The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, December 08, 1854, Image 1
; " DBVOTED TO MTBRATOH^ THE ARTS," SCONCE, AGR1CPLTPR3, HBWS, POLITICS, &C? " - '
^TE^BUVS^ "PTTR. A^TffTTItfJ - "3>t it be Instilled into the Hearts of your Children that the Liberty <? tfjJt'JPresJi is the Palla4^i of all Jtmr Rights."?Juniut, nf APYAHCg. ^
Bin* that ?nfold
weep, the colored landscaj
?iant kings, in purple and i
the enchanted ground,
^o^da that crown
loiflgled splendors gloi
iompariy of trees look down
My fctepa are not Alone
. in theaft bright walks";the :?we?t south-we
,-?)W -/j?piW-\ tt?, ,
to^pMIiD8r/.l?? it. p?int.a l.,T? .,
?: J&V** W%i?A' *'v- - ' .
Along the winding way. -r.'
.' . i ' ' ". . .. 'V:
And far i.n heaven, the while,
Vthi 'iron, Miat ^n^ that gale to wander here,
Poura outon the flair earth hi* quiet ainilo?
Thesweetent 6f
Where now the solemn shade,
^ Verdure and bloom where manybranckes meo
Bo gitateful when the nooc 01 summer made
The valley sick T/ith beat
. Let hTthrongb ell the triers, - *
Come the strango rays; the forest deptlis ai
bright!
Their sunny colored foliage in the breeze,
Twinkles, like booms of light.
The rivulet, late unseen,
Where bickering through the shrubs its watei
. run,
Shine* with the image of its golden screen,
And glimmerings of the sun.
But 'neatli yon crimsoiftree,
LoTer to listening maid might breathchis flami
jSTor mark, within its roseate canopy,
Her blush of maiden shame.
Oh, Autumn! why so soon
Depart the hues that made thy forest glad'
Thy gentle wind nnd thy fair sunny noon'
' ; And leavo thee wild and sad t ' 1
Ah! 'twere a lot too blessed
. Forever in thy colored shades to stray;
Amid the kisses of the soft south-west
' To rove and dream for aye.
^ And leave the vain low strife
' ' fli.f mflVpa t l?l. ?
.power, . -V
The passions and the cares that wither life,
And-wastes its little hour. >
. mPOIilTICAXi.
Governor's Message.
' Gentlemen of the Senate
~ ' and House of Representatives:
.Under the uniform action of our system
v. government, without strife or connisior
now members to the General Assemble hnv
been chosen", to represent the latest views c
the people df thre Commonwealth, and ott
- ?rwi?Q t#^Tovide for 'their happiness am
welfare. Although this event is of regula
recurrence, it is, nevertheless, one full of in
terest both to you-and your constituents.
In a country like this, so rapidly grow
- ing, and developing tench day new event
end fresh resources, the legislative mind ma;
well be anxious, lest,. by tlio omission c
some act?the neglect of some duty?th
progressive strides of the Slate toward
. v wealth and power may, for a space, be r?
h ta*dei Astrpng inclination to progress i
it , ?a characteristic of the race-which you ii
. ; part represent, and ia, perhaps, the secret c
ajogjlo-American success and ascencfaney.?
Its'spirit prevails over the continent, and i
.<*, confanjmlly bumr ing us into new position
> of theory and of government. It pervade
to &citetferpr less 'extent,.every State in th
ArnftitMn'' ITrtirm. and ia inrv>rrv>rnti?<l int
its Jaws, r^^hj^lnduBtry and politics.?o
fundamental principles of governmen
"M eBCoaniging, to an undufT^tentfthe ter
detteiesof popnlnr institutiona to run 4nt
eitromcs of opinion and action, the end <
^grass
erodoxifs of these present days; and undei
= a eound, just, and high-toned publio sentiment.
