Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, December 16, 1851, Image 2
i to report the bill for passage, &c., and it
i decided io the affirmative.
The committee thereupon rose, and the Spea.er
having taken the chair, Mr. Memminger,
from the committee of the whole, reported
that the committee had under consideration the
Senate bill to fix the time for the meeting of
the convention, and recommend its passage without
amendment, and asked to be discharged
from the consideration of all matters referred
to it; which was concurred in.
The bill having received a,second reading
in the House, Mr. Harrington offered the following
preamble as an amendment:
"Whereas the recent election of deputies to
a Southern Congress has decided against the
separate secession of South Carolina for the !
past aggressions: and whereas, in the opinion J
of this Legislature, the other Southern Stntes j
have decided against co-operating with this
State in the measure of secession as a remedy j
for existing grievances: and whereas the net of j
the last session of this Legislature, calling a :
Convention of the People referred to it the J
question as to the mode and measure of resis- ;
tance: and whereas this Legislature relies up- 1
on that body to adopt such measures of resis- ::
tance, in conformity to the declared will of!
the people, as will preserve the honor and redeem
the pledges of the Shite."
A motion was made to lay the preamble on i
the table, on which Mr. Owens demanded the <
yeas and nays; which being taken, resulted as i
follows: Yeas?91. Nays 21.
Mr. McGowan then offered an amendment
that the Governor be authorixed to receive re- j 1
signationsof the members who desired to resign,'
and to issue writes of election to fill the vacan- j 1
cies. This amendment was rejected?yeas
54, nays 59. I
Mr. Nelson Michell affered an amendment
to change the time of the meeting of the Con- i i
tion from the fourth Monday in April to the ! '<
fourth Mouday in January. This was also rejected
by a large majority. The question recurrinsr
on the passage of the bill, Mr. McCrady 1
spoke very vehemently aginst the bil,and against. 1
the calling of the Convention. The yeas and |
ays were ordered, and the bill passed by the ;
Senate, fixed the time of the meeting of the j 1
Convention on the fourth Monday in April, 18- !
52, was ordered to be returned to the Senate.
December 8. <
in the Honse sundry bills from the Senate 1
were read a first time.
The Speaker announced the papers on his i
desk, among which was the bill culling the
convention, which had been read a third time <
in the Senate. The question being shall this i
act be returned to the Senate, Mr. Philips | i
moved that it be the special order for to-mor- i I
row at 12 o'clock. The motion was lost, i
The vote on the question being ordered to be i
taken by yeas and nays, resulted as follows: ?
Ykas?66.?Nays?35.
Mr. Lessesne, from the committee on the j <
judiciary, made a report from the minority of j ]
the committee in relation to changing the day I j
of genera! elections in this State. The report I
is in favor of the change, so that the Sabbath t
be not desecrated by electioneering, die. i
Mr. B. F. Perry, from the committee on ]
the lunatic asylum, reported in invor ot an ap- j
proprialion of $10,000 for the purpose of ex- j ;
tending the buildings of the institution. He j I
also reported a bill for the purpose of authori .
zing the street on the east of the assylum to <
be enclosed. I
Mr. A8HX0RB called for the special order j <
for one o'clock, being the bill to rechartcr the
Bank of the State. The House resolved it- |
self into committee of the whole, Mr, Cubs \ut j
in the ehair. Some desultory debate followed j
in the committee, when Mr. Hutson renewed ,
his motion that the committee rise, and report |
that it is expedient to discuss the recharter of
the Bank of the State at this time, it having
five years to run. The resolution was adopted ; i
and the committee rose.
A bill to punish persons placing obstructions
on railroad tracks had a second reading and
was ordered to the Senate, after being amended,
so as to strike out the clause requiring railroad
companies to fence their lines of railroads.
