University of South Carolina Libraries
mi ii m. jmjii .i allem io'i, t' a* mer ."<>o ! paper is oT*red ? ! o # * * to the exis inn 1? a' ; than tuey are able to p< discount. In I8ld. when tine country was u!nlost literally flooded witti a redundant o currency, this allcgahon was habitually *u made, and with as much truth as it is now.! o Of tiie spirit of banking and borrowing.: ;i it may be said vvi.b more philosophy than I poetry, that it is a monster which derives i: increase of appetite from what it feeds 0:1.' j t lkie vcrv act of thro w ing ou excessive is. ; sues of hank p iper, bv deprecia'ing the val- j 1 ue of current money, creates, to the hill extent of that depreciation, an increased desire an 1 necessi y for borrowing, because ;; an increased <pia?i itv of money becomes 1 necessary to oil* at die exchanges of society. Tiie constant and progressive appreciation of all kinds of propeny, which isanoJierj form ofcxpressing a depreciated currency? gives moreover a universal stimulus to die i spirit of overtrading. During the downward progression every man lines i? to be bis interest to borrow money and purchase prop, crty, because money will be less valuable " " ? 1 . * and more easily obtained when the uu\ 01 payment comes, than it was when he obtained the loan; the price of proper y, in t le meantime, rising in proportion. The trading community, and indeed almost ail classes of society, become intoxicated with the spirit of gambling speculation in stocks, in land, and in every thing else, and continue to move on under this high pressure system until awakened from their delirium by an explosion, when he liny be deemed singularly fortunate who escapes unhurt from the general wreck. No state of things can be more unfavorable to the pursuits of honest industry, more corrupting .0 the public morals, or finally more destructive to the prosperi y of an agricultural community. In the final catastrophe in which it must inevitably terminate, property becomes depreciated, money becomes nmw difficult to obtain, and in this state of things, ail those who are indebted to the banks, have to sacrifice their proper y to discharge their obligations. And in the scene of general ruin which follows," he banks alone flourish amidst the distress and bankruptcy of the great body of the people. It is devoutly to be hoped that the spirit of sock-jobbing will not spretd from Xow. York and Albany, to Charleston and Columbia; and above all that the sys'em of mutual bribery?which has produced such fearful and demoralizing results in o.her quarters, will never pollute the sanctuary of our legislation. A very strong, if not a conclusive reason ngainst giving banking privileges to the Rail Road Company, will be found in the fact, that the capi ;;l ofiliebank of the State of Sou li Carolina, will be increased during the ensuing year to the ex cat of something like a million and a half of dollars, by the sum which will be deposited in that bank from the Treasury of the I'uitcd States.? This will enable it to increase its discount operations at least to the same extent, and will certainly supply ali the additional wants of the community for bank accommodations, hovnrul what can be supplied by the exis'ing bank capital. And as tlic profits of the Hunk cf the State redound to the bewfl' of ttie people at large, it would be very unwise to diminish tlies 'profits at the present conjiyiclure, by the grant of banking privileges to a company of individual stockholders: i ^ even if tins could be safely done upon sound banking principles. It is not easy to perceive upon what plan tiiis rail road company can be transformed into a banking corporation consistently with its original purpose. It is certain that the same capital cannot perlorm two incoin. patiblo functions. I: cannot be paid out and expended in constructing tlie rail road, and ai tite same time remain in the bank to redeem its paper. Such an attempt as thi* would inevitably end in a mere paper bank as it would be utterly impossibletliat it could > .... i-.ll., If |r, nlll'i.'lti reueem its uina w.i u'.muu^. this objection it should bo proposed to haw a separate and distinct capital to sustain the operations of the bank, the plan would sti! be liable to very strong objee ions. It wouit bo substantially forming the same body o persons into two distinct corporations, es sentially diiiercnt in their character and ob jects,and requiring entirely different quali fixations for the conduct of their affairs. It is not reasonable to suppose that tiff confusion of purposes and contemplation c d jties, would facilitate or expedite the com pi :tio!?ofihe undertaking i'or which the com l?any was organized. On the contrary there is too much ground to apprehend tiiu this uoble enterprise would be degrade) into a mere concern of speculation am stock-jobbing. When it is recollected tha tiie Charter of this Company positively pre lubits it from all banking operations, it .s t be presumed that some very cogent reason wiii be roqu.red to induce you to repeal tha prohibition. Tiie only reason entitled t consideration, which lias been suggested is the effect of this banking privilege in st curing the requisite subscription of stock liiit it is now apparent, that as iar as w -- - ?