Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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1 IE WEEKLY IM DII0I TIMES. gqcofijd to ^flwilfurc, jiortiqulturc, gomqstiit economy, fotitt afcatiiro. jbojitics. and tlu jgfo| vol. xiii.?new sebies. union 0. ii., soutii car^^^j^eobm^bft^v'rss'i'' ''' ' ntlmber MW GOODS! HEW STORE! * HEW PRICES! j r RECENT purchases in the Northern Cities c enable us to display to buyers a very a is LARGE AND HANDSOME It SELECTION OF SEASONABLE c Fall and Winter b a A n n e ? V/ V/ XS KJ , o tl Adapted to the Wants and Tastes of this ll community. e Wo hare full lines of Goods in tl NEW STYLES AND FABRICS ? FOR LADIES' WEAR [j WITH TRIMMINGS TO SUIT. c< Cassimeres, Jeans and Kerseys, r< sl FOR MEN AND BOYS. ' TOGETHER WITH d * BOOTS I SOHES, 5 W c< MEN AND BOYS' CLOTHING. HARDWARE, J r< nnA/irmraM A ? A M UAUULA1LS, 0IK)., ?U. J All th? above goods we are offering at very ii low prices, and think it would be to the interest Ql ot everybody to look at our stock before buying, g RICE & MC'LURE : May 6 18 tf d Were to Buy I Pure Medicines ' ; Drugs, Perfumery, &c-, w F W. POSEY & BRO., have on hand and are J 1 "yf . distantly receiving additions to a Full f Lino of ii Drugs and Medicines, ? Paints, Oils and Varnish, l0 Patent Medicines, ^ o Perfumerv. Hair Oiln c p A. Variety of Hair Dies & Restorers w Tooth and Hair Brushes, FACE POWDERS AND b TOILET ARTICLES. il Fanoy Toilet and Laundry Soaps. P Pocket Books, Stationery j Lamps of All Kinds, ft From the finest Swinging Ilall Lamp to the wee a little wincjr tincy Brass Lamp. u :o: 0 P Pure Wines and Liquors, ? (For Medical Purposes,) ^ Port, Claret and Blackberry Wines, o Whiskeys, Brandies and Gin. 0 Crab Apple Tlaepr. :o: p ^TOBACCO AND CIGARS. 0 A Fresh Supply of GARDEN AND FIELD 8EED8, Db FROM ? FERRY k Co., SIBLEY AND BUIST. \ Onion Bets, See. ^ :o: r. To Physicians w "We have a few Hypodermic Syringe? and ' 8elf-Registering Fever Thermometers. w we Ask the Publio w To eall and examine onr Stock. Work is our u motto, and we arc always ready to wait on cus- g toners . . W. rOSEY A BRO. P Opposite Union Hotel. 11 Elran" & Brimtiall, i PP TTAVE jnst filled their store with a XX erj large Stook of FALL AND WINTER ? MERCHANDISE. Their stook comprises almost everything p that can be asked tor. All for sale at the ri very lowest prices. Call and see, aud they ? Will no0O f?AM? niAWAM Oct 20 42 tf c ^ " UNION HOTEL, J GEBBES & RODGER, union, 8. c. \ TERMS 08 PER DAY. ll W. M. OIBBES. 0 l. n. rodger. p Sep 8 80 fi p rUV JUJtCJM UK'S MESSAGE, k Executive Chanbkr. Columbia, S. C., November 29, 1882. ( Senators and Representatives. I beg leave ; to submit my annual Message: ] THE PUBLIC DEBT. I The debt funded and being funded is 86,- < 71,825. Thisis a decrease of 870,496 on ] ao amount reported last year?the Sinking < 'und Commission having retired by pur- ! huso and concellation 871,369, and a small > mount of additional stock having been i isucd by Joint Resolution of the last Legis- 1 iture. I Of the public debt, the scrip of the Agriultural Colleges, amounting to 8191,800. > a permanent investment ; the deficiency i ouds and stocks, amounting to 8501,922, ' laturo in 1883 ; and consols, amounting to < 5,878,033, mature in 1893. The debt > cars interest at 6 percent. This is promptly < ict as it accrues, and is paid in Columbia, < ihnrlcston and New York. If the holder ' f the State stock desires it, and furnishes I lie Treasury with his postoffice address, lie interest due is forwarded to hiui upou ach January and July. The securities of t 1 n .Qf ntn orn o/\!il *! '* ~ ?I ? ?* yiw UIV OV/IV1 upwu VI1U IIIUIKCb UUOVC r ar. We have no floating debt. Current xpenscs as they occur are met with current ands, and there is a balance of $98,017 in ie Treasury awaiting your disposition. The coupous of brown consols arc receivd in payment of taxes. There is no good eason why the coupons of deficiency bonds hould not bo receivable in like manner.? t would put all the creditors of the State n the same footing; and as the holders of eficiencies are largely our own citizens, it 'ould add to tl.cir convenience while itenanccd the value of this olass of bonds. I sspcctfully recommend this measure to your onsidcration. REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES. The