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RATES OF SUBSCRIPTION.?Tfro Dollars per annum, and One Dollar for six months, Subscriptions are not takes, for a Jess period than six months. Liberal deductions made -to clubs of ten or more subscribers, BATES OP ADVERTISING.?Ons Dollar per square ol one inch for the first insertio n, and Fifty Cents per square tor subsequent insertions less than three months.: No advertisement counted less than a square. Liberal contracts will be made with those wishing to advertise for three, six or twelve months. Ad? vertising hy contract must be confined to the im? mediate! uslness of the firm or individual cod trac- I tin*. ? , Obituary Notices exceeding five lines, Tributes of Respect, and an personal communications or mattere of individual interest, will be charged for at advertising rates. Announcements of marriages i and deaths, and notices of a religious character, are respectfully solicited, and will be inserted irratls. GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE. Executive Chamber, ) (30luioi?, S. C., Nov. 23,1875. J Gentlemen of the Seriate and 2 Houseof RcprescTitatives : T welcome you on your return to the scenes of your public duties. The period since your separation bat witnessed the death of but two of your number; peace and- headrtr-faavc pret^e^ lhi?troi?rft' the State/,* the labor, of all-classes of our citizens haa^been rewarded by a large degree of material prosperity; the causes of discontent and hostility -among pur people have 'been* greatly diminished; and the feeling of respect and attachment to the Union, .of which our Slate is a part, has been sensibly strengthened.? -r or these-blessings we owe our.;sincere gratitude to the great Ruler of tie world. In. presenting to you such information and views respecting public affairs as I deem important,'! express.the hope that we shall bring to the discharge of our present duties a deep and constant feel ing that'we are simply the servants, and representatives of the whole people of the State. The honors and .emoluments, of Sublic office are merely incidental to.it? L- ties and .responsibilities. To seek the former and disregard the latter, is an of? fense against the first principles of moral and officia 1 obligation. Those to whom we owe our present positions will justly measure us by the standard of oar ndeli - ty to the trusts confided to us. I invoke, therefore, upon our deliberations and la bors at this session the spirit of fidelity, of patriotism, of earnest co-operation in the measures best ..suiter1, t:? .advance the great interests of the State. I^shajl en; aeavor, for. myself, to lend aH-my powers to-the-woTk of assisting the 'General" As? sembly in the proper discharge of its high duties. I shall be best con tent.to follow von in the rjath of ^reform,, econo? my and good administration. Thafrp?th I shall surely follow, whether with few or many, bat I trust I shall hereafter find it made broad and clear before me by those who alone have power to enact into laws the demands of the people. TAXATION. The amount of taxes levied and col? lected, the methods of their levy and col lection, and the objects upon which they are expended, are the most important subjects with which the State govern meat has to deal. By the^ptesent assessment of real prop ty, whicbqfjAs made in 1874, the total value of trw JJropeit^in the State is $90,095,407. While there are, no doubt, individual instances, of error, and ,.hard ship in the present valuation, yet, ?q?>far as my information extends, the general result'h as fair as-can reasonably be ex? pected. If the individual taxpayer will avail himself of the means afforded by the present laws. for his protection against unequal or excessive assessments, I thin^he instances will be very rare in which injustice will be finally done. At thedasfr^awn^ tne^'HaMtroti anff assessment'* Acts were carefully revised, and an additional Act relating to "forfeited" lands .was passed. The tax. laws of the ;St?te are now, in my judgment, well adapted to secure, in the language of the Constitution, "equality and uniformity" in the assessment, of property for taxation^' '>'? The total valuation of personal prop-, erty under trie assessment of 1875 is $45,791.006, in which is included i con? siderable amount of personal property which has hitherto escaped taxation. I am happy to express my belief L_ the tax laws of the' State are now admin? istered with fairness and ability, and no. instances are known to me in which com Slaints duly presented have not.received ue.ccuaidera?on. .The results are high? ly creditable to the people, as well as to our tax-officers.- In au aggregate tax for the past year of $1,555,201.68, only $12, 519.47 have been returned as mtUa bona, being less than four-fifths of one per cent. In- 1S72 the returns of nulla bona amounted to $48,892.77, and in 1873 to $51,363.90: ' Daring the past year, under the decis? ion of the United States Supreme Court,' the entire property- of the Northeastern railroad company, and a large part of the Sroperty of the South Carolina Railroad ompany, has been subjected to taxation. The question of the liability of the prop? erty of - the Savannah and Charleston Railroad Company, and the A>r Line Railroad Company, is still pending in* the United States. Courts, and in the mean? time the'State authorities'are enjoined from enforcing the, ?collection oV any taxes on their property. It is believed that during the presjj^t year final deck-, ions favorable to tbe State will be reached in these cases, and thus several mil? lions be added to the taxable property of the State. ''' ' '1 ' I have no specific recommendation to make upon the subject of our tax laws, bat I shall warmly favor any changes which may promise greater efficiency or fairness in the administration of-thi? de? partment of Qovwnment ' ? 11 EXPENDITURES. In the matter of expenditures I have the satisfaction of saying that great ad yar^O^rls^ The entire appropriation f9r legislative expenses for. the 'fiscal year was $150,000. The appropriation under this head for the proceeding fiscal, year was-, $18)0,000, whilfe.thairerage .cost of a refe-o&^KBes aion of the General Assembly from 1868 to 1873, inclusive, was $320,405.16, the cost of the regular session of 1871-72, reaching as high an amount as $617,134. In honorable contrast with former years, it should also be mentioned that no obli? gations have been issued or incurred by the officers of the General Assembly du? ring the past year, in excess of the ap? propriations made. | The intolerable abuses of former years ill connection with contingent.funds'have also been in a great degree- .removed. The entire amount appropriated during the past year for the contingent funds of all the Executive officers, including the contingent fund of the Supreme Court and' the special .Etigatioa fund oT'-fhe Attorney'General *f $7*600. waS.