight and enterprise
of our citizens have been awakonnl rm
this important question of industrial progress.
When Greenville, Spartanburg,
and Abbeville, shall have been connected
with the great Western Columbia branch,
it is supposed that not an avenue of communication,
which can profitably be opened
and maintained by steam power, will
remain unestnblished. To consumate a
nurnose so intimatt*lv pnnn??.in<l ?:#i. ii
_ j wV..?ivwiw vt ivii tui;
prosperity of llic State, I trust that the
fiower cf the Legislature will not be with>eld,
should assistance be required.
The three principal railroads under
contract, and the lesser ones on which operations
may shortly be expec'od to commence,
with the Columbia and Hamburg
Road and its branches, will exhibit, when
I wtujyicicu) ci nut wutk 01 railways,
to nn extended line ol 591 miles, in a terrjtorial
area of 30,000 square miles. Except
the main trunk, the great work will
have been executed by the planter and
his slaves, and at a cost, too, probably
lower than any similar undertaking in the
United States. As these iron roads will
soon have monopolized the public or general
traffic, it becomes important, in view
w. w>iiiiiuiiiu?iiiuii, nun me carnage
ways of the State should be rendered as
efficient as practicable.
Plonk Roads in localities, nnd a better
scheme for working and keeping in permanent
repair our common roads, suggest
matter of no '-i dinary inserest.
If the forr?t> .? be a question for the people
to determine, the latter is ore for legislative
decision. The positive and collateral
benefits of good roads are too obIttAnn
? ? * n1 "*
uuun iui opt^iai uuimneiH. i icy increase
the demand for the products of Industry;
create new markets; developo commerce;
save labor and time; diminish expense,
and exercise accumulative moral and political
influence on society, which has rarely
been properly estimated. From long
personal examination and inquiry, I have
arrived at the conclusion, that our present
road system is radic.allv
. J
burdensome (o the people, and utterly
unsuited to the end it was intended to accomplish.
I therefore submit, with great
deference, however, the elements of a new
plan in the paper marked It, which I feel
assured will he attentive'y considered by
your Honorable Body. Substantially, it
is the same that was presented to the
n?A t r v?
OIIU UIUIIU OUIJ UI Viewborry,
1822.
drainage law. board to remcve obstructions
in streams.
I suggest the expediency of instituting
r commission, consisting of scientific aru
practical men. to <linrt?st t.h* ???
' -- ?p J/HII
ciples nnd details of an efficient drainage
law; also, the institution of a board in
each district, parish, or precinct, somewhat
resembling the Board of Commissioners
of Roads, to supervise and enforce
the removal of those obalructions in the
streams from whioh the general health of
tho country so frequently suffers.
1. The necessity for n comprehensive
law of drainage arises from the inability of
the proprietor, in many instancos, legally
to reclaim his or relieve him??ff of
the malaria r.t L!r,g from stagnant water.
It ofttimes happen*, that his own premibos
do not admit of the fall necessary to
carry off the water, and, if obliged to conduct
it by the proper chrnnel to the land
nf h\a nmnrliK/M* c? lSokU */v
" " ?v?gnwui j ii\> ikiviq iu mi nunuii
as for a nuisance. This puis it within the
power of the latter, if he be obstinate, capricious,
or lacking in public spirit, to defeat
any measure, of whatever degree of
affricolturol profit, and to fasten up<$ a
whole coromonUy a pestiferous annoyajico
Hiwmr easy rtmoral.
2. The second measure is nearly as essential
as the present road system. Water
courses are choked up, lands overflowed,
bridges carried away, and entire
sections of country protrated with disease?formerly
only m the summer and
fall, but latterly in the winter likewise?
all arising from inattention '1
v?/ IV/?n <*111.1
j timber, rnfted down and lodged in rainy
j seasons, An inconsiderable portion of
I the tax laid to replace the bridges, would
j bave removed the causes by which the
' disaster wns occasioned. Perhaps a
| tenth part of the physicians' fees, arising
from diseases generated by putrid water,
wouM clear these streams of all the obstacles
that impede their natural current.
