Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1866-09-13

who had determined to enforce the pay
ment of bis debt, could readily transfer it to
nonresident, and if the sum exceeded
five hundred dollars, such nonresident
could at once institute suit in the United
States Court, recover judgment, issue exc.
cution and sell the debtors property, not
withstanding the existence of a Stay Law.
Such law would not be recognized or en-.
forced in Federal Court.
The complete disorganization of the labor
of the State in 1865, resulted in the pro-
duction of very short provision crops; and
to supply the deficiency, large quantities of
breadstufs have already been imported into
the State, at enormous cost. The imper-
feet organization of the system of free labor,
and the unprecedented drought which has
prevailed during the months of July and
August, throughout the State, as we'll as an
unusually short wheat crop, fore-shadow a
gloomy future for the people for the next
year. Coming as you DO from every Dis.
trict, you have the means OF making an es-
innate, approximating accuracy, of the ex-
tent of the failure of the provision crop, and
what amount of supplies vii! be needed to
save the poor, dependent and helpless from
starvation. Invite your earnest and prompt
consideration of the subject.
Sound political economy ordinarily con-
demns the feeding Of its population by the
Government, as the inevitable consequences
are to increase idleness, pauperism and
crime. But where the provision crop of
whole country is destroyed by blight, or
where production is suspended by long con-
tinued drought, and the deficiency is trace.
able to these causes rather than to the idle.
ness of the population, humanity and sound
policy alike justify the Government in lend
ing or giving its means to save the people
from starvation--to arrest that increase of
crime, which want always produces, and
to stay emigration to more favored local..
ties The present population is insufficient
to till the soil of the State, and to develop
its resources; and it is high duty of the
Government to remove, as far as possible,
the necessity for emigration beyond its Dor.
ders The embarrassment of supplying
food for the needy will be greatly increased
after the first of October, when the Freed
mems Bureau will cease to issue rations for
the INDECENT and helpless whites and freed.
men, who have been heretofore furnished
with subsistence. You may find it neces-
sary to increase the powers, duties and re-
sponsibilities of the Commissioners of the
Poor, and to organize such bodies in all the
Districts of the State. In most of the Dis
tricts, land and buildings have therefore,
been acquired and erected for the whites,
but they must lie enlarged, SO as to provide
accommodations for pauper, idiotio and help
less freedmen.
The failure of the Boards of Commission
ers of the Poor to provide for the helpless,
is great crime against humanity, and ad.
ditional penalties should be imposed by
law against such neglect or refusal to per-
form properly this philanthropic duty.
The capitation tax imposed by you, at the
last session of the Legislature, on freedmen,
has not generally been collected The Comp.
troller. General, following suggestion made
by me and approved by the Attorney. Gen
eral, instructed the Tax Collectors not to is.
sue executions against the freedmen, for the
capitation tax, until the present session of
the Legislature. This was to avoid all con.
hict with the military authorities, arising
out of the fact that our courts were not used
for the protection of the freedmen, and no
provision was made for the support of the
infrm and helpless Whenever your legis-
lation RENTS the custody of persons of color
to the State laws, these executions may be
issued Proper diligence by the Sheriffs
will enforce the satisfaction of most of these
executions, and the fund may then be ap-
propriated exclusively to the support of the
class from which it is derived
If you should, in your wisdom, deter
mine to make an appropriation to buy sub
sistence for the INDECENT white and colored.
the several Boards of Com missioners of the
Poor, would be, perhaps, the best agents
for its distribution.
To meet any appropriation made, there is
no resource available, and the funds can
only be raised by issuing and selling State
bonds. The credit of the State has been
heretofore untarnished, and a reasonable
hope is entertained that bonds issued for
such purpose will command nearly par, in
the money markets of the United States or
Europe.
AS the present is called session, and you
may desire TO return to your homes at the
earliest day compatible with your public
duties, shall defer, until the regular seS
sion, bringing to your attention the general
financial condition of the State, or making
any commendation for putting it on safe
and satisfactory basis Under the authori~
ty of your Act authorizing the issue of bills
receivable, in payment of the Indebtedness
of the State, the Treasurer had engraved
and printed, bills to the amount of $500, 900
and has paid out to the public officers aud
other creditors Of the State, only $3.50, 900.
Most of the Tax Collectors have made their
returns, and the legal tender United States
notes paid into the Treasury, together with
the bills receivable not yet issued, will ena-
BILE its operations to be conducted without