$15=5?0. The^entire approbation*for legislative contingent expenses was $13,000. The corresponding appropriations for the fis? cal year 1873-74 were, respectively, $47, 100, and $32,500, showing, a decrease in the' aggregate, of about sixty-five .per cent, in favor of the last fiscal year. But the gain . to public morality and economy is still greater when we consid? er the fact that all Executive contingent funds have been drawn during the past year on vouchers approved by and filed with the Comptroller General. Account? ability and publicity, the two chief: safe? guards of official integrity, have thus been secured. For the last fiscal year the Governor's contingent fund was re? duced from the previous annual average of $25,000 <to $8,000, and at the end of the year the sum of $247.04 remained undrawn.' I herewith transmit to the General Assembly a detailed statement of the disbursement of this fund, in ac? cordance with the requirements of Sec? tion 7 of the last general appropriation Act. Provision having been made-at the hist session by an Act .entitled "An Act rela? tive to contracts for the ? Exe cu ti ve . De - partmenta of the State Government, and for the General Assembly/' (Acte of 1874-75, page ;958,) for supplying the Executive Departments and the* General Assembly -with fuel and stationery, to be paid for by an appropriation from the phosphate royalties, it is obvious that the! appropriations for contingent expenses to be made ? by the general ? appropriation Act of the present year should be greatly redueedT??? ?~?? . LEGISLATIVE EXPENSES. I have already presented the favorable contrast between the appropriation of the last year for legislative expenses and those of former years. The pay of members of the. General Assembly being provided for by ah annual salary and mileage, the .amount of .money necessary for this pur? pose is determinate. The other items of legislative expenses are the pay of the subordinate officers and attachees, and the contingent accounts. The amount ' of these items 'will depend chiefly on the length of the session, and thus will afford full opportunity for the exercise of econ? omy. With a session: of from thirty to fifty days in length the entire amount of the appropriation necessary for legisla? tive expenses for. the present year can be brought within: $120,000. The. item of contingent legislative expenses will be nearly .eliminated: by the provision al? ready made for fuel and stationery. I most earnestly urge upou your hon? orable bodies the propriety, in every view of the matter, of as brief a session as can be made compatible with the enact? ment of ,tbe necessary measures .of legis? lation. Such a result would be of incal? culable benefit to our State, not only in reducing? the expenses of tne legislative de partment, but in the wholesome and loiig needed example it would furnish. ;3ut there is one measure of legislative reform which I orgeat tins lime as more vital and important than all others. I mean the mode of auditing and paying legislative expenses and .claims passed by the Greneral Assembly. In. my Inaugu? ral Address, one year ago, I presented my views upon this point; -and i j can do little more at the present time than to reiterate them, End to add that my pres? entgreater fimiliarity with tire subject nicreasesmy conviction of their correct? ness. ' -;.-???> is t-y, , It is a proposition which' no one con dispute that a permanent, public, acces? sible record should be kept of tne dis? bursement of everv dollar of the public fur ds. It is equally undeniable that all accounts calling for' the expenditure of public funds should be audited by some officer/ who, is officially responsible , for the performance of,this duty.. . The'present method of payment of legislative accounts docs not meet these requirements of good administration.' I therefore repeat my former recommen? dation, "that all payments to . be made on account.cf legialative .'expenses, or cla; ma passed by the General Assembly, be nude by the State Treasurer, upon wai rents- drawn by the Coinptrolier Gen eral for which tne' vouchers 'shall be filed with the Ctomprofler General." In the paymant of members, subor? dinate officers, attachees, &c the .only voucher requisite would be a duly certi? fied list of all persons who hold these Ssitions. The . C > aptroller. General ving satisfied nimself 'of-the . correct? ness of the lists furnished ov the officers of the General Assembly and ..the authority: of law for ' then* payment, would then draw bi? warrant u~on the Treasurer for the proper sums of -noney. In. the payment of contingent expenses each branch of the General Assembly would, by committee, or otherwise, make sue i audit;, as might be deemed necessary : of such accounts and order their pay? ments. The vouchers thus accepted by the General Assembly would ? be sent to the office of the Comptroller General, and there remain permanently exposed to the scrutiny of tbe public, and pay? ment would be made only on the war? rant of the .Comptroller General. In the case 'St claims passed by the General ? Assembly,- tiheoriginal - accounts of euch claims, and the certificates Tor their p^ment issued'by the officers of the'General Assembly, should likewisex be' filed with the Comptroller General, as vouchers to that officer for the issue of warrants.1 In this connection- I may state that I have personal knowledge that ; in one instance, at least, a certificate for the payment; of a.claim passed by the General-Assembly was issued at the lost session, and both .this certificate and the original claim were left in the hands of the person who' presented the: claim. Both these demands, the claim certificate j and the original claim, were i livable by the Treasurer without further examina? tion,, and thus;this -demand might have been twice paid without fault on the part of the Treasurer. , ...? I trust these considerations will render certain the adoption of such legislation j upc j this subject as will afford the proper .securities:-'''' ?"'? *'?: ; PT^IC PRteTIKG. Th2 public printing has been reduced during, the past year from the annual average of $181^209.95"'during' the three preceiutfg'yeaTsy to the ?um of $50,000 per year. This branch of public work shouLi hereafter be thrown; open to the' lowes: bidder, under such regulations as will ?:cure fair and genuine, competition {and the faithful performance of the pro? posals, thus, received. . , . ' In prosecuting ^he work; of retrench? ment, the number of sataried'officers and tbe amounts of the salaries paid, will re? quire strict examination. At the last session of the General As? sembly a Bill upon this subject , was ma? tured and passed by the House of Repre? sentatives, which was a long step, in the right direction. This Bill is now upon the Calendar of tho Senate, and I most heartily urge -it* immediate enactment into law. ' ' V APPROPRIATION'S AND DEFICD'KCIES. Having in all practical ways brought the expenses of the government to the lowest limit compatible with the due support of our public interests, the next duty will be the levy of taxes sufficient, with other sources of revenue, to defray these expenses. This is not. merely the plain dictate of common prudence and* Sxl administration, but it is a specific nstitution. - obligation. Section 3 of Article IX of the Constitution is as fol? lows: "The General Assembly shall provide an annual tax sufficient to defray the estimated expenses of the State for each year, and whenever it shall happen that such ordinary expenses of the State for any year shall exceed the income of, the State for such year, the General iAs* sembly shall provide for levying a tax for. the ensuing year, sufficient, with other sources of income, to pay the deficiency of the preceding year, 'together with the estimated expenses of the ensuing, year.". Tbe first .constitutional duty imposed and made imperative by this Section is the levy of a tax. sufficient to defray the estimated expenses of the State for the present