The crops lost by overflow, would, in one
1
I year, ueiray the expense of presenting
' It for a quarter of a century; not to sp?uk
| of land too low p.r.d '.vet to be culivated,
j that might be gained by removing obi
structions and allowing the streams to
! deepen their own channels.
'Die adoption by the State of the
[ scheme I have so brie.flv ;r
fully carried out, would not only replace
sterile fields and an atmosphere poisoned
by malaria, with a productive soil and a
healthy climate, but greatly reduce the
revenue now expended by individual in
visiting other regions to avoid disease, or
In
..w.vAJuomuiions impaired by protracted
illness.
COLONIAL HISTORY OK SOUTH CAROLINAThe
papers herewith submitted, will
! put vou in nrwsAsstnn
f w. ?CI V UrlllUIYing
1 information on u deeply interesting sub.
ject. They sliow tlmt n rich mass of
authentic materials, illustrative of the
early history of our State, and of the
public character of several of her citi
I zens, haa been brought to light. The exi
nmination by n public-spirited citir.en in
| the State offices; the discoveries in the
j archives of the Senate by the clerk of
| that body, and by the special acent of
j cne of my predessors, charged with the
| duty of ascertaining the number and
| character of the documents in relation to
j South Carolina in the Colonial DepartI
ment of England, are, in my judgment
1 sufficient to justify the adoption of prompt
I measures bv nr? ?? '- *
.... vmi^iuciicu jiA'glbHUlirP,
! to rescue from oblivion those precious re;
lies. I accordingly recommend, that the
Governor be authorized to appoint nn
agent to mnke, in the first place, an index
of the manuscripts on this subject in our
State offices; and to copy as many as are
becoming illegible, or may be in a decay
, .... ?wi w?rus 10 visit Liondon,
j Paris arid Madrid, for the purpose, under
the auspices of the ministers of the United
States, at those oapitals, of a thoro'
inspection of historical records, concerning
the State, that are known to exist,
and might be found in the Colonial or
other Departments of England. France
and Spain, nnd to select and transcribe
such of them as are worthy of preservation.
Cbnsus or 1649.
The returns of the Census-takers you
will find in the office of Secretary of
State. The accompanying abstract makes
the present white population to be 200.
385, an increase in the last ten years of
23,269. Thr> increase between 1820 and
1839, was only 6174.
ESTABLISHMENT OF THUS MERIDIAN I.I NEB.
By the letters of Professor Williams
and report of Capt. Parker, you will be
fully informed concerning the matter entrusted
to their execut on. Prevented by
official engagements from commencing
ins latK>rs at desirable time, local difficul- j
ties greatly retarded the operations of |
the latter, llis elaborate communication, j
however, is more than an equivalent for ;
the apparent tardiness with which the
task assigned him hru? been accomplished,
j Tnadvising your ncquiescene in the sugg<
<tions at the conclusion of his report,
I T wA'il/l ---1 **
? nv WU nai.tivi ii;UUI!1IIIUI1II lilllll, IUT II1B
convenience of the surveyors in the upper
distriots, another point of observation,
with a view to ascertain the variations
of the magnetic needle, be established at
Oreenville.
nrvioiAV TH? ?
VI inr vniMIOAb UUUE.
I repot therr jommendation of one of
my predecessor}*, on this subject. A division
of the labor among the /Solicitors,
would be a very ready mode cf effecting
the object. The punishment for certain
cflfences is not only indeterminate, but
unjustifiably severe. Not less than 12
crimes are punishable with death in South
Carolina.
If, in your opinion, the soheme of a
Penitentiary would be a wise and salutary
modification of our presont system, 1 i
would respecfully suggest, whether the
absolute requirement oT nil the funds at
command, to put the dtato In a proper
condition of defence, does not present an
#b*facle in the iy?y of establishing such
an institution, at this time, not easily sur?
mounted.
DUTIE8 OK 8TATK OKKICKR3.