revenues of the State for current xpcnditure8 are derived from tho net carnigsof tho Penitentiary, from the phosphate jyaltyand from the general tax. Tho Penentiury paid into the Treasury last year 40,000. Tho phosphate royalty is stcudily lcrcasing ; durning the past year it amounti to $138,254?being an increase of over 10,000 upon the preceding year. By the report of the Comptroller Gene*1, you will eeo that the usual aud ordiary expenses of tho State government, not efrayeu by the phosphate royalty and the arplus in tho Treasury, can, without con idering the income from the Peuitentiary, e met by a levy of five-tcutbs of a mill pon the dollar of taxable values. The levy >r (merest ou 1110 public debt, (three and i netenth mills J is to bo added,?thus male- i ig a general tax levy of three and six- I cutbs mills. i Interest upon the public debt is payable i efore the annual taxes'aro fully collected, i 'o avoid subjecting any of the public cred- < x>rs to dltay in recoiving^Hfelr difts" "the legislature has for the last two years anually authorized a temporary loau in anicipation of the taxes. The liberal action f the banks of deposit in permitting overraits and requiring interest upon each- i nly from date, has enabled the Treasury to i Sect the accommodation at trivial ex- i ense. Authority for a similar purposo I rill be necessary for the next and for each l usuing year. The expedient answers well ; nough while the money market is easy, < ut with the occurrence of a financial pauic j , might be difficult to accomplish. Tho i ublic credit is of too much consequeucc to I be welfare of tho State to be thus jeopartd. The d.bt will soon mature, aud to re* and it at a more favorable rate of interest is | n end to be kept steadily in view. A fail- ? rs to meet promptly the interest under any ( ircumstanoes would iajuriously affect this urposc. Again, our tuxes are paid semi- < nnnnllo ?l?i. ?? 4 " * '? * uuuxiij, ouvt huu uiob pujiuiuui is optional, be taxpayer being charged interest if be fc efers payment of bis whole lax till the time f the second payment. Under these cir- s umstances, to return to a collection of the ( ixes for interest before the interest is due, ( 1 is necessary to make the first semiannual ay men t of taxes compulsory, and then for t ueyear to increase tho tax levy sufficiently ( 3 raise the Bum for whioh, in the cxperi- ? nco of the Treasury, it has been found s eeessaty to make over drafts upon the j anks. Wo are experiencing a period of xceptional prosperity, and there will bo no j otter time to accomplish this desirable end. ^ f tho measure commonds itself to your f onorable body, the additional sum to be ( aised this year will be about 8100,000 and rill nooessitate the addition of 8-10 mills to he 3 610 mills previously estimated. The j rhole tax levy well then bj 4 4-10 mills.? j 'he levy for last year was 4 34 mills. It rill still he neccessary for one year longer t>authorise the temporary loan, because the rst payment of interest for 1884 will occur eforo any part of the tax you now author* te is collected, and will bavo to be met ut of funds n'-W in the Treasury, which re not sufficient for tho purpose, and at the noe time to oarry on the goverument until he taxes of 1883 are collected. PENITENTIARY. On the 1st November, 1881, there were 90 oonviota in the Penitentiary. At tho ime date this year the Dumber was 824.? >f these 778 were oolored and 46 white.-? t >f the 824 couviota, 224 wcro loosed upon i hospbate work j 121 were leased upon a tilroads; 25 on the Seegers farm, aod 454 i rithin the walls of the prison. Of those i rithio the prison 97 were at work with a i ontraetor in making shoes, 120 st work on t bo Columbia canal, and the remainder in t arious employments. e The convicts under lease are are subjeo- I jd to a rigid surveillance by the authori- i tea oi me renitentiarv, tod 1 am satisfied t hat during the year, both within and with- t at the prison, tncy have been well fed, t roperly carod for, and their sentences of t cnul servitude humanely ezeouted. c _ A largo amount of work baa been done by convict labor upon improvements and extension of tbo Penitentiary itself. A number of bands have been worked on tbo Columbia canal, nnd an examination of the