Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

WEDNESDAY MORNINO. NOVEMBER 28, I860. _<_. C3- "Ei IST T S .n.? r.illowitii' ?re llio Aflo?ta ?<w this paper: W. A UKm??'IIWAV. General TraveUug and Collecting *_5v. COLIN MURCHISON, General TraveUng and Col ^iGUNSKNI' * NORTH, l?ookscUcrs autl Stationers, '?^'"?'l.oonM'N, Cross Hill, Laurens Dlslrlct, S. C. i v nktii?'?is, Union, 8.C.? ._*.'! ckpt-lu W. >:- KA1?* O"?1^ 9' c* Col J. J. RYAN, Harmvell, S. O. I t PflWlS. Marion. C s' UARUY, Santas' Fowl P. O., Madison Co., Flo. I'VXl'lCK .*.: HUVKV, ?Uiieon. Un. r' V H. WILLIAM?. Cliutou, H. C. V ft ALLEN? < 'bester C. li.. 8. C. W ? iiANiili. Grahamville P. O., Beaufort, S. C. B.'llvBllADl'OIUJ. Waltcrboro*, S. C. II la, PAHR. Suinter, S. C. TJIAD <'. ANDREWS, Orangoburg, S. C. ,T M llKOW'N, "Southerner ot-CO," DarUngton, fe. C. *?i. M. Q?INN .<i UKO., Augusta. j ii ESTELL, Havan---, <iu. ISAAC DAVBG-A, Auent In New York. __?._: _S S S -A. O- _B OF HIS EXCELLENCY GOV. ORR, TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT. 1 Colimuia, S. C, November'_7, 1800. J OtttUemtn oflhc Senate and House of Representatives: Your annual assembling at tho seat of government has heretofore been the occasion of congratulation by tho Executive, upon tho ?.iinliuued happiness, prosperity, anti improvement of tho commonwealth. I regret that [ no such greeting can be oxtondod to you ou the present occasion. Wo no touga hear the clash of army, nor the tread ol' hostile armies, and our people havo escaped the scourge of that terrible disease, wliich revels In tho shocking carnival of death. While tho general health has uot been good, the virulonco and maglignity of dis caso havo been mitigated, mid a comparatively smaU Ca tani?)' lins visitad the sick room. Por these blessings our thanks are duo the great Ruler of the Universe. In tim depths of humiliation and contrition, let us invoke Him I to avert the evils that ure upon us-to stay the baud of our persecutor-?, to turu away tho wrath, mid to bring to nought the counsels of those who would oppress and destroy us, and to restore to us tho bappiuoss and pros perity of former years. Tin- toil of the husbandman has brought him a scanty return from his fields-the grain crop is alarmingly small-the cotton crop in many portion? of tho Stato will not Bufllco to furnish tho means of supplying provisions -our popuL-.tion, white and colored, aro abandoning their old homes and couutry, and aro emigrating to strange places, whero they can find bread. With tho losa ol labor, our farms must dilapidate, our Holds romain un Itllcil, our granaries continuo empty, and our progress in developing tho resources of tho Stato must bo orreoi ?'h .??** U-a?ra ?"??* lae cal*t_ to make _ generous return to the toll of the husbandman enures the goods of tho "morchani to rest unsold on his shelves-and kcops tho tool of tho nlcchonic idle-tho learning of tho profession al man useless. The poUttcal condition of the country_ tho intolerance of our conquerors-the proscription to which we are subjected, by those who Bhould be our lov ing brothers, and who wield tho destinies of this groa": nation-these evils intimidato capital, paralyze enter prise, disorganize litbor, and destroy l.opo mid confi dence. The enormous tax on cotton discourages pro duction, and aggravates the nnancial embarrassment of the people. Never, therefore, in the history of the Slate, has a Leg islature assembled tu'der less favorable auspices to pro vide for the wants ol' an ircy.overisbed and disheartened constituency. Dut these extraordinary ?--barras&mcnts must be met with wisdom, patience aiWi courage, with energy and hope, and a manly resolve to subdue and overcome them. Wo must keep our population here; wo must provide for their preeent necessities; wo must .""'?iiulatc our white population to go earnestly to work, and let them seo that labor Is honorable and idleness reprehensible. Entering a new year with tblB fixed determination, our fields will be better cultivated, and tho next harvest timo will find I our garners well filled with tho product- of tho hoII. The -Staple crops will bo more abundant, and tho financial cm-1 "barraEs-lftn*"* Of l"e people will, by consciiv.inco, bo grCaUy relieved. Let us cherish hope and practice such industry a3 uhall merit the fulfillment of thoso anticipa tions. I thorefore proccod to malte mich recomnicndations as will, lu my judgment, promote Uio ?uteix'.it of our com mon ?constituency. DISTJIICT COCHTS. Tho third Article of the Constitution of this State, in tho third paragraph of the first Section, directs that "the General Assembly shall, as soon as possible, establish, for each District in the State, au inferior Court or Courts, tobe styled 'the District Court'-the Judge whereof shall be rcfcideut lu the District, while In oillcc; shall bo elect ed by tho Geuenil Anscmbly for four years, and shall be re-eligible-which Court shall have jurisdiction of all causes wherein oin* or both of the parties arc persons of color, and of all erimiaal cases, wherein tho ncctised is a person of cohn-; :iud the General Assembly Is empowered to extend tho jurisdiction Of Um said Court to other sub jects." It is unfortunate that tills clause was inserted in the Constitution. Tlic iirst paragraph ol' the Section de clares, that "ihe jtiilicial power sliaU be vesle?! in such superior and but rior Couria of Luw anti Equity as the General Asm nibly shall, from time to time, direct and establish;" and ibis is suiUeieiitly comprehensive, to au thorize the oatahliahincnt of any interior Court which tho wisdom of the Gen? ral Assembly may determine, whether it Im a Police, District, County or Ma gistrate's Court. Here, the largest dlscrcUon Is given to yon; anti such tribunals may be estab lished as experience or ncci-dty may dictate; but the clauso already quoted re-/uire.t the General Assembly to "establish District Courts," and these Courts must bo continued until the Constitution is amended in the pre scribed manner, or the instrument Um If will bo violated. In order that the largest dim retion may bo allowed the General Assembly, in devising the best judiciary system to meet oin- wants iu the recently changed relations of society, 1 recommend that the present General Assembly provide for an ame- huent of tho Constitution, by strik ing out tho third ]'??. graph in the Article aforesaid. Tho next General Assembly can consummate the amendment, and then the Legislature will bo left, with unrestricted discr?tion, to establish such superior and inferior Courts as to them shall seem meet, WhUst this amendment ia being cor.HUiiiui.it?il, the. District Courts may be {mt fully into operation, anti one year's exp?rience wlU, probably, decide whether they aro adapted to the wants and meet the necessities Of the pubUc. If they should bo found impracticable, inelllelcnt, or too expensive, they may be t.tn ogatod, and some better system may bo in stituted. We arc thrown upon novel times, and all our legislation to meet our now situation is purely experimental. It would not be wise to discard and re peal the legislation of each preceding session, because it failed to work smoothly or givo entire satisfaction. Whon deficiencies aro discovered, remedy them by amendment or modification. No human wisdom is equal to tho task of giving a perfect Byatcui of Courts and Laws, whon an ancient isystem must bo revolutionized, to correspond with radical changes ia social, domestic, industrial and political relations. Aller one year's fair experiment, it may bo found that tbo District Court is tho desideratum. The Act of tho last session, "to amend tbo Act establish ing District Courts," requiroB essential and material amondments, to reduce its oxponses and secure its ofil clent operation. Tho boundary of its Jurisdiction should bo moro distinctly defined, Tho services of a Grand Jury, as part of its machinery, should bo dispensed with; tho authority conferred on tho District Judge, to oxamlno and dismiss frivolous cases, renders tho existence of such a body unnecessary. TheroiB a woll-deflnod distin