Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1865-12-16
.MISCEI.IlA. MY. !.
9. MESSAGE OF GOV. ORR.
,ExEcuT1vE DEPARTMENT. SO. CAyl
December'5, 1866. { 81.

~ It is my duty to " recommend to your con-
sideration such measures as shall judge nee
ossary or expcdienti" The messages of the
Provisional Governor, at your special and rcg-
dlar sessions, have brought to your attention
many Of the subjects merting your considcE.-t
tioni at the present time. So,nc,. however,
have not been noticed, and others, in my
Judgment are of sufficient Importance to be
I The pcopie.of the State are not in .condi-
tion to pay the usual axes herctofEe collected.
and hence the necessity Of oinittthg all appro-i
priaticins, which the efficient administration Of
the Government does not imperiously require.
The annual appropriations for Free Schools
and for the Military Academy, should be sus-
poidcd oy the ,iitcxt year, and the appropria-
tions for the College, for Public Buildings, for
Contingent Accounts and Claims, materially
reduced. But, with al the economy that can
be practiced to keep your State Government
in operation, it will require suohSa, sum to,
prcssive Oh the people tosraisess The Courts
.cannot be opened if your udges fail 10 receive
their salaries. The functions of the Legislao
tive and Executive Departments Of tho Gov
crnment caupot be performed ifstheir pay is
.
the alnonnt you intend to appropriate for tho
fiscal year, how can thesmoney bc raised to
+ meetit? It must be done by taxation or
arc placed, precludes the hope that any loan
onn'ibe effected without ruinous loss It. this
is true, then our only, resource is taxation.
The Trcasuryis empty, aud taxes will not
be paid into it before the first of June. How
~ No IL,
luntilthat time? recommend That the Treas.
,,rer be aythorized to issue certificates Of in
debtedness, payable to bearer aud receivable
Gates will be taken by the creditors Of tho
State, and viii preserve their par value, if the
issue is limited to Que half Of the taxes to be
levied By imposing this limitation, t!.e pub
Fc Is effectually protected againsta redundan-
cy in the issue, and it's redemption is certainly
secured during the fiscal year. M
All the direct tag due the Government of
the United States has not yet been paid. The
laws of Congress now prohibit the State from
assuming the tax; but feel very confident
lshat the same privilege will be accorded to
South Carolina that has been enjoyed by most
.sf tho States of the Union I, therefore, re-
commend that Congress be memorialized by
she Legislature, 80 to modify the existing law
as will enable the State to assume the tax,
and that the Secretary of the Treasury be re-
quested to suspend the collection of the same
until Congress- may have time to consider tic
application. Yop can provide by law, at your
present session, that in the event the privilege
is granted the State, that the Governor be au-
therized to consummate the arrangement, with
the Treasury Department at Washington
And. in this connection, may bring to your
: attention the condition of the lands on and
near tho sen board, where this direct tax has
been collected BY. sales under thevarious Acts
of Congress. Much Of the land III that Sec
ton has been sold at enormous sacrifices. and
isinfnitcly more valuable in amount than the
whole tax and,,if general statements are to
be etrlisted, these sales have realized for tho
General Government nearly the whole amount
Of the direct tax apportioned to this State, and
that, too, without taking into consideration
the yaiuo Of the lands purchased or reserved
by the Government itself. These fncts should, |
]. think, be. brought to the attention of the
GSHegnment by the action df the Legislature,
andsthe executive authorized, Iif possible, ID:
effect with the General Goyernment some an,e:
Iteration of the enormous and ruinous sacrifce
which has thus been imposed upon portion
of the .,itixens of tho State.
3. ThoToxbaustcd condition Of tho. country, /
and the complete prostration Of our fnnnces,