Superintendent'* Report exhibits the following transactions : A balance in hand it the beginniugof the Bscal yoarof $21,199; jamiugs for tho year, 894,236; expenses proper of tho Penitentiary, $50,989 ; per iicui and milcago of llonrd of Directors, 81,267 ; paid on canal $8,096; paid iuto Slate Treasury, $40,000; and remaining In hands of Superintendent $14,901. This last amount is in cash and bankable notes ?iven for convict labor ; its disposition await your direction. This exhibit contrasts favorably with the management of the Penitentiary in the period from 1868 to 1876. Then, bosides tho Burnings of tho convicts, it required an anual average appropriation of $62,800 from the State Treasury to support the iustitu- ' tion. In the health, POnornl nnnonpam.,. ' ; o -rrv-.?Mw j lud judicious discipline of ibe convicts, a J ike improvement appears. I LUNATIC ASYLUM. ' During the year there have been under j rcatmcnt in the Asylum 755 patients.? rherc arc now present 330 white and 222 solorod, making a total of 550. Of these, , >25 arc supported by the Stute as indigent I >oor and 25 by themselves or friends. The 1 aws establishing and regulating this instiution contemplate that thoso receiving its lenefits who are able to pay in whole or in ? part should do so, and that the pau- i >cr alone Bhould receive the bounty of the j State. That supposed abuse in this partic ! liar exists lias been heretofore brought to ho attention of the General Assembly, aud ] it its last session additional legislation was , provided to correct it. These laws are either lot executed or are insufficient. Fewer >?ticnts pay now than beforo. It is not in ] he power of the Trustees and officers to < lupervisc this matter. The power and 1 esponsibility rests with the authorities in ( ,he Counties who give the papers of com- , rituicnt. It may be that popular sentiment i lemands that unfortunates of this class, 1 without regard to their meaus, should bo 1 lupported by tho State. If this is so, the aws should bo changed and pay received i rom none. In 1876 there were 298 pa- ' ients in the Asylum ; now tho number is 1 learly doubled. Your attention is called 1 ,o the report of the Sup srintcudent, in which , he increased demanJ for the coming year ind the still larger prospective demand in jucceeding years which will bo mado upon ihis institution is clcarlv set forth, rimro ire, by the United States census of 18S0, in South Carolina 2,900 persona who may, md iu moat iustaucua should, receive the benefit of this wise aud noble provision for suffering humanity, With one fourth of that number present in the Asylum now, about one third of the agprogato current expenses of the State is for their support.? It appears to me to bo the part of wisdom to at once settle and enforce the pccuuiary basis upon which patients arc to be received, aud, with comprehensive and economic measures, meet the increasing damands of this branch of the public expenditure. The details of the Superintendent's report are suggestivo of these, aud some of them he forcibly urges. The appropriation asked by the Trustees for the Asylum lor the coming /ear is $114,194. I am happy to believe hat in scientific treatment aud in all that promotes the comfort aud well being of its 1 nmates this institution will compare favora- \ >ly with others elsewhere. DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. A tax of twenty-five cents per ton is col- i ected on every ton of commercial fertilizers told iu the State and is made nnnlie:ihL? ~r I w vvr he maintenance of the Department of \griculturo. The tax realized last year >23,704. The Department is chargod with the inipcctiou and supervision of the salo of fertile zers; with the duties of a Fish Commission; vith the management of tho State's interist in tho phosphate mines; with the devcl. >puieut of the agricultural and mechanical nterests of the State, and with tho promoion of inmigration. It has been in opera i ion for two years, and the elaborate report >f tho Commissioner to be submitted to you rill exhibit tho well directed energy it has irought to bear upon the various and im>ortant duties with which it is entrusted. ! am porsuaded that under its present 'igorous aud judicious management its useulness, already manifest, will greatly