Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, December 03, 1857, Image 1
jno.l. miller & co.. proprietors, j An Independent Journal: For the Promotion of the Political, Social, Agricultural and Commercial Interests of the South. J lewis m. grist, pm>uih?r.
VOL. 3. YOEKYILLE, S. O, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1857.
(Original |!oftni.
For the Yorkville Enquirer.
THYRSIS AND AMTSTAS.
AN ECLOGl'E.
Beneath the chilly stars and moonlight dim
Over n marble tomb a maiden stood :
The odorous zephyrs swept her golden hair
Back from her brow and kissed her fevered cheek
And tears were chasing down her pallid face,
Welled from the depths of her soft azure eyes,
Glittering pearl-like on each silken lash.
Robed in a robe?all white?all snowy white?
She as a suppliant raised her hands to heaven,
And in the accents of the tenderest wo,
Her music-voice in sweetest cadence said?
Vale! vale! vale! as she turned away,
And speaking a last farewell, departed,
And sileuce reigned throughout the sombre night,
? ? ? # *
That evening, as the sun in glory sank
Behind the myrtle and the citron groves,
Amyntas buried all she held most dear?
The love?the idol of her earnest soul?
The light of life?her very being's self?
The gentle Ti. rsis, whom from youth adored,
She cherished as " the apple of her eye."
*******
, Sere autumn passed, and winter weird and wild
With cold and snow was gone unto the north.
The roral spring with rosy coronals crowned,
Bestrewed the earth, and summer skies were
come:
The dove and halcyou-birds weie here again,
And all was fair and all was beautiful.
The golden crocus and the violets
And asphodel were blooming on the grave
Of Thyrsis, while the rose and myrtle flowers
Shed their perfume upon the murmuring winds
That swept their leaves, and sighing softly,
moaned
Over the dead, who still and dreamless slept
Beneath the vernal and the verdurous sod.
But now txco tombs were reared and garlanded.
For lingering out in mourning and in grief
The lonesome days, Amyntas drooped and died
In sorrow for her lost and worshipt love,
And lay within the icy arms of Death,
And faithful, fond, claspt Thyrsis to her heart,
Low in the deep, dark sepulchre of peace?
Tb' sad memorial of their loves and fate,
To tell the passing stranger of their story.
P. D. S.
Columbia, S. C.
C. legislature..
~ Aiiin **nnn i n r
liUVMUIt'S WAKE.
Executive Department, j
Columbia, S. Nov. 23, 18f>7. j
prf/oic- Citizens of tliv S< n<0>
o.)t(J of Rrprcwifafit'C*:
Assembling as you do for the public service
from every election District in the State,
representing all professions aud occupations,
you bear with you, doubtless, a grateful sense
of the present blessings enjoyed by our citizens
of health and bountiful harvests, and
will cheerfuily unite with me in aspirations
of praise to the Almighty Power, by whom
alone they arc bestowed Iu view of all the
circumstances by which we are surrounded,
our people caunot have too scrupulous a regard
to individual integrity, nor can we too
strictly guard against the failings which peculiarly
beset us, assured that a practical life,
which best illustrates a due sense of duty to
God and our neighbor, constitutes the most
acceptable service to him who orders the affairs
of men, aud whose eyes are upon us
all.
It must needs be that sickness and death
visit every community, striking down the
youthful and the aged, the vigorous and active,
as well as the infirm. If we have seen
the energetic minds, iudustrious powers and
generous impulses of friends and public ser
* ? ^ I t ,L.
rants stilled tn deatn, we nave teic to us uu.inestiuiable
satisfaction of knowing that they
met their fate with courage in the path ot
duty. Since your last session, death has deprived
the delegation to Congress from this
State of two valued members. In the month
of February, the Hon. Preston S. Brooks,
while iu the midst of active public duty, engaged
in a course of usefulness and houor,
and winning by his manly conduct and sterling
worth, the confidence and admiration ol
members, was removed to auother sphere.?
The only official intimation I had of Mr
Brooks' death, was communicated on the
2-">th of March, by one of our Senators, tlu
late Judge Butler. Within two month:
from that date, he, too, was laid in the silent
grave, beside his gallant relative and friend
Excitable and conscientious as he was, tlu
labors of the last Congress had proved tot
much for him. Honorable and fair in des
patching business?vigilant and faithful ir
his peculiar trust?diligent, spirited, and
able in discharging it, his nervous sensibili
ties were too highly wrought upon, and tlu
tension of his mental energies too incessant
to be longer endured by the physical frame
Soon after reaching the coveted <juiet of hi;
own home, he sank into the arms of death
universally regretted by his associates in life
mourned and lamented by his constituents?
the people of this State.