- ? ? I-. tkn ? ? vfii ran see our way cieur iui mumu^ u.v, tue means are already secured, if we add i the stock already subscribed, the subscrij: tion whiciithe Legislature will doubtless at thorize to be made in the name of the ?>tat< at the proper time. 1 will remark finally on this subject, th; the constitution of the directory, as the cim t .'r now stands, would boa conclusive ol j -ction, on the part of the South Carolir s ockholders, to the granting of bankii privileges to the Corporation, under its pre ear organization. Your predecessors have been at nil rim< so justly sensible of t.ho importance of ha ing uniform and equal laws administered I enlightened and impartial judges, ih*tt tl organization ofthe Judiciary system has o copied a due share of their attention, seems, however, that something yet r mains ;o he done to complete that orgai gition, The constitution of the Court Appeals by the act of 133-j, has render what was before meR-ly expedient ahnosi matter of nece^by :?an act providing tii s kcs'o ?~ of'h it Court shall ho h'-ld r ns'velv at (V.ambia, for the trial of Aj>rnls from nil pirts ofthe State. I nisi also ol the opinion that the great im? rovemeut which iris heen made in the in iiigrnec; <>; t'i" people, since the a bo!:.'ion if the County Courts, renders it highly exi Ji'.'Kt to re-establish tlr.it system now, hough ii mav then have been wise to aboU shir. In Ihighmd and in all tiie older states of this Union, it is as justly popular is it is extensively useful, having the high nrrit of administering justice without delay, 'without money and without price." There is no Dis rict in the .State in which in ciiiightciH'd body of Magis.rates could not he obtained, amply qualified to superintend the general police of the Ihs'.ric: and ex -rcise a civil and criminal iurisdie. tion iir.i t d o cvtam amounts and lo a certain class of ollenccs. Jly transferring tiie powers now oxerci scJ t:y uie i hdin.iries to tisesc Comts, tin fees ofotlu'e would yield so liberal a com 'vamadou, that persons of tin: vrrv bos eat'ons cnuU bi.' obtained to act a Clerks. Though the Justices would re ceivo no compensation, hut the conscious . less of" rendering the State some service,' patriotic citizens of trie highest s anding would, 1 dot.!)! a ' cry cheerfully per.orn iiicir several tmirs of dufv in t.hose posts ( honor and usoiiiliiess. And in the cours of a tl. w years, tiie Circuit Courts would h relieved of so largo a portion of the busiiies they now have to perform, that the numbf of the judges ini'dii he gradually disninishe to a cousaii rah;.- extent, thus promoting just and wi>j economy, widiou- impairing in the siightes. degree, the etliciency of th general system, or the clnractcr of th court of final jurisdic ion. The recent organization of tiie M iitia. in tlic progress of realizing all the beneii which were HiitieiuaiediVom.i. As schoo J I % . of instruction for the officers, the Brigat Encampuicn s have been found to he < inestimable value. I am thoroughly satis lied, from my observation and expeiieno tliat witnout these, ti e whole sys em of M htia musters and drills, would lie worse th? unprovable. They would he mere hunj i* * * * f,-? lirinor ;iH Alii t.J.vum vu iw w. _ . tia exercises into contempt and ridicule, ar all Militia OnCers into disrespect. Win : the Coldiicls of Regiments and Captains Companies are thoroughly competent driil their respective commands, there bur little difficulty in preparing the body 1 the Militia to defend their rights. Wi ; such officers, i In-iieve the most iitexpei < need troops?I mean .Militia, not en!isl< troops?coaid l?* well pr--pared to tal the field in six weeks. Kwry tiling depon upon the officers, and mos'. upon the Ca tains of Compan.es, 0:1 whom it devolves teach those elementary principles ai movements by which all the coinbinatio ofMditarv tactics arc effected on tlie tic. ; of ha'tie. Hut it is nbsolufly ess 'ntial to the uiiii of a drill, that it ho conducted or superi i tended by a competent officer. Accor ing to to the true theory and original li sign of the office of Adjutant and Inspect General, that officer should be the chief di . ollicer of the State. lie should be rcqu i ed to attend the muster of every regime ; in the State once a year, and conduct t drill himself as the instructor. Ho shot also be required to attend every Hriga encampment, and to drill the officers, the same character; and be vested w i:h t necessary au hority, without reference his nominal rank. As a compensation for these laborioi 1 expensive and most useful service, I salary should be raised to at least twen J live hundred dollars. This would cnal : j you to command the services of a you > man of military pride, thoroughly mas 1: of his duties, and who would devo e I ? : whole time to their performance. Such ' mai) would bu worm more lo the .