relound to the benefit of tho State. The pursuits of our pcoplo are so largely igriculturol that tho bouuteous returns of tusbandry during the lust year is a subject or devout gratitude. Tho cotton crop ras better than au avoroge. The corn crop vas butter than for many years. The small jrnin cr ips were undoubtely the largest over iroduoed in the State. Rice was fully up o the average, and the smaller crops?sor;huin sugar cane, peas, potatoes, fruits, &c., ?were better than usual. The Commissionir estimates that tho excess of this year's production, exolusive of cotton and rico, vhich arc our chief market crops, over last rear, is much moro than the amount >f farm supplies of which the short crop >f that year necessitated tho purchase* I have heretofore expressed my sonse of be paramount importance, socially and i rwt.iatr'nllif ?V-~ 6.-.- ~e .U - . -t I uviwovi iwnj) vu viio vjmivu, Ul bllU auvuut OI I i thrifty nod intelligent immigration. The 4 esourccs of our fields, forests, mines and t rater powers are comparatively untouched, t V complete and exhaustive hand book ot I he State, under tho direotion of the Board, < ias been prepared and will soon be publishsd. Its distribution will bring to tho at- ) ontion of capitalists tho opportunity for | nvestment that those resources offer, and I o the immigrant seeking a home in a go- < tial climate the means of bettering his for- | uncs, which will surround him on every I land in our midst. You will permit mo ] tarnostly to .bring to your attention the sub: < ject ofi*fco?, arid to express the hope that yoqgprisdoni will devise measures whio hwBtorouiotc this desirable end * STATS AOUflpTCBAL AND MECti ANICAL SOCIETY. This sool^thu borne an important part in Ljie<leveloffMit of the material interests of the Slate. OitjftalseJ in 1865, it received an annual appropriawnof $6,000 from the public Treasury, and *iu handsomely endowed from other sources. . During the civil war its buildings were destroyed and its endowment dissipated. Four yearaafcor, its revival and reorganisation was the fin!Indication on tlie part of capitnl and intelligence'of reviving hope in the future Ihnt awaited our industries. For the 'ast three years it has annually received rfn appropration of $'2,600 fretn the State. This sociotv holds a Summer meeting for discussion of agnciiltura! and kindred subjects, at which igjslBited much valuable information. HeretoforeItsHranactioort have not been published in pera^tiM from ; but its increased resources will no* p erroit, and it is intended in the ensuing Jtf* to collect them in a compendious form. IlnssWl fairs an held at Columbia in November. At the last, 10,000 persons attended ; the premium list amounted to 55,000 ; and there were over 2,000 entries for the premiums offered. Order and good feeling pervaded the throng, and during theentirc week it was necessary to arrest but one person for lisorderlv nnrutnnl A ?? >'!- ' " ? ?? vwuviiiudilVQ Ut I.11C Uppropriation for this society is asked. KUUCATIIN. The educational system of the Stato, as now established by law and in successful operation, Snds its development in the Public schcols, the University and in the Institution for theKduca ion o( the De if, Dumb and the Blind. The University consists of the Clafliu College, the Military Academy and the South Carolina College. This iistribution of the aid given by the State to education is comprehensive and judicious. The full development of these various schools will, n my judgment, accomplish all that can be done ^y public instruction in qualifying the rising ;eneration for the high duties ofcitizcnship ; and [ carnesty commend each of them to acontinumcc of your fostering care. Till PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The Report of tho State Superintendent of education shows a gratifying improvement in the public school system. During the last year there was in attendance upon the public schools 35,399 white and 80.575 colored pupils, making & total of 145,974. This is the largcset number of pupils ever enrolled in the public schools of this State in any one year. The average length of the school session was four months? % slight increase over the sessions previously reported. The number of teachers employed was?white 2,126; colored 1,287 ; total 