The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-12-11
Three from the House and ~

OOuEty, ana That said Committee be
requested to report the result of such
investigation to this House rs soon
thereafter as practicable. Referred
to the Committee on Internal I'M
provements.
A bill to prescribe the manner in
which all debts contracted prior to
May, 1865, shall be collected in this
State, was taken up, being the unfi-
nished business of yesterday Mt the
hour of adjournment, and discussed
until l p. m., when the Senate was
announced, and in accordance with n
resolution adopted, the two Houses
met in joint assembly to elect a
Judge for the first Circuit and Regis
ter of Mesne Conveyance for Charles
ton County.
Message from the Governor No. 4.
was then read, as follows:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
COLUMBIA, December 8, 1868.
Tile Honorable the Speaker. of lie
House Of Representatives.
SIR: In response to n resolution of
the House of Representatives of the
7th instant, rs follows:
Resolced, That His Excellency the
Governor be requested to inform the
House of Representatives. whether
the Circuit Judges elect Of the seve-
raj Circuits have duly qualified, if so,
when, and whether they or any of
them have failed, and if so, why, to
enter upon the discharge of their du-
ties as required by section fifteen of
an Act entitled San Act to organize
the Circuit Courts" passed the Goth
day of August, A. ID. 1868.
L have the honor to state that,
while it is known that the Judges for
the several Circuits, with the excep-
ton of Hon. D. T. Corbin, since re-
signed. took the oath of Office, there
is no official record of the date on
which they were qualified in this de-
partment. Commissions were issued
to them respectively as follows: Hon.
Zephaniah Platt, Second Circuit,
August 2G; Hon. James NJ. Rutland,
Fourth Circuit, August 81; Hon.
John L. Green, Third Circuit, Sep
tember 1; Hon. D. Il. Corbiu, First
Circuit, September .; Hon. t. 0. p.
Vernon, Seventh Circuit, September
IS; Hon. w. M. Thomas, Sixth Cir
cult, September 80; Hon. Lcmuel
Boozer, Fifth Circuit, October 3:
Hon. James L. Orr, Eighth Circuit,
November ).
No direct information has been re-
ceived at this department as to whc-
ther the Judges have entered upon
the discharge of their duties, with
the exception Of Judge Platt, Of the
Second Circuit, and Judge Boozer,
! OF the Fifth Circuit, and L have rea-
son to believe that these are the only
Circuits in which Courts have been
held. No explanation has been re-
ceivcd from or on behalf of the other
Judges for the delay or neglect of
commencing their official duties.
The necessity of holding Courts is
very great, and the delay is highly
detrimental to the public interests
and grievous wrong to those await
ing trial. Many of the jails are filed
to overhowing with prisoners, involv-
ing heavy expense for their sub
sistence, and jeopardizing their safe
keeping. In several instances they
have been awaiting their trial for a
longer period than would probably
have been allotted to them as pu-
nishment, had they been found guilty
OF the offences imputed to them.
The Constitution guarantees to every
accused person speedy and public
trial. and that every person injured
in his lands, goods, person or repu-
tation shall have remedy by due
course of law, and justice administer
ed without unnecessary delay.
L, therefore. earnestly invoke your
attention to the necessity of such
legislative action as, in your opinion,
the exigency of the case demands.
Very respectfully,
ROBERT X. SCOTT, Governor.
The message was received rs infor-
nation, and referred to the Commit
leo or t..,e Judiciary.
Message from tho Governor No. 5
is as follows:
1He Honorable tie Speaker Of lie
HoaSe Of Representatives.
SIR: [ would respectfully call the
attention of the General Assembly to
the necessity of an appropriation for
the salary of the State Auditor. In
this connection, I beg leave to advert
to the inadequacy of the compensa-
tlon to the Private Secretary Of the
Governor, and to express the hope