The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1868-01-29

compelled to rely upon what are known as
tbe "-hills receivable issued by authority
OF the Legislature, to pay all officers and
claims against the State. The great depre-
citation OF property. and the general impov.
erishment Of the State. has reduced the
amount OF taxes anticipated by the Legisla.
ture very materially. and consequently the
financial condition OF the South is, greatly /,
embarrassed. But it is very. Important that
you should, in your deliberations. by ordi-
nance or otherwise, declare : and nothing
can more commend your body 10 the conf
dense ofthe people Of the State, who repre-.
sen,ed its weslth-that all Of the obliga-
tions Oft the State, all the bonds Of the State
created prior to she war, and all the obi-
/ cations of the State since the war, shall be
fully and faithfully redeemed. An ordi.
nance announcing the validity Of the obi.
cations Of the State. passed 10y you, will at
once rapidly and largely appreciate the
value of the bonds. now held at such low
figures. The great discount upon the State
bonds in the markets. here and elsewhere,
grows ont G want of confidence in the
will and det tion OF the new Govern.
ment TO redee' m. This you should set
at rest. And ;, you may with propriety
repudiate all o.. cations contracted by the
State for war purposes. the credit OF the
State for other obligations should not be
t"rnislred, either by repudia,ion or a sem.
blance Of repudiation. ... ...
In. framing your Constitution, I cannot
too earnestly commend to yo 'orable
consideration the Importance ...: noving
the disability from all the white population
Of this State When you look TO the Judi
ciary. am very sure sou can have TO rea-
sonable ground Of complaint against their
fnirness or impartiality. Under the Con.
stitutionai Amendment, most, or nearly ALL
are excluded from continuing in their posi-
ton. Have you in the State members Of
the bar who are competent TO discharge
these high and important trusts with the
ability or even the satisfaction to yourselves
of those who would be required to retire
from the public service. unless YOU make
modification retaining them In their present
position? Is there any reasonable ground
OF complaint against your Appeal Court,
the Judges Of your Criminal Court, or your
Chancellorsi While, under the Constitu.
tion. you may vsrate these Offices and
subject all the parties to the ordeal Of an
election before the Legislature, will II not
be eminently wiso ond prudent for you to
place the Judiciary in n position where, IL
the Legislature elected unAer your Corsti
tuition think it expo iient, they may re elect
such OF the Judges and Chancrllors as, in
their Judgment. are worthy 10 he continued
in these rositions2
This brings me to cay that in South Caro-
lima, at least, .here is no reason why an,
man, white or colored, sh ould he exclude
from the privilege Of voting or holding
Office. You are aware that the disfran
chisement in the Reconstruction Acts o.
Congress. excludes the intelligence and
wealth Of the State. In one Of the Districts
Of the State / know that the colored people
wai'ci upon certain gentlemen and request
ell them to become candidates for the Cen
venlion. but they ware constrained to de.
cline, because they were disfranchisei.- -
This is an illustration otsthe condition oi
affairs which exists in all the Districts OF
South Carolina-,he most intelligent men
being excluded. In starting a new Govern
ment, all of this intelligence and experience
should no; be ignored. The State cannot
afford to givei up She is entitled 10 the
counsels of such men and TO their services
, The doctrine of State rights. rs taught in
, South Carolina. has been exploded by the
war. The allegiance Of the citizen, accord
y ing TO the results Of that controversy, Il
a due to the Government of the United States
0 and not to the State. recognize this doc
Y trine to the fullest extent, and in my inau
4 gural message as Governor Of the State.
0 announced my judgment. that hereafter til,
supremacy OF the United States Govern
ment over the State, was nndisputed and
indisputable. am aware that many Of my
contemporaries deny the proposition, but i
I can properly comprehend the legilimat,
sequences Of war, no other result present,
itself to my mind.
$ Gentlemen Of the Convention, ] have
merely outlined sonfe of the subjects which
I in my Judgment, should cofiimanA your
Z earnest attention. As have indicated
: your body here, Is not the Representatives
D OF the intelligence of the State. Your nc.
I tion. therefore, must be your passport to
public favor and while the great MINORITY
OF the white population have failed to casi
their votes in electiug delegates, IL win ID
your duty to adopt such a Constitution a.
viii commend itself not only to the black
people, but TO the white people Of South
Carolina. IT,. ...
As the Executive Of the State during the
trying times through which we have passed.