The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, December 05, 1879, Image 1
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,Jk..v. ,GOVEB.V()? W. n. SIMPSON, J
W^vi . TO TUB y
\ If GENERAL ASSEMBLY, c?
AT ITS SESSION 81
C0>I51KXCIN'UEN 1)AT, NOV. 23, 1S79. *
Gentlemen of the General Asaombli</ : ?
It is with ploasurc that, as the Kxccutit^
of the State, I tender you kindly greetings
upou your reassoinbUug lor the purpose of ^
entering upon the discharge of the high
duties imposed upon you by the Coustilu- N
tion.
I have no doubt tint yon Iftfve each cotne '?
prepared to uioot fully your cospomibilities 1
and to do all that you can for the promo- 1
tion of the welfare of the State, aud to this !
end you shall havo uiy most cordial co-opera- 1
tion. My love for South Carolina, always (
K . stroug, ha* grown with my growth ojid \
unite with you in an earnest effort to A?0&tn-^ f
push during this the last session of the
onernl Assembly of the present administration
such results as may rewound to her
lasting prosperity, honor and glory,?aud I
- oarue?tly hope that such may be its cou
m ouuunanon. |
^ duties of ttifcUMMRNVf^^ of wiiVon nnVe
been difficult and perplexing, tho Constitution
provides that tho Governor '-shall from
time to timo give to tho Gouoral Assembly
information of tho condition of the State,
A and recommend to their consideration such
M measures as ho shall jud,;e necessary or cxpcdicnt."
This Message is intended to
&M meet this constitutional duty, to wit: to
K give you information as to the oondition of
tho State aud to recommend tho adoptiou
on your part of such measures as, in my
r judgment, may be promotive of tho common
good.
In proceeding to discharge this two fold 1
duty, you will permit mo, first jbriefly to 1
call your.attention, by way of information,
to several matters which seem to me should
afford abundant cause for great congratula- 1
tion, not ouly on tho part of the General ]
Assembly but of the whole State, and espcLcially
ou the part of the General Assembly, 1
for the reason that some of these matters \
have been the direct results of its previous
legislation. !
First, you will permit mo to congratulate
you and t ho country on iho cvideuccs of :
agricultural industry which have come up 1
from all parts of tho State. Agriculture,
as all understand, is tho most important of
a people's various interests?it is, in fact, '
the groundwork of all elsj. Lot it lnuguish, (
and everything else languishes ; let if flour- 1
ish, and everything else flourish ;s. When 1
Ar"?itccessful operation, it gives rise to all !
other improvements. It necessitates the
building of railroads and tho establishment
of manufacturing enterprises. It creates !
commerce, and extended educational iuoilitics
arc its legitimate results. During the
past Summer this great interest was threatencd
it one time with serious tad widespread
disaster by au impeiidiug drouth,
but at length the showers came and the
rains descended, and this danger, cotuparatively,
passed off, and our people, taken as
a whoio, have been blessed with a reasonaable
harvest. Their garners are generally
. full. 1 have taken some pains to obtain
* information on this subject, and the reports
from the different counties show that thopeopie
of all classes and couditi uis have been
Wt more industrious, more energetic and enter*
W prising, in this dopartmontofiudustry, during
W the current year than for many years past,
J and [ am rojoicjd to believe that the new
~ relations of labor and capital which our
suddeu transformation has imposed upon us
as a people are beginning to adjust themselves
more harmoniously; we have certainly
touched bottom and the rebound has
commenced. Those reports further show
that while cotton still forms the main produce,
yet that the people all over the Stale
ure beginning largely to diversify their
M n 1 .li? ?i
i'lUiu rviii.ili 1^1.11 II, Ily WUCtll |
ji art J outs, has been cultivated and harvested, |'
at least, in upper South Caroliua, during 1
the past year than at any period since the |
war, and greater attention is beginning to
be paid to grasses and cattle, and the people J
arc generally and wisely, I think, coining
to the conclusion that while their soil is ?
well adapted to the production of the great '
staple cotton, and that this product should j
not be neglected, yet that their corn cribs '
and incut houses should be built 011 their '
own lands and under the protection of their
own eyes. When this practice is more generally
re-established and fully adopted, our :
future, agriculturally, L think, will become
inorc secure, and, while affording all of our
people the means of a comfortable living, 1
it will largely tend to relieve them from '
those fearful pecuniary disasters which not
unfrerjuently occur among every people '
relying upon but one industry and the cul- '
tivation of a single staple.