ottoa between misdemeanors and crime. It is only whet, tho prisoner Is charged with crime., that ho is entitled to bo triod on presentment found by a Grand Jury. Potty larceny, and other petty felonies, may bo declared, by statute, to bo misdemeanors; and defendants, In all misdemeanors, may bo tried without presentment or troo bill found by a Grand Jury. Tho venire for the Petit Jury should bo reduced to eighteen. In the Dis trict Court it would be seldom that two pannels would bo required ; and tho Court, on such occasions, could be employed with other business not requiring the aid of a Jury. The Jury duty now exacted will bo very onerous on the people, and, aa tho law stands, it cannot Unper formed at an expenso of less than eighty thousand dol lars per annum. The modification suggested would re duce tim expenses to one-third of that sum, for both Su perior and Inferior Court-. The expense, to the Treasu ry, of Jurice, might bo dispensed with entirely, by taxing a Jury leo in every ooso hied. AU traverses and impar lances should bo abrogated in the District Court; and all indictments, recognizances and other papers in the Su perior Court, not disposed of, and in which jurisdiction is given to tho District Court, should bo transferred to the District, and inado valid, as if originally re turned to that Court Tho District Hoards should bo n-quired to mako their annual returns to the District Judge; and it should bo modo tho duty of tho latter to examino tho some, and to enforce the law agulDBt thom for misfeasance, malfeasance, or neglect of duty. When tho District Judge is intuesttd lu any cato, civil or criminal, of which his Ci-ut t has copniztinco, it should bo transferred to the Superior Court for trial. The Conrt should be Invested with exclusive jurlnllelion. In cases over one honored dollars, only where the contract, express or implied, betweon tho employer _t' stnployco, is for agricultural labor. Tho law now pro? _es that a prosecutor, who in stitua"? a fri- mun? or gt iiiidlcfs prosecution, may be adjudge- iu pay the costs of such prosecution. This Is an ample safeguard against groundless prosecutions ; and tho law should bo so amended, that the party ma king complaint beforo a Magistrate should bo granted a warrant, upon his own recognizance, to prosecute, without requiring veenrity. To-require security to prosecute, is to deny Jusilco to tho poor, the ignorant, the dependant and the friendless. These aro the classes that It is the peculiar province of the law to Droteet ; those who have wea''ii and friends, can readily secure the protection of .no 1-w. aPi?u&'B Jtuvr "? nrlBcn wheUi'-r, too ?n_erl?r Court? of Law can tako cognizan. o of any offenco e..mini.tod by a person of color, undor tho clouso lu iho third Ariiolo of the Constitution, which declures that Deo Distr.ct Court shall havo jurisdiction of all caret in whiob a person of color is Interested, or to which he is a party. The Civil Bights Act, pissed by the O ingress of tho United Hiatos, which mnst bo roipocted and obeyed until pronouueed uuconstitutloiiol by the Su? reme Court of tin United States, gives the person ofc.dor the samo rights In all tho CoartB, State as well as Fedoral, as oro enjoyed by the whlto nice; anti so long ?.? white peraonsaro triable only in the Superior Courts lor felony, the samo privi lege must bo (teeni-.ltd tu persona ol color, notwithstand ing the supposed prohibition In the State Constitution, iib the Coubtilutlon of the Cniiel State*, audthol.iws passed In corformlty thereto, ia tho supreme law of the lind. If tho Civil 1 dud's Act should herealtor bo de elarad UDronttlttitlenal by the supremo Court, orsboti'd It bo repealed by Congress, tho question ni.der tbtt Statt? Constitutiou might Hurt be full uf t nib -irrasaineut. COMMISSIONER!. TO TAKE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF DEEDS, ..C-NOTARIES P0DLIC. ""Tho Acts of the General Assombly confer upon the Governor authority to appoint "Coniniissioncrs to take acknowledgment of deeds," in tho sovornl States and Territories, "to bo used and recorded in this State;" tho C.muiissiouorn to continue in ofllco during liis pleasure, Tho duties of these ofllcers, "in taking tho acknowl edgment or proof of any deed, mortgage, or other con veyance of any lands, tenements or hereditaments, in this State, or of any contract, letter of attorney, or any other writing under seal," ero very important'to the In terests of the public, and some rule should bo adopted to furnish the im mir. of verifying such certificates with reasonable certainty. This may be attained by requiring every person appointed or lo bo appointed a Commis sioner, to ibrwui-d, within ninety days, to the Secretary of State, an impression of his official seal, on wax and on paper, together with his autograph; mid upon his failure to do so, the appointment of each defuulter ehould bo an nulled. Notaries Public are, likewise, appointed and commis sioned by tho Governor, and are Invested willi gravo ollk hil duties. The .Secretary of "tate, alone-, can certify tlie ofllclal character of a Notary Publie, und ho can niako no such certillcato willi baldy, unless fie chances to know the baud-writing. Every Notary Public, now holding such commission, or who moy hercaitcr bo ap pointed, should likowiso be required to forward to the Secretary of State, au impression of bis olllcial seal on wax and paper, with his autograph, within sixty days, or his appointment should ho revoked. criminal, law. The establishment of a Penitentiary requires material changes in the punishmouls imposed in tho Criminal j Law. Murder, arson and rape should be puidshccl by death. The numerous cataloguo of folonics punishable by death, some with and others without the benefit of clergy, should be abridged, and confinement at hard la bor in tho Penitentiary bo substituted In most cases. Tbe extreme penalty attaching to many of these felonies is rovolting to humauity, and juries not unfrcqucntly lad to find real offenders guilty, becauso the punishment is made, by its enormity, disproportionate to the offence. It should be left discretionary with the Judges in the Su perior and District Courts to punish by imprisonment at hard labor lu tho Penitentiary, or by whipping, in all cases oi larceny. Punishment by the lash is so degrading that it should be imposed upon tho most incorrigible offenders alone. A convict who serves out his term of imprisonment in tho Penitentiary, oven for an infamous offence, may reform; but one who has been whipped at the public ?whipping-po.lmustbo overwhelmed with such a scuso of [.haine and degradation that he cannot com mand moral courage sulllcicut to enable him even to make au effort at rciormatlon. I foel it iucumbont on mo to call your attention, spe cially, to tho groes neglect of duty, on tho part of somo of tho Sheriffs and Jailors in this State, In allowing prisoners to escape from tholr cuslody. Unofllcial infor mation has been recoived at this o?lce, that nearly seventy prisoners hnvo escaped from tho Jail?, of this State siuJJ .neU" custody was turned ovor by tho niUitai'.' to the civil "au-hoa?"0". Somo of theso criminals* wero under eente_i?e C_ '}r^a\ t"t many were ?uargcu with Uto highest crimes against society. Every effort to en force tlie Criminal Law, aud suppress crime, must bo unavailing, unless the custodians of prisoner.) who hnvo been arrested and confined in tail act with more vigilance and fidelity. Tho existing law pronounces tho most rigorous punishment against Sheriffs and Jailors for voluntary or negligent escapes, and it is found wholly inadequate to arrest the growing evil. It Is clinicult, to satisfy a Grand Jury that their lricnd. whom thoy liavo aided to elect Sherill', or his agent, \\\o Jailor, would permit n prisoner to escape-their good will tow.ird tho delinquent lending thom to bo readily satisfied that the escape resulted from _!i2 insecurity of the jail. It is even moro difficult to et. uro the presentment of tho Commissiouero of Public Build ings for their neglect of duty. In failing to moko the jail secure, nud heneo the public suffer-without a rcmO-T. When a bill of iudietcoont is ______? It Is trftveraod, and when the defendant Is dually brought to ti lal, pOHtivc PT Pf MUllOt bo offered that the ..capo was loluniary 61 ne._;ii^cnt. and the defendant Is acquit ted 'iho General Aspciubly, sine. 183'J. his been al most annu&liy paning taws, to cufc?co tho perform ance by hhciiffs of their duty in civil and criminal mat ters; and Iho cud Is a. far as when legislad m ou this i subj .et comm?