^tate tn ' j any officer in it, civil or military; where : an incompetent officer, without the proj ; energy and military spiri-, would pe a pc '! live nuisance. 11 The improvement of our Militia, 1 .. been as much retarded, heretofore, by ! : want of a sui abb and uniform system "! tactics and regul it ions, as by i s want organization. The officers of many of i " j regiments cannot procure books of a j kind, and all the copies of" Infantry T< 5; ties," provided by the authority ofyourp | decossors, are exhausted. The 1. ,S:n * i have recently adopted a new system of *, fan try Tactics?embracing all the roc ' improvements of the French, prepared I Major General Scon. to whom the conn ^ is grcatlv indebted lor the means ofneni J, O ' % I in!! a scientific knowledge of t!:e miii;; II art. This new system is a very deci< '*1 improvement upon any thing prcvioti 0 published, and Major General Macomb s pieparcd from it, a very judicious abs'r; lt to which be has added Artillery and Cai 0 rv Tactics and the Army Regulations, ( '?' bracing the whole in the compass of u sn " I and clicap volume. As we are tmde constitutional obligation to conform to u system of the I niter! States, and ns b1 system tiiey have now adopted, is likeh ? , be permanent, I have purchased five h u : dred cop'es of this work on? of the npp l' priation of the last session, and 1 re<-? c> mend that a sum be appropriated suffic : to supply all the oftiet rs of the State \ it one copv. The cost will be vcryir.con r-1 erai?!o, in comparison with the object, !)- this small volume, costing o.ulv fifty-cu m is in itsvifa very tolerable military libra ig : ( hit of the sum appropriated lor that s- jeet, I have purchased a suitable site ; caused an Arsenal to be erected, in -?s place, capable of containing 8000 stan v. arms. When the Magazines and Barrn >v 1 are completed, tin; whole will be as cret ic bio to the liberality and forecast of the ! gislature. as it will be conducive to the j It lie safe? v. e- I feel it to be niv duty to bring to > u- view sonic measures for improving the < o! ditiou, elevating the character and extern cd the usefulness of the Chief Kxeeutive a parttnent of this (lovormcnt, which I I tat been restrained, by very obvious consul \- t!'VN. f :;)1 SUgC'S itllj 'C ' !' " ?''!I'M* p'U mm* i j OWWPIf tTT 1? 1 There is no reform in the pracdeal opera- j r lion of our system ofcoufederatcd Sovereign ( a 1 Communities, and in the state ol {)iib!ic opin-, t ion connected with it. more important to the i security ol our civil insli.ulious. than that JI which .shall restore the lost equilibrium of it ' that system. by raising up the S ate govern-! r ' men s from that low point of depression to j i which they have been carried by the ad- 11 : verse political currents of the last twenty 1?' years, to their primitive dignity and power, i The steady progress of tederal encroachment, while undermining and carrying < 1 away the constitutional barriers of oar safetv. I has given a false direction to the public j 1 opinion of our people and the ambition of < . ' our statesmen. The latter must be thor- 1 oughly corrected, before the former can be i successfully resisted. It will be in vain that, we struggle to maintain die grcai conserva-1 . live doctrines of the South, while the Chief j ; .Magistrates of high minded Soudiern States 1 ; ?* i * - - i: _ i - ?;he representatives o; tncir sovereign uig! nily?.sh;?il descend from their ioiiv c!i:va- i 5 tion. prostrate the insignia of lli-'irolficcsai - the very fooi-s'oo! ofthc Tedornl Kxecutivo. - craving at Iris hands the miserable honor of a mission to the Indian tribes, or a pcrtnan-j ert agency among them, and moving off , 1 upon this degrading errand, without encoun- j I i tering the scornful and indignant hisses of o I the people, whose sovereign honor he has. e he rayed and tarnished, s With a view of counteracting these do-! r i grading tendencies, as well as of increasing I d ' the respectability and usefulness of his of a rice in other respects. I recommend that the salary of the Governor be increased to five \ c thousand dollars?that he he required to j e reside, habitually, at the seat of Government,' and that a suitable house be erected tor his is accommodation. This is almost the only! s Stale in the I nion, whore a mansion, curls ' responding with the dignity