I can not, therefore, recommend, to
you, gentlemen, too strongly to, watch ovef,
with solicitude, this noble political organization,
and to preserve it from those chahgfcs
'and innovations which tend to weaken, and
eventually to destroy, the" happy equilibrium
whicn exists; and I fervently hope that,
w far down in the vista of time, when all memorials
of us are lost excgflt those which
[n may remain among its archives, a gracious
Providence will preservejthis. State Government,
in . all. its usefulness and beauty, to%mote
posterity, fresh and'glorious in its immortal
youth.
rt The year, which is now nearly past, has
been one of great calamity throughout the
world. War and pestilepce, disasters on
the ocean, commercial anxieties and distress,
gt with gales and drought materially^ shorten
ma uio grain ana otD?r crops, are softie of
f0 the melancholy incidertts-which have marked
it. Nor have the people of this State es>
caped the common misfortunes. The metropolis,
and some of the lesser towns and
portions of the country, hnve been -visited
by a fatal fever, and other "diseases almost
as destructive to life, which for a time have
arrested, all business, destroyed n number of
valuable lives, and invested their communities
i with a profound gloom. -But fow families are
without some sorrowful event to call to their
11?*:? ii --i
ccum-uuuii tuu-[riuH? ?uminer as a penoa-oi
eeverc trial and mourning, $till we have
abundant cause for gratitude to God, for ar e
resting the ravages of disease, and for restoring
both the city and country to their
usual health.
The aggregate income of the State from
agricultural sources for the present year is
likely to be materially diminished. The
yield of short cotton to the planters, not
withstanding a most favorable season for
gathering and preparing it for market, will
scarcely be equal to the crop of last year,
whilst the Jong cotton and rice on the sea
j, uoaru nnve oeen very much injured generally,
and in some instances entirely destroyed
by the equinoctial storms. These.numerous
circumstances, taken in connection with
the stringency in the money market, nnd
the consequent check given to commerce
and trade, induce a strong necessity for
economy both in disbursement of money
from the Treasury, and in private expenditures.
Fortunately, owing to the previous
comparative freedom from debt in the State,
tho losses both in business and agriculture
will only work a temporary injury, which
ordinary prudencc cannot fnil soon to
remedy.
For an abstract of the condition of the
finances of the State, I beg to refer yoif- ta
tny last Annual Message.
- The nett profits of tb^ Bank of the State
' for the present fiscal year amount to the sum
p of two hundred and ninety-five thousand
dollars, ($295,000,) against three hundred
'and thirty thousand dollars, (330,000,)" the
nett profits of 1853, thus showing a diminn
ution in the income of the State from that
source to llie extent of thirty-five thousand
e dollars, ($35,000.)
It was to have been anticipated that the
l" profits of the Bank for the present year
3 wnnlfl foil uliftff nf fliof nfttio ???
~
r The great stringency'in tbe money market,
l" which has extended over the whole country,
necessarily curtailed its ope-iations. I
herewith have the lionor-tb lay before you
* tlio Annual'Statement of the Bank to OcV
toberl, 1854, showing -total funds t9 the
^ amount of seven millions three hundred and
? eight thousand six hundred and five dollars
& and fifty cents, ($7,308,005 60.)
During the year, twenty-five thousand
dollars ($25,000) have been applied to tho
n reduction of the State debt.
x>y comparing tue oaiance in the Treatsu
ry on the 1st of October, 1853, ^with that
* of a corresponding period during the year
* 1854, it will be perceived that there is a
(ailing off of; eigbty:one thousand four liun6
dred and sixty-uiree dollars and fire cents,
0 ($81,408 05.) The income derived for sev
eral .years, fromstock in the South Carolina
d Railroad Company will be withdrawn from
g the Treasury, in consequence of its exohange
P for stock;in other railroad companies. On
t> the otherhahcL there is feasoni' to suppoee
V that the cash itccipts from taxes will con**
sderably exceed those of the last year. In
0 the Upper Division alono the receipta fnom
m thU source exceed those of the year previous
f ty.tfa imra of eighteen thousand nre hundred
and thirtv-eight dollars and seventy?