-*"'-"1. Ibero is but ono means of effect ing a cure lor this chronic dlsoaso-it is to pr?vido by law for the sumuiarv removal of a Shorlff, either through tho ju li i-1 or eXeCUUYC d'.r.art.mcr.t uf-.ho Gove Min?..;., tor willful and persistent __.'gleet of iluty, or fur tais fessante or malfcaannco la executing hisrfn.o. The la'? s now provide for tho removal of a .hfrlff from o'm-e. nu couv'-tion iief.ro a Jury ; but It is bettered th-t the> have ni t been c-ulorced In a fin .-lo ca?o. sines lf.39. Ib it i ot notorious that same of tbe=e ?Usent* Bhuiil 1 .-.?.ve been removed ? Judge Wardlaw lia?; d .voted much time In prepa'i-g a Till which will be- Submitted to yon, tit lining the tiutlc. aud jiiii"di.:_-?u Of District Courts, and ornhr.iclng the su'ject?. ot tlie d..m-siio rolatioi.s. and a osdlfieatlon d' the criminal la v. Hi. long experience on the Besch. aud bis Bckuo-.edged ah? i y, will sucurea respectful consideration of his labors. CONORF_S.-_ON.___ ELECTIONS. Tlie last Congrcsninnal election in this Statf was bold pursuant to a rc.oluliou el' Hil- General Assembly, and there lu now no provision of law for holding future elec tions. Although our Iteprescutative-s last elected have not boen permitted by tho Congress of the United States to occupy their seats. It is the duty of tho General As sembly to provide-, by general statute, for the holding ol' general o___t_0__ for each succeeding Congrc.s. Tho convenience! of tho peoplo would iucllcute that these elec tions should he ordered biennally, on tho day that mem bers of the General Assembly nro chosen, to-wit: The third Wednesday in October of each odd year. Kopi-e Hcntativcti to Congress would then take their seals tho following December, coming fresh from the people, and represent popular sent-ment on the public questions of the day with moro certainty than if elected, as hereto fore, the October year preceding tho meeting of Congress. If au extra session of Congress should be called Cofogra thc day fixed tat tho election, tho Governor might be authorized to or.le?r, by proclamation, tho elections at an earlier day, and thus secure the representation of tho State at such extra session. JURISDICTION REMITTED B_ TJIE MILITARY TO TIDE CIVIL AUTIIO-IITIES. The Acls passed at tho extra session, wore transmitted to tho Military Commandant of tho-Department of the Carolinas, ut Charleston, and on the first day of October last, by General Order.?, ho remitted all cast-s in which tho inhabitants of thin Stato wore concerned, civil and criminal, to the civil authorities. If equal and exact justice! Is muted out to all the inhabitants of the State by courts and juries-if the freedmen receive that protec tion of person and property which tho laws now guaran tee them, wo will not nguln bo adjudged by Provost Courin and Military Commissions, and wo will vindicate) before tlie world our high senso of moral right by en forcing impartial justice, whether the suitor bo humble or exalted. Experience will dem?nstrate the wisdom of your en actment authorizing negroes to testify in all cases. It takes away tho impuuity which bad men have long en joyed, In tempting theso ignorant peo|.lo to perpetrate crime for tho benefit of the tomptors. Tho result of the experiment at tho late Fall Term of tin. Courts has boon entirely satisfactory, and most of the freedmen who bavo been called to the witness stand havo manifested a highly orcditablo dcniro to tell the truth. The extension of the privilege has bad a salutary influence in encouraging and olu vat tug their moral senso. Many of them appreciate thoir obligations to society, and readily aaalst in bringing to punishment evil-doers of their own color. Thoy are Invaluable to tho productivo resources of the State, and if their labor bo lost by re moval to other sections, it will convert thousands of acres of productivo land into a dreary wilderness. For this reason, I havo felt it to be my duty to dlscourugo their migration. The short crops of tho present year should stimulate the planter and farmer to renewed en orgy and enterprise. He will, howe vi r, find his lands of little value, if ho cannot command labor to cultivate them. If the negro remain hore his labor must bo made sufficiently remunerative to subsist and clotho him com fortably. Schools must bo established to educate, his children, and churches built tor his moral training. Tho experiments of free labor, whilst it has not been entirely satisfactory, is far from proving a fall uro. whoro the blacks have been adequately compensated and kind ly treated, they havo generally labored faithfully. Sud denly relieved from tho controlling -will of others, and exempted from the compulsory labor which had, through life, bcon oxactcd from thom, they bavo performed, dur ing the present year, an amount of voluntary labor which may well oxclte surprise. Tho indolence of? some, and the improvidence of many, will doubtless causo them to undorgo much suffering boforo they aro educated fully to the uoccsslty of constant and untiring labor, and to proper thrift and economy. Humanity and sound policy unito in demanding that wo should pr?vido for the aged, the infirm and tho help less, and I therefore rospectfiUly recommend the passago of an Act making It lncumbont on the Commissioners of tho Poor to pr?vido suitable buildings at tho various Dis trict Poor Houses for their accommodation and to sub sist thom. Tho Regents of the Lunatic Asylum have wisely and humanely modo provision for tho reception and treat ment of insano colored patients, and the Commissioners of the Poor in tho several Districts should bo required to moko the samd provision for their support in the Asylum as now exists for whlto pauper patienta in that Institu tion. The Idiotic and epileptic may bo well taken care of at tho District Poor Houso. TUE FINANCES OF TOE BTATE, TAXES AND THE BANK OF TOE BTATE. Tho taxes levied undor the Act of December, 186., amount to four hundred and nineteen thousand six hundred and sixty-eight dollars and . seventy-one conts, .410,668.71). There haa boen paid into the Treasury, hreo hundred and twenty-seven thousand bcvcu hun dred and thirty-seven dollars and twenty-fivo cent., (1327,037.25'. ? commissions. $32,869.00 Froodmeu's returns unpaid, (prhiclpaUy capi tation ?ax). _|, 310.07 Jury' tickets deposited by Tax CoUcctors.. 7,'JO'J.ll Tax oveciiUons Issued and In hands of Sheriffs and balauees duo lu bauds of Collectors.. 29,780.32 Total.$4lli,G08.71 This estimate does not include executions Issued by tho Tax Collector?, against pet ums who have failed to make returns, and who havo been doublo taxed. Tho statement of the Comptroller-General is herewith trans mitted for your information. Tho entire revenue received into tho Treasury from Taxes, Uills Receivable, registered lind carried to cash and other minor BOOTCCS is.$477,7111 t)7 There bos been paid o it by the Treasurer, ou appropriations. 904,688 01 Leaving in tbo Treasury a balance, on the 31st or October last, of.173,033 03 Subject to draft, of wliich sum there was Ui National ciirreu??y. 73.215 35 Tho Treasurer has, in obedience to tim Act of 21st of September last, "to provide for tho rctlcmpllou of Hills Receivable, issued by thin State," promptly exchanged National currency for the Hills llceoivablo when present* ed. Thin will rapidly reduce the amount ho held on 31st October. Tho undrawn appropriations, aud Blieb appro firintions as may be modo at the present session, must io paid, pi iueip.illv-, in liill'i llceoivablo, milli the taxes for the fiscal year, commencing tho 1st of October last, shall bo paid into the Treasury, which payments should be required to bo made by the Collectors as early ob Juno next. If the General Assembly re-enacts tho claiiRO in the Tax 13U1 of the last year, requiring that nil taxes shr'l be paid In gold or silver. National currency, or Hills Ito ceivnblo, mid continues tho authority to the Treasurer to exchango tho Hills Receivable for National currency, thero Is no good reason why tho vah?o of tho former should not bo nt par with tho latter. 