Southern standard., 1852-01-17
c. OLU NJ B Z S ::
wednesday Morning, january h, 1852
Governors Message.
EHor- Citisens al Me Senate,
and Of tie House Of Rep


and Of tie House Of Representatives. g:
1 have been unexpectedly and under pecuIia
circumstances, called to discharge the duties O
Chief Executive Magistrate of your State.
The constitution makes it obligatory on me a
such officer, to recommend to the consideration o
the Legislature, such measures as may deem ne
cessary and expedent. And, in the performanc,
of that duty desire to call your attention. in tht
first place, to the proprety Of passing act refer
ing to the people change in the organic law, 81
as to prevent in future, an interregnum in the ex
ccutiye department Of the State. On the Sd day 0
February, 1851, one of my predecessors Govern
QuItman,) from motives highly honorable tC
himself, and as he conceived from proper re-
gard to what was due to the honor and dignity of {
sovereign State resigned the office of Chief Mag.
istrate. The duties of that station devolved upor
the Hon John L. Guion, by virtue of his Office as
President of the Senate. But at the general cleo
ton on the Sd and 4th days of November last, hi,
senatorial term expired and with it, as a conse
quence, the executive office with which he had
been invested and from that time until the Sen
ate was convened, by virtue of the proclamation
of the Secretary of State, and a President elected
by that body, there authorized to eX-
ercise the functions of Chief Magistrate. | am
not aware of any serious detriment to the public
service having occurred in this particular instance,
more than the delay in issuing commissions, and
approving the bonds of the various officers elected
bv the people but when it is remembered that
upon the Executive dcvoyes the duty of taking
care that the laws be faithfully executed that he
is invested in certain with power to grant re-
prieves and pardons, to remit fines and stay the
collection of fOrIetureS that he Is the keeper oil
the great seal of the State, with power to issue
commissions, and fill vacancies the necessity of SO
providing by an amendment to the constitution,
that the Office shall never become vacant will read
lily occur to any one. | would therefore suggest
the propriety Of passing law, recommending TO
the people at the next general election, change
in the constitution providing that the President OF
the Senate or the Speaker Of the House of Repre-
sentatives, when they should be invested with the
executive office, according to the constitution,
should hold and exercise the duties of the same
until the Governor elected by the people, should
be regularly installed or, if it should be consid
cred more advisable, to provide for the election o.
a Lieutenant Governor, to exercise the duties o
President of the Senate, and to act as Governor o
the State, when by death, removal or resignation,
that Office should become vacant. In connection
with this subject, [ herewith transmit to the Leg
islature, report from the Secretary Of State up
on this subject.
| herewith submit to the Legislature a report
of the Auditor of Public Accounts giving full and
highly satisfactory statements of the condition o.
the finances of the State. From this Report il
will be seen that the sums collected and paid into
the Treasury during the fiscal year 1850, amount
ed to the sum of 9424, 033 So; and the sums col
lected and paid in the year 1851 amounted to thC
sum of $221 200 81; and that there has been dis,
bursed during these periods, in obedience to law
the sum of $519, $40 63; leaving in the Treasury
on the 18th day of December, 1851, a balance
amounting to the sum of 1926, O4O 88 subject
to such appropriations may be ordered by Leg
islative enactment. For details, l respectfully
refer you to the report of the Auditor of Public
Accounts
Owing to severe family afflicton, the late Trea
surer has not finished his annualreport. WheI
received by this Department. which is expected il
few days, it will be communicated to the Legis
lature.
l have no alterations to suggest in relation tt
the laws heretofore passed in relation to the col
lection of the public revenue. The officers charg
ed with the performance of these duties, so far a
has been made known to the executive department
have performed them with as much skill and eth
cheney, as at any former period and the condl
ton of the public treasury gives the most crafty
ing assurance of the ability and integrity will
which the financial department of the State Gov
enment has been managed
By an act of the Legislature, approved Marcl
9th, 1850, entitled, can act to promote common
schools IN the several counties in this State, " th
sum OF $1,000 was appropriated to be distribu
ted amongst the different counties in the State fo
the purposes and upon the conditions, prescribed
in the act.
By the end section of the act it was made tn
duty of the assessors of taxes in the several coun
ties, to make an accurate enumeration of all tb
free white children in their respective counties
who were over six, and under twenty years of age
that said enumeration should be transmitted t
the Auditor of Public Accounts, who shoul
thereupon apporton the sum amongst the ditferer
counties, according to the number of children Ell
titled to schooling under the provisions of said ac
In consequence of the enumeration not havln
been furnished according to the provisions OF til
second section of the act, the Auditor of Publ
Accounts has not been enabled to apportIon tn
sum appropriated by the Legislature as was intenc
ed; and said sum of money yet remains IN th
Treasury, subject to be paid out whenever th
enumeration required by the law, shall have bee
made; or subject to such changes and modifcs
tions as the Legislature may think proper to make
By the 5th section of that act, it was provide
that the fund, when distributed to the sever;
countless should be loaned out under the supervis
ion of the Boards of Police or the School Con
missioners of said counses.
Experience has proven that public funds, whe