Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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The Governor's Message. In the introduction, reference is made to the old Constitution of 1868, the efforts made for and against the new Constitution, Judge Goff and Ex-Senator Butler are dealt with in rather severe terms. The message is a very lengthy document, but as much of it is taken up in reviewing tho various articles of the new Constitution and in quoting from and reviewing the reports of the various State officials and heads of State institutions, it can be condensed to a brief space by omiting all save the important recom? mendations. These are as follows : Many changes have been made in our system of government, and I feel it my duty to poiut out to you the most important, as I deem them, for your immediate consideration and suggest the legislation lequired of you to make them effective. The most important article com? manding your attention is that of the "right of suffrage" This matter should be given the right of way and let it be the first law enacted by your honorable body. There are many reasons for this. First, the people anxious to know how and when the right to register is to be had ; and second, it is of vital importance that a full registration of electors should be had before the next general elec? tion. The requirements of the Con? stitution are "residence in the State, two years, in the county one year and in the polling precinct in which the elector offers to vote four months, and the payment six months before any election of any poll tax then due \ and payable Ministers of the Gos? pel and school teachers are entitled to vote after six months residence in the State." j (b) Registration which shall pro- j vide for the enrollment of every j elector once in 10 years and also au ? enrollment during each1 and every years of every elector not previous? ly registered (c) All male persons of voting age applying for registration who can read auy section of the Constitu tion submitted to them by the regis-1 tration officers or understand and explain it when read to them, j These are the reqirements up to [ January, 1898. After this time a J person applying for registration, if, otherwise qualified, must be able . to j both read and write any section of j the Constitution submitted to him by the registration officer, or can show ! th-it he owns and has paid ali taxes coiiec'able during the previous year on property in the State assessed at three hundred (?300) dollars or more. The payment of all taxes, in? cluding poll tax, is a prerequisite to voting. It will readily appear to you that ?different legislation is requiredd for the period up to January, 1898, from that thereafter. I would sug gest, however, to your honorable body that all the provisions of the Constitution and your legislation in reference thereto be comprised in ?one statute, as it is exceedingly de? sirable that it should be thoroughly circulated among the citizens of the State. Designing demagogues are already at work filling the ears and heads of their Confiding constituents with false impressions concerning the provisions of the Constitution, and there is no safer plan to set at naught such falsehoods than by allowing the people to see and read for them? selves. It is your duty to provide for the issuing to each dui}7 registered elec? tor a certificate of registration and for the, renewal thereof when lost, mutilated or destroyed. I^am satis? fied you can do no better than to adopt the old form of registration certificate and the provisions of the statute now of force regulating the same, expunging such provisions as conflict with the new Constitution, which will readily present them? selves to you. This, however, is a matter for your own good judgment and wisdom. Any persou denied registration shall have the right of appeal to the court of common pleas or any judge thereof aud thence to the supreme court It is made your duty to provide by law for 6uch ap? peal and for the correction of illegal and fraudulent registration, voting and all other crimes against the elec? tion laws. I would suggest that ag little led tape as possible be placed around this right of appeal, and thal you shall amply provide against de? feating it by technicalities There should be also as little expense at tached to the right as pssible. Undei the provisions governing the right o appeal to the supreme court now ex? isting in civil cases, I fear very fe^ cases cf denied registration woult ever reach this stage if the same wen made applicable. The person com plaining in such cases must neces sarily be of the poorer and less intel ligent classes ; but this is a sacret right under our form of governmen and they are entitled to every tes allowed under the Constitution, con 8?8tent with the rule of intelligence without unnecessary hardship or ez pense. The severest punishmen should be prescribed by your honoi able body for frauds in registration o voting. There was a time when th ends would seen to justify the mean in this particular, but the necessit no longer exists, and the day is pas when anything but the will of th intelligent majorty freely and honesl ly expressed at the ballot bo govern in South Carolina. Certain persons convicted of the insane, etc., are disqualified registering or votiog. 