Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1857-12-05
BY ROB'T. A. THOMPSON
THE GOVERNORS MEssAaE.
ExEcUrIyE DEPARTMENT, Nov. %, 1857.

u
Assembling as you do for the public ser
vice from every election District in the
State, representing all professions and oc-
equations, you bear with you, doubtless, a
grateful sense of tl} present blessings en-
joyed by our citizens, of health and boun-
tiful harvests, aud will chcerfully unite with
mo in aspirations of praise to the Almighty
Power, by whom alone they arc bestowed
In view of all the circumstances by which
we are surrounded, our people cannot have
too scrupulous regard to individual nteg-
rlty, nor can we too strictly guard against
the fuilngs which peculiarly beset u.s. ussur-
cd that a practical life, which best illus,
trates a due sense of duty to God and our
neighbor, constitutes the most acceptable
service to Him who orders the affairs of
men, and whose eyes arc upon us all.
1t must needs be that sickness and death
visit every community striking down the
youthful and the aged, the vigorous and ac-
tive, as well as the infirm, If we have seen
the energetic minds industrious powers, and
generous impulses of friends and public
servants stilled in death, we have left to us
the cstimable satisfaction of knowing that
they met their fate with courage in the
path of duty Since your last session death
has deprived the delegation to Congress
from this State of two valued members
In the month of February, the Hon Pres
ton $. Brooks, while In the midst of active
public duty, engaged in course of useful
ness and honor and winning by his manly
conduct and sterling worth the confidence
ind admiration of members, was removed
to another sphere. Tho only official init
nation had of Mr. Brooks death, was
communicated on the 25th of March, by
one of our Senators, the late Judge Butler.
Within two months from that date he too
was laid in the silent grave, beside his gal.
liant relative and friend Excitable and
conscientious as he was, the labors of the
last Congress had proved too much for him
Honorable and fair in dcspatching business;
vigilant and faithful in his peculiar trust
dilgcnt, spirited, and able in .discharging
it, his nervous sensibilities were too highly
wrought upon, and the tension of his men
tai energies too incessant to be longer en-
dured by the physical frame. Soon after
reaching thecoveted quiet of his ownhomc,
he sank into the arms of death, universally
regretted by his associates in life, mouncd
end lamentcd by his constituents the pco-
pie of this State
The vacancy created in the Fourth Con
gressonal District, has been filled by the
election of Gen. Milledgc j.. Bonham, of
Edgeficld, who was commissioned in May
last.
In place of Hon. A. p. Butlcr, have
made no temporary appointment You will
doubtless appreciate the Importance ofsup-
plying the vacancy by joint ballot of both
Houses without dela,, in order that the new
Senator may be epaoled to take his seat in
the next Congress at an early day of the
session. & Thee is yet to be mentioned the
name of another venerable citizen, once in
timately and prominently associated with
the Government of both the State and the
United States, whose loss we deplorc, and
to whose brilliant career of early service |
may be permitted to alludc Erect and
commanding in stature up to the day of his
last illness, grave and dignifed in deport-
ment, wise in council, firm, resolute and
faithful in the practice of his profession and
tho duties of lifcsuchwas Langdom Cheves.
Successful in life, full of honors, and pros
tratc only under the weight of years, he has
been laid in the grave by grateful country
men and weeping friends, with all the so
lomnities and respectful obsoryances due 60
such an occasion. He was the last of the
distinguished trio, who by their ability, in
tegrity and courage rendered the South
Carolina Delegation in Congress during the
war of 1912, so distinguished and inhuen-
tial. Together they labored nobly and eff
cicntly in those days of fearful excitement
and trying difficulty, for the welfare and
honor of their country. The Navy, which
it was Mr.. Cheve,s peculiar care to dcyel-
ope and cherish tho Navy, bearing it's Gag
and leaving its name triumphant upon owe.
ry sea, taught the proud foe a lesson ofius-
tice, to recognise America as an equal a.
mong the nations of tho earth The war
honorably closed and peace establishment
settled, he retirod from the Speakers chair
toserye his State in the Judiciary Depart.
ibent; u til called on by President Monroe
To administer the Bank ofthe United States
Absent ten years he returlpd in 1920, to
the qniet of his native hills, proclaiming to
tho South the danger whichahe had per
ceiyed afar off simultaneously with his dis.
tinguishcd compecr in the tendency of Fed
eral Legislation. Beyondloocasiona conn.
sell he declined allparticipation in pablie
life, until the year 1850 Then at the age
of seveutyfour, he appeared At Nashville
asa member Of the Souther6 Convention,
intent toRcrform to 6he Inst his part, by
warming his eou1tfymen pgainst the policy
Of q majority in Congress, which, stibstitut,
ing expedioncy for principle, was gradually
sapping the constitution, and threatening