in lhi4 connection it affords 1110 pleasure 1
to state that tlio law known as tho stock '
hw, passed at the last cssion, has fully
realized the hopes of its friends in those
Counties where it has been put into opera- i
tiou. Of course a measure so radical in its 1
character and so suddenly adopted would f
meet with some oppositlou, and, as was ex- l
pacted, some complaints were made against
this; but this was immediately upon the I
passago of tho Act and before the people !
had "pnparcd themselves to moot it. Since s
thou it has given as nearly universal ratis- I
Mr fiction as any la.v ever enacted, and the i
concurring testimony from all quarters is I
that it is tho greatest blessing to agriculture l
ever bostowod by the Legislature. It is I
for you to determine whether or not this i
law should bo extonded to the Counties not I
now embraced, upon such information as I
you may receive from tho Kcprofeutntivcs I
of these Counties. j
It gives me pleasure, too, to state that <
I
r v
A
flrfTory'eTcuicijrtSDrpa7ty contention whtclt 01
avo hitherto burucd in our midst uud kept n<
ur people apart, at least during election it
cars, and winch, on account of the peculiar L
out position ol' our body politic, threaded p
srious consequences in tho past, ,if not "p
uttrely extinguished, have been hold iu tl
boyuueo during tile present year, and our t
diolc population, freo from those discordant tl
ntigonisms which seeuiod likely to occur, u
lave united in a common clTort forthfc (
oinmon good. There is apprehension, /
lowevcr, that in the ucar futurcall this/
vill bo change 1, and that in tho cleq/ a
ion of 1830 turmoil and party strife wiPl n
igaiu rise to tho surface.'' 1 hope not. It s
s true in that cloctiou, involving as it 1
vill, to a groat extent, the future poliey of t
iho goueral governuieut, and arousing, as I
it must, the unholy ambition of tho politi- |
sal aspirant as well as the noble impulses i
jf tho patriotic citizen, souio cxcitcuieut i
must ensue, uud we uiuy expect that every
UWWVVOr, IO ?! ?? vuv vi.invua "* " I
arc beginning to feci that we constitute but
one people ; that our prosperity is bound
up with each other; that we arc all Carolinians
; and that, while we recognize the
general government as supreme in its orbit,
and, to some degree, affecting our interests,
?- ?baupiuoss as a people
depends chiefly upon atlo -^l-.stiny of our
own State, and that we will not niifltv VuT.
internal and homo interests to be swallowed
up in the maelstrom of Federal politics.
I desire also to communicate, as a matter
of most pleasing information, based upon
reliable data received from the Solicitors of
the different Circuits, concurred in and fully
supported by the Circuit Judges, that crime i
has greatly diminished all over the State? i
diminished to the extent of at least thirty
per cent, in this the third year of the administration
of the party now in power,
compared to any period previous to its in- *
auguration. This, no doubt, has been the '
result of the fair and impartial administration
of the laws which has taken place since
that party has been in power and the con- '
lidcncc which all the people are gradually ,
beginning to feel in the protective power |
ind willingness ol the government under
the control and in the bauds of that party.
These results it promised to bring about, |
uid the statistics will show that its promises
bavc been faithfully redeemed. This is a
most gratifying fact aiid augurs well for )
jur future. There is room, however, for ,
further advance iu this direction.
A .1.1 '
muiig mo tuner evils lolt in tlie track (
if the lato war there scorns to have been '
ngeudorod in the minds of the people a i
.00 great disregard of human life?nut i
noro in our midst than elsowhero, but in
ivory part of the couutry., as is evidenced '
iy the startling homicides reported in dif- .
oront portions of tho United States. This
foeliug is fed and stimulated by that dangerous
practice of carrying concealed and j
lc.idly weapons, and by their manufacture i
ind sale, which prevails so extensively in I (
I'liferent portions of tho couutry. It is not j .
surprising that the people should to some j
jxtent forget tho value of human life when j i
housands and thousands of these instru
ments aro manufactured and sold for no j .
ithor purpose but to kill and destroy it, and j '
ivhcn they are made familiar with the idea ' <
if their fitness to that end, which the conitant
wearing and handling of these instruments
must eventually produce in the minds j
if those who thus use them. I s
This evil is-not more prominent with us , '
han iu other communities?in fact, L nin j
gratified to believe that it prevails to a less I .