twb cents,' ($18>88 12,) *! ;
b .1 In: Jfane last,I received froraMr. Artthotw
t; ?yd%of Wai;h1ngton/a treasury draft 'for
* ^problem ithowsandf *?vtohtihHiled and
meet Buchcompervsation SS^^niay nllow
report upoh the^caso, and other pppera con
nericH thomwlrtr.^
At tlie last annual meeting of the Legis
i 1 at ure, in connecUjfe'-.Wiui yte Comptrolle
General, I was directed by act, to isstiobond:
of the State to thoiwnount of two hundre<
, and fifty'thousand d6ljnrs, (?250,000,) fo
tile purpose of forwarding the con^tructioi
of State Capitofr The bonds wen
H accordingly prepared underlie immeduili
auspice* of tlie President of Ujg Bank, wett
duly Executed, and ofiered in4 the market foi
sale. liut, owing toinonetary difficulties
there was little or tfja demand for such sccti
ritie^, apd but a poffidn of them were dus
pos(kf of. Under tlieso circuffhtnnces, aftei
cogitation with the President of the Bank
it waA deemed advisable for him to proceed
to New York, and offer/Uiem^n thqjj mar
kek There he found ?jMar difficulties
somewhat increased^fOm the fact that tht
boijds were ma4e payable at the Statolate
ury, and not in'New York, as was p referral?
" He nevertheless effected a sale to the a
mount of ^ $I8Q,000 OC
Upon which a premium was *
received noMfcjf 8,393 04
remains unsold bomls
.. to tbewfoount of 120,000 nc
Of thgse there are lodged in _
the J3ank of tbe ^JKtb ^0,000 0C
And in tbe Bank of tbe Republic,
New York, lOO.O^I^M
In connection with this statement
financial affairs, I desire, with great defer
.enee, to submit a few suggestions with re
gard to the present condition of banking
operations, tueir cttoct ypon the inonej
market, and upon thS^peopIo and businesi
of the State. .
The Legislature, two yenn? since, actinc
under what appeared then to be a general
demand Tor increased banlji'ng facilities, <?
tablishtel a numbor of nfeW banks, thcrebj
enlarging the banking capital to the extapl
of two millions six hundred and eigbty-tm
thousand four hundred and seventy-five do)
lars, ( 2,085,475.) The impression seeing
generally to prevail that this i&tep vtt)utt!
make moimy more abundant, and th'(
increased want of it, botl/for commerce anc
internal transactions, would, bo amply met
Those who dealt in stocks,' and' in ioreigi:
and domestic exchange, joined the agricul
tural interests in tho demand; andrijio.re
suit, as has beeri clearly demonstrin^f'bj
experience, has disappointed tho expCcta
tions of both. Instead of increased discounts
by notes in a period of unusual diffl
vwiij ?it iiiuiitj (iu<iiiO) tiuu /iLI IUV/ICil5CU U'
mount 'of money in circulation, tho (lisi
counts are les^jthan they were previous tc
tho establish the now'^lianks, and
the wantjpf 'to thqfitat any period
si ncftlhe" com meroial'd isastera of ljg37
Both those who deftpip'stoclcRnud erfchange
and thosfe engaged lfi ji^riculture, are tjUuk
oroua for some legislation to remedy ekfeting
pecuniary evils. " . 3
It is proper to inquire into the
which have led to these results, and td' indeavor
to suggest ft remedy, whtbh I'jehhll
do as briefly as possible. .
It is well known that, previous to tty^creation
of the new banks, at least one:tliircl
of the capital and credit of tlie old banks
was emptoye^i beyond the'limitsof the State,
which wotj[ld go to show that even then
there was too much banking capital. -W-ith
the recent increase of it, the nmountt^enl
abroad is greatly enlarged, and
equal to half of all the banking capital, ip
the State; and whilst stockholder ; are
benefited by tliis mode of operation,
wants of the great mass of the community
ar?* neglected. It fa certainly to bo expeitfisj
mavtoo money of tbe banks will be
ployed in. those places from which the latest
per cejyuge in/jn^ai new is to^be derived,
and thal^pwfe the interest at home is r<jgjHfctedj&fo
per o^pt, capital will go whew
ten ancpnfteen per cent, is to be had. .1^
The utter failure of braking in Misaisaip
pi, Alabamma, and. FIot^ ^op6ned..ja ?ew
and> extensive field /or tae employment ol
bamt capital;;and the reputation of'tfw
banks of Boutlii^Carolina, and thecrgdij
"mivu w ououjui w Lucir looUvS injp*uQ6
States, together with the latgp per <J?aUigc
to bo derived there, were a etrong pp!