The vacancy created in the Fourth Con
gressional District has been filled by the
* - r* -- :l? it ?v
election PI Ut'U. .'lllll'lisc Li. UVUUUUJ) v<
Edgefield, vrlio was commissioned in Mat
last.
Iu place of the Hon. A. 1*. Uutler I have
made uo temporary appointiueut. You will
doubtless appreciate the importance of sup
plyiug the vacancy by joint ballot of botli
Houses without delay, in order that the new
Senator may be enabled to take his scat in
the next Congress at an early day of the
session. There is yet to be mentioned the
name of another venerable citizen, oiicc in
timately and prominently associated with the
Government of both the State aud the Uni
ted States, whose loss we deplore, and tc
whose brilliant career of early service 1 maj
I bo permitted to allude. Krect and coinmanding
in stature, up to the day of his last
j illuess, grave and dignified in deportment, j
5; wise in council, firm, resolute, and faithful j
' in the practice of his profession and the du-!
tics of life, such was Langdon C'heves.? {
; Successful in life, full of honors, and pros- j
| trate only under the weight of years, he has ,:
been laid in the grave by grateful country-! i
men and weeping friends, with all the so- i
, lemnities and respectful observances due to j
' such an occasion. He was the last of the j j
: distinguished trio, who by tbeir ability, in- i
tcgrity, and courage rendered the South Car- j
I oiiua Delegation in Congress, during the war I
I of 1812, so distinguished and influential.? i
.
; Together they labored nobly and efficiently
j in those days of fearful excitement and trying i
j difficulty, for the welfare and honor of their '
j country. The Navy, which it was Mr. i
j Cheves' peculiar care to develope and cher- i
j ish?the Navy, bearing its flag and leaving .
its name triumphant upon every sea, taught i
the proud foe a lesson of justice, to recog- t
nize America as an equal among the nations 1
of the earth. The war honorably closed <
and a peace establishment settled, he retired
from the Speakers' chair to serve his State I
in the Judiciary Department, until called on <
by President Monroe to administer the Bank I
of the United States. Absent ten 3'ears, he ?'
returned in 1829 to the quiet of his native <
hills, proclaiming to the South the danger j 1
which he had perceived afar off, simultaneously
with his distinguished compeer in the ]
teudency of Federal Legislation. Beyond ]
occasional counsel, he declined all participation
in public life, until the year 1850.? [
Then, at the age of seventy-four, he appear- r
ed at Nashville as a member of the South- (
ern Convention, intent to perform to the last (
his part, by warning his countrymen against (
the policy of a majority in Congress, which, }
substituting expediency for principle, was <
gradually sappiugthe Constitution and threatening
ultimately the rights of the States.? (
llis last public act was signing the Ordinance (
of 1852?passed by the State Convention,
of which he was a member. Past the age of (
four-score years, having long survived his
j great co laborers and worthy colleagues,
Lowndes and Calhoun, he, too, is gone. Like
them, he has left us, in his upright example
in all public stations, in the loftiness, the
purity, the simplicity of his character, in t
I the truth, and power, and grandeur of his j
[ eloquence, a legacy of priceless wealth. g
The Soitii Carolina College.?This a
i Institution, so deservedly cherished by the e
I people of the State for its usefulness, as well j c
I as its renown, has undergone, since your ad-11
j journuient, a severe trial, owing to theindis-11
j cretion of youth and some mistaken notions j i
i of honor, which have obtained among the j
J students, together with the want of aptitude f
| and power to administer the laws of the Col- I
| lege, which unhappily characterized the Pre- i
| sident, a man distinguished for science, and \
j otherwise of practical usefulness, who, as j
I Professor of Mathematics, was eminently t
i competent, able and valuable. Called to- t
! gether at an extraordinary meeting in the s
' month of June, the Board of Trustees deem- J
ed it essential to the due performance of t
i their trust to re-organize the Government of t
! the College. Accordingly, the members of i
i the Faculty were invited to resign. Prcsi- f
j dent McCay had previously tendered his t
' resignation, aud the exercises of the College 1
, j were suspended till the 1st of October, thus i
j uiakiug the auuual vacation eighteen days f
| longer than usual, and dispensing, uecessa- (
f: lily, with the June examination. Assein- t
j bliug again in the month of September, at I <
! no little persouul inconvenience, the Board ; t
; of Trustees have deemed it wise to restore 11
! the greater number of the Professors to the ! 1
duties of the Faculty, assigning to each in- 1.
, i dividual the charge of the various branches j (
1 of learning in such order, as, it is supposed, j i
j will ensure, hereafter, their greater useful-; i
; ness and efficiency. By a temporary ar-'s
. j rangement, which was ordered by the Board ' i
, j of Trustees, the duties of the Mathematical ' i
. I Department have been assigned to the Pro- <
! lessors of Natural Science, and of Chemistry. *
1 It is to he hoped that this important chair I t
; j will be definitely filled before the close of j t
; the year. However universally it he admit- i
ted, that the Clas.-ics should constitute the i
leading feature in the leading Literary In- i 1
: stitution of the .^tate, yet in a community of: j
.! planters and farmers, where agriculture pre-1?