;xt en there than elsewhere?but still it exists 1 j
tore to to*) great an extent and should be
jorrected if possible. If within the reach (
)flegislation, your wisdom will find the
emody ; in addition to this, the <?ood. the
,vi.su riiiil the lovers of peace anil order eve- (
ywhere should combine together and bring ]
o hear upon it with crushing power that j
nost potential of all iniluctices?public |
ipiniou?and this 1 invoke. I do not
mow that any additional laws upon tho ; |
iubjecl of homicide are necessary. What !
s needed, perhaps, is a sterner enforcement i
)f those already in existence; it is safe,
lowcvcr, to leave ?his to tho Courts and the (
urics.
Full information as to the operations of j
lie tiuancial department, the public schools, '
he militia, the Penitentiary, t!:e Lunatic i j
\sylum, the Institution of the Deaf and
Dumb and other charitable institution", tho
'inking Fund Commission, the Railroad (
Jomniis ion, the Hoard of II >ahh, the Fish
lommis'ion and the phosphate interest" will '
jc fouud in the reports of the several ollicers
laving these interests respectively in charge,
ind which will he upon your tables. It
vould eiicumbcr this Messairo unnecessarily l
o incorporate in it the valuable detail*
bund in these reports; I shall, therefore,
present only such prominent points as 1
nay think advisable, leaving to you that
lull and thorough exami nation which the
mportauco ol these various matters will
icmaml at your hands.
M K A S t; It RS K Kt 'O >1M K N I) E I).
The primal object of government is proaction?protection
of the natural and absouto
rights of the people?the right of perlonal
security, personal liberty, and the
right to accumulate and enjoy property.
These important rights h id existence before
government, and came from a much
lighcr source, and government was created :
ind established for their protection. Hut
for the danger to these rights in a state of
lature there would have been no necessity
for government. Laws are the instruuicn*
alilics through which govcriimcut is
Drought in contact with tho people and by
ivhich it accomplishes its great end. Such
Doing tho fact, it would seem that all wiso
legislation should bo directed to tho ends,
Irst, of establishing and supporting tho
governmental machinery unon as mind and
* - i n I
economical a basis ns possible, and secondly,
' anurain? it ju?i outu uivaua uo* M..y ^
ecessary, and u<f lytypi; to enable it to uieet 1
s fundamental purpose, that of protection. J
laving doue thla^ legislation has ucconi- J
lished'ftll tfiat U should sock to aocom- J
lish, In et?doavQii?^ to roach this, result "<
?0 tendency of mosHegislafTv# llodies iiv >
ho past bus bcetiTtb Ovur legislation, rather i
hau to too little?tf> the enac tment of too <
inny, laws rather than to too few. The |
?cral Assembly of this State has not i
a exempt from this tendency in the past,
, our volumiuous statute books will show,
.ml you will pardon uie in warning you
igaiust its too great indulgence at this sesiion.
In ad litiou to this, what is desired
)y all is an increase of wealth, because as
i people grow moro wealthy withiu proper
Kiunds they grow more powerful and pr<?.s1
nnnKlml III Sill*- '
porous auu uiu iu? ?
round themselves with all the comforts and
improvements of a higher civilization. ^vVJV,'
S^?9!!f^cn>^i|',''that the Best iTrtrl j
safest, and conscquenHy the wisest, govern-1
mentis that which is content rather to I
protect than to attempt to create prosperity,
since tho former always promote* and the
latter never fails to impede tho efforts ol
that individuality which makes men industrious
and enterprising and which produces
the wealth of a country.
Having these views, aud looking at the
State from my standpoint, I am impressed
with tncwUelieF that but lituo ujumJ, i
legislation is now demanded by tho wants
of our people, and consequently I shall have
but lew recommendations to make. What
they want is not so much more' laws as
more political rest and a quiet opportunity,
through their own individual enterprise,
activity and industry, of building up and
recuperating their lost fortune#.
FINANCES. *
As to our Gmvueial sytitotii. t'?o prose#!-,
5 cue mo in operation for the support and
maiiitcnauco of the government stands upon
as just a principle and upon as ccouoiuieal
i basis as can well bo devised. It rests
upon the broad principle that everv citizeMi
di mid boar that proportion of tho uecessary
burdens of government which his ability
lud property shall demand. This makes
it bear C(ju illy upon all, and aJl arc satisled.
I am not aware of any improvement that
enn bo made in either tho collecting or disbursing
of that portion of the public money
ivhich is administered by the tstate Treasury.