year; The fact that the General Assembly cannot be compelled by any higher no wer to perform this duty, does not diminish the obligation to perform it. The practical evils of a neglect of this duty are oppressing nearly every branch of the public service at the present time. Avast floating debt and the loss of public ere lit, to say nothing of tile-hardship imposed upon thousands of individuals, are an long these evils. I trust, therefore, that nothing will here? after induce the General Assembly to neglect to provide by tax for all the esti? mated expenses of the current year. ? The second constitutional duty im? posed and made imperative by this Sec* tion is the levy of a tax sufficient to pay "the* deficiency "of?he- preceding year.' This duty has like wh e been neglected in former years. The total amount of defi? ciencies for the last fiscal year, including ?the loss in the South Carolina Bank and Trust Compauy, is $308,872.15, of which i it should be said that $127,724.03 are the result of the, failure of the South Caro? lina Bank and Trust Company. Of this amount the sum of $249,372.29 (as 1 have pointed out in detail in my Message of this date, returning the Tax Act of the last session,) should be pro? vided for in the levy for the present year. If the General Assembly shall; perform its duty in this respect we shall during the present year witness the prompt and regular payment of salaries and appro? priations for public institutions, and a ] consequent restoration of our State credit, together with the increased efficiency of every branch of the jjublic service. The ultimate burden of taxation will, not thereby be increased, while in the ab? sence of extraordinary causes the entire item of deficiencies will be eliminated from the next annual tax levy. ? Such re suits will follow the simple discharge of our constitutional obligations, and I do not - permit, myself to believe that the General . Assembly will fail to secure I them. FAILURE OF THE SOUTH carolina BANE AND TEU8T company. The most untoward event affecting our public interests during the past year has been the failure of the South Carolina Bank and Trust Company. At the time of its failure this Bank had $205,753.79 of money belonging to the State, of which amount $106)829.80 belonged to the funds for the' payment of interest on the public debt, the iemaihder,2$98;924,49, belonging to the general .appropriations for tie last- fiscal year. This fail? ure took place: on the. 2d day of July last, and immediately thereafter, on the I motion of the Attorney General, the Court of Common .Fleas for : Riehl and County appointed Hon. T. C. Dunn the Receiver of the assets 'and property of I thebauk. What amount the State'will finally receive in the distribution of the property of the bank, on account of-its deposit, it is now impossible to determine even approximately. The nominal amount of the liabilities of the bank is reported by f k e- Receiver to be $868,455. 06, and the nominal assets $314,950.24. ' Of the assets of the bank, it may, in general, be said that they are to the: last degree unsatisfactory and uncertain inj vplue, as well as unavailable for present] conversion into money. The evil effects of this failure have n?t been limited to the State, hut the funds of several of the Counties have also been lost. I H The management of this bank, ? the causes of its failure, and the responsibili? ty therefor, I do not deem it my province to discuss at'thistime. The property and assets of the bank being in the hands .of I the Court, all legal questions involved in the failure must be determined by the Court The circumstances attending the deposit of the State funds: in this bank, as. well as the motive of the several members of the; Board having the se .ee tion of the banks of deposit for State funds, have already been made know a to the public If the .General Assembly shall desire farther information respect ing these matters, I shall be ready to far- I nish all information within my power; of if it shall hereafter seem incumbent on me to discuss these matters further, I shall make a special communication to the General Assembly. There is one subject conspicuously pre? sented by this failure which I desire to bring to the immediate attention of the 1 General Assembly:, the question of the I safest method of keeping our State de? posits in the future. The law at present requires the G-ot erhor, the Treasurer, and the Comptroller General, acting .together as a Board, to select the banks of deposit, having, ref? erence to the rate of interest which may be obtained upon the deposits and the security of the banks, i It is obvious that the rate of interest paid on the State de-' posits is of little importance, compa red with the security, of the banks. With reference to the.'security of the banks, the board of deposit can dp little more than to select such banks as stand weiil with the community generally and are trusted by private persons in the care of their private funds. This does not, seem,' in the light of recent events in this State, to afford sufficient protection to the pub lie funds, j I have been unable to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion on this sub? ject, and I must therefore refer it, without specific recommendation, to the wisdom of the General Assembly. It is a subject demanding immediate considera? tion, and if I were to make any sugges? tion, it would be that the subject be re ferred by your .honorable bodies for con* sideration and report to a Joint Special Committee^ selected - with special - refer? ence to their financial and business ex peri nee and capacity.""" : " THE PUBLIC DEBT. ? Since November 1st'1874. $2,624,706,801 of the bonds and stock authorized by the Consolidation Act of December 22, 1873, have been issued. The entire amount of this class of our public sec;'rin^s issued up to that date is $3,618,290.^. About seven-tenths of all the bonds and stock made exchangeable under that Act .have thus been exchanged.., The great disaster of the failure of the South Carolina Bank and Trust Company has been most se? verely felt in its influence on this great public interest. It gave a shock to the growing confidence in the good faith ' of the State* towards the public creditors, depressing the market value of the pub? lic securities and checking for a time the process of exchange. Since the 1st July, 1875, about $500, 000 of consolidation bonds and stock have been issued, the. coupons of which, from July 1,1874, remain unpaid. I re commend that a tax included in the an? nual levy now to be made for the defi? ciencies of. the last fiscal year, to pay this amount of outstanding interest, amount? ing to $30,000. The vital necessity of faithfully adher? ing to the contracts and obligations in curredby the "present settlement of our public debt, I trust, needs no enforcement. It is as essential to the general prosperity of the State as to the interest of her cred? itors. If good faith and unflinching honesty shall be observed, the year on which we have entered will witness the complete exchange of the old debt of the State, a result which will be second to no other result of our efforts to restore the honor and welfare of the State. I recom? mend that such action be taken as will fully meet the just demands of the public creditors under the Consolidation Act, and remove all doubts respecting our intention to make that Act the point of departure for a new career of