He who is elevated to a station of hon.
or, in the gift of the State, is morally, ns
well as legally, hound, faithfully, to discharge
its functions Tl?5? ??? i. -
0 A IIIO V/CUI \JUiy UQ
done in person. If aid be needed, let it
be proeured; but to constitute t e nssistnnt
the chirf, and to devolve upon him
the burden of the office, is to shift the
responsibility upon a stranger, not elected
j by the Legislature, nor amenable to law.
j An anxious desire to fulfil rny obligations,
as Chief Magistrate, has, from the apparent
HP'rlPft nf iilli/M-o rnn?nl?<tl" wt.m~--1
( ^ ... wvuv?c| iv |/vuicuij jjiauru
; me in an embarrassing fit nation. Under
the constitution, the powers of the Governor
of South Carolina arc very limited,
yet, by law, they are made so numerous,
that to execute them with fidelity requires
(ha unwearied exercise of nil Ills
energies. But exclusive devotion to his
[ official engagements will be found weak
and insufficient, unless the offlceit, espc*
cially those connected with his depart!
mont, a^e always at (heir posts. It ia
i worthy of legislative inquiry, whether a
certain long1 continued practice in several
public stations, tho result probably of in?
adequate compensation, is not operating
injuriously on the public interests.
To other matters chiefly of domestic
concern, 1 shall claim your attention in a
f<*w rlux'a
~ WII ITEM A RSII B. 8EABROO&,
From tlio South Cn*x>linmn.
WINDIiVG UP TIIE BANK.
As the proposiiton to wind up the bank
will evoke much discussion, we think it
I hut fair to the public to publish thn bill
which has been reported to the two IIous
es by the special joint committee of the
Legislature, at this session, in accordance
with the recommendation of the Governor.
Whereas, The Getoeral Assembly hnth
determined that it is inexpedient to renew
j me C'liarler of the Bank of the /State of
j South Carolina: And whereas, Such dei
termination renders it wise and prudent
that that the affairs of the bank should be
placed in a state of preparation for the approaching
end its existence:
Sec. 1. Be ii enacted b>/ the Senate and
House of Representatives now met and sitting
in General Assembly, That instead
of the present number of presidents and
fUrpntAVC tllO util/l o?wl ?*o
I VI vaav ctiiu uciim uuu llO MM MilUJI"
es, there shall be elected by the General
Assembly, as heretofore, one president
| and four directors, who shall go into office
at the expiration of the present term of
j the president and directors of the Bnnk
i at Charleston; and the president shall receive
the same salary as heretofore: and
i each of the directors shall receivc a salary
t a1. - 1 1- C ?
i 110111 me imniioi one mousand.
Sec. 2. The new board of directors
shall coed act the business and affairs of
the bank as heretofore, excepting that
they shall m.-ike no new loans of money;
thai they shall reduce accordingly the
number of salaried officers at the bnnk
: and its branches; and mrv substitute an
agent, one or more, in place of the brunch
es, taking care to require ample security
wherever funds are entrusted, and giving
such notice as they may think reasonable
io sucn oinccrs ns may be dispensed with,
to enable them to find other employment.
Sec. 3. The board of director shall
collect the business paper, together with
all bills of exchange, and they sluill apply
the same, together with the cash asset.?,
stocks and other convertible of the bank,
to meet the engagements of the bank and
of the State, ns they may accrue; and as
to all other debts due to the bank, th?
board are authorised to extend the tii. i
of payment to any debtor desiring it, to
ft term or years not cxceedltfg tori {"provided
ample seccrity be taken for tlic pay-,
ment of the debt and legal interest, (the
interost annually,) and the principal in not
less than equal instalments, in each year,
, of such extended term, and in case such
security be not given the debt shall
I forthwith be collected ..t due COiii nv of
lawr.
Sec. 4. The board of directors shall
apply any funds which may remnin in
their hands, to the purchase and extln*
nruisliment of the ffr?r#?ir?n #lnK?
? www*
State, whenever the snnv< lay he had
or under pnr; nnd if the -ipie cannot f>Q
had, then they shall invest the said funds,
for the lime, upon tho security of stocks
of thU -State, and shall apply to the Gen
I eral Assembly for further directions in ?h??
premiss. _
T^?r3Er~!?
Ocn DKLBOA-nox.?Our Washington
correspondent informs us tbnt, as far as
ho eould learn, no member of the South
Carolina delegation was present at tho
caucus to nominate officers for Congress,
? Carolinian.