Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-07-22
GOVERNOR SC0TT'S MESSAGE.


reSentdtireS:
For the first time in the history of South
Carolina, her General Assembly has convened
under q Constitution thatrecognizes the rights
of man. The monopoly os class, by which
the few governed the many, has gone down
before the sovereignty of the people, and her
institutions have been founded on the broad
basis, that all governments derive their just
powers frcm the consent of the governed" !"
Our Constitution, recently ratified by the vast
majority Of the votere ol South Carolina:
guarantees to the citizen every privilege con
.sistent with the safety of the State, and in
vests the State with every prerogative not in
consistent with the rights Of The, citizen.
Sound policy and correct principle thus unite
10 our political system, and it W Il be your
drty, as it will doubtless be your chief aim,
so to leeislatc that the public laws, and ad-
lniniStra,ion Of the State, shall not diScredit
the Constitution under which you have as
sembled.
The object OF all Legislation should he the
greatest good to the greatest numbers equal
and exact justice to all is, therefore. required
q, your hands and have no doubt that each
md every class and locality in the State will
receive their due share OF public favor from
your honorable body.
FINANCE ANa sTrAATE DEBT.
The fiIsncial condition Of tbs State will
doubtless engage your early ard most serious
attention, and the necessary ways and means
be provided, both for the support of its gov.
eminent and to meet the lawful demands oi
its creditors, foreign aud domestic.
Character e credit, and credit is the very
snews of the State in peace and war. The
obligation Of the State, therefore, tc g;est 81
Of its liabilities is founded alike upon correct
moral principle and sound policy. This obli-
cation should be the more sensibly felt from
tie feet that State cannot, like an individu
al. become the subject Of coercive process to
compel it to meet jts just indebtedness; but
the creditor must rely solely upon its homer
The Convention appointed Board Ct Com
nisssoneEs to Investigate the debt and ayaila
BILE assets OK the State, with instructions t
report the results Of their Investigation to th'
General Assembly, at It's first session, and a
I am without any positive data upon this sp ID
ieet. I must refer you to their report. which
will doubtless soon be laid before your honor
able body. I will mako this matter of th'
debt of the State the subject of specia
message to tho General Assembly, as ut is ont
that yitally concerns the reputation OF ou
people and the future credit of the State.
The Information that now have place
the valid debt of the State, exclusive OF th'
war debt, a, abopt fvo millioss FIVE hundred
thousand dollars ls5,5QQ,ogO). This debt il
very small compared with that Of other Stale
and the resources Of the State, and il props
measures grc taken to promptly lquidate th'
interest due upon it. the credit Of South ca
rohna will stand as high as that of any Stat
| j. the Union. r =, -.
paid interest noy due upon the State debt
. and alse that accruing ~ to period whel
the State will, without doubt, bs cil!e to mee
| her her liabilities and would suggest the ast o
July. 1860, as the date to which it should b.
funded. | gopld also recommend that al
bonds of the State should be made payable IL
New York. as the financial centre OF the coun
try: and that all stocks shall bs ooaverHbl
iGto bonds. at the pleasure of the holders
STATE BANK.
recommend an early and thorough inves
| t;gation into the affairs of the State Bank
| with view to ascertain the Liabilities it ma.
| have entailed upon the stsse, pursuant TO tn
terms of its charter. ltd debts s9a esse'
should be inquired into, and 1t shouiq pc P1f
in liquidation as soon ss possible, IN orde
TINT the lust claisns against it may be prompt
ly settled.
BONDS OF STATE OFFICERS AND DEposlTokl
FOR STATE FUNDS.
| In oslar TO guard the State against loss b.
deialcations og s:herwse, | earnestly recon
mend that all officers T+e are Charged wit
the custody of public funds shall be re;fulrel
to give ample bonds and security for tile saf
Keeping or faithful disbursement of the game
I.also recommend that responsible ban
,hau be desiguuted as o depository Tor tn
Sunac OF, the State; and,lhat authority shoul
be vested in tbe Governor and two privat
citizens, to be selected 6y TIE General Assem-
bly,, or otherwise, to demand froM the sfst
Treasurer at any time an exhibit of his book
and all public moneys for which he may b
accountable this inspection to. be made
least once in each quarter.
TAXATION AND ASSESSMENTS.
There is no problem that can engage th
.t+ention Of the legislator more difficult tina
.he framing of an equitable system Of taxs
I ton E5ea in the most prosperous c,mm'
Mites. tie laws tSat exact from the citizen as
rs' portion Of his means 70 SsupEoEt the govsfi
pv isent that protects his life and property, q
n;swsd ,I with extreme sensisiYehess. Esp
viene it,e l. this she:case in asocisty such as our
sSssf SSsTe salays ef every kind have been sa'
Senly % ohanged BY eopHHFlsiisons oGpfH is Of war q