3,413? being an increase since the last report of 1G4. The number of schools was 3,183?an increase of 126. Tim school fund hns steadily increased since the adoption of tho amendment to the Constitution relative to tho public school tax. Tho fund for fiscal year 1881-82, the last year for which full returns have been made, was $452,965.44?this amount being the largest ever available in one year for the support of public nSnnla in iKia fi'n The public school fund is now almost free of debt. The amount of the claims outstanding against the school fund in October, 1877, was $209,940.60. In nearly all the Counties this debt has been liquidated. The claims now arising against the school funds are paid each year out of the current funds. The effect of the propper management of the school fund is seen in the enhanced value of teachers' pay certificates, which are now paid in full each year by the Tr?Murers of the several Counties. "The Keport of the Superintendent of Education contains full accounts of the management of the two large and successfol State Normal Institutes?one for white and one for colored teachers?held during the last scholastic year. The public school system is now firmly established in this State, and the friends of popular cducacfttion may look forward with confidence to its steady progres and improvement. CLAFL1N COLLEGE This College is endowed with a portion of the fund donated by the United States government for the promotion of agriculture and the mechanic arts. It is located at Orangeburg and is set apart for the benefit of colored stu lents. It has been in benefit cial operation for some years and the President reports the past as the most successful year in its educutioual work since its organization. Thete have been 3-4-4 students in j - p ?t rtj _ " * nviuuuaiicu, ui wnain z-t wore in tnc Uollcgiate Department, 136 in the Normal School and 184 in the Grammar School. The Normal School is doing perhaps tho most important work in this College. Both graduates and uuder- graduates readily find employment in tho public schools for colored children of the State. An Agricultural farm of one hundred and fifty acres is attached to the institution and is profitably worked, chiefly by student lubor, under the instrue tion and direction of a superintendent. THE MILITARY ACADEMY. Before the establish ment of the Military Academy $24,000 annually was expended in tho support of two companiis of enlisted men, who were entrusted with the caro of the ordnance and ordnanco stores of tho State. In 1842, by Act of the Legislature, this appropriation, uftcrwards increased to $30,000, was diveried to the maintenance of a military school, tho cadets of which ibould also discharge tho duties hitherto performed by these enlisted mon. The ichool was modeled upon West Point and ipproximated that institution in tho thorlughness of instruction. Its career of asefulnc8s was oontinucd for twenty-two ^ears, when at the close of th? civil war its teat, the building known as tho Citadel in Jharleston , was tnken possession of 1 y the federal government and used for military purposes. In anticipation of the return of he Citadel to the possession of the State, at ts last session tho Legislature directed the 'eopening of the Academy and appropriated $15,000 for the purposes of i opuir and maincnance for tho short period whioh would >robably ehtpso between the recovery of tho )uildiog and tho closo of tho fisoal year. The \cademy was also by law mado a branch of .be University. The building has been resored to tho State, and on tho 2d of October sst the Academy was reopened with 177 )adots. The report of tho Board of Visitors, to *a aiiKmitiAfl will ?noah r.?ll? ?r tL* ..... iuiviui juu auny vi VUU >rc8cnt condition of this school. A marked eature in it* organization is that of its ca* lets, sixty-eight-being two from eaoh County?aro maintained as beneficiaries by the State and are required for two years after graduation to teach in froe public schools >f the County from which they respectively rec6ivc their appoiutuieut. Regulation* rigidly enforced seek to confine this bounty to doscrviag youths who have not the uicans iu their own right and whose parents are unable to educate them. Selection is made among upplicauts by competitive