of the office, is le 1 not provided for the residence of the Chief )f Magistrate, and w.Vrc tha* officer is not re> ! quired to reside perihauently ai the seat of i (lovcrnincnt. i- ! In practice, the Chief Executive Depart * '-I -1. . ill | ment o! tins tvato is now cnner un- |;n\.uv l- j residence of the Governor, often in one exi ; trem.ty of the State, or a sort of travelling id ! head quarters. In this*statc of tilings, the *n | people are exposed to groat inconvenience, of:; 11! the unfortunate often tail to receive the to benefit which ;hey would otherwise derive is ; from Iiis ex? reise of the prerogative of mcrof cv, by the difficulty of ascertaining or of th reacliing ti?e place of his residence lor the *i- | time being. xl ; I also suggest as a measure of obvious \C expediency, the repeal or modification of ils that provision of the Constitution, which p- renders the Chief Magis rate ineligible, for to four years, after serving one term. As he id is almost entirely destitute 'of patronage ot ris any kind, there is no conceivable reason Id why the people should impose this jealous I restriction upon themselves, by which it y ! must frequently happen that they will be tie. 11- ! privet! of services which they would be vry d- j anxious to retain, to the serious detriment lo- | of the public service. As th* Constitution or , now stands, no system of policy depending ill j upon the Chief .Magistrate, and requiring a ir- ' series of years lor its execution, can bo suc nt j cessfuliy accomplished, he ! I have received from the Governors ol ild ! several of our confederate Sta'es, rosoltide I tions on the subject of the proceedings ol l ?..1 nrinn!vr>r| in the id j cerium uuwa wu oiau t.>.o - ... lie ! non-slaveholding States, and i now lav these to ; resolutions before you, in compliar.ce with : the request by which they were accompuis, , nied. Most of them, as you will perceive, lis 1 are from the Legislatures of slaveholding y- Sta'es, and ore characterised by a patriotic >!c spirit, an enlightened comprehension of our ig common rights, and a firm determination tc or defend them, worthy of the high sources . J ' 3 ns whence they emanate, a I am cons rained, however, to express an i my sincere regret, that notwithstanding die :as solemn appeal ma le by South Carolina am >er other slave-holding States, to ;Ik; States ir si- which those abolition Societies were form ed, invoking them to interpose their legisla. las tivc power fur the purpose of suppressing he j seditious machinations against our peace of! and safety, which were openly carried or of; under the protection of their laws and sov the i oreign jurisdiction?but three of these State: nv ' have condescended to notice this np tc- ; peal, and not one of them lias taken am rc-1 step towards suppressing the injurious prac <es tiers of wliich we so jus lv complained, fn- Considering the fraternal spirit in whic! ent our application was conceived, and the res bv peciful language in which it was expressed trv I cannot but regard the entire neglect win lit*, which it l?as been tints generally treated, a irv a silent but significant indication of tin led j alarming sta o of public opinion which al sly ! ready prevails, amongst the great body c lias ; the people in the non-slave-holding &at<$ ict, j and a solemn admonition to the slave-hold ail- , ing States to guard their institutions wit ;m- I sleepless vigilance, and he at all times pre lali pared to defend them, by all the measure r a and .all the means which the emergency the may demand. After what has occurred, the ' will not comport wit!) the dignity of Sou j to Carolina, as a Sovereign S ate deeply aj on- grieved by the practices in which I have it ro- ferred, to iiold any further correspondent: mi- on the subject, with those S'ales that hnv iont treated our complaints with this total uc< vitli lect and silent indifference, sid- ; It is now time that discussion shoul ? ovli.niwd.ul -III ccasi;. *% J. ui^unit'iu i.*> v.Aiuiiir'n/'ij ?! < M?s' though wo may 1101 be called upon to "stun ''} by our arms," we should be prepared I ?b- adopt efficient and decisive measures ft Mid our own security, as soon as it shall be a: this c r ained that 'die combined guarantees ? d international law and of our constitution; compact of Union, are insufficient to re: hta- tj-.n'n the ferocious spirit of fanatical iutei Ij-- ferencc, which is now waging war again iub- oljr institutions. It is no longer to be e! dureJ that the federal compact. wluc b shou our be a covenant of eternal pence among t! ton- States, and a shield to protect their res pec ling ive institutions from every species of nun I)e- a! intermeddling, should be used as the coi invc slant pretext for tin's conspiracy against 01 era- own lives, our proper v. and our charnctc o !. \V :n;:st !