1 would re fully recommend that you provh I a list of all criminals io each 01 to be filed in the office of the sup? of registration and also with the of court, in order that they n forever barred of the privilege of teriog or voting. I It is incumbent upon you to pre j the manner of holding elections a I ascertaining the results of the [ There is no necessity for any chat j this time in our law in this parti i Our people are accustomed to the j box law, and there can be no juste td objection to the manner of obta i the results of elections. We have served with notice that this arti our Constitution would be tested 1 the Uoited States supreme court ; while I have no fears as to the ri aod am fully convinced of its coo tiooality, still should another Goff along, whoso "inclinations made i duty" to set aside our registration I day before election, in such an e gency our eight box law would be protection. I, therefore, would spectfuily recommend that you this statute as it stands, aod in fu when our status is thoroughly sel such action can be taken as m? deemed expedient. The polling cincts of the State must be cha so as to make every incorporated to separate polling precinct. This is n sary for the following reason : Sei 12 of article II. provides that ele in municipal elections shall possess qualifications and be subject to the qualifications herein prescribed, production of a certificate of regi tion from the registration officers of county as an elector at a precinct eluded io the incorporated city or t in which the voter desires to vote ii I dared a condition prerequisite t< i obtaining a certificate of registra for municipal elections, etc. There many incorporated towns in the S that do not include polling precie but are included within such precio It is, therefore, necessary to have ? towns include such a precinct in o for the electors therein to vrUe in m cipal elections. "In all cases where a general can be made applicable, no special shall be enacted." Let me commend this section to y careful consideration. If you heed there is no reason why your delibi tions should be prolonged beyond heretofore ordinary session. The ci of the State bas been special legislati It is your duty to enact laws limit the nu mber of acres of land which ; alien or any corporation controlled aliens may own within this State. It is within your province to prov the executive with a board of pardo to whom the governor may refer ev petition for pardon, which board sj bear all such petitions, under si rules and regulations as the gene assembly may provide. The governor may adopt such reo( mendations or reject them ; but in c of rejection he shall present his reasi to the general assembly. As you % observe, there is nothing couipulsi in the matter, and after all, tb<? eal responsibility is placed upon the gi ernor. I cati see no use, therefore, such a board. But the matter is 1 entirely to your wisdom aod g( judgment. If a board is providi allow me to suggest that it be cotnpo? of outside citizens, and not officehold I and politicians, who may possibly ha "axes to grind " It is your duty to provide a gi eneral system for the assessment property for taxation, and this assei meot shall be taken by all municipa ties and other subdivisions of the Stt as their basis for taxation. You a authorized to impose a graduated t upon incomes, and a license on occup tions and business. It is furthur ma your duty to pass laws making embe zlement of public funds a felony, pu ishable by fine and imprisonment ai proportioned to the amount of the d fioiency or embezzlement,and for the fe feiture of the office of the person foui guilty of such an offense. The legi lation under this article, with the e ceptioo of the punishment for embe zlement, may be continued until yoi ' next session, except such as wili her after be called to your attention. I Upon my indooti?n into office tl ; deficit for the ordinary expenses for tl . government was ?50,000 in the sba] i of a note of the governor and treasur 1 bearing interest at the rate of 7 pi - cent. This bas been paid in full as we ? as all other obligations, and I am ba ? py to inform your honorable body th . there are in the treasury sufficient; furn " to pay the expenses of the Constiti f tiona! convention without any extra ta: . ation upon the people. An appropri ' tion of said amount, however, will ha' 1 to be made by you, as this is the on 5 way in whioh it can be drawn from tl - treasury. Having thus gone over in a oursoi . manner the various articles of the Coi 1 siltation, it will be seen that the legi t lation required of you at this session t your honorable body may be classifit - as follows : if 1. An act to regulate the right i > suffrage and for regulation of election t 2. An act defining and protecting tl > homestead for beads of families and f< r persons not heads of families. e 3. An act to provide for the inco 8 boration of cities and towns and fe y changing, amending or altering tl it charters thereof. e 4. An act to provide for the inco I- poration of railroad, telegraph an other transporting and transmitting companies. I 5. An act to provide for the incor? poration of banking institutions. 