The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-12-02
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.


much pleasure to congratulate you upon
your occupancy of your new Halls of Leg
islation, which contrast so favorably II
appearance and adaptation to their pur
pose with those you recently occupied
May their lustrous beauty be typical Of
the brightning prosperity of our beloved
State, of her unstained honor, and untar.
nished credit; and may it witness the pu
rity. the patriotism and the wisdom of her
councils, until her principles are as firmly
established as the foundation of this edl.
lice, and peace and prosperity prevail
within her borders.
RAILROAD AID.
am gratifed in being able to inform
you that much progress has been made
during the past year in securely placing
the finances of the State on firm and
healthy basis. This is owing greatly to
the decided stand taken by you at the
close of the last session in declining to
6eopardize the State credit by yielding to
the pressure brought to bear upon you by
inairiduals and corporations for State aid
for the construction of railroads. The
financial reputation of Commonwealth,
like that of an individual, depends upon
the care with which it cherishes its re-
sources and the promptitude and fidelity
with which it meets its obligations; and
the correct and honorable business man
who desires success is careful that his rep
utation and credit is not tarnished by un-
wisely lending the use of has name TO par
ties who have neither credit or reputation
to lose themselves.
THE STATE DEBT.
The following statement exhibits the
indebtedness of the assets of the State,
October Slst, 1869: Funded debt of the
State six mifsens one hundred and eigh-
tythree thousand three hundred and for
ty-nine dollars and seventeen cents. The
total amount of assets held by the State
on that date was two million seven hun
dred and fity-four thousand six hundred
aud sixty dollars; interest falling due du-
ring the fiscal year of October 30th, 1869,
three hundred and eighty-eight thousand
six hundred and ninety three dollars and
eigbty-six cents. For a fall and detailed
stateasent of the financial condition of the
State, I would respectfully refer you to
the reports of the Comptroller and Treas
nrer. The State debt is comparatively
small, amounting in the aggregate TO
about six millions one hundred and eigh-
ty-three thousand three hundred and for
sy-nine dollars. The taxable property, at
a low valuation, will amount to one hum
dred and ninety millions of dollars. Du-
ring the past fiscal year, at a season, too,
when our capitalists, merchants, farmers,
mechanics, and others had all their money
invested in their various branches of busi-
ness, million of dollars for taxes was re-
ceived into the State Treasury. TO more
fully illustrate the ability of our people to
meet ali necessary taxes, we may REFER
also to the payment of our citizens into
the Federal Treasury as Internal Revenue,
a tax amounting to the sum of S2,622, $780,
6s, making an aggregate of taxes paid
into the State and Federal Treasures the
past year of over three and half millions
of dollars.
RECOMMENDS A REDUCTION OF TAXES.
would here recommend that you me-
morialize your members of Congress to
use their efforts for reduction of the In
ternal Revenue tax collected to such an
amount as will meet the liabilities of the
General Government, but relieve our pee-
pie as much as possible of the tax collec-
ted to pay the National debts. We be-
lieye that the present generation should
not be compelled to pay too much of the
debt OF great country that is to be left
by them as a rich inheritance to posterity.
The present tax system was new to our
people, and it could not, perhaps, but be
expected that much dissatisfaction would
be felt in consequence of the charge. But
it is gratifying to be able to state that the
taxes have been paid as promptly as those
of any State in the Union.
When the present State Government
came into power we found that the Pro-
visional Government controlling the State
from the close Of the war, had contracted
many debts, for the prompt payment of
which, as we'll as to meet the current ex-
penses of the State Government, it was
necessary so provide. Among the liabili-
ties was floating debt amounting to
S477,9e5.so. This debt was due to vari-
Gus county officials, Sherifs, Magistrates,
Coroners and other claims against the
State. By authority of law there had
also been put IN circulation bills recelva-
ble to the amount of $4,000. In addi-
tion to this was the past due interest on
the State debt, which had accrued from
the 1st of July, 1857. All of these vari-
Gus amounts have been paid, and the bills
receivable redeemed. At the present time
there is but small floating debt that the
State Treasurer will be compelled to meet.
Owing to these payments the expenses of
the State Government were heavier last
year than they will be for the present fs-
cal year, and the assessment of taxes may
therefore be considerably reduced for the
coming year, and the tax burden upon the