The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1868-07-22

Message Of Robert X Scott, Gov
ernor of South Carolina,
1ohs General AssemJly, First Session. Held
atMo City Of Colnnsio, Ja'y 6, 1868.
Gentlemen of The Senate and House of
Rpresentatires-For the first time in the
history OF South Carolina. her General Az
remhly has convened under a constitution
that recognizes the rights Of man. The
monopoly OF class, by which the few gov
erned the many, has gone down before the
sovereignty Of the people, and her insiiiu
tiops have been founded on the broad basis.
that all governments derive their just
powers from the consent Of the governed"
Our Constitution. recently ratified by the
vast majority Of the voters Of South Caro-
lima, guarantees to the citizen every privi
lege consistent with the safety OF the State,
and invests the State with every preroga-
tive not Inconsistent with the rights Of the
ciiizen. Sound policy and correct princi
,'ls thus unite in our political system. and
II will be your duty, as it will doubtless be
your chief aim. 20 10 lcgislate that the pub.
lie laws. and administration Of the Slate,
shall not diseredit the Constitution under
which you have assembled. ..
The object Of all legislation should be the
greatest good to the greatcst number; equal
and exact justice 10 al ia, therefore. re
quired at your handsi and ] have no doubt
That each and every class md locality In
the State, will receive their due share of
public favor from your honorable bodies.
FINANCE AND sTATE DEBr.
The financial condition of the State will
doubtless engage your early and most seri
Gus attention, and the necessary ways and
means lie provided, both Cor the support Of
its government, and TO meet the lawful de.
mands Of it's creditors, foreign and domee-
tic. ..--.-. .........,,. ...... .. ..... ...
Character is credit and credit is the very
sinews Of the State in peace and war. The
obligation Of the State, therefore, 10 m, ct
all Of its liabilities, is founded alike unon
correct moral principle ard souud prpIIc
policy. This obligation should DC the more
sensibly felt, from the fact that State can.
not like an individual, become the subject
of coeruive process 10 compel TO meet its
just indebtedness; but the creditor must e.
Iy solely upon its honor The Convention
appointed a Doar1 OF Commissioners 10 In.
ves,igate the debt and available assets Of
the State, with instructions to report the
results Of their investigation 10 the Gen
eral Assembly, tits frat session, and as am
without any positive data upon this subject.
] rnnst r-ier you to their report, which will
doubtless soon be laid before your honora.
BILE body. | win make this matter Of the
debt of the State the subject of a special
message to the General Assembly. as it lie
one that vitality concerns the reputation Of
our people and The future credit Of the
Stale. -.,, ..., ..,......
The Information that now have places
the valid debt Of the State, exclusive Of the
war debt, ct about Ave million Ave hundred
thousand dollars ($5 800. .00O.) This debt Is
very email compared with that OF other
a.,I r. l.
II proper measures nre taken 10 promptly
liquidnte the interest due upon it. the cred
II OF South Carolina will stand as high as
that o. any State In the Union.
! would recommend the funding Of the
unpaid interest now due upon the State
debt, and also that accruing up TO a period
when the State will. without doubt, be
. able 10 meet her liabilities: and would sug
gest the first Of July. 1869, as the date 10
which IL should he funded. would alec
recommend that all bonds Of the State
should be made payable in New York as
the financial centre Of the country and
that all stocks shall be convertible into
bonds at the pleasure OF the holders
.... ... STATE BANK.
I recommend on early and thorough In
vestigaiion into the affairs Of the State
Bank, with view to ascertain the Hsbili-
ties Il may have entail,d upon the State,
pursuant TO the terms OF lie charter It's
debts and assets should be inquired into.
and IL ahould be put In liquidation Ms soop
as possible, In order that the Just claims
against IL may be promptly settled.
BONDS or STATE oysrcKRs, App DEPOSITORY
FoR STATE yUSbs
In order TO guard the State against loas
by defslcations or otherwise, I earnestly
recommend that all officers who are charg.
ed with the custody Of public funds shall
be required TO give ample bonds and secu.
rity for the safe keeping or faithfal dis
bursement " the same. also recommend
that n responsible bank shall be desienat ed
as O depository for the funds Of the State
and that authority should be vested 10 the
Governor, and two private citizens to be
selected by the General Assembly, or other.
wise, TO demand from the State Treasurer
at any time an exhibit Of his hooks and all
public moneys for which he may be ac-
couniabls this Inspection to be made at
least once In each quarter.
TAXATION AND AssEsNESrs. +.
There IL no problem that can engage the
attention Of the legislator. more difficult
than the framing OF an equitable system Of
t>xation. Even In the most prosperou.
communiiies the laws that exact from the
citizen a portion OF his means, 70 support
the government that protects his life and
property. are viewed with extreme scnsi.
uveness. Especially Il this the ease In a
society such ~ ourr where values Of every
kind have bcrn suddenly changed by tho
convusions OF war, aud whrre the exciu-
sive government Of class, has been expand.
ed into the true republication Of universal
uffrage. Hence, those who oppose the free
Constitution Of our State, a'lrge that IL en-.
ables the n.property-holder to lrpislate