The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-07-11
TO THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH CARO-.
LIMA.

On the Goth of Novemt n, 1865, I entered
upon the discharge OF the duties of Chief
Magistrate OF South Carolina, pursuant to
the provisions of the Constitution adopted
by Convention in September, 1865 This
Convention was called by proclaim ation
of Provisional Gov. Perry, he having been
appointed to that position by Preside mt
Johnson, the July preceding.
Upon what principle the President de-
clared that the Constitution of force mt the
close Of the war was invalid, and by virtue
of what authority he could order the forma-
tion of new Constitution, has not been
very well defined. Nevertheless, as we we're
just emerging from q revolution, and as
the scheme of restoration proposed by the
President appeared to be liberal and lust,
it was accepted by the people of South Ca
rolina, and by no one Of her citizens moro
ever, failed, as indicated by the vote of the
people in 1866. A new one was adopted by
Congress-, and the question presented to
the then existing Executives OF the South
ern States, was whether they would advise
its acceptance or rejection. 1 advised it's
acceptance. My official functions having
now terminated, deem the present pro-
per occasion to briefly review what has
been done in the State during my admins
tration-to present some Of the reasons
which have influenced my official action,
and to express the opinions entertained by
me as to the proper line Of policy in the
future.
Until the meeting of the General Assem-
bly, in November, 1865, the State had been
for many months entirely under the ;:ris-
diction OF provost courts and military
commissions. No civil court had met to
administer law or justice in South Carroll
ma for moro than twelve months preced-
ing. Outlaws abounded in many localities;
depredations were of daily occurrence,
and desperadoes roamed over the land,
defying the military and outraging the per-
sons and property Of citizens. 1t was not
until the succeeding spring that the judges
resumed their places upon the bench,
courts were held, criminals brought to
trial and punishment, and civil law, to n
certain extent, was restored. Citizens
then became more assured of protection,
and the prospects of material progress and
improvement hourly frightened. The
pubic institutions were revived. The
South Carolina College was converted into
University, re-organiZed and placed in
successful operation. Tho Asylum for the
Deaf and Dumb and the Blind, was re-
opened and continued in operation until
the exhaustion OF the fund apr ropriated
by the Legislature. A Penitentiary was
ordered to be established, and rapid pro-
Srcss has been made in its construction
a largo number of convicts arc already
incarceratod in the prison, earning their
subsistence and relieving the State from
the expense of maintaining them in idle
moss in the jails. Tho new State House
has been enclosed and covered, thus pro-
tecting n structure, which has cost an i'm
mense sum of money, from further deteri.
Grafton and decay. Court Houses havo
been placed in proper repair, or new ones
erected, and the fails destroyed by fro
have been rebuilt. The Library of the
Court OF Appeals, together with the Legis-
lative Library, which were destroyed by
the conaagration Of February, 1865, are
again filling up with those volumes so
essential to the judge and legislator in the
performance OF their duties-the Bxecu-
tives of the various States of tho Union
having generously responded to the re-
quest that they would furnish duplicate