Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1865-11-03

oe"tee"e"' Lou nave convened, in ex
ira session, by order of the late Convep
ton, for. the purpose Of considering til
new and extraordinary condition Of ou
State, and providing, by wise and propc
legislation, for the welfare and best inter
ssts OF South Carolina. AS Provisions
Governor of the State, and in the absenc
at the recently elected constitutional Ex.
ecutive, | consider it MY duty 10 adircs:
you on the present occasion, and recon-
mend for your consideration such measure.
a', in my judgment, the interest and well
tale "f tho State require:
Although | have not the honor of de-
rlvlns my authority, as. Chief Executive
OF the Slate, from you, or. the people oi
South Carolina, yet can assure YOU. IN
all .lnceiity, that no constitutional Cover.
nor OF the State has ever had your inter-
ss's, your honor and. prosperity more ut
heart, or las ever devoted bis time and
energies more exclusively and zealously to
what lie honestly believed would best pro
snote the welfare and happiness of the
State And may say. with equal truth,
that, alth.u! !h appointed Provisional Gov.
srnor o1tr South. Carolina. no one has felt
1n',re respect :or the. majesty OF her laws,
or been more willing to render obedience
TO the sovereignty OF her people.
AFTER the termination Of our recent dis
astrous and ruinous struggle with the Fed
eral Government, it pleased the President
Of the United States to select me. without
my knowledge, or any solicitation on tile
aart of my friends, for the high and res.
ronsibls position which now hold. to or
game Stale Government for South Car.
oilna, and have her restored 10 all her civil
and political rights AZ member OF the
Federal Union. ] felt deeply the delicate
responsibility oG the station to VIII ch I had
been called, and was fearful that, in obev
Ing the orders and carrying out the policy
OF the Federal Government, I shouid not
be able to protect the State ard save the
people from unjust exactiou aud oppression.
But: most fortunately, the wise, generous
and magnanimous policy of Presiden,
Johnson towards the Southern States has
enabled me to do both, and rendered NV
administration pleasant and gratifying to
me. have been greatly sustained, to;
by the honor, patriotism and loyalty OF
the people.
Although I receired nv appointment
several mon'lis after other Provisional
Governors bad Leen commissioned. I have
the pleasure of informing you that South ]
Carolina is now as lar advanced in ber
reconstruction as any other Southern S.ate
lnetead Of wasting time in trying to fill
sil the civil Offices Of the State with Inv
personal or political friends and partisans
4 determined to restore those who were in
office at The suspension of the civil gov
erntncnt, and who had been elected bv the
people or appointed by the .LeyislS ure
and we're familiar. with their official dn.
ties. 1 knew too we'll the character Of
South Carolina to doubt, for a moment
that her sons would prove loyal and tue
after renewing their oaths Of allegiance to
the United States. In this way, 1 re.es.
tablisbed civil government at once in Soutb
Carolina, and greatly expedited her recon.
.sifuction. An election for members of the
Con tention, TO reform our State Coust;tu.
ton, Was Immediately ordered. Maois-
tratss were authorized to administer the
oath OF allegiance 20 as to qualify the yo.
:ers in time for the election. T a]so res-
tored civil law throughout The State. and
ordered the courts to-, be opened. These
measures were;objected to by the military
authorities, as transcending my powerssas
Provisional Governor. But the President
sustained. me in all shat l had done. and
ordered the military authorities not 20 in
terfere with my policy. of reconstruction.
Like wise statesman and patriot, he con.
fdes in the people. desires to see them en-.
joying. civil liberty aid governing them
selves. Washington s.had the Immortal
honor Of creating the American Republic,
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