A bill to sell a tract of land?Rocky Mount
Canal?to Danl. McCullough, was amended
so as to offer the property at public auction.
r,noD?-n?p Pknirmon nf i Vimmit fpo nf I
1*1 I VIir.9.1Ui, VIWIIIIIOH V. WI*MIM??VV w. |
the Whole, reports! on the bill to re-charter
the bank of the State, which report and the
bill was ordered by a vote of yeas and nays j
to lay on the table.
A resolution was adopted that the House on i1
to-raor*">w, and afterwards take a recess daily 1
from 4 .o 7 p. m.
The House adjourned.
Dper.MHKK 11.
Iq the House, sundry bills were read and reports
of standing committees made.
A bill to provide by law for payment of post [
mortem examinations was read a second time j
and ordered to the Senate.
Mr. Memminger offered a resolution that a
committee of five from the Bouse be appointed
to inquire into the expediency of erecting a
new Chapel at the South Carolina College, or !
enlarging the old one, and that a message be '
sent to the Senate asking the appointment of a
similar committee on the part of that body.
MrLyles, from the committee appointed to !
examine the contingent account of the Governor,
made a report.
A bill to amend the charter of the King's
Mountain Railroad Company was read a second
time, and ordered to tho Senate for concurrence.
A bill to renew the charters of the Commer
cial Bank of Columbia; the Planter's and Mechanics'
Bank, and the Union Bank of Charleston,
came up. Several amendments were offered.
The bonus to be paid to the State was
stricken out, and a tax of 25 cents on every
8100 substituted.
The chief a.wi most important amendment
was offered by Mr. W. R. Robertson, viz: an
additional section to recharter the Bank of the
State until 1870. The Speaker declared the
Amendment to be out of order unless received
bv the House. The House decided by a vote
of 53 yeas to 50 nays to receive the amendment
Mr; Hunt addressed the House at some
length in support of the ,vn - dinent.
Mr. Preston rose to ex. lain the vote lio
would eive on the amendment He "-ould
vote against it, because he thought it was premature.
He was a friend to the bank, and believed
that it was the best fiscal agent on this
continent, and if the amendment were adopted,
would vote for the bill so amended.
Mr. Phillips spoke against the amendment.
He had heard that the Bank of the State was
regarded as the State. He was told that it
would be impudence for the directors to give
notice for application for a recharter, jet the
courts of the State had decided that it was a
corporation. He asked, if the bank was so influential
for good as represented, why fear that
the people be arrayed against it ?
Mr. J. Izard Middlcton spoke at some length
against the amendment. It was said that this
bank would regulate the currency, but he said
this great regulator had in circulation 83,000,000,
when it had only 8-00,000 in specie in
its vaults. He said that although this batik had
the largest capital, it was the weakest bank in i
the State. It was well known, he said, and ho
stated it on the authority of the President of
the institution, that had it not been for one ot
these very banks, now applying for a reclurter, j
this great regulator would have hud at one !
time to suspend specie payments.
He was further opposed to the bank because
lie believed it to be unconstitutional, that it j
was founded on bad policy, and not republi- j
can, because it made tlie government inuepeu- |
dent of tlie people, because it gave the govern- 1
inent a friend independent of taxation.
Mr. Hut -on thought all the discussion was a j
waste of lime, as he had no doubt all the mem- j
bers had made up their minds on the question. !
He, therefore, moved that the amendment be
laid on tlie table. On which motion the yeas
and nays were ordered, and resulted 54 yeas :
to 51 nays ?so the motion was lost.
The question being then on the adoption of
the amendment, the vote was taken by yeas
and nays, and resulted as follows: Yeas GO.?
Nays 57.
So the amendment was adopted.
Mr. Torre moved an amendment to strike
out all after the enacting clause, and provide
for the temporary re-cliarter of all the banks
now seeking recharter. At this point the House
took a recess until 7 o'clock.
Decbmiier. 13.
In the House yesterday, there was hut little
of importance done, save tlie regular progress
of business.
Mr. Memminger, from the committee on ways
and Means, made sundy reports, among which
was one in relation to the Branch of the Bank
of State at Camden. The committee recom
mended that the Senate resolution in krefrrence
to this matter be laid on the table, and repor
led a resolution requiring the 1'resident and Di'ectors
to close the bond debts over two years'
standing.
