Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-11-30
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT. }
COLUMBIA, S. c., Nov. 27, 1866.
Gentlemen of the Senate


Gentlemen Of the Senate
and House of Representatives. ::
Your annual assembling at the seat of
government has heretofore been the occa-
sion Of congrs:uiation by the Executive,
upon the continued happiness, prosperity
and Improvement Of the commonwealth.
regret that no such greeting can be ex-
tended to you on the present occasion.
We no longer hear the clash Of arms, nor
the tread Of hostile armies. and our people
have escaped the scourgs of that terrible
disease, whicl, revrls in the shocking car
nival oil death. Whilst the general health
has not been good, the viruence and ma
Lightly Of disease have been mitigated, and
| a comparatively small fatality has visited
the sick room. For these blessings our
thanks are due The great Ruler of tie Uni
verse. In thu depths Of humiliation anil
contrtion, let us invoke Hin. 10 avert the
evils that are upon us-to stay the hand Of
our persecul"rI, to turn away the wrath,
and bring to nought the counsels of those
who would oppress and destroy US, and to
rest to US The harpiness and prosperity
Of former years
The toll Of the husbandman has brought
him scanty return from his ficlls-th.
grain crop il alarningly smaIl-the cotton
crop in mauy portions of the State will not
suffice to furnish the means of supplying
provisions-our population, white and col
orsd, are abandoning their old homes and
country, az. are emigrating to strange pIa
ces, where they can fnd bread. With the
loss of Ia! OF, our farms must diaplda,-,
our fields remain untitled, our granaries
continue empty, and our progress in de-
vel"Iing the resources of the State must I've
arrested. The failure of the earth to make
generous return to the toll Of the hus-
bandman, causes the goods of the n.er-
chant 10 rest nusol1 on his shelves-anl
keeps the tool ct the mechanic idle-thc
learning Of the professional man useless.
The political condition of the country-
the intolerance Of our conference.-the
prescription to which we are subjected, by
th'se who should he our loving brothers,
and who WELD the destinies of this great
n"lion-these evils intimi!ntc capital, par
alyzs enterprise, 'lisoIganize labor. and Jcs-
'rny hope and confidence. The enormous
lax al cotton discourages production, and
aggravates the financial embarrassment of
the people.
Never, therefore, in the history Of the
State, has Legislature assembled under
less favorable ausricrs, to provide for tho
wants Of an impoverished and di.heartenei
constituency.
But these extraordinary embarrassments
must be met with wisdom, patience and
courage, with energy and hope, and n
manly resolve to supJue and overcome
| them. We mnst keep our population here
we must provide for their present uoces-
sities-we must stimulate our white Aoru-
lation to go earnestly to work, and let them
see that Iabor, is honorable and idIeness
reprehensible. Entering new year with
this fixed determination, our fields will he
better cultivated, aud the next harves,
time will find our garners well filled with
the products OF the soil. The staple crops
will be moro abundant, and tile financial
embarraszments Of the people will, 10y con.
sequence, be greatly relieved. Let us
cherish hope and practice such Industry as
shall meri, the fuilIment of these au,ici.
pations. e =,
! therefore proceed TO make such recon-,
mendatjops IA will.in my judgment, pro-
mote the interest Of our common constitp-
ehcy. - -
-: DISTRICT COURTS.
Tbethird Article of the Constitution OF
this State, in the third paragraph. of ALe.
FIRST SectinD, directs that !t'tHe Ga neral AS
senbiy shall, as soon as possible, establish,
for each Dis,rie, in the Stsre, an inIerior
Court OF Courts, to bs>styled the District
Couft'-tbe Judge whereof shall be resi-
dent in the District. while in; ofice;- shall
be elected by tbes General Assembly fodr
! four years; and shall b. re-eligible-wllich
Court shall hays jurisdiction Of sil causes
wherein one OF both. the parties dire per-
sons Of color, and OF all criminal Gases,
wherein thslaccased is aPersoa Of, colot;I
ahdshe densrd Assembly u impo~sted 70
! extend the jurisdiction OF The said Coaft
to other sphlscis.,.;; Il is uufas.sBa.e tbs,
1ths telause. was inserted in the Const,tn-
tion. Tie ,6tss parsgisph Of tbs ssrsi,n