The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1865-11-11


and loyalty Of the people.
Although ! received my appointment
several months after other Provisional
Governors had been commission ed, 1 have
the pleasure Of informing you that South
Carolina IL now as far advanced in her
reconstruction as any other Southern
State. Instead Of wasting time in try.
ing to Gil all the civil officers Of the State
with my personal OF political friends aud
partissns, determined TO restore those
who were in Office at the suspension Of
the civil government, and who had been
elected by the people or appointed by
the Legislature, and were familiar with
their official duties. knew too well the
character Of South Carolina to doubt,
for moment, that her sons would prove
loyal and true, after renewing their oalhs
Of allegiance to the United States. In
this way, l re,establishsd civil govern
ment at once in South Carolina, and
gtsstly expedited her recoustruction.-
An election for members Of the Conysn.
tion, to reform ou. State Constitution,
was Immediately ordered. Magistrates
we're authorized to administer the oath
o: allegiance so as to qualify the voters
in time for the election. / also restored
civil law throughout the State, and or.
dered the courts to be opened. These
measures were objected to by The militia.
~ authorities, as transcending my pow
ers - Provisional Governor. But the
President sustained me in all that I had
done, and ordered the military autbori.
ties not 10 interfere with my policy Of
reconstruction. Like q wise statesman
and patriot, he coufdes in the people,
desires to see them enjoying civil liberty
and governing themselves. Washington
had the immortal honor OF creating the
American RepublIc, and to Andrew John
son will be assigned, 10 history the glory
Of having reconstructed It's broken and
disuismbsfer. fragments without marrinp
its civil beauties. Like Washington, too,
he 10, By his just, wise and magnsnimous
policy, uniting aud consolida a,ing al par
ties in the support OF his adminis.ra ton.
The State Convention assent bled, and,
alter most harr.enious session Of fifteen
days, presented y new Constitution OF
the future governmeni Of South Carolina.
This Constitution 10 more popular and
democratic 10 all Of its features than the
old one, adopted 10 1890. The Parish
system Of representation in the Senate,
which had become, BY the growth Of the
upper country in wealth aud population,
unequal And unjust allowing one Judicial
District to have ten Senators, and others
Of equal sxtent in territory but one, was
tahefehed, and all were assigned an equal
htatfon In the Senate. The Just,
I'd conservative basis Of rspresep
g. 3A the House, founded OF white
e tiou and taxation, was retaiosd.-
kX6n Unequal els ssi6cation Of lsuis has
bS6dschsnged and taxes are now 10 be
levied 10 proportion to the assessed value
Of all taxable properly. A moderate
poll TAX is provided for, which will cause
oil 70 contribute sotnstAing towards the
support sf The Government under which
they live and ase protected. The prop
I erty Quail ifoation Of members OF the Sen.
ate and House Of Representative, which
seemed TO presume that mans patrio.
leon depended on his wealth has been dis
peosed with. The members Of the Leg
islaturs are required to vote vivs poee in
oil elections, 90 that their constituent.
may ksow for whom they voted. The
Chief Magistrate Of the State 10 TO be el
sctsd BY Che people for four years, and
has qualified veto on the legislation ol
the two Houses.
Such, genilsmsn, h. the new Coustisu,
ton under which you have assembled,
And which, Il b hoped, will inspire The
people Of South Carolina With new 6em.
osratic seal and energy 10 developing,
intellectually And physically, the tale .,
and resources Of the State. Il Il true
that, under the old regime, South Caro-.
lima has given the Republic . bright gal.
loxy Of names " whicS she may we'll b
proud Of; but her material prosperity q
. State has not kept pace with that ol
her Southern sisters. Her population
has been moving to the Sou ih.wsst Oil:
there are, ut this time, almost % many
nadvs South Carolinians living 10 Other