faith and honor, which shall help to hide the er? rors and failings of our recent history. FLOATING INDEBTEDNESS. ; What is conveniently termed the .floating indebtedness of the State pre? sents a subject of great difficulty, but one which presses for decision. : Under .this, head Is included all .the various evidences of indebtedness and claims against the State which-have arisen between 1868 and 1874. Two rea? sons induce me to favor a settlement of this part of our debt, if a reasonable scheme can be adopted: first, justice to the many hohlere 6Tthese' claims "who have, given the. State valuable, considera? tion therefor, in money, merchandise, or labor and services; second, the removal from' our current legislation of a disturb? ing and most unfavorable influence. I shall not dwell upon this subject at the present time further than to say that any scheme to command my support must embody these two provisions: First, the proper auditing of all forms of this in? debtedness; and, second, the gradual payment of the debts by such annuul tax as will not be too burdensome to the people. . COUNTY FIXANCES. I am glad to express t be belief that the financial conditions of many of the Coun? ties, of. the State has been greatly ini Jr?ved du ring the past year.' In general, think the former habits of extravagance and fraud in County affairs have been corrected. A majority of the Counties are, however, burdened, like the State, by floating indebtedness. The requisites of a proper iicheme for. the settlement of this indebtedness are the same, in my opinion, as those already stated: first, tbe proper auditing of all claims, and, second, their gradual payment by taxation.? Wherever, these claims can be subjected to judicial scrutiny, such a course will fur? nish the best; attainable'mode of auditing the claims. - To guard against future evils of a sim? ilar oharacter, I recommend that County Commissioners be required to make, spe? cific levies for all tbe leading objects, of expenditure,, as is now done by the State. Tim will, to a great degree,' prevent the diversion of funds from the objects which are'most essential to the maintenance of County government, Buch^ as the'pay of jurors, the dieting of prisoners, the ordi? nary expemes of the Courts, and the support of tho poor. County taxes are now extremely burdensome, and . every effort should be made to reduce, them. ? * # . * ? JUSTICES OF THE PEACE AND CONSTA? BLES. / ' ? I again urge that the provisions, of Sections'1, 21, 22, 23 and'24 of Article IV of the 'Constitution, relating to the election of "a competent number- of - Jus? tices of the Peace and Constables; in each Cour.tv, by the qualified electors thereof, in sucn manner as the-General Assembly may direct,1' be. put, into practice. The adoption of new constitulional provisions will give little confidence in our good in? tentions while important existing consti? tutional, requirements ' are' wholly and rJersiitently disregarded. Thougu 'the General Assembly 'has the power, -they have not the right, to deprive the electors of . the Counties of the constitutional privilege of electing Justices of the Peace and Constables,:: If one constitutional requirement,can be disregarded, all can be, so.far,.at least, as they depend on the positive action pf the General Assembly. The results of the system of Trial Justices appointed by the Governor certainly can? not be considered so tavorable as to jus? tify the annullin?r of an important part of the Constitution. Let the Constitu? tion be enforced in all its provisions, and a public sentiment will then be cultiva? ted, which will make the Constitution the shield for all classes of our. people from the wrongs or excesses which tne inter? ests of any political party may prompt. REGISTRATION .OF VOTEBii.. The Constitution, in Section 3 of Arti? cle Mil, declares that "it shall be the duty of the General Assembly topro vide, from time to time, for the registration of all el.ectoni/' ?'" V hat has just been said of the election of Justices of the Peace and Constables applies equally to this provision of the Constitution. If it were a question of constitutional construction, were might be room for difference of opinion here. But. it will .not be questioned .that the Constitution requires' registration. It is equally plain that the phrase from "time to time" is intended to secure the con? stant observance of this safe-guard of our elections. :.To my mind there is noplace left for argument ou this subject. In a political or. party . .view. I fear, nothing more than the effect of a plain disregard of constitutional requirements. In the revolutions of political fortune, which are always incident.'to a wide or universal suffrage, by a (lisrcga'rd of the Constitu? tion,-7" ? '? - * ? . :i . ??* ? "we but teach El In?tructions, which, being taught, return To prajriie the Inventors.'" 1 rj2709.iT V ? REPBESENT ATI02T. I am con idgnt, from various indica? tions,-that ti e" principle of minority rep? resentation ingrowing in favor among all the > people of the State. It offers in theory, certainily, and in practice, so, far ?} yet /tested,. i mode, of reaching that ighest result <>f our .representative sys? tem, the. true proportional influence of each class or piirty into which pur voting population hijaV be divided! 'Trie, rule of the majority W riot thereby destroyed^ while the voice and influence of the mi? nority is not. wholly suppressed. In this State its advtniages'in our Counties and municipalities.would be peculiarly great. Our voting population is.now, in a great measure; divided upon Hues which are riot conducive to the best results in .our public.affairs. Minority representation will mitigate these evils without changing the basis of political' power. ' Practically^ though not in name, this principle has already bee:i applied'in some of our Counties and citi es. Citizens of both parties or races have voluntarily agreed to share political power in ap? proximate pre port ion to the r numerical strength, respectively. The results of such a course have'invariably been satis? factory,, so far as I- ain informed, and I am sure that the example will be repeat? ed more and more widely in the future. What is thus here and there secured by the voluntary concert of our citizens will be secured fh-raly and UniveiBally by the adoption into, the law of the State of the principle of, minority representation in all County and municipal elections. . I cordially and earnestly urge this measure upon your consideration at the present session. B0AJ1D OF STATE CANVA88E;B8. I call {.Mention to the recommendations made in my inaugural address respecting a revision of the Laws defining the powers of the Board of State Canvassers. Dif? ferent .opinions respecting the powers of the Board prevail among the present members of this Board, and expensive litigation is almost constantly in progress, growing out of this uncertainty. A few simple amendments of the present law will set at rest all doubts on this subject. THE STATE AGRICULTURAL AND ME? CHANICAL 80CIETY. The State Agricultural an d Mechanical Society, through a committee of its mem? bers, have requested me to call your atten? tion to the condition and wants of that So ! ciety, and to recommend an appropriation I in its aid.. The utility of societies of this character need not be argued. ? Our State is pre-eminently an agricultural State. Every practicable means should be em? ployed to promote