The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-07-11

Unanimously adopted:
An attempt made to adjourn until Tuesday
next failed, and the House then adjourned un
Ill tomorrow, at IL NJ.
AN ADDRESS BY GOVERNOR ORR
TO THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
On the 2sth OF November, 1885, / entered
upon the discharge of the duties OF CHEZ
Magistrate of South Carolina, pursuant to the
PROVISIONS of the Constitution adopted by
| Convention in September, 1865. This Conven.
tion was called by proclamation OF Provlsional
Gov. Perry,, he having been appointed to that
/ position by President Johnson, the July pre-
1 ceding.
Upon what principle the President declared
that the Constitution of force at the close OF
the war was invalid, and by virtue OF what au-
thori.y he could order the formation OF new
Constitution, has not been very we'll defined.
Nevertheless as We were just emerging from
a revolution, and as the scheme OF restoration
raj and lust, it was accepted by the people OF
South Carolina, and by no one Of her citizens
more heartily than myself. That;plan, how
ever, 1Ailed, as indicated by the vote OF the
| people in 1866, a new one was adopted by
] Congress-, and the question presented to
the then existing Executives OF the Southern
States was whether they would advise it's ac-
| ceptance or rejection. ] advised its accept
ance. NV official functions having now termi-
mated. deem the present proper occasion to
| briefly review what has been done IN the State
| dnrinp nv administrations present some Of
the reasons which have influenced my official
action. and to express the opinions entertained
by me as to the proper line Of policy in the ft1-
ture.
Until the meeting OF the General Assembly
in November, 1865, the State had been for
many months entirely under the jurisdiction
of .proyost courts and military commissions.
No civil court had met to administer law or
Justice in South, Carolina for more than twelve
months preceding. Ouflaws abounded in many
localities, depredatlons were OF daiiy occur
renee, and desperadoes roamed over the land,
defying tho military and noutraging the per
sons and. prop rty of citizens. 1t was not
untif the succeeding spring that the judges
resumed their places upon the bench, courts
were held, criminals brought to trial and pun
iehment, and civil law, to q certain extent, was
restored Citizens then became more assured
~ nrotection. and the prospects of material
progress and improvement hourly frightened.
The public institutions we're revived. The
South Carolina College was converted into
University, reorganized and placed In success
ful operation. The asylum for the deaf, and
dumb and the blind, was reopened and contln-
ued in operation until the exhaustion OF tne
fund appropriated by the Legislature. A PEN
itentiary was ordered to be established, and
rapid progress has been made in its construc-
ton. large number Of convicts are already
incarcerated in the prison, earning their
subsistence and relieving the State. from
the expense Of maintaining them in 1dle-
ness in the jails. The new State House
has been enclosed and covered, thus protect
ing structure, Whi.h has cost an immense
sum of money, from further deterioration and
decay. Courthouses have been placed in prop
er repair, or new ones erected, anu the jalls
DESTROYED by fire have been rebuilt. The Ii
brary of the Court OF Appeals, together with
the Legislative Library, which were destroyed
by the conHagration Of February, 1856, are
again f ling up With those volumes so essen
tial to the Judge and legislator in the perform
ance of their duties-the Executives of theTa-
rions States of the Union having generously
responded to the request that they would fur
nish duplicate copies OF such books as could
be conveniently spared from their respective
collections. The Executive Departments have
been thoroughly reorganizsd, and and are N y
archives Of The State which were not des..
troyed By fire or lost by the casualties Of
war. have been re-arranged for the public
convenience. Artificial legs have been
furnished to nearly all OF the citizens of South
Carolina who lost their limos during the war.
All the important railroads OF the State which
were torn up and destroyed towards the close
Of the war have been repaired, and the lines
are now in successful operation and prepared
to facilitate the commercial intercourse of the
interior with the eeaboard; the North, and with
foreign nations. Repeated remonstrances made
against the illegal and oppressive conduct OF
Treasury agents have secured the restitution
of much property belonging to citizens which
had been seized, ostensibly for the use Of the
government, and the obnoxious parties were
recalled or dismissed. During the year 1866, and
mn to April, 1867 there was little or no inter-
ference by the military authorities with the
civil administr ration Of justice in the State. In
consequence OF the failure Of the provision
crop OF 1866, appeals were addressed to every
section of the North and West for corn and
other provisions to supply the Destitute, who
were numbered by thousands. These appeals
were generously responded to, and through
this Department large quantity OF corn and
bacon was distributed during the spring and
summer of 1867, thereby alleviating the suffer-
ines OF a multitudei many OF whom would pro-
bably have starved but for these generous do
nations. Abureau Of emigration has been Or
ganized and agents sent abroad, with the view
OF inviting portions of. the teeming population
of the Ole World to seek homes on the gene
rous and inviting soil CT South Carolina. The
merchant has replenished his vacant store
house, the mechanic his machine shop, the
plaQLcr auQ lllmS4, uObNiohctesnd'A46 Pbos VIC
appointments, are hopeful and industrious;
and ayigorous effort is being made by all class
es to repair the disasters of bloody and un-
successful war.
Taxes sufficient to deray The ordinary and
extraordinary expenses Of the State govern
ment have been paid. No combinations have
existed to defeat, by violence, the laws Of the
land; and no riot between the white and color
ed races has marred the peace and good order
which has prevailed in South Carolina since
the cessation of hostilities. Indeed, degree
of tranquility has marked our career, which
may proudly challenge comparison not only
with any of the late Confederate States, but
with any State in the Union.
Within one year after the abolition of slev-
ery the Legislature of our State voluntarily
passed s;Civil Rights biiI,' which secured to
the colored man all the rights enjoyed by any
citizen-a allowing him to sue AMI be sued, and
to give evidence in all cases. The traditional
prejudice brought from the mother country,
which had been nourished for ages, against
permitting any party in interest 10 give ev.-
dence III any cauee, civil OF criminal, was
broken down; and the law now invites testi-
.mony from every source which is calculated to
evolve the whole truth, leaving ii to jurors and
Judges. to determine what credence shall be
given thereto
From time to time measures for the relief Of
the people who we're suffering from the pres
sure Of q large ante-war indebtedness were re-
com mended by me to the Legislature, but that
body, in it's wisdom, did not think it proper to
odnr,t thoca cI1o0nsti0na a 1harl homestead