The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1868-07-22

debt of only three millions"
In view Of the great commercial jmpor>
tance of the Blue Ridge Railroad to all
sections of the State, and of tic large
amount Of its stock that the State already
holds, l recommend that your honorable
bodies will take into Your earnest consid.
Grafton the expediency of furnishing the
company such timely aid as will secure its
speedy completion.
The Blue Ridge Railroad when com
pleted will give us q direct connection
upon the shortest line, with the greac
West, with all its incxhaustible supplies
Of pork, beef, corn and wheat, and will
thus cheaper many Of the nccessarics OF
life to our people, and at the same time
furnish a valuable outlet for our products.
The city Of Charleston is the nearest Of
alhthe Atlantic ports to the great States
of the West, and by the construction of
this road the wealth of that imperial re-
gion will be poured into her lap.
She may then cast off her widows
weeds and become again the "Queen City
of the South
I will hereafter submit for the consider
alton of the General Assembly, plan of
State aid for this road, differing somewhat
from that set forth by its president, based
upon the proposals of the most competent
railroad men.
STATE uousE.
invite your attention to the condition
of the State House, and as the State is at
present too poor to complete it accordance
with its original design, recommend
that it shall be repaired and fitted up SO
far as to make it tenantable for the Gener-
al Assembly and the Executive Depart
ment of the State. The work should be
executed in such 4 substantial proper man
ner that it may be made available on the
final completion Of the building. For this
purpose recommend that the General
Assembly will authorize the Executive to
advertise for proposals, with plans and
specifications from architects and builders,
to be transmitted by him 10 tie General
Assembly for its action during the present
session.
PENrTENTIARY AND JAILS.
invite your attention to the condition
of the Penitentiary Building, and recon-
mend the completion of the came rs soon
az the finances of the State will warrant
the requisite outlay. Under proper rcgu-
lations and judcious management, this
institution may not only be rendered self
supporting, but may become source OF
revenue to the State.
I would also recommend that you will
provide by law for Thorough and regular
inspection of prision throughout the
State. am satisfied that great sanitary
reform IS needed, as their present condition
makes them the means OF physical punish
ment to offenders, who are confined within
their walls for even brief period. The
true design Of imprisonment should be
rather TO reform than to punish.
AsYLUMs AND AIMS HOUSES.
The calamities of war have added large
ly to the number of those who must
depend upon the public for the support
and assistance :hat that unfortunate condl-
ton demands. I therefore recommend
that YOU will extend your fostering care
TO the asylums and aims house Of the State,
and that they may bc founded and admin
istered on n broad and liberal basis worthy
of Christian people.
TIE FEEEDMAS's BUREAU.
The assistance rendered by the Bureau
of Refugees and Freedmen to the people
of this State, has been most timely and
valuable. While it has cared for large mum.
bers of destitute poor, who from physical
infrmity or otherwise were unable to labor,
it has at the same time made judicious
advances Of provisions to our planters,
secured by liens upon tEeir crops, without
which advances thousands oflaborers, now
usefuly employed, would be necessarily
idle. and thousands of acres OF land, now
bearing abundant crops, would be lying
untitled. 1t has not only been the chief
organizer of labor in the State, during the
past two years and half, by supervising
the execution of equitable contracts be-
tween employers and employed, enforcing
the rights of both, but it has inaugHrated
and sustained widespread system OF
schools, that have been open to all without
distinction of race or color. As, however,
the civil functions of the State are being
rapidly resumed, have informed Major.
General o. 0. Howard, Commissioner OF
the Bureau, thatit may be dispensed with
ae an institution IN this State, Immediately
after the civil officers shall have been elec-
ted in the State, and shall enter upon the
duties of their respective offices. The
several Justices ofthe Peace can discharge
the duties that are now performed by
agents of the bureau. / have, however,
requested that our people may continue to
receive the benefit of the school fund OF
the bureau as long as the same is disbursed
in the several Southern States for the benc-
fit of the poor.
THE LATE AssAssrNAT1oNs IN KERsHAW
COUNTY.
have learned with profound sorrow of
the recent murder, at his residence in