>> per::': t" I a ?' oulv *n error c ights of property, bu: ;o enjoy ihem'in peace j .nil security. It is a gross outrage for ; me community to attempt to overthrow the j nstitutions of another, crrn hy discussion. f committed bv a foreign State, it is a just atise of war; if by a confederated State, it is : i just cause of separation. In ci:!ier case j I is a simple question of expediency to de- j ermine when the evil has assumed a char- j ic'er to warrant a resort to the ul.imate re- I nedy. Such is the rapid progress of the spirit j t)fabolition in the non-slave-holding States, that no human sagacity can tell how soon j that period may arrive. We fatally deceive ourselves, if we suppose its fury abated. Oil the contrary it appears from die annual report of the American Anti-Slavery Society which assembled at New-York in May las', that the Abolition Societies had swelled in number from 200 to 520, since the report of the preceding year. The Society triumphantly boasts of its progress, declares ii-lmni ir denominates i!s ri'iiuucu hivctv < iiv/*.. -;h?j "bone and muscle of society," the "hardhanded, clear-headed free laborers and mechanics of lite North," and that the opposition to the abolitionists is confined to ' tiie head and tail of society; purse proud aristocrats, and penny loss profligates." It then proceeds with the infuriated zeal, but without the piety, of Peter the Hermit, to rally its partiznns for a crusade against the slaveholders, bv exclaiming: ''friends and fellow laborers, the enemy stands openly before us. I lis foot is 011 the neck ol 2.500,000 of our fellow men. lie asserts the right to maintain his position and increase the number of his victims. He begs no longer jurors from the circumstances of the case ; he boldly avows slavery to be the best condition ot j tiio laborer. fc?uch is the enemy we liud ' rampant amidst our five institutions." j in tins strain of insolent assumption the American Anti-Slavery Society continues : through some fifty pages to denounce the , slave-holders, for the obvious and avowed ! purpose of holding them up to the abhorrence j of ill--Northern people, confidently affirm. i "...:ii ini; that the ^yeomanry oi nie taim W III Ulllll I in Ilii.s question, and identify their interests ! with those of the slave." That they wil j "throw away political and sectarian prcdi; lections, and stand forth on the broad grounc of human rights." And that ''from this I class the cause will always gain, and novci : lose, till slave-holding shall be synonimouJ with robbery in public opinion, as it is in j fact." i I have long b -lieved iliat while a large por I lion of the men of intelligence and properly j in the Nor.ii, were oj>posed to every specie: of interference with the institutions of tin i slave-holding States, tlie great bodv'of tin - ? ? I i* |>'.'0{>l0, llOiUlCil oy tWlt CiilSS Ul uv?|;ciu:i j*o!i i -ians, who hoi-.t that no charters an sacred, wouid rinally rally under t!?o ban ncrs of the abolitionists and carrv every thin; before them in the elections. When thi crisis shall arrive, those who now claim fo Congress the constitutional power to email cipatothe slaves in tlie District of Colum bin, will as boldly claim the same power ii ! regard to the States. Their whole cours ,! demonstrates that this is the consummutioi j at which they are aiming. It is ncithe I calculated nor designed to convert the slave "j holders, hut to unite the people of the slave ; holding States in favor of the emancipatiVi I of our slaves. And it is evident that thi would not conduce, in any respect, to th j accomplishment of their object, unless bv ' " *?K\*ou?n 1 I resort io icgisiauve [ioh li ui Such being the apparent tendency an ,! design of these discussions and proceeding? j it devolves upon you to decide what meas : ures shall be adopted to arrest them. I ; many of the popular meetings at the Soutl p | assembled to considerable subject of the pre 11 ceedings of the .Vbolitionisis, the States i : which those proceedings were carried 01 ; i were called upon to suppress them by pen; ; I enactments, and it was declared that if ih I redress should be refused, it would be ex pi i! dient for the slave-holding States to meeti . i Convention to consider the means of prolei . j ting themselves. Jn alluding to these pr< r j ceedings at the South, the American An ; j Slavery Society cxultingiy declares that n i legislative body in the non-siaveholdin . States, and hut one popular meeting, ha 5 dared to propose penal enactments again . thcaboli.ionisis, and yet that the slave-holt ;1 ing Slates shrunk from the execution .! their threatened call of a Convention. Th ' ? ni; r.nr? of i's sirrns < ino i^ociuiy s .'is iwini ? --C7? i encouragement, and adds. "die threat . grown stale, and i's terror can never I C* ... , restored.'' The intention is