1 ....... 1.. Ti-itl, flu-, In-nnrul ! *
I" , VUUJj ill CWIIIIWVIVU miu v??v i
. I professions, the importance of Geometry, ;;
: Trigonometry, Surveying, Meusuration and i i
,1 Mechauics, cannot be overlooked in complc- i <
. ting the education of youth, nor should we :
; fail of inviting the students to a due under- ]
t standing of Astronomy, Natural and Kxpcrimental
Philosophy, Natural History and |
(General Science. Again, Chemistry, Geol-11
ogy, Mineralogy and Meteorology, with lee-; i
tures and experiments on the application of j
. Chemistry, Geology and Electricity to agri- .
culture, constitute an esseutial branch for
which a Professor is provided. Cntil June (
the J'resident of the College was, also, Pro- j ^
. fessor of Mathematics. Since September, j
the Professors become have attended to the j.
duties of this chair in conjunction with their j
, own. j
; As regards discipline, it would be dcroga- j (
tory to the just influence of parents, suppo-! ]
sing theui to have done their duty to their : i
children at home, and humiliating to our (<
common nature, to maintain that intelligent j <
and nearly grown young gentleman, need <
; strict surveillance at College; to he kept in 11
older by the force of authority, whilst they t
! are profiting by the ample means to pursue j t
I the higher mathematics, and to accomplish : i
themselves iu classical literature, which the i !
i .State has so wisely and liberally furnished j {
f for their benefit. So ! let the Senior mem-! i
i hers of the College act with discretion, mod- j <
oration and decorum, and let the younger be t
: controlled by their precept and example.? i
It docs not often happen that men who are ' (
; devoted to study, cither scientific or literary, ; i
| (and it is with such men, chiefly, that the j ]
) i Professorial chairs must be filled,) are found 1
r | to possess among their other gifts, adminis- i
trnfivc talents. Young gentlemen of eigh-j
teen or nineteen year? of age should know ;
somewhat how to govern themselves. Until j
the students of the College shall become
nlive to a sense of their personal responsibility
to the State and to themselves, the very
best administration of the College laws, as a
government, is destined often to fail. On
entering College each student signs "the
Roll," the caption of which embraces a
pledge to conform to the regulations, and to
avoid unlawful combinations On the late
occasion the young gentlemen seem to have
persuaded themselves that, in repudiating
the authority of the President, they were
acting individually, not in combination.?
Yet, after a conference with the Professors,
it was manifest to the Board that almost the
(rhole College was implicated. The students
deemed it a point of honor to sustain the
;Iass, which refused to recite to their chief
I'rofessor, because they had questioned his
integrity and condemned his adminis;rative
ability. Here is evidence of extensive comaination,
yet no student was made conscious
if it. It was deemed necessary that the
Trustees be assembled to instruct the Facul:y
as to their execution of the laws of the
College. Our young men are commended to
:he sentiment, well expressed elsewhere by
in able writer, himself an alumnus of the
College, "Obedience to law and to lawful
luthority is honor."
Arsenal and Citadel Academies.?
[ beg leave to refer you to the Report of the
Board of Visitors of the State Military
:\cadeiiries, which are flourishing as ever.?
Their order and discipline are exemplary.?
The Graduating Class of this year, consisting
if twenty, turns out to society in its various
sailings, young men who, as heretofore, by
heir capability and willingness to be useful,
vill do credit to their training, and to the
?tate whose patronage they have shared.
Free Schools.?The Free Schools are
loing more good than they have been allow:d
credit for. Wherever educated gentlenen
of the country have generously in terest:d
themselves in the subject, and with com
uendable zeal and public spirit have derotcd
a portion of their energies to the suc>ess
of the schools, the law has operated
veil. As a basis for a practical system, regarding
the character of our population and
he geographical peculiarities of the State,
. have not been able to arrange one more
atisfactory. Let its provisions, with some
mendment, be faithfully and judiciously
xecuted, with consideration for those
hiefly interested, and it will discover itself
o our community a system at once available,
iscful aud creditable, inviting and rewardtig
the services of qualified teachers, a supily
of whom canuot be too early provided
or. The excellent public school which has
>een orgauized in Charleston by the Comnitsioners
of St. Philps and St. Mitohaels,
vill very soon furnish a number of young
crsons who, it may be hoped, will do southing
towards introducinginto other portions
if the State, the benefits of the improved
lysteui under which they have been trained.