As uow conducted the present scheme
seems to afford absolute security both for
[he prompt gathering and tho prompt and
honest disbursement of this p u t of tho public
funds, liut while this sceurity exists
is to that portion of public moneys administered
by the State Treasury, yet it necuis
to h ive been forgotten that a large portion
>f the taxes collected is collected for County
purposes and is administer d by the County
L/'ouunissioticrs of the several Counties without
any suliiciout check being provided for
tho correct disbursement thereof. It is true
that tho County Commissioners are reipiired
to m ike reports to the (leueral Assembly,
but it would be almost impossible for the
icucral Assembly to look fully into all the
icts and doings, contracts and vouchers of
he County Commissioners ol the thirty two
Jountics s> as to affor 1 that check which
lie magnitude of this part of our financial
scheme demands.
It w >uld be better that these reports
.ll.ltllll !><> tll-|ll.> )|1 U.lllli. !i->..-.l ....I I.... !
.there the fuels could be more fully examined
and the vouchers more easily tested ;
ind for this better security I recommend
:hnt those reports be required to be made
;o the Circuit Court in the several Counties,
to be examined by the grand juries tinier
its supervision, after being published in
lie County papers just previous to the sitling
of the Court to which they shall be
made.
Nor do I see at this time any opening for
greater economy or retrenchment in current
jxpenscs. Salaries have been reduced as
low as it i- wise to reduce them, and all the
expenses of the government have been cut
.lown as far as it is perhaps practicable to
Jo so. This will he seen more certainly by
somparing the expenses of the different departments
of the government before the war
ind since. I refer to tlio.se xpenses which
(V.M,? it... <?<*?.. t r.. iur.ii
tlio aggregate of salaries of the executive
department. amounted to nineteen thousand
rsight hundred and fifty dollars. During
this year the sunt required is thirteen thousand
nine hundred, notwithstanding an additional
office, that of Superintendent of
Ivl licit ion, with a salary of twenty-one hundred
dollars, has been created since 18.~>0.
J'eforc lite war most of the executive officcrs
could live at their respective homes and
discharge their duties by periodic visits to
the capitol. Now their duties are largely
increased and they are required to live in
Columbia and attend daily tit their offices.
It is true these increased duties have called
lor an increase of clerical force, both in
number and qualifications, which has also
increased tire expenses of this department,
which, when added to the sum above mentioned.
will bring thess expenses to about
what they were formerly. Yet, when the
additional work imposed npou this depart
incut, in consequence of our changed condition,
'u considered, it will l>c scuu that the
strictest and closest economy has been observed.
In the judiciary department the amount
required in 185!) was 881),200 ; during this
year this department has required $50,800
?a difference of ?17,000. This difference,
however, has not resulted from an increase
in the salaries of th i officers in this department
so much as on account of the fact that
an entirely new system has been adopted
siuco 1850. Ill 1850 the Supremo Court
was not in cxistcuco, and the Solicitors wore
then paid principally from fees and costs
derived from the cases prosecuted. Now
Jpnoinfayuut tfb 611.000, and the SolicijirfrY&ro
-paid 612,000 directly from the 1,1
tfeasury. J]
In the legislative department in 18.>9 the
sutirc expense, iucludiug pay of members, tl
Solicitors, clerks, attachecs, printing, Ac., ?t
mounted to ?10,550. Now the sum re- J-"'
quired is ?40,1 15. All theso expenses ag- (j
grcgatcd during the year 1850 amounted
to 8105,000; now to 8124,895?a difference ?>
of ?18,295, chiefly on account of the change ?
in the judicial department, which was itn- 1
portant and essential, and which absolutely J,
necessitated this additional expense. t
When we reflect upon the great change .1
which has taken place in cur condition, so- t
cial, political and otherwise, and when we 1
rouiember that our citizenship has been t
pioru than doubled by the emancipation of ,
.thoso^ sO'ir people who were formerly our i
ruin which had been brought '
l/St* #lfTV,w ry by tiic flagrant misrule ,
^ ^ jy.cc of those in potjtir previIII
ILlliiLiWM* lj*ll1''lli"
i (BYvSppucSuon or new principles ana almost
an entire rebuilding ul'our political
structure, it is not only a gratifying but a
surprising fact that our expenses have so
soon been brought down to the level ol that
peaceful and quiet state of things which existed
in 1830, and it will ever stand as a
monument to tho patriotism and practicil
wisdom of those who have conducted public
affairs for tho last three years, within
which time this result has been accomplished.