finally declan li of urging upon Congress the immcdia n abolition ofslavery in the District ofColun L> hia,and the hope is expressed that the t |. j hies of that body will "groan with a tenfo (f! weight of petitions." i, 14 It is quite apparent that as long as tl : .halls of Congress shall he open to the di ih cession of this question, we can have neitl .. j or peace nor security, and it is still mo s apparent, that whenever the federal legisl ture shall usurp the power of emancipatir it thesla\es in the District of Columbia, tl li only security of the Southern Sates will co r. sist in promptly and peaceably withdrawn from the Cnion. With a view, therefor :e ! of warning the people of the North of tl . hcm i iti;i (Jnil. til c ! conseqiK'iu-tr.s u? Ull U 7III |'UMV7 ... r. they may be; rest rail jed from longer agi'atii ! a subject so deeply involving our very e j istence as a people, I suggest to von the e j j pediencv of making a solemn legisluti ((j J declaration, that Congress has no right (0 abolish slavery in the J)is rict of Columbi )r ; and is under no constitutional obligation . i receive the petitions of the people of any n,(*J the States, praying for such abolition; a a| I that whenever Congress shall cmancipi s. I the slaves in the said i h strict, or in any r. I the Territories of the I'nited States, Sot ... i Carolina, in common with the other shn j holding States, will he absolved from ;j I constitutional or moral"obligation to reinr 1C. j any longer in the Union, and may righltu : and peacefully withdraw from it. u- While Sou'h Carolina is thus indignan i- repelling all foreign attempts to violate t ur i sanctuary and endanger the existence of I r. ' domestic institutions, it becomes her, in p.-fMiiar ii]'!iitiAr. *<? nbs'am I fm; < very s * of intorlerence with the domestic concerns m or domestic controversies of all oilier S.ates, foreign or confederate. The doctrine ot a non-interference, is one of the most impor- [, tant in the code of international law, and 0 there arc 110 communities on earth who tj should hold it so sacred as the slave-holding r. States of this Union.?If by their example in giving countenance to the unlawful en- , ?* L " * Si terprizos ot their own citizens against a neighboring and nectual power, they should c weaken the influence of that principle among 8 nations, they would commit an offence a- 0 gainst their own institutions, by impairing 5 the sanctity of their surest guarantee. o " - : i i i./ rilllcrrailmi^ uicsu u|jimuns, i iiuvu iuum.-u v with very deep concern, r.ot unmingled 'j i with regret, upon the occurrences which ^ have taken place during the present year, L in various parts of the United States, relative ! to the civil war which is still in progress, between the Republic of .Mexico, and one of i her revoked Provinces. It is true that no * country can he responsible for the sympa- 1 ! thics of its citizens; but I am nevertheless 1 i utterly at a loss to perceive what title cither < of the parties to this controversy can have, t to the sympathies of the American people. ( : If it be allodged that the insurgents ot Texas i are emigrants from the United States, it is ( obvious to reply that by their voluntary expatriation?under whatever circumstance of | adventure, of speculation, of honor or of infamy?they have forfeited all claim-to our fraternal regard. If it l>e even true that ' thev have left a land of freedom for a kind i of despotism, they have done it with their i eyes open and deserve their destiny. There j is but too much reason to believe that many of them have gone as mere uuvemurui-s, '] speculating upon the chances of establishing an independent government in Texas, and of seizing that immense and fer.ilc do- ' ; { main by the title of the sword. But be this i i as it may, when llicy became citizens of j Mexico, they became subject to the const i. I ! tution and laws of that country ; and what- | : ever changes the Mexican people may have \ . since made in that constitution and those i j laws, they are matters with which foreign ; i States can have no concern, and of which I! they have no right to take cognizance, i . 