Mr. Preston, from the Committee on Federil
Relations, reported a bill to give the consent
of the State to the purchase of the lot on
Bull's Island, by the Federal Government,
or the purpose of erecting a lighthouse.
A message from the Governor was read by
he Executive Secretary, Col. Watts. The
nessage was in relation to the report of the
Board of Ordnance.
A motion to Lake ui? A?it of it? r?a?i?r onl??i
bill to recharter the Bank of the State, was
ost by a vote of 55 yeas and 01 nays.
A bill to amend the law in relation to slaves
carrying arms, after being discussed for some
Lime, was on motion of Mr. Hartinglon, laid on
the table.
A bill to amend the law abolishing the rights of
primogeniture, was discussed for some time,
and an amendment offered by Mr. Owens, and
advocated by hitn, to give the personal and
one-third of the reul estate of an intestate to
his widow, was lost. The hill was passed.
The tax bid was on motion of Mr. Memmin
ger, taken up and alter the rejection ol' an aiiiemhncnt
offered liy Mr* Ayer, taxing money
loaned out and bearing interest, had been discussed
and rejected, the bill passed on its second
reading. It as as follows;
A bill to raise supplies for the year commencing
in October, one thousand eight hundred and
fifty-one.
Sec. 1. lie it enacted by the Senate and
House of Represent at ices, now md and sitting
in General Assembly, and by the authority of
the same, That a tax for the sums, and in the
manner hereinafter mentioned, shall be raised
and paid into the public Treasury of this State,
for the use and service thereof, that is to say :
Thirty-five cents ad valorem on every hundred
dollars of the value of all the lauds granted in
this State, according to existii g classification
heretofore established; one half cent per acre
on all lands lying within the Catawba Indian
boundary, to be paid by each grantee or lessee
of said Indian land , until otherwise dirccu-?i
bylaw; fifty-six cents per head on all slaves ;
two dollars on each free negro, mulatto, ami !
mestizo, between the ages of fifteen and fifty
years, except sueli as shall be clearly proved
to the satisfaction of the collectors to be incapable,
from maims or otherwise, of procuring
a livelihood; twenty-five cents ad valorem on
every hundred dollars of the value of all lots,
lauds and buildings, within any city, town, village
or borough in this State. Sixty cents per
hundred dollars on factorage employments,
faculties and professions, (whether in the pro
fession of the law, the profits to be derived from
costs of suit, fees or other sources of professional
income,) and on the amount of commissions
received by vendue masters and commission
merchants, (clergymen, schoolmasters, schoolmistresses
and mechanics excepted.) Sixty
cents upon every hundred dollars worth of
goods, wares and merchandise, embracing all
the articles of trade for sale, barter or exchange,
(the products of this State, and the unmanufactured
products of any of the United States
or Territories, thereof excepted,) which any
person shall use or employ as articles of trade,
sale, barter or exchange, or have in his, her or
their possession, on the first day of January in
the year of onr Lord one thousand eight hundred
and fifty-two, ci<her 011 his, Iter or their
capital, or borrowed capital, or on account of :
any person or persons, as agent, attorney, or
consignee; 00 cents upon one hundred dollars
worth of goods, wares and merchandise en.itever,
which any transient person, no; resilient
in this State, shall sell or expose for sale, in
any house, stall or public place. Ten hollars i
lie" ?{,ie tor rf>ro*r>er?|fi <J M >b" ' -.i
reward, any play, copiedy, tragedy, interlude
or farce, or other employment of the stagp, or
any part therein, or for exhibiting wax-figures
or other shows of any kind whatsoever, to be
paid into the hands of the clerks of the courts
respectively, who shall be bound to pay the
same into the public treasury, except in cases
whore the same is now required by law to be
paid to corporation or otherwise.
Sec. II. That all taxes levied on property,
as prescribed in the first section of this act,
shall be paid to the tax collectors for the district
or parish in which said property is located.