the interests ?of the planter .and: farmer, - as well as the agri? cultural laborer, of,whatever grade. The State Agricultural Society can be made a principal agent ha this work. . At the. present time the condition of this Society seems to be one of extreme depression in some respects. I conclude, also, from many indications, that an opinion widely prevails . that the Society has. not in au respects been wisely managed hitherto. If the State shall contribute directly to the support of this Society I think it should, if practicable, make sure that the Society shall so manage its affairs as to enlist the, support and confidence of all who regard the welfare of .the State. How this can best be done I am not pre? pared to say. I do, however, cordially recommend that an appropriation be made in aid of this Society lor the present year, to be drawn and expended under such re? strictions and regulations as may be deemed best adapted to promote the gen? eral agricultural interests pf the whole State. Witb^ economy in other enpendi tures, such an appropriation need not increase the burden of our. taxation. < THE AR8ENAL HILL* STATE PROPERTY". The very valuable property of the State on Arsenal Hill, in this city, formerly used as the Governor's residence, was placed in my charge at the.beginning of the year, with the intimation that the rent derived from it might be regarded as applicable to my use. I have not felt willing to accept this offer, and inasmuch as the whole property was greatly in need of repairs, I have devoted the entire rent of the year, to that use. The residence has been repaired; the fences rebuilt, and all the out-btiildings put in good order. During the present year this work can be extended -and the value of the property, j greatly enhanced by judicious, improve-1 ments. I transmit herewith a detailed statement of all money received from j rent, and all disbursements made during I the last year, the vouchers for. all off which are . on .file for inspection in .the Executive office. THE PALMETTO MONUMENT. The monument ?n the Capitol grounds, erected in memory of the.Palmetto Beg- j iment, which achieved renown in the war with Mexico, has been greatly injured by the tern ad a which visited this city during the past;year.. The interest manifested by all classes of citizens in its restoration is a strong tribute to the patriotic and I martial spirit of our people, and induces me to add an expression of my.hope that | the General Assembly may find impracti? cable to cause the monument to be suita-1 bly repaired during the present year.: I THE ELECTION OF JUDGES".' ? J At the present session the election of Judges ot the Courts of Common Fleas I and of the Supreme Court will take place. It cannot be deemed improper for me to j present to the General A ss em bly the par- J amount importance of a' wise discharge of this duty.' The. ancient fame of South Carolina in this respect should be-kept steadily in mind. The standard of char? acter and attainment once universally observed in this State, should never be lowered. Legal learning, a judicial spirit and a high, nnblemished personal char? acter, should mark every man who shall be elected to sit in' the seats nf Harper and Dunkin, of O'Neal and Wardlaw. If all these qualities are dot attainable, let the1 one' quality'of personal integrity never be lost sight of.: 'That ? edmmunity may well be pitied which is doomed , to submit its great interests to the decision I of one whose judgments will reflect his ] own passions or interests. THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF 1876. . On tie 4th day of July, 1876, one hun? dred years will have passed since the Declaration of American Independence was made. In obedience to the naturall impuhe, as well as the cultivated- princi-1 pie of national pride, in grateful recog nition also of the blessings communicated to us and to the whole world from the event of July:4,17.76, the States pf Amer? ican Ur ion, the old and the new alike, will unite at Philadelphia, on the spot where Adams and. Jefferson, the- North and South of - a century, ago, ploclaimedJ the birth of a'new nation; in celebrating the most auspicious, .event of modern times. .In that..celebration,Sou(jh Caro? lina will have a place;. Shall she occupy it or hot ?; t firmly believe fhat'tflfe:mfe voice of South Carolina'answers from all her plains and mountains, by all*her sons and,daughters, "South Carolina shall fill her place in the centennial pageant." In.this confidence! now invite again the attention of the General Assembly to this subject. At your- last session, in re- j sponse to a special Executive .csmmuni cation, a Joint Special Committee was.I appointed from your two Houses "to col-: lect information of resources of the State ] for representation at the Centennial Ex? position at Philadelphia." Perceiving that the work was still progressing, but slowly, if at ail, and being'appealed to by many .within and without the State to omit no effort to forward this object, and at the.urgent invitation.of the Centen? nial authorities at Philadelphia, 1 ap- j .pointed, on the 25th October last, a com? mission of nine eminent and. honorable ] citizens of the State, each of them a fain representative of some great branch of the resources and industries of the State, "to have in charge the'perfecting of such j arrangements si they may adopt for pro? moting and securing the proper repre-1 sentation for South Carolina?her re? sources, history and industries?at the Centennial Celebration." As my selection of the members of this j Commission has occasioned unfavorable criticism in some quarters, I take this oc? casion to state that I was governed solely in my selection by a desire to secure the active co-operation of those of our fellow- ] citizens from whom a very large majority of^11 articles furnished for the Centen? nial Celebration must necessarily come; I I did not permit.other considerations to influence my action. It was a duty ' vol? untarily assumed by me, not imposed by law, and I recognized no other obligation in its discharge than the obligation to supply an indispensable element of suc? cess in this work, so far-as it lay within my power. The functions and work of this Commission will in no respect super? sede or embarrass any other agency pre? viously or hereafter employed- for the j same purpose.. The field of labor ia open J to all agencies, however appointed, and the only just rivalry shoula be a rivalry J of zeal and efficiency in promoting the] .common end?an honorable represents- A tion of South Carolina at Philadelphia. The shortness of the remaining time for this work suggests earnest and prompt action on the part of all, and I urge upon your honorable bodies all such efforts as may be calculated to fulfil our duly, in this respect, to the State and Nation. CONCLUSION. I have now discharged, so far as I have been able, the duty imposed upon the Governor by the Constitution, to "give to the General Assembly, from time to time, information of the condition of the State, and recommend to their consider-. ation such mtr.sures as he shall judge necessary or expedient." The measures which I deem most essential to the pres? ent welfare of the State are: First, the ; prompt passage of a Supply Act which shall impose tpe lightest: possible harden ! of taxation; second, the enactment of a law which shall require all disbursements of public funds, except the Interest on che public