[ recommend that provision be made for
he establishment, without delay, of one or
uorc Normal Schools, at which the proinisng
pupils from the schools below may be
'urther educated for the purpose, and '.rained
o the art of teaching. These are sdmira)le
institutions, and, if well managed, canlot
fail to send forth the young people of the
hate into the business of life as witnesses
if their usefulness. They are eminently enitled
to the notice of benevolent and public
spirited citizens of wealth, who may desire
:o render useful to their kind, a portion of
:hc surplus means with which they have
jeen blessed. The first Normal School in
\mcrica was fouuded on an offering of S10,)00,
for the purpose, by Mr. Dwight, a
wealthy citizen of Masschusctts, to which
:hc State added 810,000, and the thing was
oon accomplished. I have seen that school \
n successful operation, and freely give you '
ny belief, that a State which pretends to
sustain a general system of public education
hould not remain a year without a school of
i._ i.:-J < . .. i..? ?i? ?r
lie jiiiiu iui lite IU^UUU ui euuipuent
and accustomed teachers. In order to
ldd effect to the system by furnishing the
neans for self-regulation, and hy which may j
dc imparted to it equal usefulness in every j
portion of the State, T recommend taut the I
several Hoards of Commissioners tf Free '
Schools be authorized by law to raise, by 1
isscssment on the amount of general taxes
n their respective Election Districts, a sum
jf money equal to that appropriated by the !
^tate out of the public Treasury, to be ex-1
pcuded and accounted for in like manner.?
Whenever the funds can be raised for the '
aurpose, I think it would contribute to the J
welfare of the State to establish also a
Marine School, at the port of Charleston.
I
Asylum for tub Dkaf and Dumhand !
run Blind.?I transmit the Deport of the >
Principal of the Asylum for deaf mutes and '
:he blind. The public works there are in
progress, and I am happy to have it in my ;
power, by aiding in the expenditure of the j
Dtiblic money, to contribute somewhat to the
liberal establishment of this high charity.? j
\mong the blind, as well as the deaf and i
lumb, trades are beginning to occupy the
uinds and the hands of pupils, thus assur-,
ng them of their ability to be helpful, and 1
mltivatiny a wholesome self-resncet and
o 1
jheerful industry. Soou will grow up a'
lolony of pupils on the lands of the State, j
tntl a society which will be independent and I
liriving, by their various trades and occupa-!
ions. The Commissioners will see to its j
emulation in due time. Tliesegood citizens j
lave performed so well the service of the j
ftate in this regard?so consistent and disruterested
have been their labors?so judici-!
jus their arrangements for the beuefit of
heir charge, that I have great satisfaction
11 co-operating with them cx-oflicio. I rc.'omuicnd
that they be invited to embrace
ffithin the sphere of their supervision the
lublic cducatiou under the Free School
aws; that they be authorized to organize
tud establish one or more Normal Schools
in each division of the State for the preparation
of teachers, and to introduce and explain
improvements in the methods of instruction.
They should be allowed, while
on duty, duringthe recessof the Legislature,
the pay and mileage of members. Hitherto
they have received no compensation beyond
that which arises from the consciousness ol
renderiug good service to the State, and
kind offices to the interesting objects of their
care.
The I>e La Howe School at Lethf..
?During the last Summer, in making a
military tour through the State, a day was
devoted to the school at Lethe, in Abbeville
rlnf tfrmnrJa/1 hr thn TVill r\f T^r ?TnHn
.l/ldbl &V,b, KJJ Mill Wl +* * ^ V ? l)e
La Howe, at the close of the last century.
He devises the land on which he resided,
with all his land adjacent, his library,&c.,
&c., for the purpose of keeping up the farm
and establishing a school for the support and
education of twelve boys and twelve girls,
of Abbeville District, so as to qualify them
to make intelligent and useful farmers and
farmers' wives, and especially recommends
that the principles of chemistry be taught,
so far as they are applicable to practical
agriculture and domestic economy. Thus it
is, indeed, a valuable nucleus of agricultural
education, worthy of the consideration and
enlightened patronage of the General Assembly.
It is the foundation of a benevolent
foreigner, whose remains are there entombed,
and whose example is entitled to
lasting honor and influence. I have recommended
to the worthy Commissioners, who
now devote their time and attention to its
interests, to raise the standard of education
in proportion as their means will allow. A
difficulty in the way of their greater usefulness,
they represent to me, lies in their want
of places for their pupils after completing
their term of four years. If they were authorized,
by law, to send one of their young
men annually to the Arsenal Academy, at
Columbia, or four, or even two in the course
of four years, and also within the same term,
four of the eirls to a Normal School,in order to
learn theartofteaching,thisobstacle mightultimately
be passed. Their teacher, this
year, is a young man, formerly one of their
pupils, who has passed successfully through
the four years course of the State Academies.