1 trust, therefore, that the State ofSouthCaroI lina will give no countenance, direct or in> I direct, open or concealed, to any acts which r may compromitthe neutrality of the United ? ? . a ; 3 States, or bring into question their plightea i 1 . faith. Justice?s'ern and unbending jus| tice?in our intercourse with odier States, . should be paramount to nil the considcnt; tions of mere expediency, even it were pos3 sibie that these could bo separated. Cut 2 they cannot. Justice is the highest cxpe2! diency, and I am sure South Carolina is e the last State in the Union that would know- 1 2 . ingly violate this sacred canon of political .' morality. g J If any consideration conld add to the ins , trinsic weight of these high inducements to r j abstain from every species of interference - with the domestic affairs of a neighliormg - and friendly State, it would be the tremenfi ; dous retribution to which we are so peculiar, e i |y exposed on our Soutli-western frontier, n i from measures of retaliation. Should Mexr ico declare war against the United States, ' and aided by some great European power, - | hoist the standard of servile insurrection n in Louisana and the neighboring States, s how deep would be our self-reproaches in e reflecting that these atrocious proceedings, a received even a colorable apology from j the unlawful conduct ol our own citizens; d i There is one question, connected with tliis controversy, ol a definite character, tipi on which it may be proper that you should n express an opinion. You are doubtless '? ! aware that the people of Texas, by an a!most unanimous vote, have expressed their 11 desire to be admitted into our confederacy, b ; and application will probably be made to ; Congress for that purpose. In my opinion, 1S Congress ought not even to entertain such 3* a proposition, in the present state of con1,1 troversy. If we admit Texas into our Union, while Mexico is still waging war agains: ]' that Province, with a view lo re-establish her supremacy over it, we sJiall, by the very 0 act itself\ make ourselves a party to the ? } war. Nor, can we take this step, without d j incurring this heavy responsibility, until st Mexico herself recognize the independence l'* , of her revolted Province. |*; . I Wc have no official information of the precise state of our relations with Mexico. Enough is known, however, to satisfy us * 1 that the conjuncture is eminently critical. , Let us be scrupulously careful that we do " nolhinir lo countenance, and all we can to ? 1 p - \v,. ,,r? 7 ! prevent the calamity oi a ?ai. ??v, ? ' now enframed in a fearful and doubtful structd* J o ^ o jj gle to reform our federal system of govern! menf, by throwingotrtbecorruptions undci I which it is rapidly sinking. s. ! In this state ot things a war with any |j. I country would be the greatest of calamities ; re for we could scarcely hope to come oul a. of it with any thing but the men? wreck )(r of a free constipation, and the external forms )e of a free government. n- But may Heaven avert these inauspicioiu ig omens, and direct all your measures to th( e, advancement of our true glory and las in<j he happiness as a free and a favored people, at | GEO. McDUFFIE. * "Tr 4 nmmrrr *;: CliEKA VV tjrAZiX.X X XL.. ve TUESDAY, DECEJIIIYK G, 183.1. 10; ? in, Although the Governor's Message was pnn to ted and distributed in Columbia on Tuesday an< of i was received in Charleston on Wednesday rid J we received no copy of it before Saturday. I ite [ came in the Charleston papers a few hour ot after we received it directly from Columbia : We are indebted to the industrious exertion ! of our printers for getting it into this week' . | paper. It excludes all news, of which, how 1111 i U ' ever, their was but litte to give. Nothing c ' any importance has yet been done in the Leg jl I islature of either this State or North Carolinr j,"e In the Senate of this State Patiick Noble < ,cr , Abbeville, was elected President; and in tl: a House of Representatives R- !- Wardlav a!?o of v,Ka. j5l.\ Streaker. ESSAGE OF GOV. SPAIGHT, OF .1. UBunna* This document, after adverting to the attention feeling growing out of the late contest etween the East and West, on the subject f amending the constitution, and expressing le strange opinion that it may not cease duing the life of the present generation, recomlends a change in the judicial districts that hould lessen the labor of the Judges. It reommends such alteration of the criminal laws s shall secure a more speedy punisliment of Tenders. It states the literary fund to be >242,045 09, besides 141 shares in the Bank f Newbern, and 2S3 shares in the Bank of N. Carolina; and suggests an increase of it.? The fund for internal improvement is stated to ie 837,417 89, besides outstanding bonds and tividends on Bank stock; which will be inTeased by the proceeds of Cherokee lands not sold at former sales. The total amount received into the Treasury during the last year? ? A \ d. OA m ?rif? frnm ln^Tl sunnnnft: S X U V l/it 'i VIII ^ ?W^W? J rom taxes, $71,382 85; from Bank dividends. 5?115,033 50. The disbursements amounted ;o ?589,086 62; leaving a deficiency of $2,370 38.' 