Sec III. The goods which shall be imported
directly from Europe, in any vessel owned by
citizens of South Carolina, shall be exempt
from taxes in the hands of the original importers.
And it shall be the duty of the tax collectors
to require every importer, making a return
of stock in trade, to produce the original
invoice, whenever an ?emption from taxation
shall be claimed under this section.
Sr.c. IV. In making assessments for taxes,
the value of taxable property, used in mann
factoring within this State, the value of the machinery
used therein, shall riot be included, but
only the value of the lots and buildings, as properly
merely.
Skc. V. That Ike tax collectors in the sevoral
districts and parishes in this State, in their
returns hereafter t*? V lu t l-, lie, and they are
required and enjoined to state the precise amount
of taxes collected by them, for the pur
pose of supporting the police of the said several
districts and parishes aforesaid, stating the
rate per centum on the amounts of the State
tax collected for said district and parish police
purposes.
The Appropriate Bill, reported by the Committee
of Ways and Means, was also read a
second time and ordered to the Senate.
After which the House took a recess until 7
o'clock.
0C/~We copy the following sketch of the debate
on the Bank Bill from the State Rights
Republican:
The House then resolved itself into Committee
of the whole and t>ok up special order
of the day. the bill reported by the judicary.;*
committee for the re-charter of the bank of the
State. Col. Cbesnut in the chair. $
Mr. Hunt spoke at considerable length in
support of the bill. He said the banking system
must be regarded as a whole; that in that
system there must be a restraining power
someu here?a bank that should exert a wholesome
check upon other institutions. Such was
the bank of the state. It had now been in existence
40 years, and notwithstanding the assaults
made upon it, it had come forth from the
furnance, pure as well tried gold. Scrutiny
had detected no fault in its management Obliquy
had not taken away its character. There
was not a single transaction of the bank that
had not been done in good faith, and had not
been marked bv soundjudgment It was now,
as it always had been, a sound bank, worthy
of the entire confidence of the people. Mr.
Hunt read statements from a printed document
(we presumes the report of the president and
Director*) euturiiu/ minutely into the history of
its operations. The bank, he said, had been a
public blessing. It had helped the people to
pay their taxes. It had reduced the amount
of taxation. It had paid off four millions of
tlin public d.-bt. The State, once ricli had
engaged in schemes of internal improvement,
utterly profitless thus far to the Treasury, which
had greatly crippled the energies of the bank,
and had been an incubus on her shoulders; but
she had stood up with herculean strength under
her burthens, and had maintained her position
without faltering. 1870, she would pay off all
her debts, but she must be allowed till that
time to pay them in. The public faith, the
solemn pledges of the State required that she
should have that much time to relieve herself
of all her obligations to the foreign creditors
of the State. At the end of that time, she
would have between three and four millions of
capital stock in her possession, which the State
could appropriate to any purposes it might
judge most beneficial. He only hoped when
this fund was surrendered back to the State, it
would not be squandered in wild and profitless
spculations, however magnificient.
Mr. H utson said, the charter of the bank had i
still five years to run and he did not think it was
worih while to renew its charter at this session
of the Legislature. He moved therefore that
the < ommiltee do now rise :i"ii v.iort against
the passage of tin* bill. ' t<sing,
Mr. !f 't
tH*M ' ? .
It * III'" ' ' :!! 'Ill* ' i !V ( .O
t<? g. it, ! :? i: v. . v. r; :;i <\ i-:. |. it ::ie
bank ol i , !i, .'mi m hv.t would
go aletig with it
Mr. Mernminger said the charters of the
other hanks applying for re-charter would expire
in December of the next year, or in January
thereafter ensuing, so that their re charter at
this session was proper. But no petition, no
application, no notice of a re charter of this
bank had hitherto met the public eye. That
the proposition had taken members by surprise
? they were not prepared for it, and the course
was an unfair one.