It would contribute materialy to the progress of
thatkind of education,which has so long been
desired in Carolina, if this young man
could be sent to an Agricultural School in
Europe for two years, and return to take
charge of the Lethe School four years, in
compensation.
Finance and Banks.?The financial
condition of the State is sound, though at
the present moment neeessarily somewhat
embarrassed. Without including the surplnsrevenue,
SI,051,422 09, which is held
on deposit, the debt of the State amounts to
S3,058,681 50, drawing interest at a rate
varying from 8 to 6 per cent. The taxes
returned for the last fiscal year are S4G3,144
55. The ordinary annual expenses do
not exceed 8350,000. But the payments
out of the Treasury the past year far exceed
that sum. For particulars, I refer to the
report of the Comptroller General.
The same report will present the monthly
exhibit of the condition of the Banks.?
Within ten years the number of Bauks has
been increased to twenty, which arc returned
monthly, with an aggregate capital of 814,837,041
25, with a specie basis in September
of 8999,390 70, and a line of domestic
exchange amounting to 810,205,530 98.?
Of the last sum six of the Banks in the
commercial city of Charleston, having a
capital af 88,137,642 25, returned for their
part only 83,027,057 73. The capital of
the ten Banks first named in the exhibit
amounts to 810,137,042 25 ; their circulation
for September was 83,389,820 ; their
specie on hand, for the same month, S597,949
15. The circulation of the same Banks,
as shown in the month of October, was
S3,80G,504, and their specie amouuted to
8430,803 05. The ten Banks last named,
having together a capital of 84,700,000
returned for their circulation in September
83,715,344; specie on hand, 8401,450 21.
The circulation of the same Banks, as
shown in the October exhibit, was 83,218,315
50 ; specie on hand, 8207,807 11.
In the first half of the year, I was pleased
to learn that the bills of the principal Banks
in South Carolina constituted still a portion
of the most approved currency in tho West,
and were available, also, to travellers as far |
North as the city of New York. Those of j
some of the smaller Banks, it was said, were j
sometimes found, at certain points in the
Western States, circulating too freely and in
too great numbers. In granting aracters
hereafter, I think it would be well to confine
the Banks to dealing in exchange, discount
and deposit. The issue of bills for currency
should be the prerogative of the Bank
of the State, which, in its turn, should be j
denied the privilege of discounting notes or
dealing in domestic exchange. The corporations
which demand a circulating medium
for their business, should apply to the State
authority for the same, depositing one-third
of the amount desired in specie, and the remainder
in satisfactory securities, so as to
assure the public of the souudness and convertibility
of a mixed currency. This suggestion
is made on the supposition that the
State will adhere to the Bank of the State |
as its fiscal agent, not because I prefer it as
such. Unless some such modification of the
system be adopted, I am of opinion that it
would conduce to the soundness of the currency,
and more to the interest of the whole
community, to have the banking business of
the State done by six corporations, instead
of twenty.
1 recomineud that the laws against usury
be repealed, leaving the legal rate of interest
at 7 per cent., where no contract is
made.. Acknowledging the principle of this
reform as sound, 1 have hitherto, in another
capacity, refrained from pressing it, believing
that the public mind should be prepared
for it by full discussion. I am now of
opinion that it should no longer be postponed.
Money is entitled to the benefit of a market !
as well a? every commodity And the owner I
I of money should not be denied the privilege j
of lending it except through the artificial, (
and sometimes costly medium of a corpora- j
tion. Banks, too, should be allowed to j
take, for the use of money loaned, whatever
it is worth in the market, and be thereby
relieved from the tempting facility of evading
the law in order to increase their profits. !
Suspension of Specif. Payments.?
Regarding the recent revulsion in finance j
and the currency, I will not attempt to !
enumerate its causes, but will venture to j
direct your attention not so much to the j
Banks as to the system of banking. A system
which sanctions the issue of paper
money to so large an amount, leading to inflated
credits, inflated prices,extravaganthabitsof
living and rccklessspeculation, may be
supposed calculated to produce a crisissooner
or later. The unhappy sinkingof ashipwith
bullion fromCalifornia,or any event sufficiently
exciting to create a momentary panic, was j
enough to precipitate it. It has had the j
effect to paralyze the arm of honest industry, j
wherever labor is opposed to capital to de- :
press the opening market for produce?and |
to impair the confidence between man and
man. The banks in this State were effected
by the common panic, and felt the pressure
severely?some of them yielding to its in
fluence, have suspended specie payments.?
The suspension of specie payments by a
bank, is a failure to redeem its notes ou demaud?a
forfeiture of its promise to pay in
gold or silver, current coin, the full value of
everybill issued from its counter,?a promise,
on which is based the privilege granted by
the State, to issue bills, and to circulate them
as currency. However, it may be supposed to
afford present relief to the business interests
of the couutry, which, unfortunately, are so
wound up with the banks as to suffer inevitably
froui the contraction of their credits
and their stringent demands, it is demoralizing
in its tendency.
