Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1852-12-01
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, !
COLUMBIA, Nov. %, 1852.
UeMeWeN OI Tic NeHdle,
and House of Representatives

the day, when, rs Representatives, of the People
we have assembled together 10 deliberate upor
! the affairs of the Commonwealth. And before
proceed 10 treat Of the subjects which, for the
good of our State may deem proper to bring
to your attention., permit me earnestly to request
that you will join me in rendering heartfelt
thanks and praises 10 Almighty God, for the many
and ntdeScrved mcrcies bestowed upon us as 8
People during the past year. Although some
portion Of our State has trcmLlcd beneath the
srourgc of the "pcslilcncc that walkelh by
darkness and wasteth by noonday," yet we have
cause for tlIankfulncss that VIC have been per.
| mt;ed to enjoy, in other portions, more than 4
usual degree Of health and although we have
been called upon To mourn the devastation and
ruin that marked the truck Of the late disastrous
and unprecedented flood, yet wherever its DESC
latng effects We're not felt, rich and Abundant
harvest will reward the labor Of the husband
man.
Terrible az has been the blow to the prosper.
ity of our State by the destruction Of crops and
bridges OH our water courses, and as deeply as
we sympalli7e with those of our frilow-ciiizens
who have suffered, Vet We are bound TO bow
suLmi>sively to the affecting rod Of our Heaven
" Father, and render to him the homage of CRATE
full hears for whatever mrrcies He has seen fit,
in His wisdom and goodness, to youchsate TO
us. his dependent creatures.
| 1t gives inc pleasure to inform you that The
same tourishng condition of our different III
sli;utions of Learning, noticed in my last annual
Message, sill continues The South Carolina
College, under the judcious and energetic man.
agelncnt of its able President, s still progress
ing in its onward course of usefulness. To the
already able and efficient Corps of Professors,
has been added durin. the past year the services
of Dr. Reynolds whose high character, devoted
piety, and elegant crudilion, amply qualify him
for lie exalted station to which be has leen
called, and which he has thus far filled with hon
or TO himself, and usefulness to the Institution.
The Military Academies sill give evidence of
increasing usefulness. and bill fair 10 stand as
enduring monuments Of the wisdom and NUM-
ticence of the State, in establishing 80 cnlight-
encd plan Of clcrmosynary education. The
studies at the Citadel were suspended during
part of the past summer and fall, in consequence
of the prevalence of yellow fever; but in future
steps will he taken to prevent the di>bandng OF
the Corps, by cucamping in some healthy REGION
in case tins epidemic should again visit the city.
The addition to the Arsvna ordered by the last
Legislature, is completed, and, with the former
building, will be of sufficient capacity TO accom-
modatc all The Fourth Class, Say from ninety
10 one hundred.)
The last Legislature authorized the Trustees
of the South Carolina College, tn build ChaPcl,
provided they did not call upon it for more than
$4,000. This building, SO much needed, has
been contracted for by The Trustees NJ $4,000,
and will bc of sufficient size to accommodate
LOGO persons. The Trustees have paid $4,000
(the first iIstanent.) ont Of the Tuition Fund.
and have contracted to pay $4,000 after the
adjournment Of the Legislature, and the balance
when the building ia completed. You will per-
ceive from this statement that the Legislature
will only be called upon for the sum which 1t
authorized the Trustees to use. As no appr0.
priation was made for this purpose, and as the
Trustees, acting under the authority of the Le
gislalure, have contracted for the payment Of
that sum after your adjournment, recommend
that at the present Session you make an appro-
prialion TO meet this call.
Before leave the subject Of these your cher
i1hed Institutions of learning-the one which
has given to your history some of its brighie.t
names, and the other, which, although but in its
infancy, begins 10 show its practical utility by
giving to the State the services OF we,l-educatcd
gentlemen, who but for lis nunifccnce, might
have grovecd forever in cbscurity-pcrmit me
earnestly to invoke for them 4 continuance of
your care and iberalitv.
have endeavorcd, during the past summer, TO
inform myself thoroughly upon the subject Of
our Free School System; but from the want of
interest generally manifested, have been able
to collcc, but little information. There seems
to be 4 general belief that it works badly, except
in the large cities. Condrc' I'd a, t!cy are III
the country, do not hesitate to pronounce an
almost useless expenditure of the public fund /;
yet am far from being willing to recommend 4
discon,inuaEce of the Appropriation. The OBJ
ject of extending the blessings OF education to
the poor is too Just and noble one to be aban-
duned In some of The older States more dense
" populated than our own, beneficial results
have been seen from it, | am sure the system
could be SO altered and improved as to work
we'll with us. But to do this would require i
thorough knowledge Of the subject; and it ap-
pears to Inc that the only way in which you
could obtain that knowledge would be TO auth
orize the Governor to appoint a suitable and
competent person 10 travel over the State for 4
year, and notice the manner of its operations,
point out its defects and suggest improvements.
10 do this, it must be made The specific duty of
some one to collect this information; pay him
for i, and require strict performance at his
hands. feel more certain of the propriety of
this recommendation, inasmuch as | am sustain
I'd in it by high authority. One OF my prcde.
cesSors called upon all the Commissioners OF
Free Schools 10 make reports of the condition
of them in their respective Districts, and 10 sug.
gcst such alterations and improvements as they
deemed necessary. These reports were placed
in the hands of DR.. ThornweIl and Bishop Ell
liott, who, after a careful examination of them,
recommended the plan whichel have done.
The Bank of the State. according to Report
made to me by its President is in a highly pros.
porous condition. The capital is SlO0,0OO more
than last year.
The capital in use may be set down
Deduct Fire Loan Bonds. ds............. SOC
3,l52,5OO
The Prohts are. Observation-Disclosures 3O9 ,4O5
Deduct Interest on Fire Loan Bonds. 29,6SC
Leaves. .........,......S S279,7 1875
which is about Q per cent. on its capital.
The Charter of this Bank expires in 1856
The short time it has to run renders it proper
that you should consider the question of rc-char'
ter at this Session. think there arc many
reasons why it should be rc-chartercd. This
Institution has proved itself to be highly useful
and safe rs n fiscal agent of the State, and has
aided materially in sustaining our people during
the severe monetary crisis through which We
have passed. As all human institutions are I'M
perfect, no doubt but some instances OF mlsman.
agement have occurred in the CONDUCT of its at.