debt, to be made upon, war? rants of the Comptroller General, issued upon vouchers approved by that officer and permanently recorded in his office; third, the keeping of all appropriations within the limits of the funds actually provided: for by taxation;fourth, the im? mediate and large reduction of the scale of, all' public expenditures; fifth, the equitable adjustment of the floating in? debtedness or the State upon a. plan em? bracing the rind'scrutiny,' by impartial agencies, of all claims, and tne gradual payment by taxation of the valid claims ; sixth, the infllexible observance of exact good faith respecting the public debt, i " The work and spirit which I commen? ded .to jou a year ago t commend .with increased earnestness to you now?the work of correcting abuses and restoring ?good administration?the spirit of integ? rity and fidelity towards\j those whose trusts we hold. Some gratifying results have been reached, but the future' has heavier tasks than those already achieved. I might urge- these things 'Upon my no? li! ical associates as essential to theme ar.d success of their political party, for so they are; but'I choose to urge' them upon the common, unassailable ground of the public welfare. He will be a blind politician who is not also a patriot. The truly wise public man in this State to? day will labor and pray 'for. the peace in d honor-of South Carolina; for the in orease of official Integrity ; for the con irmation to every citizen of all civil and Dclitical rights; for the establishment of govern men t which shall protect all and oppress none. D.H, CHAMBERLAIN, ? r, ',. Governor. '.lilE TETO OP THE SUPp?t BILL. Executive Department, ) v Columbia, 2JoTember/28vl876.J To Bon. JB. B.. Elliott, Speaker House of ! Representatives: ' ' i ?ra?I return "herewith,' without ap? proval, to the'House Of Representatives, m which it originated, an Act entitlec "An Act. to raise; supplies for the fiscal year commencing November 1,. 1875." .Che fact that this Act, the most impor? tant of the year, did not'reach'me until the last hour of the last day of the session, deprived me of the opportunity of exam? ining the Act with sufficient care to ena-. ble me to reach a conclusion as to my clmfcy before the final adjournment of the General Assembly. When an examina? tion,had convinced me that official duty would not permit me to, approve tbe Act, the unavoidable result was to.postpone further action until the re-assembling Of the General Assembly at its next regular session. I appreciate fully the disadvan? tages arising from this .state of/acts, .and I should be sorry to feel that I am respon flible for them. To the reason which original ly led me to withhold my approval from this Act liave been added others, resulting from the failure of tbe South Carolina Bank end Trust Company, by which the sum e f $205,753.79 has been withdrawn from {the use of the State, and a large part of that sum finally lost. Being compelled to withhold my approval from the Act end to await the re-assembling of the (reneral Assembly, I feel bann a to urge some objections which I might otherwise have waived for the sake' of avoiding the' disadvantages of the delay thus occa ?ioned. !: In framing a proper Supply Act; the obvious dictate of prudence arid good, f,dmir.istration is to first ascertain how much money is needed, and then'to pro "ide for that amount. No deficiency should be permitted to arise except from caaieo cannot be foreseen.' The evils of jh departure-from this rule ore most seri? ous.-: Every person who looks'to the State for salary or pay is now, and has teen for years post, obliged to accept 8 uci part only of what is due him aa may be realized from taxes which are levied, yritb. a certainty that he will, at best, r ? ceivE only a part, i In the case of public institutions the evils ate still greater. Eupolies cannot be obtained at cash pri dUt when there ore no funds in the Treas? ury, and thus-, for a considerable part of the year, the.; officers of public lnstrtU ti dm. are subjected to the'greateet incon venience, and the public to great ly in? creased expenses, - with no compensating advantages whatever. ..'?'?? ?;' ~ In examining the1 present Act' I pro- . pose, in the first place, to take the appro? priations of the'last1 fiscal year as the basis, of calculation of the amount re*, qu red to be raised for the present year; and, in the'"second place; to-take the actual needs of the public service as such baiis, and present the results of each method; ? >: ? i Inthsfiratsection'of the present Act a tax of one and one-half (1J) mills upon7 the dollar is levied to meet appropriations for the salaries of the executive arid Ju dic a', officers of. .the State, and the clerks and contingent expenses of the -executive aurj.' judUciol departments for the present fisctl year, ''experience :of itnepast year snows that this tax will raise $187, 600,, The appropriations for the last fiscal year under this head amounted to $221.:i?5.75.'. Thi appropriations under this read for the present fiscal year can easily be reduced to the amount which will be raised by thelevy. ? The following items in last yeatfs -appropriations will not be required for the present year: . 1. Salary of Judge of Inferior Court of Charleston Count/.^..;;..i...u.... S 036.00 3. For additional compensation to County . -Auditors...-..U' 4,780.75 8. For portraits of Abraham Lincoln and . ? , Charles Sumner........I:. 5,000,90 4. For expenses of general election, 1ST*... 15,000.00 Total.&..;>.?.125,488.75 Deducting this amount frori the total appropriations under, this head .we have an aggregate amount of $198,700,. . The contingent funds' of tbe several executive officers can be still further;re duced, on account of the fact that all expenses for stationery, postage and fuel ore 'otherwise provided for by contracts payable from, the phosphate royalties. Upon the basis; therefore, of .last year's appropriations, ail the regular expenses falling within this section can - be met by a Jevy of one arid one-half >(1J) mills. In the second, section of the Act a. levy of .one and one-half (1 mills is made to meet appropriations, for the penal and charitable institutions. This tax will raise$187,600. The appropriations under .this head, for the last year, wereflSo.OOO. rln this case it will be easy to bring the appropriations within the receipts for the present year. In the third section of the Act a levy of two (2) mills is made to meet appro? priations for the public schools. This tax will raise.