The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-12-06


ures for procuring registration ofthe births
marriages, and deaths in their several pop
uiations." l can add nothing to the argyll
ment found in the memorial, which is here.
with transmitted, but my appreciation of it
IN support ofthe measure.
- The present organization of the magistracy
limiting one TO each Militia Beat Company
strikes me as affording great facilities in obtain
ing the necessary information in the country.
Confined TO limited precincts, acquainted with
every family within it, they would find little dit
lcalty in obtaining it. Annual reports from all
to the Clerks of;he Courts or Commissioners in
Equity would bring together all that occurs in
each district. and when collected. would present
ageneral view of the subject. In cities, towns
and other incorporated communities. the same
END might be even more conveniently attained
through the agency of the corporate authori
ties. ,..- t,s.-.
transmit herewith, letter from the Hon.
w. ]. ,Grayson, the Chairman of committee
appointed by the Secretary of the Treasury OF
the United States to select site OH which to
erect a Custom House in Charleston, in which
: he states that he is advised, that according to
the laws of the United States, no contract for
The purchase can be completed without the con.
sent Of the State. One hundred and thirty
thousand dollars (l3OOOO) has been appropri.
Tated in Congress for his purpose, and although
the sito has not yet been SCI lected, the Commits.
fnissioners are desirous of obtaining the author
ity of the State to make the purchase, that 1t
may be completed, and the erection of the neces-
rsary buildings may be in progress before next
meeting of the Legislature. Not more than
two orsthree acres Of ground will be wanted for
the purpose, and have not been able to con-
.ceive any we'll founded objection TO authorize
the purchase. submit the matter to your con.
sideration.
By an act Of the Legislature, passed on the
, 18th day of December, 1916, the State granted
to Tie United States all the right, title, and in.
ferest Of the State to the lands for'ifcalons and
sites for the erection efforts Sullivan's Island
and Shute's Folly Island. as delincated by a plat
Of resaryey made by Robert @. Pinckney: Pro-
stided that the act should not take effect until
the United States Government shall have con-
sveyedtothe State of South Carolina all The right
title, and interest of the United States in
the lands lying between the present site of Fort
Moultrie and the parade grounds which is indi'
Gated as a street in the aforesaid plan of resur.
.vey, and until the said plan of rcsurvey, shall
have been deposited in the office ofthe Secreta-
~ Of StAteat Columbia.
y On the 2sth day of February last the Hon
Wi1iaEl L. Marcy. the Secretary of War ofthe
United States, in pursuance of the authority OF
anact Of Congress approved on the Sd March
1919, executed deed to the State of South
Carolina for all the right title, and interest Of
the q. Staes to the land lying between the pre-
sent site Of Fort Moultrie and the parade ground,
as provided in the act of the 1916, above re-
ferred to. which was delivered to me in the
,coursesof the last spring, and was applied tc
BY Col. ]. G. lotion, Chief Engineer, in be.
half of the United States. to convey to the u
nited States, in form, the lands, granted by the act
.oi1s46.. Having no direct authority to con.
vey, and being of opinion that, on the perfor-
nance ofthe condition contained in the act, the
grant became absolute, and the title to the United
States perfected, at first declined TO do so. But
npon being urged by tho authorities oft u
nited States, | executed in behalf Of the State,
deed in effect acknowledging the perform.
ancs offhe condition. on the part of the United
States. Being then and still ofopinion that this
was nugatory, would recommend that an act
bepassed acknowledging the performance Of
the condition on the part of The United States,
and confirming the grant. Not knowing what
course the Legislature would take, declined to
have the deed from the United States put on re.
cord, and Iwould recommend the propriety Of
providing for that also. Transmit herewith the
deed from the United States; copy of my deed
to the United States; a letter from Col. Totten
to myself dated Sd March ls4s; and the cores.
pondence between Capt. Bowman, Engineer
Department. Of The United States, and myself,
which viii put you in possession Of all the
Information that may be required.
I have also received communication from
the Hon. VIM. l.. Marcy. Secretary Of War Of
the United States, under date OF the 25th April,
ls4e, enclosing extracts of a letter to him from
Frederick A. Smith, Captain Engineers, A. G.
E.. ofthe 18th April, lS4s, in which it is sta.
ted that FIVE acres of land in Beaufort harbor
were granted by this State to the United States,
onthe l7th December, 1903, for the site OF
Fort Litlleton, otherwise called Fort Marion)
that commissioners were appointed on the part
Of the State TO mark out its boundaries, but that
all efforts to ascertain where they were have
been unsuccessful; and he requests that would
bring the subject to your notice, with a view to
some provision for the appointment of commits.
sioners on the part ofthe State, clothed with
authority to ascertain and locate the boundary
in conjunction with an engineer officer, to be
designated by the war department. The re.
quest strikes me as reasonable; and | would
recommend that commissioners be appointed
tor the purp se of meeingit. The communi.
cation OF the Secretary of War is herewith
Transmitted.
The constant and never ending agitation Of
slavery between the slavehodhg and non-
ssaveholding States, apart from the issues really
Involved, will ofisse'fin the end inevitably lead
to the moct disastrous consequences. The pas
sions of communities, like those of individuals,