The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1868-08-15

brought to ovcrrulo tho veto. A caucus of the
Republican members was held for this purpose
to-night, August12th: 50
81 a EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.,
SIS CoLuMBIA. Augpsts12, 1868. 81
70 he Etsesilent,dilts f1e,,se,to Of tho Senate !:
= haYe'the honor to <rgttirn to the Senate, in
which itofiginatcd, nm Act to fix the amount
of official bonds of certain public officers, and
to impose penalties on embczziements without
myfapprovalj whichI MN constrained to with.
hold for the following reasons: Tho public
credit sr. must guarded atyeyery point. and the
embafrnsincnts encountered in the Inaugural
tion of fourncw, State Government WILDE best
overcome by proceeding in such manner as
will command frontthe first the confidence of
capitalists 9a.ag ts
In the financial policy of the State, any
moasATeE appearing to countcnanco a relaxation
OF the hrccautions with which the State guards
( fitsfundsk kwill impair the public crcdit,-srch
"a mcasureNpow would be n blow struck at the
financial standing of the State at time whom
sall important Considerations demand that it
should be vigilantly and vigorously upheld
10 reduce at this time the bonds of those to
whom tho public funds are entrusted for safe
keeping, seems to me to be dangerous
to tho public credit. Many of the men
who have been elected to positions of trust
are new to the public service, they have not
been tried : rs,
e we believe they are true men, Those who
knows them express unqualified confidence in
theirntcsrity, but the peculiar circumstances
i'll which they arc placed, demand that they
should furnish the amplest guarantees of their
official rcctitudc. The ability to do this is the
only sufficient answer to the often repcatcdc dchargc
that the party in power has advanced to posi-
tions Of responsibility and trust those who were
without rcspcctablity and good standing in
tho community.
We're the question of amount of bonds TO be
required Of public officers new ono, the Bill
now returned might be unobjcctionable, but
the circumstances must be duly weighed, and
it cannot be overlooked that the reduction of
these bonds now will be understood, and belle
ycd to be made to meet individual cases Of
men who were elected with full knowledge
ut the requirements of law Legislation, to
meet special eases, is always Objectionable, and
the present is probably IL t,uc when more harm
will result from such legislation than at any
previous moment in our history.
1t is not pertinent however, to enquire
particularly what may be the individual |
character of the officers who chance to be
personally interested in securing the proposed
reduction. The source of danger is in prin
=ciPio, and does not rest on personal grounds !;
the precedent is bad. When once VIC begin
to accommodate local requirements to suit
special cases the mischief is dune.
In the case of some county officers it is un-
dcrstood that q proposition is under considcra-
ton to dennish their responsibility by assign
ing a part Of their duties to other officers. in
cases where tho responsibilities may be thus
reduced. Reduction Of the bonds rcuuired
would not be improper, but upon careful con
sidcration of the whole subject, and with tho
deepest concern for the interest of the State, 1
feel compelled to dsapprove the Act to reduce
tho bonds. now required by law, of those oif-
GERS elect, whose duties and responsibilities re-
main the same as those of the present incum-
bents and predecessors. The section guarding
against cnbezzlcmcnt of public moneys meets
my unqualified approval; but 1 am compelled,
for reasons above given, to disapprovc tho Act
rs q whole
(Signcd) ROBERT X. SCOTT,
Governor