The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1840-12-02


nerious impediments t" its success, an"
even, in the end, If continued, render II
unable TO fulfil those engagements iof
which the State has s"'"1nniy ri'sh'e" ner
honor. Your attention ln earnestly IN
voked to this subject, in the confident eS-
nectn,ion that YOUR wisdom will provide
in time a remedy. u"d project, in all It's
vioor. an institution that shares 80 large.
" in the confidence and favor Of the
Stale.
With The view Of giving rou as much
information as possible, IN relation TO our
Banking institutions. addressed circu-
Jar to the r. 8 .ective officers, and have the
honor 10 transmit their Reports, as an
accompanying document of this Message.
/ believe l hazard nothing, when / say,
that they exhibit comparatively sound
condition, and that the Banks OF no State
in the Union are entitled to higher conn,
dence. The whole country has suffered
from the abuses of the Banking system,
and it is no. to be disguised, that in South
Carolina too, this tremendous power has
been directed to ends not legitimate. 1t
is no, my purpose TO wage war upon tne
Banks, but against their abuses. would
not destroy, but reg gulate them. lncor-
pora!ed, as they are, into our political in,
s,itu.ions. and forming most material
part Of them, I regard their annihlia'lon'
not as blessing, but the certain pre-
sage of widespread ruin. But Banks, IN
the presumed plenitude Of their power,
should not be permitted 10 do as they
please. Their chartered privileges give
them no right to violate sacred obligations,
and perpetrate outrageous injustice
They have no independent corporate ex-
istence, apart from those conditions, I'M
piled as we'll as expressed, which gave
them being. In the nature of things,
Pank has no exclusive right 10 sport with
tho demands of common justice, and it is
a monstrous perversion 10 say, that me
Legislature ever intended to confer this
extraordinary privilege. would not v'o,
late the sanclity of chartered rights, but l
cannot sanction that doctrine which places
Banks entirely beyond the reach of the
Legislature. The recent suspension OF
specie payments, by most of the Banks
Of our State, calls for sone decisive ac-
ton. The legal remedy which the bill
holder has, amounts 10 nothing. IN mo-
,,ern times, the refusal to redeem note'
is common Bank operation, and he must
be endowed with more than ordinary firm
ness, sho will make the demand, as he is
sure to encounter the insulting, contuma-
cous spirit of chartered gentleman. 1t
is your province 10 provide against these
disgraceful Bank suspensions, and your
wisdom will suggest the measures best
adapted TO the exigency.
l herewith transmit the Report of the
Adiutant and Inspector General, and
cannot recommend too strongly to your
attention, our military system. A very
sligh. reflection only is necessary TO show,
that this arm OF our defence has never
been too highly appreciated. That peo-
pie is unworthy Of liberty, who is unwil-
ling TO defend it. 1t is one of your high
est and most sacred duties, to maintain an
efficient militia organization, at in the ra-
pid current of events, no one can tell how
soon we may be called upon, to exert our
whole power in defence Of our altars and
6resides. The system Of Brigade en-
camrments, which was instituted few
years ago, with the view of improving
our Militia, has worked well, and it is
the unanimous testimony Of every gener-
A officer, and of u vast majority 'o{ the
field and company officers, that sound po.
icy demands its continuance. 1t would
be better. l think, to relieve every man
Of duty, than abolish this feature-to take
our stand at once against the whole sys-
tenn, than indulge in empty pretensions,
and ridiculous mockery. If we are TO
have Militia. let it be as efficient as pos
sible. No surer plan 10 effect this desira.
bic result can b, imagined, than to Gre
ate a body Of skilfnl and intelligent Off
GERS, who are ever ready 10 lead our whole
militia force into the field, and who, in a
short time, can prepare it 10 meet sue
cessfully any enemy which might be
brought against it. To obviate leading
objection to the system, the Board Of
Commissioners, appointed to make Di-
gest Of the Militia and Patrol Laws, re-
commended, that moderate compcnsa-
ton should be paid to those who perform
the duties Of the camp. The Board,
upon an accurate estimate, fixes the
amount necessary for this purpose, at a
sum not exceeding ten thousand dollars
per annum, and this sum might be further
AZ.