$250,000. The appropria? tions under this" head, for the, last year, were $240,000, and so much more as should be produced .from the levy of two (2) mills, made in the .supply act of 1874-75. Upon the basis of that' appro? priation no! deficiericy will occur, v ? . In the fourth section of the act a levy of one and one-fourth (U) mills is made to meet appropriations for legislative ex-. ? psnsea. This tax will raise $156,250. It is evident that a reduction can he made under this head in the appropria tians for the present'year.' '?' I find, by actual estimate, that the total cost, exclusive of contingent expenses, of a legislative session of 100. days will be $132,000. Nearly all contingent expen? ses',' except lights, are now provided for by contracts, payable from the phosphate royalties. A tax for legislative expenses of one and one-tenth (11-10) mills will raise $137,500, which will abundantly cover all expenses for a session of 100 days. ?? By the fifth Section of the Act a levy of one-half (}) mill is made to meet ap? propriations for public printing for the. fiscal year and the deficiency 'of the last fiscal year I recommend that this levy be changed to two-fifths (2-5) of a mill, which will raise $50,000 the full amount of the contract for last year, leaving the deficiency* under tins- head to be provided for,- as I shall hereafter show, .in the levy for other deficien ices... There is no good reason why th'is deficiency ehouldnot be placed un? der the proper head of deficiencies. By the fourteenth Section of the Act ley of one (1) mill is made to pay - the de Seiendes or unpaid appropriations of tho last fiscal year. This tax will raise $125,000. The total appropriations for the last fiscal year amounted-to $1,282, 08.2.82. The total receipts for the same yen appliable to the payment of the above appropriations amounted to $1, 100,934.70. Of this amount there was los t, by the failure of the South Carolina Bank and Trust Company, $127,724.03 leaving the total available receipts $973. 210.67. The deficiencies, therefore, with th( loss in the bank, for the last fiscal year amount to $308,872.15. '[he foil owing item.) cf deficiency re? quire to be provided for: 1. Deficiency In salaries, contingents, Ac. (90,445.31 3. Deficiency penal and charitable insti? tutions.?????.'?i,,,,,,,. 88,488.7? 8. Iieficiency Public Printing.........._' 11,875.25 4. I'eficicncy in January and July, 1875, interest..*. 80,000.00 5. I?Heleney Legislative Expense*_.' 7,860.12 j 6. Deficiency claims of T. W. Price 4 Co-?&S?L..-..^.U^U...^... ?,70tS9 7. Deficiency Census Takers.................... 40,000.00 Tot*l....^>...?...r.;..i..,?WiI itwajpWjjr \ 'Che remaining items of deficiency axe as follows: Bee Schools.........;........~$11^78.iS! ficlency Free Schools and School Com- .. raiwionon prior to November 1,1673 13,497.72 Interest,' July and January, 1875, on bonds not yet issuec';.-. 34,624.01 ?The deficiency for Free Schools repre sen ts the excess of the receipts over $240,-' 000, the amount' of the appropriation.' As no liabilities, so f ir as I am aware, have been incurred for this excess I think it will not be necessary to levy for that amount The next. item i is not properly - a deficiency, and should be provided, for, if at all, with, the floating indebtedness of 1 he State. . The item for interest rep? ress nts the amouut which would have beea applicable to"the payment of inter? est due rh 1875, >;if< heeds and stocks in suff.cient amount had been 'exchanged. As, however, only $500,000, of consohda-. tioc bonds and stocks nave been issued with coupons matuiuig^in 1875, the levy for $30,000, as - above- recom? mended, will cover all?. outstanding Couoons or interest orders falling due in w\v : ? ? To raise an amount of money sufficient to jay the above amount-named of defi cierc'ies ($249,303.86) will require, a levy Of two (2) mills. , V. is well known to the General Assem? bly hat I aar in favor of a'large reduc? tion of current expenses of the State Gov? ernment. I.believe, on evidence which can be,fully.exhibited, that the appro-, filiations provided for in the first five Sections of the present Act, can be re? duced by one-fourth "without the least detriment to the pubkc interests. I con aide : itthe duty of the General Assembly to do this; but while the appropriations remain at their present limit, I am in favor of raising money enough by taxa- j iion each year to iully meet the a]?pro-1 8nations .made for that. year. Public itei est constantly suffer, and the public cre'd t is' constantly discredited, by the Eracdce of making appropriations, and ichasing expenditures largely in excess of tt c funds provided to meot them. Having how considered the first five. Sections' of the Act,' together with' the' fourteenth Section, I proceed to state my objections to the sixth Sectibn{ as it now Btancs. . The;proviso of this Section 8eeksto,limitthe use to be : made of the irocA eds' of the levy taereln directed to the payment, first,'bf the' interest -accru? ing! luring the present fiscal year, and requires the surplus to be expended in the purchase of the consolidation bonds and stock] of the State. ' My objection to this is th j t in my judgment; it works an es - j sent? J change in - the.- Act i of December ? 22, 1573 called the "CorsoUdation" Act It is clear to me, beyond doubt, that by'that Act the State engages to provide J for the 'interest on all rxmaa offered for' exchange under that Act from and after] July :., 1874, and that any use of the pip- | ceeds of taxes, raised jn/accordance with that Act which shall prevent the pay? ment in cash bf the interest due oil ? and1 j after Julv l, 1874, is a violation of good faith ana the compact entered .into by the State.with her public creditors under that Act., In my Annual Message, which will be laid before the General Assemblv Simulianeously with.this Message, ! shall present this matter'moire-'fully, and'I eon tent myself now with rec^mm ending (hat the entire proviso in the sixth See?' tion- be i omitted, leaving all questions connected with the public debt under the Consolidation'Act to future separate leg*-' :elation. To meet the interest bntstana tog or consolidation bonds and stocks for ?uly, 1874, I recommend that hy the conclt ding Section of the Act, these cou? pons be made receivable for taxes, j If the views "now presented should be adopted the first six Sections, and the fourteenth Section, would stand thus: Section 1. For salaries,' 4c? of executive officers, -.-Ac.;.,.. i_.,.-~4H mill* .' 2. For penal and charitable in? stitutions, Ae_.lJi ?. For public schools...............j2 - L Forexpenies.otGen'1 Ass'yJ 1-0 ? ? . J. For public printing............... 2-5 :s For interest on public debt_2 II. For deficiencies.-3 Total..............Jl?j^n?lla. I The: e are all the items m the. present Act which make levies' for regular annual expensesl' . ; 1 d^n^ 'np^, mbsteamsstly, to present j to yo ir honorable body the mode in which, in my deliberate judgment, the above iggregate of taxation may be large? ly reduced without in the least degree affecting unfavorably the public interests. The House of Representatives, at its last session, matured and passed a Bill, by which a reduction of expenses for sala? ries is effected of about $80,000 annually. Deducing this amount from, the aggre? gate amount .of the regular appropria? tion a under this head for last year, the amoun; is reduced to $168,700. It w; 11 be easy still further to reduce the appropriations, to be provided for' under this section, by $14,000, which will reduce the total amount required under' this heat! to $156,000, which will require, a levy of only one and one-fourth (1})' mills, t reduction from the above esti? mate ?l? one-fd?rth (J) of a mill. ?' , ' i As ai illustration of the perfect com? patibility with public interests of large reducti ins in our former expenditures, I LEGAL ADVERTISL.VG.