examination. The beneficiaries aro furnished, free of charge, with tuitiou, clothing, subsistence , and (he necessary academic oppliuuces. I The reuiuiuiug cadets are pay pupils, and are charged $300 per annum, which is the , estimated cost to the institution of each ca- ( det, pay aud bcuefieiary alike. Tito curriculum of the Academy, as before the war, seeks to approximate that of West Point, the variatiou, wheu it occurs, being in view ofthe fact that its graduates will find employment chiefly in civil life und their military training bo needed by the State only in tho emergency of such wars its will call for other than tho regular forcotfof the counThe demand of our poople for practical and scientific training accompanied by tho wholesome discipline afforded by this school is evidence by tho numerous applications for pay cadetships which had to be declined for want of siiffic cut accommodation iu tho building, as repaired with the small appropriation of the last session. The number of cadets admitted iu October cx? haunted all available room. The means were not furnished to rebuild the burned wing of the Citadel, which would double tho capacity of its barracks. Such appropriatiou as you may deem proper to make for the maintenance of beneficiaries (the pay cadets maintain thcmsclvc-) in this school must be based upon tho estimate of $300 for each. To continue the I pro8Cut number will require Si:u,4UU tor the present fiscal year. Arms and accoutrements, which the Adjutant General's ' department cannot supply, arc also neccssa> ry. A small appropriation to that depart- , mcnt for this purpose is needed. i A claim, on behalf of the State, upon ] the Federal Government, for the use and ' occupation of the Citadel siucc the war, 1 a ( been made and will, I have no doubt, be soon , equitably adjusted. When this fuud ii 1 realized it will reimburse the State for the suui already expended in repairs, aud prob* : ably be sufficient to restore the wing burned while in the possession of the United States , troops and to equip the Academy fully tor the part which I am convinced awaits it in 1 affording to our people the much needed 1 facilities for higher education. I SOUTH CAIIOL1NA COLLEGE. I This branch of the Uuiversity, situated at Columbia, is endowed with the portion ( s t apart for the benefit of white students of the fuud donated by the United States I for the promotion of agriculture and the , mechanic arts. It was rcorgauized last Spring by the establishment of five additional professorships, making ten in all, and one of which is of agriculture and horticulture. The scope ot the instruc'ion offered was largely extended., and for several distinct and full onurscs of study, some liberal and some tcchuical, provision is made. The Collego thus reorganized and eularged opened with MS students in attendance. Lodging is provided, the only charge being ten dollars annually for repairs, and tuitiou is frco to all students whose parents reside in the State. The studeuts arc boarded at their own charge. The development hereafter to be givon , 10 i.nis institution snouia, in order to meet the just expectations and demands of the age | and the requirements of the .Vet of Con* 1 gross, to which it owes all its permanent | endowment, bo largely in the direction of , applied science. It should be made the t home of the practical arts and science as s well as of the classics. It should be able ( to send forth the youth of the State well J equipped for the practical pursuits and i avocations of life, and hcuce technical \ training should be as anxiously provided for : as liberal culture. 1 The agricultural department should be so de- ' veloped as to materially aid in building up the agricultural interests of the Stale. Not only should the opportunity be given to the rising generation of farmers to acquire ttie scientific | principles upon which theircalling is based, hut the farmers themselves should have the benefit ' of the ex, eriments and tests of a well conducted i experimental farm located in their midst. Ne- , gotiations are now in progres between the State Bureau of Agriculiure and the agricultural dc- : partmcnt ol the College, which will, if perfected, tend largely lo bring about this most desirable result. In order to secure harmony