'Hie Comptroller General estimates the appropri?t iona for tho present year at threo hundred aud two thousand seven hundred and ton dollars, which ?min will bo Increased, if tho recom mendation hcrt'inallcr made, to pr?vido for the payment of the public debt, should bo adopted by you. The pay ment of taxes is, at all times, onerous to tho public, bul is peculiarly oppressive lo the pcoplo at tho present time. The ordin?r}- cxponBcs of government, however, munt bo met, and the faith and credit of tho St-to maintained un tarnished, and taxation is tim only resource loft us. Tho burthen should bo rendered as light as possible, by the most rigid economy in making appropriations, and by requiring a strict nccouutabUlty from aU public func tionaries. Material changes in the subject matters of taxation aud modifications in the rates aro requisito to render taxation less oppressive. Assessors should bo required to mike new aesessmonts of the vah?o of lands, and town and eily lotd. Tho Capitation Tax is onerous, and is not proportioned to the general seule of tgsation ; it should bo reduced at loaat one-half, and tho employer should bo held liable for every poll in his service on 1st March next. A goneral system of Uconscs to lawyers, doctors, dentists, inUlcrs, cotton pickcrlcs for toll, merchants, Bhop-.?ccpcr8, tradesmen, auctioneers, livery atable keep ers, hotel and eating-houses, non-resident merchants and drummers, and others, should be introduced. Taxes should bo imposed on money at Interest, bonds and sol vent credits, also upon aU articles of luxury, embracing jewelry, gold and silver plato, and watches, carriages, buggies, all horses not used for agricultural purposes, pianos, playing cards, etc., upon tho capital Block of all incorporated companies, including railroads not exempt ed by law from taxaUon, legacies, dlstribuUvu shares in intestate estates, pistols, bowie-knives, patent rneilicinos, and the gross profits of brokers, factors, and banking corporations. The taxes horctoforo imposed on oxpross, telegraph, gas-light, and insurance companies may bo very materially increased, as those companies arc rcsaUz ing large profits on their several investments. Alt m bin: officers \vh >, by law, have a seal, she aid be rcquiro.i to affix a stamp, in value from fift*- cents to two dollar*, regulated by tliolr value or Importance, on all papors whore ihe teil la uted, the party vrociiri-g tun ?."'?P?"'** Using required to reimburse tho c lllcer fur Uic sani?", '. ". " Ani lastly, a tax t-hould le levien on all salaries and incoiuc* exceeding five hundred dol?ais. A Tax Hill einbiai-iiig th<-so new features wonld rahe a sum abundantly sufficient to meet cU the current wints of the S ato, mid provi-lo lor the gradual redemption of thu public debt. Tbo pB.yino-.it of taxes thus It v.ed n ould fall principally upon the weal hy and thoso whose ? m llojments yield them ready c-.sh, and would occ ?sion comparatively lit tira incoiivtiui'iuco to tho tax-pnyer. Heretofore, the interest on tho public debt has l?ecu paid by the Jjault of tho ?tato of Couth Caroli-ia; but Ila Iosb of assets, growing out of tho war, together with its large outstanding circulation, precludes the po. siblilty of relying further upon it, and the dobt, princi pal and interest, must be met by taxation. The Treasurer, with the. asBistanco of "an additional clerk, can pay out, in future, all claims from his own counter; and I recommend that an appropriation be niado to meet the salary of such clerk, and that the Dank bo discontinued as the fiscal agent of tho Stato. The losa of assets, and Um Imposition, by tiio general banking law of Congress, of eo heavy a tax on the circu lation of all other than National Hanks, mako It mauifost that tlic Bank of tbo State of (South Carolina can never resumo business; aud I reconnue ml that Its charter bo revoked or declared forfeited, and Its books, papers and assets put in tho hands of Commissioners for aa early U quld-tion as may bo practicable, TA*C-COh_ECTOB3. The Tax-Collectors havo heretofore been elected for the Election Districts in which they resido. Hinco tho abro gation of the Parish system, tlio former legislation has not boon changed, and Collectors uro still elected by tho voters within tho former Parish lines. Ileaufort, consti tuting now but a Bingle Election District, su Vi has four Tax-Collectors; and Berkeley Election District has eight Tax-Collectors. Tho reason for a Tax-Collector in ca?:h Parish ceasing to exist, the law should bo so modified a? to elect ono for each Ejection District. The additional number? require an Increase of the books to he furnished by the Treasurer, and a larger number of returns. The commissions aro insulllclcnt to induce bu.-iuesH men to accept of these small places-in one of the Parishes, the Collector's coiumLssious arc less than fittecu dollars; and in another, (at. John's, Colleton,) no collections have been made, because no one, within my knowledge, would accept Uic office. I recommend that the law bo so motli liud as to provide for the election ol' one Tax-CoUcctor for each Election I"_!triet. THE PL'nLIO DKBT. Tbo Comptroller-General aud Treasurer, pursuant to the requirement of the Act of 21st September last, pre pared t ml forwarded mo a statement showing the aggre gate an. omit of tho principal aud interest, calculated up to July 1, 1807, on the stock and bonds past due, which the Act provided for funding, a copy of which is herewith communicate?! ; and my proclamation has bcon issued, calling o:i thes ) bondholders to fund their demands, con formably to the Act. A contract bus benn made to have the bonds printed, and ii is agreed that they shall be de livered beru by the lUth Docembcr, when tho funding may be commenced. Tho amount reported as duo, on the 1b?. day of July, 18'17, by tho Compti-oUer and Ttoasurci-, is one million two hundred and ton thousand oight hun dred and two dolla-.- aud eighty-five conts (?1,210,802 85). Provision must te made, at tho present session, to pay the sami.annual interest on Ulis sam on tho 1st January, 1803. I transmit their statement herewith. There wau no provision mado by the Act to fund tho interest now duo on the .Stocks and Houda of the Fire Loan-the principal of tho former redecmablo in 1870, mid tho lattor in 1808. Tho Interest duo on tho 1st of October last, on stocks and bonds, was sixty-eight thou sand two hundred and twenty -lollara and filty-fivo cents (?03,220.55), and I recommend that authority be granted to fund tho interest now due, and that which will accumulate up to tho 1st January, 1800. The whole amount of the public dobt, principal and in terest, of this State, not including the debts contracted for, or on account of the war, was, on tho 1st day of Oc tober last, five milUons two hundred and five thousand two hundred and twenty-seven dollars and seventy-four couts ($5,201,227.71). Of this amount four hundred and eighty-four thousand four hundred and forty-four dol lars and flfty-ono cents (?484,414.61), is redeemable lu 1868, and three hundred and eighteen thousand ono hun dred and fifty-nine dollars and twonty-flvo cents (S318, 159.20) in 1870. The remainder ol'the debt, (not including three hun dred and ten thousand dollars (i310,090) already provided for by Act of 31st September last, authorizing its fund ing), is redeemable from 1876 to 1890. The interest on tho wholo (oxcept tho Fire Loan), is provided for (if tho holders of Uio securities wUl consent to fund it), up to the 1st day of January, 1868, by which timo It Is hoped tho Stato wiU ' bo in a condition to prompUy pay interest