tion to banks tq &epd their roftanr abroad,
Tlin ma it I f
+ wgn tJVKJOUCeQ
oj Jarg^y:mdre?^,- drnd^adU,- whfcETfoi
several,years reached six and eight-per cent.
amount* ro thmTstatea in
##?bSI
- I mnV ^ _ ?*
-i^lves, and famished a supply > of paper curb
^enoy to their own ci tijengj; the banks ot
- this State were paying ofily five to seven per
coi^ pfer annum in dividers, tbua^liowing
- conclusively that a very largo portion of our
r banking coital Was, ant) is, diverted from
y tthe usSof^our own popple to supply the
1* flnanqiftK ncceaatops of tho people of?other
p Staiefe.vI sl)all3otliSre refer to-the hazards
i uoLbanking, and otlierincidental objections
?' lib BUr.1T H RVRtnm u-frnrn fi?W
. .. -y ".-wta/J TIMVIV 1.110 U?IU Ui liliUiiV/IUl
k operations is<0 remote and uncertain. My
5 object is to state ?uch facta as will form the
r lasiarof- legislation to remedy former errors,
, satisfy tlio public wants, and correct the
* present evil as far as it may be done with
safety. But upon this head a great difficulty
r presents itself as.to a mode^which will not
, embarrass the commodity, affect the value
[ of property, or interfere j^ith. public credit
- Undoubtedly the power rests with the
, LegiBlatup^to alter "or amend bank charters.
V .They are no longer independent as formerly,
l?} are in all rtlpebts subject to your revis.
ion, to uae;lfeftt power, however, unless
. for the,Strong?, reasons, is always question1
) able, and sometimes dangerous, as' evinced
by the financial history of other States,
t particularly in tho - s
Thela^ regulatujgbahka-.in Massachusetts
I was intenile^to oq. an effectual check upon
the abuses practised Iff them. That law
I restricts them to opejrftions at their own
counters; dqnying them the privileges a)
broad. V such a "rule is never evaded,
r may.W attributed lather to the honesty or
. officeraftha^to any want of financial skill.
. An evasion of the lawj*Jtepder?d easy by
r making loans to.agentrawito shall.stipulate
r to circulate the -issueS^of Aankavprmpg a
\ fixed sum for their use; pblig?tin?*$hemselves
to make returns fit xho time^ agreed
r upon, and stipulating also.for tho.^gscnptioUj
t of. assent t<* be received by the *banka in top
. turn. It is more than doubtful policy tb
r $ass ahy.-Jaw which can do bo easily reiWered
t nugatory: Besides, if implied \viU>, ?fcni>
fest injury would result U> a portion of such
P institutions. Banks in this State, usually
[, transact a large amount of tl>eir business
f 'through agcrfBi, aijd are dljxjndajit upon
j them for a supply of ^Northern" exchange,
\ whicb&ftn only foe obtained ip tho seaports.
. To prohibit tho uso of ag?nta tothe country
i banks would seriously embarrass them.
- Without exchange,-4li^y" could not supf^y
. tho wants of the interior, and their ^issues
: 4i.~?r? J . 1 -?
nuuiu, uiciciuw, uu juepreciaiea in lue. BCfp.
ports; thus givipg fa banks, there lopWeJ;
. a great advantage in business.
In questions of* so *jtftUcli comjflexiiy as
. those relating to lfonuaftg, it is extremely
difficult to point out-5^reniedyvfor -errors
, which exist in the system. ** Tf? the"efcs^^bw|
ever, which I ha?e-f>lteScnt?#td vJ,?S? the
. evils will,>$?*.' part*etfcet their ?o1?jMiu$<ei
, When A^bama shaU Jiava in^ased}lfer
private batiks, ar^tbua B^plyithGjjnpneyed
. wants of her own ^op^Qtne' tfecesaity for.