' " more striking when the cxTlus
is stiu ? -o ired with those ot
peases of 1S70 are codfJO'l'S Spkv^c'Jibcr,
the fiscal year commencing Auvu I
t875. '
Ihc expenses of 1870 in the legislative,
executive and judicial departments, as will
be soon above, amounted to 81- 1,805, while
for the fiscal year 1875 the sum required |
was three hundred and fifty-one thousand 1
dollars?a difference of $226,205. This '
Comparison has only extended to the appro- '
priations made for the legislative, executive |
and judicial departments for th? years men- .
tinned. If carried out with the other ap- i
propriations, the contrast will be found still
more striking, and will afford abundant cv- '
idencc of the vigilant economy of the (?en- j
oral Assemblies of the last three years.
The road, then, which lends to the lightening
of the people's burdens by reduction '
of taxes, either now or ultimately, is not !
through an unwise withdrawal of proper ,
Sunuort to tho iliftoriMit ..c
criiuicut uinlor the guise ol* economy, but by
that increase of wealth ami population which 1
will certainly come from stability, effectiveness
ami vigor in these departments, impnr j
ted by a fair, just and liberal support, and
bv the awakening of our sleeping resources <
through the increasing industry and enter- '
4)jise .1" our people, fostered and protected '
bv a just and stable government. ,
The building of the Spartanburg and .
AsTiuvillc Railroad and other similar enter- *
prises; the successful operation of the I'ied- '
uiout and Cauiperdown and other factories
in the State ; the discovery of the ash cle- ,
tit out by Dr. Ravtiiel; the reclamation of s
thousands of acres of most valuable laud
in the lower portions of the State from the c
grasp of present ruin by the introduction
of sonic new product suited to the soil and ,
climate or some new mode of culture ; the i
deepening of our rivers and the draining 1
of our swamps; the extension of education; 1
the fair, just and impartial administration
of the laws?these are the agencies which ,
will add to and increase the value of the |
property from which our revenue s to bo
derived. And inasmuch as the rate of tax- 1
atioii will decrease as property increases, the ;
sorest load to permanent and substantial rc- ,
diietion of taxes is preiccli mi and encourge- i
nieiit to enterprises an 1 industries like these, i
and to tlios i ends, therefore, legislation !
should be directed.
I invite your attention to the following ,
condensed statement of our liuuuciul fundi- j
Hon, gathered from the clear and able re- i
ports of the Comptroller and Treasurer, '
which is herein incorporated so us to be iu '
convenient form for reference :
Consul lion Is and stocks funded to
November, 1879 $.">,021,041) 9ft
Less bonds retired by Sinking
Fund Commission 3(5,000 00 i !
.$ >, 588,9-1*> 00
Amount to be consolidated
$1,101,820 09
Kqual to 580,914 54
Certificates of
Claims Commission
already
funded for deficiency
bonds
and stocks, less
$2,072.20 o f
bonds retired by
t lie Sinking
Fund Commission
in 187!) $557,045 93
Certificates still to
be ftiuded ",890 00
50 1,535 03
Total interest on 0,701,100 40
all bunds and
certificates $019,">10 :b>
Less amount in
Treasury 175,451 80
414,054 15
Total debt and interest $7,175,154 01
lJonds declared invalid by recent
decision of the 8uprerae
Court, including interest consolidated,
in gross $2,39*2,770,
ci{ual when consolidated
to 1,100,185 00
Tftlftl (innroTtninino UTil t?l
UilU of the Hunk of ilio State
supposed to bo still out 400,000 00
,2'hto statement docs not embrace the contingent
liability, if any, of tho Slate for railroad
bonds guaranteed.
taxable property of the State :
Ileal cstuto p $70,583,800 00
1'ersonnl property :jt?,"i74,8 58 00
lUilroads 7,Ml!,000 (Kl
Total $120.0.') 1,024 00
One mill will yield (net) $102,320 00
Poll tax last year 102,000 00
Tbisyear 07,570 00
- *
The present sciiooi system w?* -,j
te passage of mi Act entitled "An Act to niter
id amend the school law of South Curoliuii," *'
is'?cd nt the regular session of 1877.