of purpose and union and concentration of effort, tho two , departments will be made to mutually assist and " strengthen each other. To this end the College ' will make the analyses, researches and practi- , cal tests required by the Bureau of Agriculture, and the results will be given to the public in the occasional bulletins of the Commissioner of | Agriculture. The report of the Professor of Agriculture will also be made a part of the Annual Report of the llurcau. I The Report of the Trustees of the University, ] lo be submitted, will ask Tor a continuance of the last appropriation of $1*2,500 for this College, which, in addition to its permanent endowment, ( they estimate will be sufficient for its needs. < INSTITUTION FOR THE PEAT AND Dl'MB ANI> THE BLIND 1 This institution for the education of the unfortunate youth of the State is located at Cedar I Springs in SpartanburgCounty and has for years been in successful operation. During the past year it has had sixty two pupils in attendance. 1 would ask your attention to the interesting ( Report of the Superintendent, and particularly his recomendation that provision be made for ' the education of colored deaf and dumb and ( blind children. The suggestion is made of the establishment of a separate department for this ' class of pupils, under the same general mauage- j tnent as t iat for whites, but with its own subordinate officers and teachers. This arrangement has been adopted in most of the Southern States and is in accord with the general educational 1 system of this State in the publio schools and in I ilio University. The Commissioners of the institution will ask for an appropriation of $1*2,350, which includes the expenses of establishing the proposed col- ! ored department. RAILROADS The Railroad Commissioner roports that his ' inspections of tho railroads last year have been highly satisfactory to him'. Many and extensive ' improvements are noted, and the facilities for I H I . J . . li _ . I ' t ? I - ? S t ho safe and speedy transportation of persons and property bave bceu much increased. Me thinks that in anolbor year of prosperity there will be few better roads in theSouth. The Commission* er discusses the various questions arising from the mutual relations of the corporations owning the roads aud the people who use them. You ore respectfully referred to his Ilepcrt for the views he expresses. They are entitled to weight ns coming from one whose position has given hint opportunities of impartial observation, and whose opinions have been maturely considered. Mnny interesting tables accompnny the lleport. They are, howevei, incomplete on account of some of the roads failing to make their returns in proper time. I am unable, therefore, to give, \s 1 desired, a summary view ofthe condition and working with us of these .important factors in the life of to-day. Several important new railroads have been projected and considerable progress lias beeu trade as to the construction of them. The Edgelleld. Trenton aud Aiken itailroad Company and the Atlantic and French ltroad have been consolidated with certaiu North Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky roads, whose objective point,at pffesentTs Lex!ngloh"7 TCcTrrtlietty, tfTititr thes*yt?r of the Carolina, Cumberland Gap and Chicago Hailrond Company. The organization has been perfected and a contract has been entered into for rapidly j ushiug the construction. Fifty odd miles of the road have already been graded in South ,'nrolina. When completed il will be much the ihortest line froin the Northwestern t?-ndc cenrcs to the South Atlantic and must prove of incalculable value to the State. It will realize the lrcam of fifty years ago?the direct and indepenlent connection of our commercial metropolis with the Ohio Valley. Some grading hns been lone on the Savannah Vullcy Railroad from Anlerson towards Dorn's Mine on the Augusta ind Knoxvillo Road. On the Spartanburg, Laurens and Greenwood Road the grading is being pushed forwnrd; and on the Georgetown and Lane's Road, running from Georgetown to Lane's an the North-Eastcrn Railroad, wor^ has recently been commenced. MILITIA. The organized militia consists of eighty-one companies of State Volunteer Troops (while), numbering 4,376 men, and twenty companies