The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1855-12-07
MISCELLANY.
GOVERNORS MEssAGE.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
Nov. 27. 1S55
Gentlemen Of the Senate
and HouSe of Ron,oe,n, d, t;,,,o =.

|
You have resumed the discharge Of your
constitutional duties under the most encour-
aging circumstances. The pecuniary pres
sure which, at the beginning of the year,
bore so heavily upon all classes of society,
has happily passed off without its anticipa.:
ted disasters. Commerce continues to
prosper and widen her domain Agricu-
turc rcjoccs over full harvcsts; and Labor
of every description feels the stimulus of
rcmuncrating prices. The year has been
one of uncxamplcd health, and our people,
in quiet and security, have successfully de-
voted themselves to their various vocations.
Representing Commonwealth thus blessed,
YOU will unite with me in Offering to the
Giver of all Good the homage of grateful
hearts, and dcvoutly supplicating a continu-
ance of His f;,vors.
In tho discharge Of the duty imposed on
me by the Constitution, shall recommend
| to your consideration various measures which
| think important to the public veal. Your
intelligence will enable you to select, and
your patriotism will prompt you to adopt,
such of them as will advance the interest
and promote the general prosperity of our
common constituents. The public good,
especially committed to your keeping, can
not, in my Judgment, be moro certainly
attained than by steady adherence to the
long-settled policy of the State. New en-
actmcnts, and notifications of existing laws,
are sometimes required to suit the varying
circumstances of our condition; but cgis-
lation which seeks 10 break down the forms
and usagcs to which people have long been
accustomed, should not be resortcd to cx-
cept under the exacting pressure of necessity.
The people of South Carolina have great
reason to rest content with their Constitution
as it stands. 1t is far better that its imma-
terial defects should be borne than that we
should begin the hazardous work of consti-
tutional reform. All Of the old States Of
the Contcderacy, except our own, have at
different times made fundamental chances
IN the! Constitutions. These changes may
have served for the moment to captivate the
populace but | lave not been able to dis
cover that those for whose especial benefit
they were introduced have been distinguish
ed by higher elevation of sentiment. or
been rewarded with greater prosperity than
our own people, who still cling with conf
dcnce to their old forms, and gather hope
Tor the future from the encouraging recol-
lections of the past. Continue, then, by
your example and policy, to teach your
constituents not to lean on government, but
tc rely on their own energies TO work out
their destiny. a people thus trained will
be more jealous Of their rights, and when
assailed will stand up more manfnly in
their defence, than if their minds arc Devil.
! dcred and their time wasted in fruit]ess
efforts to better their condition by periodi-
cal changes in their organic law. The pro-
cllVlties OF the age are, to my mind, o,ninous
OF any thing but good to the cause of true
progress. In certain sections of the coun-
try doctrines have been avowcd and scenes
enacted which, in the better days of the
Republic, would have consigned their au-
thors to lasting infamy and exccration. The
advocates of "higher law" sit in high pla-
ces; fanatlcisin rules triumphant in the
land of Hancock and Otis; and mobs and
riots are SO common that the misguided
masses are fast acquiring taste for blood.
In view of the hidcous phases which Radi-
ca'sm has elsewhere assumed, and the
bitter fruits Of its triumphs, Conservatism
may confidently appeal to the patriotism of
the reformers Of milder latitude to postpone
their labers to more auspicio,,s period
There is wisdom and safety in the Injunction
OF Holy Writ: "Prove all things hold
fast that which is good" .I.commend to
you the preservation of our Constitution in
all It's integrity. 1t has served us, and we
owe it to ourselves to transmit it intact to
our pos:erity. ..:.
First in order, and highest in Importance,
invite your special attention to the finan-
clal condition of the State. The right to
tax your constituents--~the most responsible
and delicate: Of all your trusts--cannot be
wisely exercised without constantly keeping
in view the amount of our obligations, and
properly estimating the. resourceA with
which they are to be met. = How tit may may
be, prudent to increase our Indebtedness,
and in 80 doing create, at no distant day, ne
cesslty for increased. taxsion,.it will be- for
you TO determine. Our people are patri:
otto. and am satisfied. would, make as
heavy Sacrifices as any people. to preserve
inxiolnte the public faith; but it must be
borne in Iaind that they cultivate exhausted
lands, and sttheyiwill form ian exception I'd
the reAto their .countrymen, II, j with Etbe
prospect of opsrous taxation before them.
they do not emigrate to more favored 9e.l
gi9ns, eIe.if they have. e.hightaxest to,pay,
they iwiH have rich ifharyests: on which t6e
contIbntio ion wouid be levied. s,...s
The following gststsnsnt exhibits the. pub
ji6 debt of the State tas tit appears oiathel
bookso the Loan pficea od. tbs OH dan
sof fSsptsmber, 1886 81 ...l