as It Auls duo. The statement of the (*oniptroller-Gencnil, showing the debt and tho seve ral periods when it falls due, is herewith communicated. It is, however, eminently proper that some financial scheme should bo now adopted to proparo tho ?state to meet tho principal of tho debt as it falls due. If the in terest is regularly paid oh tho debt, ono hundred thou sand dollars annually sot apart as a sinking fund for twenty years, invested In safo securities, yielding six per <-?nt. per annum, tho principal being further increased ' by tho investment of the Interest annually accruing, will accummulato the sum of three millions eight hundred and ninety-nine thousand threo hundred and twolvc dol lars, which will bo nearly adequate to tho payment of tho entiro debt then duo. and I recommend that proper legis lation bo adopted at tho present session to inaugurate this scheme. Under tho Act of September 21st, already referred to, provision was made to fund tbo interest on stocks issuod under authority of tho Aot of 1803, to continuo tho con struction of tho new State House. The whole amount Issued was twenty-four thousand eight hundred and twenty dollars ($24,820). Tho issue was not made until some timo during tho year 1804, when thoro was a heavy depreciation of tho currency, and whon labor and materials wero in a corresponding dogrco appreciated. Four hundred thousand dollars wero issued in 1802, un der authority of the Act of 1861, when labor and material hod appreciated very little. In my Proclamation I ox coptcd these two issues from lmmodtato funding until tho General Assembly met anti determined whether these stocks should be scaled to the real valuo received by the State for them whon issued. The Convention adopted a rulo for tlie government of transactions between Indi viduals during this timo which was just and honest, and no reason is perceived why the samo rulo should not be applied in transactions betweon tho Stato and its cred itors. If tbo Genera] Assombly should determino to scale these stocks of either or.both issues, a commission must he appointed to fix tho rates, and tho interest can bo then computed accordingly. Should tho General Assembly take no action upon this aubjeot during the present ses sion, tho funding win bo oxecutod In conformity to the provisions of the Act aforesaid the r**-a'a'i_m_BY. Pursuant to the provisions of the Act of the late extni sosaion, to -?Abatana Ponltentlary, I appointed Messrs. William Gregg, ofrdgofiold. Wilban, li. Robertson, di Fairfield, and Archibald Cameron, of Charleston, "Com mi_sioner?) of the P^t?nUtJrj*" "io eclcct and ,pn> cure a silo and to erect a suitable tempor?r)' en closure and tomporary cells." They have performed the duty of selecting and procuring the site, und have ordered tho work on tho culls to commence. I sub mit to you herewith their report, togcthor with tho plans, estimates and drawings of tho entire establishment, pre pared by Capt. T. II. Leo, tho Engineer nuel Architect. Tho sito is within the corporate limits of the City of Co lumbia-a plateau of several acres of lovel surface, with a bold bluff on tho canal, rising somo sixty feet above tho level of tho river. A tract less than half u milo, nearly at grado, will conuect tho building with tho Orcenvlllo Kallroad at a point one-hnlf a milo from tko depots of tho South Carolina and Greenville and Columbia Ita li road. The water now running through tim canal will furnish nil the motive power that will ho needed for many years. Its sect ssl bllitv from every part of th<? Htnto by railroad, and Iba fac-illMts thereby afforded tor tho transportation e.f pri -oncrn, provisi?n, ?net mater!ils, and for shipping the supplies manufactured, make It a mont ndmlrnbld and advnnlaceons location. Granite?, In inexhaustible t|uantItIos can be procured. If not within the walls, enr taluly within a stone's throw of them, without any cost of transportation. Its location, within the .-?tv limits, will allow the number of guards tobo reduced groatly l.elow tho force which would be requisito for tho ?"lc ki't'plni. of tim prisoners In rein?te Icicalitle. where the population Is sparse. It Is "eliovcd by tho Archit-ct and I.nglnoer having tho work In charge that cells may ho lu rcadlncBB by the first of January to rocelvo con vict. Tho Engineer and Architect estimates the appropria tion needed Car tho rapid and successful prosecution of the work for the next year tit l'orty-flvo thousand dol lars. I directed tho Commissioners who wero ordered to pell tlie buildings, machinery, fee., ot the State Works ot Greenville, to reservo snell machinery as might bo uso flilly employed In the manufacture of wood and iron in tho Penitentiary, when fully In operation. Tho reserva tion was made, and there will bo in tho futuro only a trilling outlay needed for macldnory to oporato most branches of manufacturo of wood and iron. .TIE LAND SCRIP FOR THE AORICULTITRAL AND ME CHANICAL COLLEGE. In obnltonro to tho resolution of iho Gennrnl ARs?m bly. passed at the special scr-slon, I appointed John S. ltit-harrison, Esq.. Agent of Iho Stato for tim purposo of procuring and telling the land scrip to which this State was entitled under tim Act of Congress, establishing Ag ricultural and Mechanical Colbg.3 Ho was farntaho l with a fortified copy rf the resolution, duly authentica ted, and tiled It In the Department of the Interior. From a communication oddrePBOd to mo by Iho lion. O. n. Browning, Secretary of the Interior, a copy of which is her.wlth com munica."d , It will bo seon thot hodeclinos to issue tho scrip until tho Legislature accepts, by Ao\ the d< nation lu conformity to the provisions of tho law of the Congress of the TJnltod Kates, making tho grant. No time should he lost lu securing this munificent do nation to the cause nf education and science, and I re commend that an Act bo passed for that purpose. This step will certainly bo accepted as a compliance with all tim rrqulromentp of the Congressional law. In some of tho Northorn Stntcs, the fund thus raised has been used in establishing schools for teaching tho branches required by Act of Congress in existing Col leges and Ilnlvorsitles; and If this poliry should com mond itself to your approval, tho agricultural and me chanical features of the College may be engrafted on Iho University of South Carolin"?, and navo the Stato all ox penso for lands and buildings required to bo furnished by it. The buildings of tho University aro commodious cnG-ydi to occoniraodato all students tint, may dCBiro to matriculate, and tho lands adjacont to and owned by ino Collego will furnish sufficient land for an experimental farm. It is very important, ii" the donation bo ncceptcd, that such legislation shall bo adopted at the present ses sion as will mako it available, independently of, or in conjunction with the University". THE PECUNIARY DISTRESS OP THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE. Tho short crop3 of grain and cotton causes tho indebt cdneps of the people to press heavily on thom. ThiB stato of things Imposes on every generous creditor the duty of making as liberal compromieos with his debtors as ho can admit without pecuniary ruin. If he has been fortun?te in escaping the general wreck, ho should <______ fully lend a helping hand to his less _h?+__?