The banks of this State, with which lam
at all familiar, are well administered.?
Several of them have bravely withstood the
shock, and are prepared to do a legitimate
business as usual. All, it is believed, are
solvent. If however, there be some, so dependent
on the banks and brokers of' New
York, as to fail in their pledges to the publie,
when the Northern banks fail, it is their
misfortune to have to answer for the sins of
others, as well as for their own mismanagement.
The consequences to the quiet, uninitiated,
and the laboring community, are
alike distrust and loss, leading to want and
suffering, too often to moral ruin and crime.
The State, too, suffers from the abstraction
of coin and the depreciation of credit in the
sale of her bonds, both for building the
New State Capitol and for aiding the construction
of the Blue Kidge Kailroad. (Of
the former, I signed 100 certificates on the
5th March, and of the latter, 100 on the 4th !
May.)
"Whatever the exigency, it will be long j
before confidence is generally restored, and j
commerce can move tranquilly and safely in
its usual channels, though not near so long,
I trust, as in 1837. Then the suspension
in Charleston took place io May, and lasted
15 months; now it occurs in October, at the
opening of a business season, with a fair,
(though not large,) crop of cotton and rice
on hand, as the basis of commercial com
municntion with capitalists of the home
market, aud of exchange with Europe.
The moment of excitement, apprehension
and financial pressure, is not a time to legislate
respecting the banks. The existing
laws, if sound, will be vindicated in practice;
if otherwise, it will be wise to repeal j
or modify them, when the public mind is j
calm, and commercial confidence shall have
been restored. In enacting statute law, the
statesman to whose wisdom and integrity the
public welfare is entrusted, will not, for the
sake of doing something when in position,
yield either to the crude suggestions of bis
own observation, or to the outside influence
of opinions, created by undue excitement
on the one hand, or by interested individuals
or corporations on the other.
Meanwhile, I may not omit to invite attention
to the admirable operation or the
system of finance, separate from banks, long
since adopted by the Federal Government?
in sanctioning which, that Government has
entitled itself to the respect and confidence
which are due to superior wisdom and foresight.
During the recent confusion and
consequent panic in commercial circles, it j
has done much to break the crash upon the
people of the unstable frame-work erected
upon the credit system, and to save them
from the full effects of the collapse of an
inflated bank currency.
In a pecuniary sense, merely, salaried
officers are not injured by such convulsions,
which must reduce prices. But of all classes,
the least liable to be affected by them is
the planter, who is happily out of debt, who
properly drains aud plows deep his soil, and
whose contented family illustrate, in their |
daily life, the beauties of simplicity and
virtue,?the social cheerfulness of industry i
and a just economy. Let him send forward 1
to market his crop, as it is prepared. Every 1
sale that is made, every debt that is paid, j
every hundred dollars which circulates from
hand to hand, will help to restore the '
general credit, and to re-establish a healthy *
currency, so necessary to prosperous and *
stable markets. Planters, as well as others,
must submit to a reduction of prices. They 1
are entitled, also, to claim the benefit of a <
reduced scale in purchasing supplies. Al- though
the market for produce must rule t
lower, it will soon become healthy and com- I
pcnsating, if the crops be not withheld. i
The Laws.?With my best discretion, I <
have endeavored to ensure a faithful execu- i
tion of the Laws. Several cases of hard- <
ships, doubtless, have occurred. Where t
such have not been relieved by executive 1
interference, it has been owing to the too
frequent instances of a similar kind, im* <
peratively requiring examples to deter others j!
from offeuding. i
It is to be regretted that offences by illicit I
traffic in spirituous liquors, with negroes, <
especially, are so numerous. The too pre- <
valent taste for strong drink suggests this 1
trade to the unprincipled, as the ready means i
of making a livelihood, or of amassing ill- 1
gotten gains. As the difficulty of detection <
increases, it may be well to revise the law <
and make some amendment as to its sane- I
tioDS and the nature of its penalties. In <
certain quarters the evils growing out of its <
iufraction are complicated, and threaten, un- i
less checked to become grave.
It may be in this, as in some other cases,
that the law would be efficacious if those
who are expected to enforce it were more
faithful and prompt. There is a tenderness
in our nature, which misapplied, deters men
from informing against offenders, and from
carrying out fully the law entrusted to their
vigilance. There exists, too, sometimes, an
indifference as to a proper knowlege of the
laws generally, which, inexcusable in the
citizen, aids the bold man, whose design is
to profit by disregarding their provisions.?
Even some who bear the commission of the
State seem in ignorance of the law, prescribing
their duties to act mainly on grounds of
expediency and motives of policy. Surely
the citizen who accepts, much more he who
solicits a commission, should inform himself
as to the duties of his station, and perform
them to the best of his ability, faithfully.