Mr. Sullivan said there had been a misapplication
of the rule in respect to notice by the
Hon. member from Charleston. The rule applied
only to individuals or companies making
application. It did not and could not apply to
the State. It would be absurd for the State to
notify itself.
.Mr. Hunt snid the objection came with very
little grace from those who made it.
The bill was nothing more than a copy of
the hill submitted last year, and which was
postponed then, on account of the pressure of
political and more engrossing matters. It was
idle, therefore, to talk of surprise and unfairness,
lie repelled the insinuation that he could pracliee
or had ever practiced disguise with the
I . .... in if ilnrinir tin. tvIni|,i I
ei'iii'si' ol'liis legi l.iiivi* career. lit* was ahove '
rini<|i'S)'i*ii(liiig to snrli paltry acts, unworthy i
o: any li'i?isl itor or of any man of honor.
i r , . .. ?"ITV t! it thi : i
of a re-charter of the bank had been brought
forward at this time. The President and Directors
of the Bank of the State, were, in his |
opinion, a corporation, and must proceed like
other corporations in their applications for a
re-charter. They must give the usual notice of
their intention. The proposition was premature.
The House had certainly been taken bv
surprise.
Mr. Garlington regarded the matter of the
bank as having been fairly put in issue at the
last election. The State, iu his opinion, was
not bound to give the notice spoken of. He
was^opposed to the charter of banking institutions,
and especially at this time, but would inform
members, if the bank of the State were
not to have fair play, he would vote against the
re-charter of any and all banks.
Mr. Hammond said, this matter had been
much discussed some years ago in the House.
His opinion was that the people should uphold
(heir own institutions. If it was not re-chartered,
he would not support the charter of any
other bank.
Mr. Ashmore said he had told the people of
his district, that this question of re-charter of
the bank of the State would not be mooted in
the Legislature before 1854 or '5. If the
measure were now forced upon the house, he
must go for it.
MrLeitner was in favor of the bank of the
State, but did not wish to see it re-chartered
now. If its existence depended, however, on
the present action of the Legtalature, he should
feel compelled to advocate it.
Mr Sullivan said, the hank of the State was
not a private corporation. Mr. Memmiugcr
insisted that it was. Col. Hunt said it was the
people's hank, and that he should he ashamed
of the President and Directors if they were to
come here and apply for a re-charter. The
State could take care of her own interests and
did not require to give notice to any of its own
intentions.
Mr. Dargan was in favor of the re-charter
of the bank of the State, but not at the present
session. He would not go for its re-charter at
the Resent session, nor for the permanent charte?x>f
any bank, although he might vote for
tfceir temporary re-charter, if it were necessary.
He was not of opinion that the legislature required
notice of the intention of the Bank of
the State to apply for an extension of its charter.
Mr. Preston said the subject before the
House was one of very grave interest, and he
hoped members would not be hurried into the
debate before they were prepared for it. For
his own part, he wished time to consider of
it.
Mr. Ashmore moved that the Committee do
now rise, report progress, and beg leave to sit
again to-morrow, at 1 o'clock, which motion
nrpviiiled.
Congressional Proceedings.
Washington, Doc. 10, 1851.
Senate.?A large number of private petitions
and memorials were presented and referred.
Mr. Berrien moved, and the petition of the
members of the bar of the District of Columbia,
asking an increase of salary of the judge of civil
court of the District of Columbia, was taken
from the files of the State, and referred to the
crmmittee on Judiciary.
A resolution submitted by Mr. Underwood,
of enquiry into the propriety of constructing artificial
reservoirs for the improvement of the
navigation of the Ohio river, was adopted.
Mr. Clemens and Mr. Dodge, of Iowa, introduced
bills, granting land to their respective
States for railroad purposes.
Mr. Underwood reported back the joint resolution,
making land warrants assignable.
The resolution tendering to Kessnth a welcome
was then taken up.
Mr. Summer addressed the Senate most elquently
in favor of it. He gave the welcome
to the man because he deserved it.
Mr. Stockton followed in support of the resolution.