-We are compelled to require cash payments for advertising ordered by Executors, Administrators and other fiduciaries and herewith append the rates for the ordinary notices, which will only be inserted wh?n the money comes with the ?wet:; ./ . Citations,'twolnsertloija,.,^, - - - 53,00 Estate Notices, three insertions; - - 2 00 Final Settlements, five insertions - . p> 00 TO. CORRESPpyDENXS.?ln order to receive retention, communications must be accompanied l>y tbe true same and -address of the writer. Re? jected manuscripts will not be returned, unless the 11 ecessary rtamps an furnish cd to repay tbe floatage thereon. ??r* We are not responsible for the views and opinions of our correspondents. All communications should be addressed (0 "Ed? itors Intelligencer," and all checks, drafts, money orders, 4c, should be made payable to the ordur Of - ,H0YT4C0^: _Anderson, 8. C. may be permitted .to.refer to :the appro? priations made at tbe last session for the Governor's Contingent Fund. It is well known that for the past six years, pre? vious to the last year, this fund hau ranged from twenty to thirty thousand dollars annually. At the last session i; Was reduced, by my recommendation, to three thousand dollars. This fund hau been drawn by me on vouchers which ans now on file, in the office of the Comp? troller General, and at the end of the last fiscal year there remained an un? drawn balance of $247.04. While it would, on some accounts, have been more.agreeable to me to have responded somewhat more liberally to some calhi upon this fund, yet I feel now that no public interest has really suffered there ? by, while a tauch needed example oif economy and strict accountability has, Y. trust, been furnished. Similar resultn wall surely attend similar efforts to re? duce public expenses under this head. Passing now to tbe second Section olf the Act, the appropriations can readily be reduced to each an amount as to re? quire the'levy of not more than one and one-fourth (lj) mills?a reduction of one-fourth- (t) of a mill. In Section four a large reduction is de? manded. The estimate above made, of one and one-fourth (lj) mills, will raise $156,000. The salaries of the members of the General Assembly being fixed at $500 per annum, will require, together with mileage, an appropriation of $103, 0)0. The other expenses of the General Assembly depend upon the length of the session. I have already shown that the cost of a session of one hundred days will' not exceed $137,500. All expenses, not otherwise provided for, necessary' to a session of reasonable length, say of fifty days; can readily be brought within such ah amount as not to exceed,-in connec? tion with the salaries of members, the sum of $125,000, which will require a levy of but one (1) mill, a redaction of one-tenth (1-lOth) of a mill. In Section five the levy for public printing should be reduced to one-third of a mill, which would raise about $42. 000, a sufficient amount to provide for all necessary printing, if the same should be fairly offered to competition. The result of these changes would be asfolIowB: .. Section 1. For salaries, Ac., of Executive officers Ac.....Kii.nUi^n.ilji mills 2. Penal and .charitable institu : Uonsr Ac..." . . 8. Public schools_.._2 " 4. For expenses of Gen'l Ass'j-.i " ,5. PubUc printinxr.M " 6. Tnterest on public debt.._....2 '' 14. Deficiencies..^Ji.U....'B,X.X ? .. Total....;...,;....LJM I confidently assert that this estimate can be adopted without the smallest sac? rifice of'the ' public welfare. If so, no duty can be more imperative than to adopt it: At the present time .the peo Sie of this State, of all conditions in life, emand the lowest possible taxes. It is our unquestionable duty to enforce this de maud. - It should. be borne' in mind' that this. estimate covers .the entire de? ficiencies which require to be provided for,-arid'provides for the payment in full of all appropriations necessary to be made. The. entire - item i; of deficiencies will, therefore, .disappear from ,the ? next Supply Act, and . thus reduce the entire levy for the next year to seven and five sixth (7.5-6) mills?a result of inore val I ue to the: people of the State, and to the political party which shall produce it,. than any.other result which it is now within our power to accomplish. r< ! If, however the General Assembly I does' not reduce the. expenditures, I un? hesitatingly recommend that tbe levies be made equal to..the appropriations. There is no economy in raising less than is to be appropriated. The habit has already wrought the greatest mischief in this State, and should no longer be tol? erated. ^he remaining Sections of the Act, from' the seventh to the twelfth inclusive, maket levies for objects which -may be properly denominated the "floating in questionat . nearly all of them, are the results of great extravagance in the past admin? istration of tbe State,. To press them ,to payment.. in - ope-- mass and -in one year, is a harcyihip whicn oughtf not to be imposed upon the' -State at this time ' wi thout entering at this time into details, I recommend .that all these claims now provided for in the Sections of the pres? ent Act, froi-i the seventh .to the twelfth, inclusive, be made the subject of a sepa? rate Act, an I that "the payment of these - claims be chstributed over a term of years, under sucb other precautions .arid regulations as may bebest adapted to secure justice to the claimants' and to the State: This will greatly simplify the Supply Act, as- well as reduce the burden of immediate taxation... Tri the fifteenth', Section Of the Act t recommend that such changes' be tnade as will impose all requisite duties upon ?the State. Treasurer, without giving to any. bank the power to withhold pay ment of checks drawn in due form by the'State officers. The-present provis ions of this Section are utterly .unreason? able and impracticable. -..-.' -T}iet^rpmpt,pa?ft of..ajust,, rnoder-. ate ana well considered SUpply 'Act LCt IS demandedby'the'^ITc mterestej' arid T; fcru*: your honorable bodv-will readily and wisely | discharge this duty, r ,.D. H. CHAMBERLAIN, -"" .' . Governor.; !_? j L_ ? ? ?Nobthebjt. Immigb Ali?N.?The1 Bal? timore Gazette says: Tbe Southern - States are now attracting greater atten? tion throughout the country.as an inviting field for immigration, and especially in the West and Northwest. Th?r is grati? fying intelligence. It is impossible for a country to be prosperous while a portion of it is impoverished and ground beneath the heel or an oppressor. A partial cause of this change of feeling is fbu n d in tbe fact that the Radical campaign stores of Southern Ku Klux outrages have quite disappeared from-political literature.? The Republican journals, in the effort to bolster up the waning fortunes of. their.' party by fictitious accounts of Southern troubles, inflicted injuries upon the en? tire South which time alone can remedy. There are vast areas of unworked territo? ry in the South, a soil naturally fertile, long season's, and a healthful climate. With i;he tide of emigration once turned toward the South the channel will rap? idly deepen, and as a result; that unfor? tunate country will ere long enjoy far more than its old time prosperity. John Kong, of Tennessee, 'is very busy asking -questions about what has taken place during the last thirteen years. He had a farm in Tennessee in 1862. and the soldiers of both armies made them? selves very cordially at home on his Sremises... So he removed with all pro uce to a cave in the Cumberland moun? tains. A storm threw down a rock which.' closed the mouth of- the cave. Therein ' he lived for thirteen 'years, eating from' bis produce and drinking from a spring. Tbe other day 'a railroad Company, mast? ing for a tunnel, blasted him out. ? The Supreme Court of Iowa has de? cided that when the loser in ajgameofbil liards settles the score, he is guilty of gambling, and liable to indictment.