___ n_ig_,Uor who is still struggling in a sea of debt. Legislation con sistent with the Constitution and (tho genoral interest of tho community may lj_ adopted, which will greatly re lieve Iho public. ? reit?ralo my recommendation, made at tho extra scHdton, that imprisonment for debt be abol ished, except in cases of fraud, and when a debtor is about removing his person or property without tho lim its of the State; that rho Insolvent laws bo so extended that a debtor may, by petition, on giving three months' uotico to all his creditorp, require them to come in and provo their demands, and upon his surrendering hi:, en tiro effects for their benefit, that thoy bo perpetually barred from ever again proceeding against nlin lu tho Courts of this State; and that in all cases where a de fendant is sued and makes no defence to tho action, no co-. Is shall l>o taxed against him. PcrsonB in ntl juris can now compromiso with tholr dobtors, and often find it to their interest to do 60, but snob as occupy a fiduciary position aro restrained by tho stringency of legal rules ; and not being authorized to compound with debtors, they frequently loso the ontlro debt. It is sound polloy to modify those rules, so as to allow them to compound tho demands they hold against dobtors, taking caro to guard against tame' ?r iU faith on their part. I invito your attention to (ho propriety of passing a hoi Mostead law, and of extending tho value of articles ex empt from levy and roIo, for tho head of each family. Most of the States havo modo much moro liberal and hu mano provisions than South Carolina for guarding Iho fumilic.. of unfortunate and improvident debtors against being cast out upon the world, hnupcluss and breadles?. The elccieloiis ol' somo of the State Courts havo atllrmcd the constitutional power of their Legislatures to enact laws increasing the exemptions from levy and sale, even upon antecedent debls. It is not by nny means cloar that you aro precluded from enacting such a law, cither by precedent, reason, justice or the Constitution. THE SOUTH CAROLINA UNIVERSITY Was organized early In January last, and has novr about ?ixty-llvo students, but Its number of matriculates has not been equal to the expectation of its friends. The Act of last December, establishing nn University, requires further amendment, by providing for Medical and Law Schools as a part of Hie general system of University edu cation. Many of the young men who go to tho Universi ties of other States, to prosccutu their studlea iu theso professions, would willingly avail themselves of tho oppor tunity, if offered, of pursuing them hore. With ouo Pro fessor of Law, and two Professors of the Medical School, In conjunction with (ho Professor of Chemistry already there, these schools could bo put into complete and suc cessful operation, and the hope might then bo reasonably entertained that the number of students would be largely Increased. The Board of Trustees, for reasons which were, doubtless, salitilactory to tbeni, declined,in May lost, to fill the chair of Modern Languages. This important branch of modern education should not longer go unprovided for, and the Trustees will, doubtless, lill the vacant chair nt their annual morling in December. Tho Institution, as organized during the present year, though by law an "University," has been practically nothing moro than tho Collego revived. No now branches havo bcon taught, and so long as provision is not mado foi- teaching the modern lauguagos, and for orgaid/.lng Medical and Low Schools, so long will the youth of the Stato seek other in sti-Utions, where theeo studies may bo prosecuted. Until the University can bo made to merit the patronago of tho State, by enlarged facilities for acquiring knowledge in sclenco, languages, and the learned professions, its friends cannot expect to command n general public patronago to sustain it. Tho Board of Trustees now numbers nearly forty mom bcrs. This make's it a very unwieldy body, Its num bers destroy all Bonsc of individual responsibility in the management of the affaira of tho University. Noarly one half of tho Board are Trustees ex ofticio, and, with raro exceptions, theso ex officio members constitute, by reason of olllcial engagement? which call them to Columbia in May and December, the majority who attend its session. It was found nearly impossible to secure the attendance of a quorum (one-half of tho Board), and yon provided by law, at the last session, that nino should constitute a quorum in a Board of thirty-nino members. A smaller body would realizo moro fully their responsibility to the Stato for the proper management of its principal educa tional Institution. I th-rcforo recommend that the Board bo reduced to seven mombcrs, and appointed In such manner as tho General Assembly, in Its wisdom, may direct. THE PURCHASE OF CORN. Pursuant to the rcsolntion of 21st Septdmbor last, passed by tho General Assembly, I Appointed Colonel D. Wyatt Aiken Agont of tho Stato to moko purchases of corn. Having satisfied himself fully that tho double re striction imposed in tho resolution rendered it impossi ble to effect purchases, ho declined tho appointment I concurred fully In his conclusion, that too double re striction rendered the wholo schemo nugatory, and I bavo not, therefore, appointed another Agont. The reso lution required that three hundred thousand dollars of bombi should purchoso and deliver in the State throe hundred thousand bushels of corn. It Is reasonably cer tain that tho bonds could not bavo been sold for more than seventy conts to the dollar, and corn could not bo purchased in any market, and delivered, at ono dollar per bushel. The corrcspoudence between Colonel Aiken and myself Is herewith communicated. The grain crop of tho State has boen gathered, and you aro bettor prepared now, than at the extra session, to de termino tho deficiency, and what will bo needed to sup ?ily the absolute wants of the poor. When you have fl xcd ho amount, tho grave question arises, how aro you to sup ply tho funds to purchase it ? The feverish and unset tled condition of publie affairs has not tended to appre ciate the credit of the Southern States; and if tho pur chase of a largo amount of breadstuffs, for distribution among tho poor, is to bo effoctod by tho salo of State bonds, it can only be accomplished at a ruinous discount The question is earnestly commondod to your gravest deliberation. The firm of Browno k Schlrmor, grain merchants of 1 Charleston and Columbia, havo made a preposition t. furnish corn, and havo rcquestod mo to lay it before you. They propose that, If the Stato shall advance to them twonty-flvo thousand dollars, which they will give > approved security to refund, they will cngago to furnish slity thousand bushels of corn per month, to bo sold at actual cost, with transportation and t-c-and-one-half 1 per cent, commissions added, te tho citizens of the ; Mate ; Invokes to bo submitted to coremls-ionors, snd tho corn to be mbjoct to Inspection by tho commission ers or by an agent If a larger amount should be need* ed monthly, that larger amount wid be furnished, upon condition that tho State mako a pro rata Increase of the loan. The money loaned la to bo returned aa aoon aa tho contract terminate?. It is prop .sod by these gon fe rnen to establish depots for the sale of tho corn In Charleston, Columbia and Marion, from wbloh pointa it I may be readily distributed to every section of the State. Tho members of the firm aro enterprising and trust worth v, and, if such a contract la awarded them, tliey wlU dvub tits i MIAU Ita ?tipuU.iow.wuu A-Q?'y . If tia ? neccsfll los of tho Stato should re?iulro Ibu Importation I of one million of bushels, to supply tho ?vants ol thot>u I who munt buy and aro ablo io pay, tbo saving to tho ' po> plo of the stale, by such an arrangement, would not lall short of two hundred thou ? uni dollars. 