He was willing to welcome Kossuth.
Ho however, did not agree with the sentiments
expressed by Kossuth with regard to the British
monarchy.
Mr. Clemens opposed the resolution. Kossuth
was not a republican till after defeat. He
entered into the history of the Hungarian difficulty,
and argued that it was a war of races,
the Migyars asking iron rule over the Sulavon- j
ians. He thought much of the sympathy misplaced.
He deuced that Congress ever invited
Kossuth except as an Emigrant.
Mr. Shields and Mr. Koote both replied, and
i i favor of the resolution, the latter without
including, gave way to motion, and Senate
.Ijoiirned.
House op Rki'hksentativks.?The Journal
having been read, the House, on motion of Mr.
Harris, of Tenn, went into Committee on the
State of the Union, Mr. Richardson, of Illinois,
in the Chair, for the purpose of taking up the
joint resolution relative to land warrants.
Mr. Harris explained the object of the res
olutions, which is chiefly to authorize the transfer
of lands and the pay men of the Receivers
and Surveyors; to be paid from the Treasury of
the United States.
Mr. Evans, of Maryland, said he did not rise
to Poppose tlie resolution, although he did
so last session; but, notwithstanding it had
been read twice, he did not comprehend it, and
it might contain that which was not right. A
copy, he said, should be before every member
before he was called upon to vote, and which
might be in the possession of all within three or
four days. He expressed himself opposed to
such hurried legislation, and which did not usually
characterize the proceedings of the House.
witn reieronce 10 par nig /*. now lUWUtlCU I
where warrants have been issued, he conceived
these should be borne by the individuals who
had obtained them. In moving that the committee
rise, he pledge ' himself that he did not
mean to vote against the resolution or to impede
its progress. He therefore moved that the
committee rise, for the purpose of moving that
the rbsolntiou and bill be printed.
The House resumed, and the resolution was
referred to the committee, as was an amendment
by Mr. Marshall, of Ky.. securing rights
of deceased officers and soldiers.
Mr. Cobb, of Alabama, introduced a bill ex-;
"<! " the nvhjotis of t'>e act of 1S30 to i
that of 1790 conveying to revolutionary soldiers
the same advantages, as to settlement, as
is enjoyed by those who were engaged in the
Mexican war.
Messrs. Ross, of Pennsylvania, and Smith,
aT A luKnmo toom nvn.m/J C aI_ _
! ..V. t VALUCU 1IUIII acuilg?IBB
former on naval nflairs and the-latter on claims.
Mr Stephens, of Georgia, reported that the
committee to whom the subject had been referred,
reported that the doorkeeper be directed
to provide three seats for the Congressional
reporters of the Globe, in the same manner as
the reporters are accommodated in the Senate.
The Speaker then proceeded to call on the
different members by States and territories for
motions. Among others, Mr. Walsh, of Maryland,
presented the memorial of the Printers'
National Convention, against the present system
of public printing, as injurious to the pnblic
interests and the rights of labor?contracts
being made with persons who are not practical
printers, and at the lowest rates, without regard
to the mode of executing the same.
Mr. Smith, of Alabama, gave notice that at
an early day he should move a joint resolution,
directing the Secretary of State to furnish
Louis Kossuth with the Acts of Congress,
against treason and misdemeanors, to prevent
his making any more seditious speeches
Mr. Stflllton. of Kir innniMi/t if
; ) iiatiwilVU It IUU ^CUUV"
man from Alabama wished to re-enact the law
' against sedition.
Mr. Smith did not wish to re-enact any such
law, but he wanted no more Pampero expeditions.
The Speaker said, as the motion had been
objected to, it was not competent for the House ^
to take a vote; but a motion could be given by
I leaving it with the Clerk.
Mr. Robinson, of Indiana, gave notice of
i a resolution, extending a welcome to Louis
I Kossuth; which was objected to. 1
Mr. Johnson, of Tennessee, requested to be
i excused from acting as chairman ot the Cora'
mittee on Claims.