11 is recommended that some change be made in the mode of assessing land. Under the present mode, every man assessing his own land, the conscientious pay their fall proportion, but the dishonest do not. It is recommended that a longer time be allowed for the Treasurer to qualify, and that the amount of the bond required of him be reduced. A reform of the Militia laws is recommended, but no specific change proposed, except some provision for appointing the officers of volunteer companies, if called for by the President. The message suggests that if the General Assembly receive the share to which the State may be entitled of the "surplus revenue" of the United States, it be invested upon unquestionable security, which would provide for the return of it when demanded, and enable the State to use the interest for promoting education, or other objects. The Governor, in connection with this subject, takes occasion to express the opinion that the act of "compromise between Nullification and a protecting Tariff!" under the operation of which the surplus revenue accumulates, ought to be repealed, or altered. lie admits it was a compact, but Jakes the ground that I*/-* twAnln / iwl nnt authorize such a compact. |/VV|/iv u?u and that therefore it may be violated. lie states that he issued a writ of election to supply a vacancy in the Senate, but doubts the validity of the proceeding, because the law which authorized it was passed in pursuance of a provision of the new constitution, before the new constitution went into opera| tion, and whilst the Legislature was sitting ! under the old constitution, which provided a : different mode of supplying vacancies in tho ; F^rrislature. I The remainder of I he message refers to do; cuments sent to the Legislature. j Mr. Mangum, U. S. Senator from North j Carolina, lias resigned. Semixole War.?It is stated in the j Charleston papers that arrivals from Jackson. ville (E. F.) bring intelligence of two battles by the Tennessee and Florida volunteers with i the Indians, in both which the Indians were defeated. The first took place on the 16th } Nov. at Wahoo swamp, and lasted about an ; hour, when the Indians retreated, having lost ; 20 killed; number of wounded not ascertained. They were pursued nc.\t day and overtaken j near nightfall, when another engagement of j more than an hour took place, after which they again retreated, carrying their killed and woimdpd. I,oss of the whites in both engage I i ments 5 killed and 10 wounded. A negro j who was captured states that about half the ; Indians were in the engagement; and that they are short of provisions and inclined to terminate the war. Louisville, Cincinnati and Charleston Rail Road. We understand (says the Knoxville Register, lOrli inst.) the Commissioners have transmitted the amount of stock subscribed, to Gov. Cannon for the purpose of obtaining his subscription on behalf of the State?ana we are happy to learn that the Governor will promptly subscribe for one third of the estimated cost of constructing the road withm the limits of this State?this third will probably be about a million of dollars. The following is the total number of Shares taken in the different States in which subscrip* 1 ^ Q/>iitli Pamlina. tions nave oeen upt*ucu. , 83GJ; North-Carolina 1026; Tennessee, 8,554; ! Kentucky, 1871; Ohio, 122. Tiie Legislature of Tennessee, at its recent session, appropriated five thousand dollars for the purpose of surveying through that State the route of the Louisville, Cincinnati and Charleston Rail Road. Greenville, Nov. 19.?Meteors?again ^ We learn that the jieople in the neighborhood of Maybinton, Newberry District, witnessed ' the fall of an immense number oi Meteors, which ! made their appearance at about 12 o'clock on Saturday night last,and continued their descent 5 until daylight the next morning. It is said . their number was not near so great as the \ "falling of the stars" (as it is usually termed) ' three years since; but the spectacle is repie seated as having been very bnlJiant ana unusual. It will be recollected that last Sunday was the 13th;and that this last Meteoric display of nature's fire works took place on the same day of the month and at about the same hour, as in 1833. We have not lea: n\ whether these . Meteors were visible at any other place than the above, but presume they were. I The Meteors.?We sec it stated that on the night of the 13th inst. being the anniversa' ry of the brilliant shower of meteors in 1834, the same phenomenon was observed in various s places, though in a more moderate way. The .. fact is now pretty well established, that an ans nual repetition of the phenomenon may be expected on or near the 13th of November in b each year.?[A'. Y.Jour. Com.[ e Bostox, Nov. 18.?The A ffair at Smyrna.? } Captain Inglee, of brig Banian, from Smyrna, r" states that lie entered a protest before his dei. parlure, against the unwarrantable detention 3f of his vessel by the command of the French squadron on that station; which, with a repre1C sentation of the affair, has been forwarded bytlic American Consul, Mr. Offley, to our govcrn?,) *?>?. will bo recollected t'iaf the French