1 have been informed that n proposition of the same sort will bo submitted to you by A. M. Hiker, a grain merchant of Cliiirloston. who can furnish von with satis factory testimonials of integrity and business capacity. These plans ror supplying with corn the whole popula- j tioii, including tho Hoards of Coinmis-ioii'Ts of the Poor, I who will bo compolleil lo pr?vido for ii large number of , indigent persons, at a profit of only two-and-a-liall per ' cent, to tho contractor, on costs oin! expenses, uro com mended to your fiivorablo consideration. IUSMU.K? HOI.tU-ltS. Agreebly to the resolution of the3l?t September last, imsjoil by the General Assembly, it i-irculnr was Issued by me, "directed to each ol' the Tax Collectors of tin State, requiring thom to furnish nu? with a list ?if the ! names ol all eil-sens bl their respective Districts who wero permanently disabled in the Stato or Court-derate Borvici! during tim late war; particularly specifying those , who havo been deprived of their limbs, and staling in ! each caso whether it beau armor leg, or both." The i information thus acquired the Governor was requested to furnish to tbo iii net al Assembly at tin: noxt regular Session. Itelurns have been received from the Tax Col lector?, with the exception of those of Abbeblllc, l'.nrn wcll, Chester, Chesterfield, Clareudou, Kershaw, Lex- i lngton, Marlon and Union, and the Parishes of St. Georgo's Dorchester, St. Helena, St. James' Goose Crock, Ht. James' Santeo, St. John's Berkeley, St. John's Colleton and St. Stephen's. The Districts and names reported have been alphabet- ' IcaUy arranged, and aro herewith traii?niitte<l for your I-formation. Tho number reported, so fur, its having lost legs, ?h <m?? hundred ami Kixty-scvcn; oin- bundee.I and eighty havo lost anus; ono hundred and seventy aro olherwlBO permanently disabled. Tho printing of the | Journals ol' tho extra session, together with the joint resolutions then passed, could not be completed until within the past week, and my attention was not called to your resolution of tho 10th Befltombor, "directing the j O.?vernor to Invite proposals and specimens of artificial ' legs." Proposals havo not been invited. I am, there fore, not prepared to report "the narnu ol' (hat iiianulae- ; turor who wiU present the best and cheapest models, with the price thereof." COVEniNO TnE 8TATH nOT'SE. In conformity to your rcBolution of tim 10th of Scp tomber lost, a?lvcrtlsemcnts wero published inviting pro- i posais for "estimates of tho cost of covering the new State House, and ol fitting up therein a sufficient num ber or rooms for tho uso of the General Assombly and its officers, upon tho most economical plan. Bids have bera received from threo builder??. They will bo luid be- I lore tho Committees of tho two Houses charge?! with tho subject, together with their respective plans, specifica tions, and estimates. Well-informed architects repre sent that the building, in its present condition, will rai?, idly deteriorate, aud I recommend that au appropriation ' be made to carry out the purposes of your resolution. -ENERA- INCOItPO-ATION ACT. I respoftfiiUy renew my former recommendations, that a general Incorporation Act bo passed. Capital should be invited into tho Stato by every lcgittoiato means, and ready faciUtics for organizing chartered companies, where ! it may be concentrated for enterprises too large for indi vidual effort, would promoto tho end, and aro greaUy necded. Such an Act would save mnch of the time which the ?General Assembly is now compelled to devote to granting charters, Slid would reduce very matcriaUy, the aunual cost of printing BiU*" and Acts of incorpora tion. Tnn INSANE ASY-USr. I communicate herewith the report of Dr. Parker, Su perintendent and Physician of the Auylum. You will leam from it that (here arc now in the institution 113 patients, of whom 00 arc paying and 87 aro charity pa tients. Tho latter list wlU soou bo increased materially by transfer from the former, arising from the Inability of present paying patients to raise funds further to support themselves. The institution is admirably managed in aU ita departments, and I commend it to your continuing favor. .THE DEAF AND DUMB AND THE BLIND. The Commissioners of the Asylum fbr tho Deaf and Dumb and tho Blind, at Cedar Springs, in spartauburg District, mot in Juno last, and made the necessary tir rangements for putting the schooln into operation, under the supervision of Mcs-irs. Henderson and Walker. The boariliug-houso and Echools were opened early lu No vember, and they havo now resumed their long sus pended functions under tho most favorable auspices. The Bchools aro rapidly fllllug up, niul promise lo reach, at an early ?lay, the maximum number hcrelotore attain ed. Tim reports of the. Commissioners and Superinten dente wiU bo soon transmitted to you. 1 lu-g to com mend this noble and humane charity to your fostering caro. t*X)N_TrrCTION.VL AMENDAIENT PROPOSED Bl* CON QBHMa I transmit herewith a communication from tho Hon. Wm. H. Seward, covering the Constitutional Amendment proposed to the several Slates of tho Union, by the Con gress of the United Statos. History furnishes fow exam ples of a pooplo who have been required to concede more to tbo will of their conquerors than the people of the South. Every concession wo luivc made, however, so lar from touching the magnanimity or generosity of tho victors, has sharpened their malice and intensified their revenge. In tho Burrct-.dar of our last organised army c11li-* 1 ito Coufi-dcrato Government. Gins. Jouuston and i-hoiman. each r i prisoniiing the military -cower nail authority of his rtspeclivo Government, agreed upon certain terms of capital iti'iu. While exsctlrf* In mmn roiprcts, ti.es i terms wire in tho main such as a liberal and generous victcr would coil-.'cda to a fallen foe. Tbcy ?arete accept sd in good frith by tho Southern people, and every or ganised body of s?.?lili---ra in oppisitlon to Um laws of the United .-?tates wero In a few days dispersed. Scarce y hail the fact of tho capitulation betu inid-i public, how ivor, bt-foro It wai anuouuceil that the terms were repu diated by ttio fcxecutive authority of tbo Unittd States, an.l a proclamation was Usuid, offering amnesty, willi numerous f xcopto.l classes, to theso whJ had participat ed in the war. These classes nlio (cqUlSSCed, and COU? forming to iho requir-mente of the Chief Executive gou cr.-illv, made application fur pani in, TLc-n f?)ll?i\vo?l Military Governors and tile military occupation of the country, under which tho rights of tin; oitbten wero regu lated by no known rules, aud he was tried and punished by no "mown laws. This com1'lion of thiugs waa also actpilescod in ?"til remarkable patience. Provisional Governors wero then appointed, whose tuncUous were performed jointly with the military commanders, ami conventions called by these Governors were assembled to chango the organic law of tho soveral States. Thus tUd the pcoplo of SouUi Carolina assemble and obliterate tbo Constitution that had bcon made and hallowed by su.-h men us Hutlcdgo. Plnckney, Marion and Sunitcr. Wo were required to abolish slavery, whiuh had existed for two hundred years, and was intimately iutonvovou with the whole social, industrial and financial fabric ol' the State. We obeyed. When the Legislature assembled, wo wero required to ratify the Constitutional Amendment abolishing slavery in the bnited States, and were made, in part, instruments to accom plish that resulC lu Kentucky ami Delaware, when those States had refused to do so of their own voli tion. Wo obeyed. lu addition to this, all Ibu citizens of South Carolina, wiUi scarcely cn exception, took the amnesty oath, which required them to sustain aud sup port all tho proclamations and laws mado during the war, and particularly tho:,-"' relating to the abolition of slavery- Thcso oaths b?vo been obsorved by tho great mass of Uio pooplo with singular fidelity, and ovcry es sontial attribute of a truo and thorough loyalty to the Constitution and Union has been exhibited and prac ticed. In addition to till this, tho General Assembly of tho State has, by solemn enactment, a.-co tied to the black race aU tho rights of person mid property enjoyed by the whito race. They can buy and sell, grant, convey and deviso. 1? their personal rights aro Invaded, tbo samo judicial tribunals vindicate them. They go upon the witness Btandand testily; they aro permitted to tes tify iu their own cases, oven when on trial for the gravest offences. How many of tbo States now enjoying a repre sentation in that Congress which proposes this amend ment to us for ratification, accord, by their own laws, tho samo general rights and privileges to the black man? Thoy have but a meager number of negroes in their midst, and if allowed to vote, their ignoran co and depravity would produco no appreciable effect upon the result, being less than ono and one-eighth per cent, of tho voting population, whereas their relativo number hero is as forty-ono blaoks to thirty whit?