Whenever I have had occassion to interfere
at all with the sentence of the Courts,
in cases where the penalty was to be inflicted
on the person, either capitally or corporeally,
I have directed the Sheriff to confine
its execution to the precincts of the
jail-yard, with the Clerk of the Court and
some few substantial citizens as witnesses.
I think that the law is deficient in omitting
to provide some punishment for those offences
which are technically called breaches of trust,
or embezzlement, in contra-distinction to
larceny. The violation of morality is the
same id uotn?tne ainerence Deiwcen inem, i <
artificial and shadowy; and I see no good ]
reason why the one should be visited with s
the inost degrading punishment known to i
our statute book, while the other passes un- 1
noticed. Recent experience has brought 1
forcibly to my notice, that some statutes, pre- ]
scribing a severity of punishment which is i
not consonant with the necessities, or the i
spirit of the age, have been allowed, through ]
over-sight, to remain unrepealed and though ]
nearly obsolete, in fact are still of force, le- 1
gaily. In this view I would recommend a
revision of the criminal law, and consider- !
ing that this law is simple, and capable of i
being rendered comprehensible to all persons ]
of intelligence, I think its reduction into a !
code would be advisable. 1
Federal Relations?In the occasional '
discussions of the political position of the '
State, I have taken no part. Regarding it '
as well settled since the Convention of 1852, 1
I percieve no room for material differences 1
amongst her citizens who wish to agree. If '
there be a respectable number who desire to 1
associate themselves with the general Demo- !
cratic party in nominating conventions, let '
them do so without committing the State.? '
While indulging the spirit of conciliation, '
however, it behoves us to beware, lest in our '
kind feelings towards distinguished citizens '
of that party, we drift into the smooth cur- J
rent of nationalism. The Federal aspect of
South Carolina, so far as it is influenced by 1
her State policy, is obnoxious to many poli- (
ticians in America; and some of our own J
good men seem to believe with them, that it j
is chiefly aristocratic pride which keeps her 1
in position ; that the men of South Carolina [
arrogate to themselves superior wisdom and 1
patriotism, and to their women superior vir- 1
tue. Whereas, without arrogating to them- *
selves any superiority, the truth is, that what- (
ever of wisdom, of patriotism or virtue may 1
characterise her people, are among the happy }
consequences resulting from her institutions, '
political, social and domestic. Long may *
we cherish them. (
The comparative segregation of the State
in politics heretofore, is not as hopeful to
some progressive minds, as the power?the
seeming order and harmony?proceeding ^
from combination with a national party.?
Experience teaches the necessity of tolera- j
ting extremes, even in politics, in order to
secure a just mean. If South Carolina has (
ever occupied the extreme position of isolation,
it was not from choice, but from the '
force of the patriotic principles which regu- ^
lated her action, like the balance wheel whose J
motion, peculiar and to the careless observer ^
apparently useless, is yet so necessary to the
successful and safe operation of the great ^
engine. There is, in fact, no disposition on
the part of this State to either fanaticism or ^
isolation. Politicians may wrangle, and public
journals may oppose one extreme of opinion
and argument against another; the people
of the State will adhere to the just medium.
Venerating and preserving those j
principles so essential to the reserved rights
of the States, which are illustrated by the
history of Carolina during the last thirty
years, they will be ever ready and willing to j
make common cause with the neighboring
States, having a common interest to protect,
md to unite as heretofore with the general
Democratic party in the Electoral College, 8
ind in the Federal Councils, also, so long as c
those principles are duly respected in practice.
1
c
Kansas.?Our friends in Kansas, who Y
have struggled manfully to sustain an une- t]
}ual contest, are entitled to our sympathy, tj
?'tis all we have a right to offer. Notwith- j,
standing the machinations of designing men 0j
;here, and the perversion of power, whether g
ndividual or conventional, due to notions of
jxpediency, I trust that just counsels will
f^et prevail and ultimately establish in that ^
ievoted Territory a system of Government g(
sonducive to their true interests and the pub- y)
ic welfare
Maine and Connecticut.?I transmit ^
lertain resolutions from the States of Maine
and Connecticut, which indicate the prevailing
opinion of the Legislatures from which
they emanate?so totally at variance with
our own. They protest against the late dejision
of the Supreme Court in the case of
Scott r.?. Sandford. The political principles
recognized by the decision referred to, meet
with the sanction of the people of South
Carolina, who applaud the wisdom of the
decree in which they are now judicially embodied.