This system, though somewhat defective, was j "
ic hest that could have been then devised, .and I'
hns produced good fruit. Its defects lire of a '
linracter which, perhaps, at this time cannot 1
e remedied on account of our peculiar coudi- s
on. ,n
A perfect school system would l?c one which, 11
y its own machinery, would bring into the 1'
chool room all ihe youths of the State between
he proper ages and subject them for the greater ['
art of the year to the tuition of thoroughly
oinpctcnt and professional teachers?competent
o instruct and discipline the mind as well as 1
levelop and discipline the character. This last !
icing, in my judgment, as, important it not
nore important, than the first. '
The present system provides no special rncde
if furnishing the State with the class of teach- '
:rs suggested. The different Boards authorized 1
io license teachers are dependent upon those who '
ipply?nmiiy of them entering the work as a
mere temporary business and for present support.
The examinations ate ncccsSarily to some
e^Umtjar^criiiciahirlannut r^|h 'n,?
and cliaractcr?required on the part of those
into whose hands the educational interests of the
young of the Stale arc entrusted, l.know no
mode of remedying this defect except ihe establishment.
of one or more normal schools to pre
pare mi-1 fit teachers for this important work.?
It may boon account of our depressed condition
that the State is not yet prepare) to undertake
a scheme of this sort and establish it on a firm
basis; hut the whole school system depends in
a "rc.il measure far complete success upon the
character of the teachers employed, and we wid
he compelled, ultimately, to adopt some better
mode than is now in existence to meet tins dc
The other defect referred to, to nit. the short
perio.1 during which the schools are kept open, is
I due not so much to the system as to the fact or
'"ficiency in the sum nppropintcd for school pur!i.
. I j kept open to the full extent of
poses. ' XV "I. and, through the cner^
The schools u.. ' 'he State Su*
i he means appropriate ( cj,eapcst ever pf'
cry and most earnest efforts 01 . ,,jrinicndcut,
are doing all the good that can possibly
he accomplished with the limited means provide.1;
and until the .^tnto is prepared to enlarge
its appropriation, either through State or local <
taxation, this evil must continue, unless in the
meantime private efforts can he combined in
?otnc way with public aid to continue the schools <
iftcr the puklic funds are exhausted. i
This metier of public education, however, is .
jf (lie very highest importance and requires the
maturdst consideration ; and in a government (
ike ours, resting as it does upon universal sufYage,
it is indeed the question of questions. ,
The time is coining, and is rapidly approachng,
when public sentiment will not only approve ,
nit demand, that education in all its grades, j
liglier and lower, shall be free to all, without ]
money and without price. If I had the power ,
I would hasten the arrival of that time, and ]
would then rejoice in the consciousness that 1
liad borne some humble part in a work than |
which no greater can mark ihc history of any ,
i>o.?.to it..# ?..? e. *
j ?. ..... .v.. uiii 1.11 mure cum[icii'in 111:111 |
myself to deal wit 1> this great subject, and into (
your hands i commit it. commending to your |
:on$idcriition the very able report of the Super- ,
ntenleat with the valubic facls5ind suggestions
continued therein.
It will ho seen that this report furnishes ,
micli important nml interesting information
-howing the growth ami improvement of the
' :hoi>l system. The number of pupils attending 1
lie public schools during the lust year was l'J'2,- ,
lt>.'5; of this number 5S,:;ti8 were whites and 1
iI.(?' ') colored. This is probably the largest (
lumber of pupils that has attended the public |
icliools in any one year. 1
The improvement in the schools for the col- (
>red race lias been marked ; it is worthy of note .
hut since 187<i the average increase of atten- t
lance of colored pupils has been more than 45 {
>cr cent, geater than under the Republican ad- ,
niui trations. Four of the Counties, it appears,
mil not made returns of the school fund eollec- ^
ed when the report of the Superintendent of ,
vl neat ion was submitted, but enough is known (
o warrant the assertion that the school fund for (
he tiseal year 1878-71) was greater than for any ,
preceding year. (
The expenditures have been kepi within the
receipts and the general management of the 1
sclio il fund deserves especial commendation.? ,
l'lie heavy load of debt which was left by the
chool ollicers under the Republican administralions
has embarrassed greatly the working ol
lIiis department, and tlie shortness of the school
session is due in some measure to this cause.
I would earnestly recommend some legislation
which will secure to teachers in tlie public |
schools the prompt payment of their salaries. ]
The dillicullies with which teachers have to contend
because of delay in this matter nro fully !
explained in tlie report of the Superintendent j
u i.iueauon. ii win not no possible to retain |
competent teachers if we do not make provision :
for paying them promptly for their services.
