Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1865-11-02


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been destroyed, and their provisions CON
sumed by the armies, and they have notbs
ing to procure money with. Uader these
circumstances. it would be we'll for you to
consider whether or not it is possible to de-
fray the necessary expenses of the State by
issuing and selling State bonds, 30 as to
avoid levying any tax during the ensuing
year The present Indebtedness of the
State Is not large, and her credit ought to
be such as to secure the sale Of her bonds
at fair prices. If you conclude to raise
money in this way, you ought to include
the payment Of the direct tax, and which
South Carolina now owes the United States,
and which her citizens will soon be called
upon to pay. n. - % 10
1t is important that the courts Of justice
in this State should be once more fully
opened, civil Law restored and properly adj
ministered. This cannot be. done till you
fill the several vacanoiss on the bench. sYou
will have. to elect Chief Justice of the
State, two law Jadges.and one Chancellor.
Opening our courts, and the administration
of civil Justice onoe more, would have q
most salutary influence on society, and do
more than anything else to preserYe the
peace and quiet of the State. We have
been living without law long enough, and
have suffered enough from lawless violence.
The Act to prevent the collection Of
debts, known as the stay law, was wholly
unnecessary at the time it was passed, but
is now matter of prime necessity to the
community. This Actshould be continued,5
with permission, however, to collect the in-
terests on debts due. There are many
widows and minor children whose sole
subsistence depends ON the payment of in:
terests due them on their estates 5, < s.
The reorganization of the militia is q
measure of the highest importanoe, under
existing circumstances. I have received
information from the Secretary Of State at
Washington, that as soon as our State Gov.
ernment is organized, all the Federal troops
would be Withdrawn from South Carolina.
We must then rely on The militia for the
protection of the State against insurrection
and domestic violence. It is 3 matter of
serious consideration, however, whether we
should not desire to retain, for the present,
o porion Of the Federal troops in the State.
The freedmen and colored people look TO
these troops as their friends and protectors,
and would be much less likely to have any
collision with them than the militia The
colored garFisons, which were at one time
stationed throughout the country, hayedone
infinite mischief, by inducing the negroesto
believe that ell the lands of their former.
owners were to be divided out amongst
them. This has made them disconsented;
and unwilling to make contracts for the
ensuing year. In many portions of the
State, there are serious apprehensions of
disturbance at the beginning Of the next
year, Strong garrisons ought to be oontin.
ued in Charleston, Beaufort and, George
town, where there is such preponderance
Of the negro population, But these garri..
sons should not be permitted to exercise
any civil Jurisdiction, and should be sabnr
dipate to civil law. Otherwise, their pres:
ence would be productive Of mare miscbief
than good You will take such action in
this matter as in your judgment shall seem
best for the State. t1--ias
* *
As soon as the Convention adjourned, l
communicated to the President and Score
tary Of State copies of the new Constitution
of South Carolina. have the pleasure of
informing you that President johnson has
expressed to me his qualification at the, a.
mendments made in our Constitution, and
his confident hope that We should soon be,
once more, SO united, happy and prosper.
ous people, forgetting the past, and looking
only to the future welfare of our common
country" 500 4. =
There is one matter of embarrassment in;
your legislation, under the new Gonstitu-
tion, which I think my duty to bring to
your notice. The Constitutional Governor
will not, ndoannot be inaugurated; tillthe,
first week of your regular session: Aud.
yet the Constitution requires all Acts to be
presented to the Governor for his signature
IF he does not approve them he must re.
turn them with his objections; and then,
to become law, they must be passed by a
majority of the whole representation of
both Houses. Although the State ConVen.
tion acknowledged the authority and exis.
tenee Of the Provisional Governor by sew.
eral of their ordinances, yet they omitted
to authorize him to act as Governor till the
inauguration of the Governor elect. All
your Acts should, therefore, be passed by
majority of the whole representation of
both Houses, unless you are disposed to
recognize the Provisional Governor as Gov
ernor oft State. But even with this
recognition, I think it would be safe to see
that your Acts are passed by the eoustitu-
tional majority required, in the sbsence of
the approval of the Governor. This will
place beyond controversy any Acts which
you may see proper to pass at your extra
session, in the absence Of your new elected
Constitutional Governor. -.
X: + ---.* -
To conclusion I would urge you, gentle.
men, to look only to the future in your leg
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