6. An act to provide for a more speedy administration of justice (county courts or increase of circuit judges) and j for the interchange of circuits among j circuit judges and for change of venue. 7. An act to provide for the appoint? ment or election of a commissioner to oodify the laws and define his duties. j 8. An act regulating the formation of ? new counties. 9. An act to provide a uniform as? sessment of property for tasafion 10. An act to provide the manner in which claims aginst the State may be established and adjusted. There are other matters net so urgent that may well be continued until your next regular session. It is my duty now, at the risk of try? ing your patience, to give you a flash? light glance at the administration of the govprnmeot during the past year. I would respectfully call your attention to the reports of the various boards and heads of departments, which you will find full and complete, and herewith transmitted to you. "Official Protest." Habana, Jan. 16.-The general sit? uation here is unchanged. The rebels have retired from the vicioity of Beju? cal. Traffic has been resumed on the railway to Rincon. Very little news is being received from the interior of the island, owing to the lack of rains and the cutting of the telegraph lines by the insurgents An official report has been issued stating that General Luque has had an engagment with the rebels near Cao dalera to the province of Pinar de Rio. The government force used artil? lery. The fight lasted two hours, when the rebels retreated, leaving seven dead behind them. The government *ioss was seven seriously wounded. The troops captured 60 horses and a quan? tity of arms and ammunition. The rebels were commanded by Nunez, Burmudez and Avarez. General Linares reports that be has dispersed a. band of 40 rebels near Palmira in the Cieofuel gos district. Three men on each side were killed. An official report states that a fight bas taken place near Cascorro between the rebels under command of Roloff, Masso Rodriguez Ag?ero anet Castillo and the Spanish regiment, .'Mexico/' under command of Colonel Miro. The regiment formed a square and fought for an hour and a half, when a brilliant bayouet charge was made. The troops used 1.4,074 cartridges* The enemy were compelled to retreat. Eleven of their horses were killed. It is certain j that the insurgents lost from 40 to 50 i men. DESPERATE EFFORTS. Washington, Jan. 16.-Senor Dupuy de Lome, the Spanish minister, late this afternoon received the following dis patch dated Jan. 16, from the Duke of Tetuan, minister of foreign affairs at Madrid : .'General Suarez Valdez, met and cisbauded Gomez, killing and wounding some of his men, who were left ou the field. Colonel Molina de? feated a band in the jurisdiction of Colon. The column of Jorro also de? feated the enemy in the Clariers plan? tation. Colonel Marti also met and defeated another band io Sancti Spir? itus. There have been other small en? counters, also to advantage of thc Span? ish army, but without great results be? cause of the policy of scattering adopt? ed by the insurgents. I telegraph to you the news with perfect accuracy. ..Tetuan." The Spanish minister declares that alarming news published to-day is with? out foundation. He says Gomez is try? ing, without result, to return to the eastern part of the island and lias sev? eral engagements in Ceiba Quibican, Guanajay and Bejucal trying to break the Spanish lines and pass to the province of Matanzas. There is no more reason for alarm now, he says, than there was weeks ago, when the insurg2nts ap? proached Habana and it was reported had captured the city. STILL GOING WESTWARD.. Madrid, Jan. 16-A dispatch from Habana says that the rebels have cut of] all means of communication with the interior except by the short railroad from Habana to Marianas. The tele? graph wires are all cut and the railway tracks torn up and the only rreans ol official communication with the outly? ing provinces is by steamship. The principal insurgent leaders are said to be going westward accompany? ing oonvoys of arma and ammunition Due West, Jan. 15.-Yesterdaj morning Dr. W. M. Grier arnouncec that Mr. Joseph Wylie, of Chester, S C., had given ?7,000 to go to the pay ment of Erskine college's debt. Th< announcement was received with enthu siastio applause by the students. In th* same letter there came also $5,000 foi the theological seminary of which Dr W. J. Pressly is the honored presi dent. Not a few who read what Mr. Rober Rowls, of Hollands, Va., has to say below will remember their own exp?rience unde like circumstance: "Last winter I had li grippe which left me in a low state of health tried numerous remedies, none of which dil rae any good, until I was induced to try ; bottle of Chamberlain's Cough Remedy The first bottle of it so far relieved me that was enabled to attend to my work, and th second bottle effected a cure." For sale a 25 and 50 cents per bottle by Dr. A. J China. Untold Agones Every Limb Ached With Muscu? lar Rheumatism A Perfect Cure by Hood's 3ar3a* parilla. The cause of rheumatism 35 tactic acid in the blood, which accumulates in tho joints., and gives the