>1 I I.I I t A.
The comlition of litis department of )>nl>lic j
service will he found fully set forth in the report
of the Adjutant and Inspector General.? |
litis officer has heen most untiring in his efforts |
lo place the militia of the Stale upon a proper j
looting, and the result of these elforts will he
seen in his report.
The militia has heen surrounded and cmbar- [
rassed with many dillicnlties, not the least ol
which is the scanty support given it by the Legislutnre.
Notwithstanding this, a splendid nucleus
has been organized, which, if encouraged, |
could he easily extended to meet all the neecs- !
sities of the State in this department ; hut if it
fails in the future, as it lias in the past, to meet j
that cordial encouragement from the General I
Assembly which the system demands, it is idle
to expect the establishment and continuance of |
a well-organized militia, such as would do cred- :
it to the Statu and he prepared for an v emergen
cv Ilinl might arise. The spirit, patriotism ami ;
State pride of the young men of the State stand ,
ready to respond to any demand upon them to |
build up this system and make it an lienor to i
South Carolina. Hut they cannot dothisat their '
own expense. They need arms and suitable
equipments; let these be furnished and they
will do the rest. The report of the Adjutant
and Inspector(Icneral, however, will present the I
wants and necessities of the system, and 1 com- j
mend this report and its recommendations to i
your careful consideration and favorable action.
111 * It KAtT OF ST ATISTICS.
Frequent inquiries have been made of me dur* i
ing the year l>y parties outside of the State :
seeking investments or new homes as to ;lie agricultural,
tninernlogical, manufacturing ami I
other resources of fiic Stale, with such statirti- j
cal information upon these subjects as 1 might
be able to furnish ; but there being mi depart- I
nient in charge of these matters, with collected
and arranged data from which 1 could draw, I
have been unable to meet ibe^c inquiries as fully
ns was desirable. There is no doubt about
the fact tlint the Stale nboiinds in resource* of
the character indicated?tliut there is ft wide
field here for the immigration of tho agriculturist
ami the manufacturer, and that we have n
belt of mineral resources running through the
State as rich, if not richer, than any that have
been discovered elsewhero. In fact, those nai*
urnl resources arc fat more abundant and imjtoi
Ir it is tlie policy or inc cn?n> i?
mmigrnlion, to bring foreign capital ljg^B|gK?E^|
lidst and to bare these resources dj^B
otliing. I think, woiihl tend more
lishment than :*f
ala collected by - r.e 1 nil I i
Ic agency and condense ,' ami methodized into
tntisi.cal reports and results, so that the charcter
of our resources could be seen at a glance
rid the valuhlo information thus collected
iromptly utilized to the. en Is suggested.
This is an age of rapK} thought nn 1 moredents,
and condensed iiifortnati.ui is of the very
ugliest imporlattcc, and nothing has played a
norc effective | hi t in the progress of other coinnunitics
than reliable statistics in reference to
he various material interests upon whedt their
rrowtli depended, and wlint lias been madi use'ul
elsewhere can he made usef.il with us.
1 therefore recommend this subject to your
.vircful consideration, hoping that some plan
nay be adopted by vhi It we may not only be
put abreast with other Slates in these matters,
lint also our valuable resources brought to light
in such way us to attract that attention which
they so eminently deserve, and may Bomndctho
means of promoting a widespread prosperity.
Ft" tii.TC RnAt).' ~
Tl.m nf n eollliI rV 1 ^
. ..^ .
ly said to l>c accurate aim
degree of its civilisation
one of the first indicati
a people from barbarist
should keep pace wit'
t ion in numbers, v .
of all which they . " ?
evidence: they at
commercial suppl
blood of the SlaiS,
sufficiency and O?LSSlH10X>6St
gree, the health
of the people." f>0?
If our civiliz
fear that our p, that has ever been brought
(lie scale as we
lie highways. as
e l condition, an
situation i s a "T"T" /"A 1 V (~i
lIV'd
radical change in the road system.
- ?. railroads now running to most of the
County sites in the Slate, and, as a consequence,
the County villages have become market towns
to the inhabitants of the Counties in which they
are located, where their produce is sold, and
from which they are mostly supplied with their
commercial supplies. What km impetus would
he given to agriculture, to progress, and improvement
in every way, if to these different
County sites, from t lie extremities of the respeclive
Counties, were running well-graded, level
md lirin highways? Kvery branch of industry
would thereby t?e materially benefitted, the expense
of carrying to market every article re- ?
luced, and the necessaries of life gic..tly cheap:ned
(w the consumer.