. whicjr-ehe now-feela, anfl is b<^fnuii)g..to^
remedy, Mississippi" and. Florida vrilL fott)W
i the example. Ijtfthat event, the fidd ofottj,
. 'ergtion of the^haiiks of tbte''State~^ill "?be
| (?rcum8cHi^,^d%anki^^VHigite ?u*-,
ness diverted fr^ those channels, \vill retain
. in th^.
i totjpns or voeted interests of the State, I have
pladed this sobjec't before you for con^ideration.
J have no desire, to. urge ijfc b?yond
that point, find leave the question. to be
deeid^d-By, your iiitelligeiice'and judgment.
I herewith submit to,.y<Jti a report from
1.? 11..- r\ :*a ??i_;
uiu vvuijni vuci UUUCIBI lUUUUHlg Uie8Ulie
of the records ofhia office, which is worthy
of ^our . consideration. The condition of
the papers and documents referred to seem
to require some attention and labor for their
more complete prewrqption; and the terms
upon which he pft>f>oses to have them properly
arranged, indeiwd and copied, where it
is necessary, appear to be moderate and
just. ' .
Upon referring to the revolutionary and
colonial records, lfind several chasms which
should be filled up in order to make them
perfect. I think it advisable, therefore, to
authorize the Governor to procure such cop
i?? or yic missing papers as can doubtless
be obtained from the" English archives.'
I beg to lajr-'beforo you the reports and accompanying
papers upo" the .subject of the
new. State Capitol. \ ./ will be found to
be full and explicit. -? ?;
In my I * annual message I had the honor
to state to the Legislature that the new
otate Capitol was in proper progress of construction;
that^ thewjapices under which
'Uie,Wprk wa^ C|tfjied on were 'satisfactory ;
$^^fcarWork'roeTf was executed in a raan1
tfo&frt^nco "elegant and substantia] ; and
WH^Vbuilding would be erected fljwn the
foundations then" laid which would reflect
liitum upuii iuo outiu, antk.uo in every way
worthy of her dignity. Since that time,
However, I have cause to authorizc a radical
change jgfetny opitiliSn upon this subject.
SooiiSifter the adjournment of ther Legislature,
the basement of the north wingwas
far completed asto.wa'ftant an order from
'me for the reqyjval of. all the papers belonging
to the office*"of the feeverju departments
of the Stata33ovei?iment into|Jie new apartments
erect?a--fer- the^n in"tliftt portion of
fche building, "^rdeefntftihis. atop necessary
' for the projection of thfl reoofda^mLnr^hivpfi
from danger of $ro (^sjructive.
Ml to jts present site. ^^rc^fare^tbisxjvent,
nnd during th^ past8pnn|;,^ecommissioners
appointed by the llogi8laCui#ia*t>bferi ntentfrtho
construction- oftlie new*hall8 of
legHlniion bcqune concerned &b?ut certain ,
iii^C&tJons . of uiulty vyotk in tlie. edifice.
1 jjPrompt inquiries were'tbetituted. *Tiie service#
x>f an architect dfateknowledtred ability
and large profession ju^factice,were called
^tito requisition. "At first the imlt^ections
of tho fM|{k w&re not thought tow of a serious
character, nnd that by taking do\yn
and reconstructing an inconsiderable portion
of it, all defects would ^3 remedied,
plthout joss to the State. * In the m&ntim'e '
wo original arcnitect was superacid in his
fetfttdpytnent, by pjaqjng Mr. Walker ir&mie3iate
charge of construction/ and to?|naginglhe
terviceaof Mri?Jo\in B? Niftrnaee,
of Baltimore, as tftif 'is^Bulting nVdhiiect.'