victim such dreadful pains and aches. ! [oodf* bay saparilla neutralizes the acid, praises the blood and thus euros rheumatisna. "Fiveyear? ago i had ray first attack Of lumbago or muscular rheumatism. I was ia bed two weeks. I had a ?S-od physician but he did not do me any good. & friend recom? mended Hood's Sarsaparilla and I sent for a bot? tle. At that time I ached in every limb, especially ia my back and hip. I felt as though I had a fever and for a ... , few hours at Slr. Thomas S. Palmor ... Abbeville, S. C. night lt was im? possible to sleep. J suffered untold agonies. Constipation was not the least of my troubles. I commenced to take Hood's Sarsaparilla and felt a decided chango in three days. I was able to get out of bed Hood's Cures and sit at the fire in course of a week. I can recommend it as thc best remedy for indigestion and dyspepsia i ever tried." T. S. PALMER, Abbeville, S. C. Hood's Pills aro the best after-dinner pills, assist digestion, prevent constipation. A TREATISE ON THE I&i?aratiiio? TOBACCO From the Pen of R. E. Pittman, a North Carolina Planter, Who ba9 never mnde a failure and reftlized on his tobacco farm over S300.00 per acre last year. A valuable guide and well worth its price to all Planters of Tooacco, especially those with little experience, or who expect to cul? tivate Tobacco in tnefuture. Send 25c. in stamps or otherwise, to H. G. OSTEEN * CO., Sumter, S. C., or R. H. PITTMAN, Bishopviile, S. C., And procure a copy. Jany 1. NOTICE. I WANT every man and woman in the United States interested in the Opium and Whisky habits to have one of my books on these dis? eases. Address B. M. Woolley, Atlante, Ga, Box 382, and one will be sent you Iree. State of South Carolina, COUNTY OF SUMTER. By T. Y. Walsh, Esq., Prolate Judge WHEREAS, W. KENNEDY CROSS WELL, made suit to rae to grant bini Letters of Administration of the Estate of and Effects of F. W. CRO'SWXLS, deceased. These are therefore to cite and admonish all aud singular the Kindred and Creditor* of the said F. W. Crosswell, late of said County and Stare deceased, that thpy be nod appear before me, in the Court of Probate to be held at Sumter C. H., on Janoary 23, 1896, next after publication thereof, at ll o'clock in the forenoon, to show cau^e, if ?ny they have, why the said Administraiion should not ba granted. Given under mv hand this 8th dav of J?n uarv, A. D., 1896, THOS. V. WALSH. Jan 8 - 2t. Judge of Probate. Christmas Presents IN GREAT VARIETY -FOR Lafe totta ail Cita Ladies' Pocket Books-newest and bes: hi ng out. Ask for them. -FRESH DRUGS Prescriptions carefully compounded day or night. Jack-Frost-Lotion-nothing better tor chapped hanus. J. S. HUGHSON & CO., Monaghan Block, Main Street. Dec. 18. If You Want a ' . K : SIDEBOARD -OR LOUNGE, -OR A Bedroom Suite, Parlor Suite, A Spring Bed or Mattress, Pictures, Frames, Glasses or Christ? mas Goods, You will find them in the Greatest Variety and at the Lowest Prices, J. D. CRAIG'S THE LEADER IN FURNITURE. Dec 6 il NOTIC El, I have got in stock a full line of Buggies, Ladies' Phaetons, Surreys, Car? riages, one and two-horse Farm Wagons, which I offer for sale at Low Prices. I represent several of the largest wholesale manufacturing companies in the United States and can compete in quality and price with any dealer in the country. Call and examine ray stock and get my prices. I will save you money. ?GEO F EPPERSON Office at Epperson's Livery Stables. Nov 13 jip ? Ipjp This great remedy is indorsed by ?L ff | Ffef^ F V /lu physicians, and prescribed by them iL* /[(C |f Positively guaranteed to cure the most }Q> TROU BLE3 M I stubborn cases. The fbrmul is published V ~ " v3) m plainly on every bottle. As a tonic it is ?(P PI^PJ^p ^ f Superior I BLOTCHES f f T0 ALL , J & OLD SORES I Sarsaparillas j BLOOD = /? For Female Complaints and lr3 lv?i building up run-down sys- )b DAI CAM IM/I V\ :1 terns it acts like magic. Try <^ iVlvUlllllU ^ : ?? ? ZZ^zr {mmmuA EXTRACT FROM BOOK OF TESTIMONIALS. M\ ^ ?f* Ffc g\ ?^I | I ? 0^ M 1 "Wasa rheumatic sufferer for 18 months. Derived no benefit //J *M ??.^^ %J 11 f% ?AHL I from physicians, treatment at Mineral Wells, Tex., or Hot Springs, r\Ail] ? wmv? ll Ark. My doctor declared my condition hopeless, but as a last resort ^-?^r?VD A/S advised P. P. P., Lippman's Great Remedy. Through its use I am ^7/\M A SJi to-day a well man." W. F. TIMMINS, // i/\S - ?k^ ,^0--*-^ ?V?rV J of Timmins & Hines, Leading Grocers, Waxahachie, Tex. }[ /O ^ V MSm As^Z^ I Indorsed by B. \V. FXAKENS, Druggist. \P[f **** /[// , "P. P. P., Lippman's Great Remedy, cured me of difficult breath- ll /o // v> lng and palpitation of the heart. Had not slept on either side for 11\ < t (wv twoye.rs:nowIsle.pioundlyiaialrg?oj^yiDoLeoii/ret Ml WAN tllTDEIII I'S. . I " Sworn ,o and ?M?^gggk Notery PaMie, ^ ?? Vii Uk HT UL jg> "Suffered for years with a disagreeable eruption u my face. /iv \w"^ I Varions remedies failed to remove iL Three bottles of P. P. F., Lipp- /,/ 'ffifo ? A m ftU* ? man's Great Remedy, completely cured me." /// MM fm MM H?T# II, g CAPT. J. D. JOHNSON, Savannah, Ga. //j fl& If. (fe /111 ; i SOLD BY ALLDRUGGISTS % SEND FOR j ?PPMAN BROS.PROPRIETORS, %^kET' wm ?LIPP/AAM'5 BLOCK-SAVANNAH.GA.^^^^^^^