The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1865-12-09
:: THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
TFnoM OUR own coRREspoSpENT.l


COLUMBIA, December G.-l sent you, to-day, n
tolcgraphic summary of Message No. 1 Of His
Excelency the Governor. Tho Message is dcserv-
ing OF attentive perusal. 1t abounds in good sense
and practical suggestions, and will convince the
most skeptical that the man whom the citizens of
the State have chosen to guide them through the
transition state in which they now arc, is eminent
ly worthy of tho position which ho is called upon
to fill, and that, though the task is difficult, it
will DO ably performed. Tho Message was read in
4ic uouso by the Hon. W. H. TnEscoT, and is as
follows:
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
EXECUTIVE DEPT, SOUTH CAROLINA,
DECEMBER 8, 1865.
Gentlemen Of The Senate and House Of Representa-
It is my duty to recommend to your considcra-
ton such measures as I shall judge necessary
expedient." The messages Of tho Provisional
Governor, at your special and regular sessions,
have brought to your attention many of the sub
jocts meriting Your consideration at the present
time. Some, however, have not been noticed, and
others, in my Judgment, arc OF sufficient impor-
tance to be reiterated.
The people Of the State arc not in condition to
;pay the usual taxes heretofore collected and hence
The necessity of emitting all appropriations which
the efficient administration Of the Government
does not imporiously require The annual appro-
priations for Free Schools and for the Military
Academy should be suspended for tho next year,
and the appropriations for tho College, for Public
nateras' M reduced But With ali the a eeonoms SS
that can bo practiccd to keep your State Govern
ment in operation, it will require such n to
on tho people to raise. Tho Courts can not be
oponed your Judges fail to receive their salaries
Tho functions of the Legislative and Executive De-
partmcnts of the Government can not be perform
ed if their pay is withheld. When you shall have
determined the amount you intend to appropriate
for the fiscal year. how can the money be raised to
meet it2 1t must be done by taxation or loan
The anomalous situation in which we are placed
precludcs the hope that any loan can, be effected
without ruinous Toss. If this is true then our only
resource is taxation.
The Treasury is empty, and taxes will not be paid
into it before the first OF june How is your Gov
ernment to be kept in operation until that time
I recommend that the Treasurer be authorized to
issue certificates Of indebtedness, payable to bear
These certificates will be taken by the creditors of
the State, and will preserve their par value, if tho
issue is limited to one-half Of the taxes to be
Levied. BY imposing this limitation, the public is
efectually protected against redundancy in the
ISSUE and its redemption is certainly secured dur
ing the fiscal year.
Unitcd States has not yet becn paid. The laws of
Congress now prohibit the state from assuming
privilege will bo accorded to South Carolina that
has been enjoyed by most of the States of tho
Union. I, therefore, recommend that Congress be
existing law 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 the applica-
ton. You can provide by law, at your present ses-
sion, that in the event the privilege is granted the
sate that the & RS authorized ut, to cOnsum
.ment at Washington And, in this connection
may bring to your attention the condition of tho
rect tax has been collected by sales under the
various Acts OF Congress. Much Of the land in
that section has been sold at enormous sacrifices,
the whole tax; and, if general statements are to
be trusted, these sales have realized for the Gene
raj Government nearly the whole of the
direct tax apportoned to this State and that too,
without taking into consideration the value OF tho
lands purchased or reserved by the Government
itself. These facts should j think, be brought to
the attention Of the Government by the action OF
the Legislature, and the Executive authorized, if
possible, to effect with the General Government
sacrifice which has thus been imposed upon por-
.ton of the citizens Of the State.
The exhausted condition OF the country, and the
complete prostration Of our finances, require that
debtors should be still further protected by par
TALLY staying the collection Of debts. 1t would be
wise to reeast the existing law upon tho subject,
vilege OF suing his debtor to judgment, so that q
Lion upon his property may be secured; that the
interest and part OF the principal should be col
lected when the debtor attempts fraudulentlv or
'clandestinely to remove dispose of his proper.
ty; that the law should not apply to debts CON
gence be given in Of trespass or for torts to
persons or property committed before or after the
passage OF the act. .-r
Serious inconvoniences often result from the
difficulty and delay in securing charters for rail-
road, manufacturing, mining and other compa.
nies intended to develop tho wealth and resources
OF the State. Much time is necessarily Consumed
IN the consideration Of each application, and the
statute book is encumbered with these numerous
acts of Incorporation. To facilitate the forma.
zion OF all companies where men are willing to
venture their means to develop the industry,
wealth, prosperity and resources of the State
recommend the passage Of general act OF incor-
poration, and whom its provisions are Complied
with, that the subscribers to the capital stock be
declared body politio. y t..,4il.. - ''''I'' :
By Act of the General Assembly in 1887, the
State lont its credit to secure loan for the Lou
isville, Cincinnati and Oharleston Railroad Com
pany, and authorized tho Comptroller General to
endorse the bonds OF the Company, pledging "the
faith and funds Of the State TO the faithful porfor-
nance Of the contract" The bonds, amounting
to two millions Of dollars, were issued and en-
~dorsed and will fall due the first Of January next.
The Company cannot pay the bonds, and the
State is unable, at the present time to make good
tho endorsement. 1t Is believed that the prinei-
pal bond-holders are willing to extend the deb
Tor twenty years longer, IL the State will renew
her guaranty. The State has q statutory mort
gage on the road; and upon its renewal I recon-
mend that authority be given tho Comptroller
'aeneral or tho Treasury TO renew the endorse
ment OF the now bonds that may be required to
Iquidate the old bonds No increased liability