To be able to obtofnntl^' ait| of these
jgentleuiie.n wa^?d<pnictl by 'the coiuuii^iui)
p^S to^r^ M^^Jr; tlie -'assistant architect,*
wotiid^ofc i^lBeeaf^tofrJsum^whifih tho .tttn
I y *?v'W??ff?V vlB
K fl?4 ' 'i<4?-i.wHft/\F-iflWMyfy^ftinhwinflhr
of old Capitol - 14,000 00'
In the sum' of ?eventy-two thousand two
hundrediftnd eixty-fieven dollars and seventy- ^$1
five cents rt72,2Q7 76) is not inoladed tbw
forfeiture* nv nnnfmotM- ~it
j uuum uieir supu'
Iations with the ? Commissioners, each of ,
whom gave bond, with* ample security, for - ,
tho faithful performance of work. The iv *
bonds were drawn in proper legal forifl, dis- "
tinctly defining tlx) manner in which each
kind of work should- beexecuted, and too 1
doubt can exist thatftfa^contracts are dear*
ly violated. .\To what extent the .State c&n
recover damages by a process of law, is yet ' ^
to be determined. The solictor of the commission,
Hon. Mr. DeSnussure, has been id* ^
struoted to take such steps in the premises
as will protect the State from losp. *rf'
The commissioners >cominencad. and for -i. r
.some time continued work un^ctbe con
tract system^t^ w 11icb^.pf course. considera- "
the rates paid ibrwoA Vere ^bot larger thta ^
are usually admitted for buildings of ti?&t
character; but recently, nnd?r a .complete
reorganization of the ^tifeMtaAeflafor cot- ~ -? ,<
struct ion, contracts- have b?en- terminated^ ^.
and the work is now-ciwfried by day la- ^
all pro^^^rue dfrectly to
whilst at Uie snme^Siitoboyia^w ayaferii- .
atically nppHed^ft^ w? teOre'faithfully * .
executed. By th<willbe seexf^hat all- .
losses hitherto arising will be opihpletely *y
covercd before the building is much mora *. . ^
than .half completed ; and when Completed; ? -c
taking it for granted that a million- will be **
expended upon it, ^ largo actually. </ ,
will be sav<3u "to lhe?$tt|(Le. v '
As a strong necessityis? apparentfor the
construction of rr6Tr Quails ~ of legislation, .- &
from tlie insecurity ancldecay. of the build-: ;'f
ing now occupied by you, it is to be pre-. ?
sumcd that your origicffiil gntjjntiofts wilt be "
carried into effect "in thajt' event I recom- ' ... v
mend a changed'poyflon for the edifice. ]
By locating it at the intemection^bf 'Senate
and Rich ardjson 8ti%et^,^th nor^ern and ? #
southern exposures, it.can 1>o seen* without * ,
obstruction from the four points of the com
Ml
paac>, aiiu wiii,present an appearance-upore ' * ? '
dighifl$d and imposing. Snould- tttfrawg* ^ . .
gestion be adopted, it woul(J,be necessary to
increase still more thearea of gproon^about - "
jt If the change of locatiote be made, in
Xne end^nerhaps^ it majr not be ai subject <j ' *
much to be regrettedtnst delay and disaster
attended the first effort# to constra'ctanew * 2^
Cflpitol for the O&in.monwealth. * .
I have thus Jaid before you ^tiplafn and ' ytruthful
8tf56gment'*of the facts^connccted >
with this fcrbuk. --
? -MR? Ai?.?gnaara
faction exists -as to^gMfftciio'ii of th^ com
nilssibnera fn tbo prcmiaea. >"ou will judgd V '/* JS|
tliem with c&lmntess^nd equity. '"Hiey liftd 'V^j
ninny difficulties**) 'encounter. ?*t^foV/jug .;
nnd working gntfrite id afljfc^.busine? in - 'V;4|i
this StatCj and- cpjmpetenfcJjoffif3ulort,<and *,Jpj|
me^innicsare dimcultffo procure. "Nbpuljr *
lic;ddifit?,of fch magnitude of this I?l3 ev- .
cr y$t b^en constHt^dl^fr; -.. Th^commifl. V
sionera have long l^^ySP^Tntrnrniasraent-'
atnd responsibility;^^eirZpaeftkm/? . j
have only been sustaitfed ia tjeif '.% >rf?
a sentiment of devotion tg tho State, abd 4
sincere desire to bo nseful to jt. 4fcei?, a V - ^
the^xproted jf&r 4<w?djwmt)ei?atibfi?for
s^(jw ;JHm^to. tAttfr KtuojSSfksi. ^
jjj^