The ililference as to ease an .1 rapidity of transportation
resulting from improved highways?
tn] roved hy proper skill and labor bestowed in
lying them out, leveling ami keeping them in
constant repair?is much greater than is usually
imagined. '
Vs mi illustration of this fact, I would refer
lo a statement made by 0:1c who has thoroughly
examined this subject, as follows : "In a road
rising a hundred feet in the distance of two
Ihousand, its ascending slope would be one in
twenty. One-twentieth of the whole load drawn
aver it must be 'r.ally lifted up the entiro
height of one hut; -ed feet : but upon such a
slope a horse cotthl draw only one ha'f as much
lis he can upon a level road, and two horses,
therefore, will be needed on such a road to do
the work of one if the read was level. ' If this
lie the fact?in the mutter of leveling and properly
grading simply?the cost of carriage could
lie greatly reduced : and when t* added to this
the constant repairs of the surface ? which could
l?e kept up by n ju licioits system?the advantages
would be incalculable. These advannges
would not lie confined to those who trade
it the market towns, but would extend to the
owns themselves, enabling them to grow nml
txpand indefinitely, multiplying their papula
. ... ...... nu n ui'.iuu. imr present.
system, if adhered to for till time, could never
produce these results. It is deficient in two essential
particulars?skilled supeiinlendcncc ami
control, anil constant nntl ef!icient labor. Tliesc
-innot he supplied l?y tlie present system. Each
'onnty should have a practical engineer or road
commissioner in sole charge of the County highways
; his whole time should he devoted to the
business. The necessary labors should he furnished
him by County and other couviets, cornmutation
tax,and such other labor as might not tic
able or willing to pay the tax. And this otlicer
should lie hold strictly responsible for the condition
of the roads. In a system of this sort, after
a short experiment, I am fully persuaded
the people would most cordially co-operate; and,
besides furnishing employment for many deserving
young men, an 1 inducing scientific education
in a direction much needed for the full
development of our resources, a patriotic rivalry
would spring up in the different Counties, and
with the different officers in charge, which wotihl
soon work n most wonderful change in ihe faco
of our country?lendiup to the wealth and prosperity
of the whole State. 1 most earnestly recommend
this subject to your consideration as
the one matter most needing attention in our
present condition.
Governor McDuffie, in his Message to the
General Assembly in lSd7, in discussing the
road system of that day, said: "The roads
through the State are in a much neglected C< nditioti.
1 traveled through some of the Western
districts of the State soon after the crops wero
laid l?y, and found the roa Is in many places almost
impassable by a wagon or carriage. The citizen
loses, as it may he safely affirmed, fair times
ns much labor as is rendered to the State, and
the portion that is bestowed on the roads is so
injudiciously directed that it seldom does any
substantial good, and very often amounts to a
|>iil?lic nuisance." This was said moretlinn tifty
years ago, ami is as appropriate now as then.?
Suppose that a more efficient system had been
adopted then, and since that time faithfully parried
out until now. a half century. The imagination
could scarcely picture the diirerouee.
11 \tt.nr. u> CoMMisstoNKn.
Under the Act of the General Assembly, Jj
passed at its Inst session, creating the oflico of
Itailroad ('oinniissioncr, and defining its duties,
I appointed General M. I., Ilonham, <.f Kdgcfield,
to this nllicc, who entered upon the discharge of
his duties in January.
The Act requires thai (he report of this officer
should he made through the Governor to your
honorable bodies, and I herewith transmit it.?
The salary of this officer and the incidental expenses,
as provided for in the Act, are to bo
itornc by the several corporations owning or opcrating
railroads in the State, according to the
gross income, to be apportioned by tho Comp
(roller General. All llto railroad companies in
| the Stale have promptly responded to the assessments
made upon tlieni by theComptroller fur
Ibis purpose except the South Carolina llailro&d.
| This company being in the hands of a Receiver,
; appointed by the United States Court. lm? .In
clincd as 1 ant informed, up to this tinio to pay
its apportionment, it wailing t )i? judgment of
Mint Court as to its liability. Tlie proportion
duo by this road constitutes a very considerable
part of tlie commissioner's salary and other expenses,
and, remaining unpaid, is calculated (n
impede this officer in the dischnrgo ot his duty
and seriously to affect his efficiency. In most
of the States in which Uailroad ^Commissioners