of National Guard (colored), numbering 1,185 men ; *{?8reg,llci 5,501. The Adjutant and Inspector Qeneral reports the general condition of the militia, in every respect, better than when he inspected them in 1881. The officers arc nioro conversant with their dulies, companies better drilled, and a more general spirit of military cntLusiasm pc: vales all ranks. More than onctialf of the compauics of the Volunteer Troops w?ould compare very favorably with like organisations of any other State of the Union. This improvement is to be attributed, in a great measure, to the encouragement given by the liberal appropriation made by the General Assembly at its last session "to enable companies to maintain their organizations and to increase their efficiency." Many of the old companies have been disbanded, and perhaps it may be advisable to still further continue the system of weeding nut the inefficient corps, as the number of men given ibove can very well lie reduced to the extent of one-fifth, leaving, in rouud numbers, about 1,000 men of all arms?a force amply sufficient for all purpose. -..{'('I vj-itauvtt uaavu iwr mi' lUillliU IB 522,700. PARDONS AND COMMUTATIONS. 1 have deemed it proper within tho last year to exercise Executive clemency in twenty-five instances, of which ten have been commutations of seutencc and fitteeu have been pardons. In another communication, I wll lay before you, as required by law, a full statcmcut of each case. CONCLUSION. The history of the State for tbo last quarter of a century has been varied by strongly contrasting periods, Just preceding the civil war, in social and material development wo reached the highest point which had marked our progress since the English colony lauded upon the bunks of the Ashley. The war f Mowed with its heroic efforts?its disastrous results. Of the accumulation of two centuries of industry, wherever it had found investment in personal properly, there remained the nshes. The land tlone was left, encumbered with debt, and with die capital to work it only to bo obtained at isutious rates. Then came the first period of reconstruction : the painful struggle for bread ; he government of the State by its baser elements ; loeiety slowly adapting itself to its changed tonditions ; and the native energies of the whito nan's blood, under riotous misrule, stubbornly winning its way to competence and power. In 1870 this unhappy period ended, and to day reconstruction is done. The exhibit laid before you of the affairs of the State is that of a wellordered. smooth working and economic government, and of a happy and prosperous peoplo. JOHNSON 11AOOOD, Ooveruor. A Vile Conspiracy.?Jchicl Jaspar siroiic-u into tnc grocery and post office of one of our back country villagos recently, nnd after standing around with his hack to tho Qre until lie was permeated with caloric, said : "Well, I guess I'll read the news and get ilong hoin \ Squire Perkins' paper come pet ?" and lie stepped behind the post office ooxes, as was his custom, to take it out and read it. "Can't let you see it, Jchiel," said the postmaster ; "government has issued orders that any pes'master who allows a lion sub* fcribcr to read subscribers' papers will lose his position." "No, you don't tell me'! Well, if that fii n't n ?aa/1 T*'" ? ? * ' * ?.U v ? guuu iuuii. Jta a pui-up J'JUj a goi. Jarncd conspiracy between these ere newspapers f nd tho government to koep the multitude in ignorance, so that they can domineer over the couimuuity. And they talk about this bciag a free country. It's drifting right iuto despotism just as fust as it can. IIow in thunder's a man to know what's going on if ho don't read ? And now the government's setting down on all ideas :>f oddication, and taking away that privilege." "Ob, not so bad as that, Jehiel,"said tho postmaster. "The government docs not jay nnything agnint your subscribing for me paper yourscn, you know." Subscribin' for it ? What d'ye take me fori* D'yo suppose I'm going to subscribe for % paper 1 havo read fourteen years right bore by the stove without cost in' mo a oont? Mo, sir; I oii't a going to help 'om oppress uie by kcopin' me in iguoranco. Nor, sir-co. And having got a supply of cheap to* bacoo, Uput on tho slate," he jogged along bomc a thoroughly oppressed citijeu