Owing to the prejudices of birth,
education and association, men reared differently
will diverge in sentiment from each
other. Especially is this the case in relation
to domestic slavery?an institution which
existed when the American Constitution was
adopted, and was recognized thereby. Let
the law of charity prevail in judging one
another. In preserving and protecting the
r.i.1
piupeibjr ui uur laiuers iu uegiu omvcaj wc
deem ourselves entitled to the respect and
aid of all good men and wise aiatcsmen. Our
ancestors, dealing with gold and silver coin,
bought the negro from the capitalist of England
and New England, whose thriving trade,
however, abused in many instances, was overruled
by the Providence of God, to convert
the barbarian bushman of the African coast,
into the orderly domestic, the Christain
black-laborer of America. There are few
results more amazing in statistics than those
which are produced by the fruits of this labor?a
labor which could no more be dispensed
with by America now, than could .he
commerce aud manufacture so dependent on
its productions.
The Statue cf Washington.?One of
the last letters which I received from the
late Senator Butler, related to a copy, in
bronze, of Houdon's statue of Washington,
which he recommended should be purchased
by the State. It is pleasing to recur to the
recollection of this great and good man. It
is a boon to mankind when the good God
permits sometimes the wisdom of love, associated
with faith and hope, to be embodied
in a human form, whose favor wo may look
upon and admire. It is true that our debt
)f gratitude to his memory cannot thus be
rmi'rl Vmf if 10 rlna fn nnrcalvoo *h?t w*
^rutwk j i/uv iv 10 uuv w vuiovii ve ??v
diould acknowledge it by some visible token,
md it is due to posterity to provide a monument,
to which the young may be pointed
ivhen curious to realize the idea of his manly
proportions, or when enjoined by their matrons
to study the character of Washington,
ind emulate the virtues which adorn it. I
propose that a statue be ordered and that
provision be made for its erection with the
New State Capitol.
State Magazine.?In the month of
February last, in making a visit to the Magazine
in Charleston, I discovered that the
proprietor of the land adjacent (Payne's
Farm) had divided it into lots, allowing sufScient
room for streets, which the city authorities
h.ij caused to be traced. These
lots, by squares, in succession, were sold by
luction in the City market. Conceiving,
forthwith, the inconvenience and danger to
the property of the State that would ensue
from having persons settle in dwellings of
iny sort, under the very walls of the Magazine,
and the loss which the State would have
to submit to hereafter, if desirous to dislodge
them when once in possession, I did not
hesitate to assume the responsibility of infracting
Mr. Yeadon to purchase for the
State all the lots and parts of lots between
the State lands and the line of the North
Eastern Railway. After some delay this
pas at leogth accomplished, by the assistance
)f the Attorney-General, in the month of
May, at a cost of 83,435 50 for the land,
ind 811 50 for recording the titles, to whioh
a to be added the sum of 8206 07 for endosing
the grounds. A portion of this tract
s low marsh, covered by the tides, and 8t
present valueless, except for privilege; but
;he convenience of transportation by water
>n the East, and by railway on the West,
enders it practicable to fill these portions
whenever it may be desirable. The proba- %
rility is, that the whole property will rather %
appreciate in value than otherwise, in the a
jourse of years. It will be proper and safe
x> close the streets of the City so far as they
run through this property. I recommend
;hat this be done by authority of law at your
present Session.
Charleston and Memphis.?The present
year has been signalized by the compledon
of the connected Railway communica
Lion between the Atlantic at Charleston and
Savannah, and the river Mississippi at Memphis,
in the State of Tennessee. This happy
event was duly celebrated by the Municipal
Authorities of the cities at either end of
ihe line, in May and June last. In North
Latitude 32 deg. 46 min. I witnessed the
neeting of the waters?those of the turbid
Mississippi poured into the briny Atlantic;
ind on the part of the State I gave welcome
o our neighbors of Georgia, and to our comnon
friends from the Valley of the Missisippi.
I trust it will not be long before the Railrays
from Memphis and Nashville and
inoxville will debouche into South Carolina
hrough the Blue Ridge mountains. I had
he satisfaction to witness the progress of the
unnel on this line, in the month of August
recognized on that occasion the triumphs
f science at every step, in the excellent
lispoeitions of the engineers. The best
pirit seemed to prevail among engineers,
ontractors, and laborers.
Geological Survey and Rigistbaion.?I
trust the General Assembly will
j*n notninaim fa flta rionlrtfri/mll snr.
UUtlUUV lie ^/avtwuHgu w wuv vi vvivq*vw. m?mey
of the State, and to the Registration of
tie Births, Deaths and Marriages. Difficul;es
must attend both undertakings, in their
icipienoy. But I am persuaded that in the
lever reports on those subjects, you will
Dd reason to be encouraged in panning
lem. The report of the Geological 8ur?
eyor, and that of the Adjutant and Inspec>r
General, are herewith submitted, to*
ether with Major Parker's report on the
iriations of the Magnetic Needle.
Into your bands the affairs of the com'
lonwealth are committed.
R. F.W. ALWfOlf.
/