-u Do sensible, fair and Just mon at tho North do dru that theso people, without information or education, steeped in ignorance, crime and vice, should go to tho polls and olcot mon to Congress who aro to pass laws, taxing and governing thom? Now that all this has bcon dono, what further or Idgher pledgo of honorablo obedience can bo given by ono people lo another? Does tho majority who now ralo Congress expect to make us botter men or better citi zens, more serviceable to tho country in peace and in war, by further humiliating and degrading us? Not withstanding oil theso plod'cb and concessions, it is sought nilli further to hnmUiato and degrado the South. Eleven of tho Southern States, in cluding South Carolina, aro deprived of their representation in Congreso. Although their Senators and Representatives havo hoon duly elected, and havo presented themeclvcs for the purpoBeo.* taking their seats, their credentials havo, in most Instances, boen laid upon tho lo Mo without being read, or havo been referred to a committee, who havo failed to make any re por t on tho sub ject. In short, Congress has refused to exerclso its Consti tutional functions, and decido either upon the election, the return or tho qualification of these selected by tho States and people to represent us. Some of tho Senators and Representatives from tho Southern States wero prepared to take tbo test oath, but oven theso havo been persist ently ignored, and kept out of tho seats to which they wero ontiUed under the Constitution and laws. Honco this amendment has not been proposed by "two-thirds of both Houses" of a legally constituted Congress, and is not Constitutionally or legitimately before a single Legislature for ratification. Waving this point, ho wo ver, ? is it compatible with Uni interest or consistent with tho honor of this State to ratify that amendment? Do not It first and last sortions, if adopted, confer upon Congress tho absoluto right Of determining who shall bo citizens of the respectivo States, and who shall exercise tho electivo franchise and enjoy any and all of tho rights, privileges and immunities of citizenship? The sections rcferrod to not only do this, but thoy subvert tho thoory and practico of tho Government since its foundaUon, by abrogating the right of fixing tho elective franchise con ferred upon tho rcspooUvo Stato Governments, and by giving the represontaUvcs of Oregon or California to Con gross tho power to declaro what shall constitute the measure of clUzennbip within the Umlts of South Carolina or Georgia. Who is most likely to exerclso this power Judiciously-the citlzons of the Stato whereto the regula tion In to bo made, or non-roaldents, who aro entirely ig norant of the population, the intelligence, necesaiUes and resource-, for which legislaUon is undertaken ? With this amendment incorporated to tho Constitution, docs not tho f ?jdcnU adornment cease t,o j>0 ono 0f '-limited * . power?" in all of the essential qualities which constitute mi' li .1 form of (in?, .?rum. ut y Nuy, more; itOcs not ltd adoption revermi the wcll-approvetl doctrine, that Uio Uulted States shall excre-ls? no powers, uni-?-, expressly dclcgatod by tbo Constitution I The third section, if its wpirlt wore rarrietl out. would not only dlKorgani/..? the Slitlo Guvcruuicnt in all <>i ita di'partuie iitn, but would rentier it nearly Impossible for Hie people of the State or South Carolina, at least, lu re organize a government until Congress, by a two-thirds VOtO ill tbO CUSO Of each individu ii i..?rnon, i. moves tho disability. And this for the reason "tal when Heces-ion was determined upon by lh<; Convention ?I the st ?te, South Carolina may lu? truly wai.l lo hi\.? i.? mi a null in sustaining tho doe trino, and in earnestly sud /.? i?..?-|y prosecuting Uio wur. Who i, thcivlorv. every t llb.t-li ?ho, ni any time prior to s?.t-..ssIoii, had tak. ii li._lh ??to support the Constitution <>r tins state nm| ,,?, ,|., (-1-.i^.-.i siutes," and who subscquuully atded antlabi-tt. ti tin war, la exeliith ?I from everyoilici.il position, Killie-.1:1 well as Federal, the magnitud.? of Ibu ?lix id iii., lu unveiled. Kvery uUlcer lu the past of Ula State, civil and military, was required, bol?n: entering upon Ila? discharge Ol (bo duties of his office, to BUbscrib. lo such an e_th, from the Senator In CoM_T_SH to tho lieutenant in it-, beat ceinpani.'H. Who then can be made Judges, Ct.ngrc.r__ incu, Leglrtlators, District Ofttcim lind Usgistr it? -i .' It Is to be obsurvetl, th.-reforc, that as te> this State, tho adoption ol' the amendment will nccessurily r- null lu pe-rjury on the part of those who attempt lo i.ll . ik-Ii of lle-es, eir to anarchy, if they aro not liile-l. C'-?ugrt- , \i>> litllng unolhcr CSlaMishcd princi|.li- of the Cimstllution, confers upon itself the right of the pardoning power, when the Constitution v__t" it in the President How long would it occupy the atd-iitiou of (bat body to re move the disabilities impo-ved, foi? a Millirimt numb-r of our ellizeus to lill the respective oflh-cs In South Carolina alone? Is anirchy to perv.itle society until it stiils tho laterc-ts, the prejnellces. tin- imwrfon or (lie raprlce of Congress to prucliiim such acts Of grace and mercy ? There are other objection.-" ol'a grave character which might be urged, and among Hiesc it may lu- UlCUtlOtlCd, that if the iniicudine-nl ?s ad..,.t..I, we not i-ul.v have uo guarantee that our representative-? would li.- ad_ni.__d to Congress, bul Utera an.- unmistakable huUcntlons that they would still be cxi.ludci.. It is unnecessary, how ever, to dwell upon a subject which has been ra far de cided by .he public opinion ol'the people ol'ile? state, that I am justified lu saying, that ii tito Constitutional Amendment is to bo adopted, let it be don- by Hi.? irre sponsible power of number^, omi let nu preserve our own solf-rospcct, and the respect of oui- posterity, by ni using to be: the mean instruments of our own shame?. I tender to you, gentlemen, my cordial co-operation lu discharging the grave duties and rcsponsibi?tics de volved upon you at thiB critical ami e-venlful period in our history. You have the glorious reminiscences of the past to sunni' .c, and the precious hopes of the fu turo to e-ncoui-agti you in meeting the_o responsibilities with forti_ud_. . ouragu miel discretion, and relying upon tho support . .u protection of the All-powerful arm of a gracious 0- d, your patriotic efforts to restore the blight e-el prosp'.ity and reclaim tim broken fortunes of a gen erous, noble and confiding constitucnev will be crowned with grateful success. JAMES L. OK?. BIRD . CO., ImportO-rs und _lis.i-ui.ict.ire rs OF WHITE LEAD, 4 VARNISHES. COLORS, OILS, 4 BRUSHES, Kerosene Lamps, SASHES, DOOKS AND BUNDS. DEALEItS IN REFINED PETROLEUM. Agents for MARVIN'S SAFES AND UOWfi- PLWFOM -.-LUS. ___ O 3 EAST BAY STREET, SIGN OF MARVIN'S SAFE. WE ADE SOLE PIlOrillETOnS Ol' THE FOL LOWING BRANDS OF WHITE LEAP, which aro COPYRIGHT ED, anel boar OUR TRADE MARK, and all infringement-, will bo dealt with according to law: W. __. B. ?- CO.'.. STONEWALL, WANDO, CIHCORA and ETIWAK. Also, W11. M. B. _. CO.'S AND QUEEN CITY ZINCS. Novomber 2_ su AT THE CHARLESTON BAZAAR NO. 621 KING STREET, Near Upper Guard House T. P. FORRESTON, JOBBER AND DEALER IN . TOYS J FANCY GOODS .. ^ NOTIONS TRIMMINGS FIRE WORKS FANCY CHINA GOODS FOR HOLIDAY GUTS FANCY BASKETS MARKET BASKETS FANCY WORSTED GOODS, Ac. Ac- < Novembor 26 1?-*?? WIGHTMAN & CHIPMAN, Machinists, Bailer Makers, BlacKsmiths,, AND GENERAL REPAIRERS, QUEEN 8TREET, ONE DOOR EAST OF MEETING. ALL KINDS OP MACHINERY. FIRE ENGINES,. HOSE PUMPS, Ac., icopnirtxl at tbo ebor tent notice. BRASS and IRON WORE, all kinds, neatly executed JOHUINO PROMPTLY ATTENDED TO. October 17_ _ wf ~WM. B. RYAN, AUCTIONEER AND COMMISSION AGENT, NO. 1 STATE STREET, NEXT NORTH OF BROAD, ATTENDS TO THE 8ALE AND PURCHASE OP Real Kit-ate? and all kinds of Personal Properly, at Auction or Private Sale; and also to Renting anel Collect- . tag Rout? o, h.mm-, i_?. ?OTC-?b?-17 ' ?. ' . '. .?<.. .-. . ..... A