An attempt was made to bring forward the
1 resolutions for authorizing the Clerk of the
House to furnish members with newspapers,
] but was again deferred.
xMr. Jones |has introduced a resolution, the
j object of which is to prevent members from
deriving emoluments for presenting claims,
which Mr. Bocock, of Virginia, considered as
! conveying undeserved imputation, but which
e i i- xL. '-'-j?-!-:?
was reierreu iu uie cmmmuee on juuiciary,
Tlie Speaker having got through with eaRing
upon the States and Territories, the House
adjourned.
THE BULL'S BAY LIGHT HOUSE. :
The action of the Senate of our State, in
reference to the Light House on Bull's Bay,
, iias occasioned here, deep disappointment and
regret. It was never anticipated that our own
Legislature would do anything to binder th?
erection of a structure so essential to the agricultural
and commercial interests of the StateNow,
that the Senate has refused to authorize
the Government to purchase a site for this
Light House, we are constrained to believe
! that there must have been in that body a total
! misunderstanding of the facts and merits ot j*
I the subject. Were the Light House at Bull's
i Bay necessary only to our coasting trade with i
the other States north of us, then the state of
the times might furnish some excuse for our
j refusing to permit its erection. But this is not
the case ; it is needed more for our interior and
and river trade than for anything else. Not
only the merchants have an interest i the mat-e
ter but every planter who sends his crop to mar-*,
ket by the Santee, Wateree and Pedee rivers,
has a still deeper stake therein. '
Ball's bay, upon careful survey, has been
fifAnniinnn/l Ann nf #Iia an (Ua
|MUIIUUIIUVU VIIW VI wuc UUOV uai UVl D mi Uw
Southern coast. Many a boat from the San*
tee, Pee Deo and Waccamaw, laden with rieo
and other produce, and even the negroes of
the planter; has found in this bay, a safe harbor
from the storm. By getting into this bay the
lives of many fishermen have been saved, and
even steam boats from the rivers above, have
stopped there, for the safety of their passengers
and crews. But though this harbor is at
all tides ea?y of access during the day, yet
for the want of a light bouse, it is not so at
night. It was the duty of the government-to
make it accessible at all times, and the neglect
to do so hitherto, was an injustice to the
people of the State. At length the matter was
brought to notice of the government, by a petition
signed by a large numberof persons who
were deeply interested therein. South-Carolina
has never been clamorous for appropriations
from the government, but this matter was a
considered an important one. and was thorofore
pressed with zeal. With thn petition for a
light house, 0110 for buoys at the Santee bar was
connected, and through the exertions of Mr.
Calhoun, and our representative Mr. Holmes,
the appropriation for both purposes was made,
after some mistake and considerable delay.
It seemed, at last, that the things so much desired,
and so essential to our river navigation,
had been secured beyond the possibility of a
failure. And now, our planters, merchants,
and boat owners were full of expectation and
hope; the appropriation had been made; the
price of the land had been agreed upon; the
contracts had been advertised for; our mechanics
were making preparations to furnish the
material, and to do the necessary work, when
lo! the Senate of our State interposes its veto,
snuffs out the lights, and vows that our people
and produce shall go upon the breakers, or
down to the bottom of the sea rather than they
shall be mmk! by the light of a Federal lamp
wick.
What motives could have led the Senate to
this course, wo cannot imagine. Is the giant ?g|
blind, that it should thus strike at random, not
caring whether it prostrato friend or foe ? It
would really seem so for this is certainly a heavy 4
blow in tho wrong direction. We know that
our people desire no more federal guns upon
our soil, but cannons are seldom mounted upon
light-houses, and the wife and family of the
poor old seamen who might be appointed to
keep the lamps in order, would surely make no
formidable garrison. Verily, the act of tho
Senate in this matter now seems altogether fitful
and unaccountable, and the day may come
when the honorable Senators shall feel that
their indifference or prejudice amounted even
to crime. Let a planter's boat be driven to
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