The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1867-05-08

LUIS 'oHo"'hg Istter rom Governor Orr
exposes the necessities Of our people and
what is necessary to be doue for their
relief.
COLUMBIA, s. c, April l6, 'e7.
Laurence .Sungston. Esq, Secretary
Board of Commissioners, No 70
S9uM street Baltimore, Maryland.
My Dear Sir; Your esteem ed favor of
the 12'h inst, WAS received last night,
Informing me that the Board Of Commis.
s'oners for the State ofMaryIaud, for the
relief Of the destitute Ct the South, pro
pose sending tothis State fifteen thousand
bushels of corn and forty thousand pounds
Of bacon.
The humane action Of your Legislature
challenges the admiration and affection of
our people one and all, and the starving
thousands whom your donation will re
Ieve from their grievous distress will
never forg-t their generous benefactors.
The extent Of the destitulion is truly
appalling, and without the most liberal
donations from more favored sections, |
do not know how it is possible for our
population to be subssted until .he gath
er'ng Of another crop.
An unusually large quantity Of wheat
has been sown in those sections where j,
has heretofore been grown, and if the
harvest should prove to be full one,
much Of the suffering in the northern,
western and middle portions Of the State
will be relieved by the middle of July
In the southern and eastern sections, EN-
bracIng one ha.f Of the State very littl.
wheat has ever been grown, and no relief
is promised from breadstuffs untiI'the corn
crop shall be gathered.
Up to the first of July | am satisfied
that one hundred thousand bushels Of corn
must be imported into the, State for gra,ui
tous distribution. to save thousands from
the severest want aud hundreds from &C.
tual starvation.
After that time, il, as already stated,
the wheat crop should prove to be full
one, the supplies reqdired to sustain life
up to the corn gathering season will be
greatly reduced.
The bacon sent will be gratefully re-
ceived. One fourth Of the entire popuIa
ton Of the State. in my judgment. have
been subsisgpg for, thirty days past Vith,
ont meat, and this contribution will there
fore afford in reality luxury to many
who have not tasted it for weeks.
would not, however, advise that any large
proportion of the funds which you pro
pose to donate to the suffering Of tfi.
State should be in meats. as human liz,
may be subsis,ed upon breadstu6Ts, apd
the want is so universal that bread ant
meat cannot be furnished in adequat,
quantities to supply all.
! telegrsphsd you this A. N request
ing that four thousand bushels of corr
and ten thousand pounds Of bacon shoul,
be shipped to Wilmington. N. c., which
may be distributed over the eastern sec
ton Of the State by the Wilmington an,
Manchester, Cheraw and Darlington an,
Northeastern Railroads: and the rem al n
der to Charleston. Supplies are in tb
hands Of the Freedmers Bureau, and ar
10 process OF distribution along the coas
| therefore have not requeaed you t
make shipments either to Georgetown O
Beaufort.
| Be pleased to communicate to th
Board whose representative you are, an
through them to the Legislature Of th
State Of Maryland, nv profound acknow
edgment in behalf Of the suffering peopl
Of this State for the noble and geuerou
relief they have been pleased to extend =,
US in this our hour Of tribu!ation and di.
treas.
l have the honor 10 be, very sincerel,
your obedient servant,
JAMES L. ORR.
Governor Of South Carolina.