The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1870-12-09

lpolltlcal influence or prostltuted tt
the purposes Of men who arc them
selves guilty Of crime. 1t should b,
filled with our best and most reliable
citizens. The appointment of a Com
missioner of: Juries has been tried ir
some Of Our sister States, and has
! been found to work admirably.
COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS
In view of the frequent cxpcndi
lures for furnishing the public build,
jings, and the. responsibility Of the
mode in which public money is dis,
burscd therefore, I would recommend
the designation of somc officer who
should have supervision of the pub
lie buildings and grounds, and Of all
expenditures for taeii furniture and
improvement. ;.
THE BLUE RIDGE RAILROAD.
I regret to inform you that but it,
tie progress has been recently made
upon the. Blue Ridge Railroad. The
liberal policy pursued by the Legisla-
ture was obstructed by parties,
prompted by personal aggrandizc:
ment ard political prejudices, enter
ing into combination to throw obsta-
cles in the way of negotiating the
bonds, which prevented their sale at
the time, and befow these difficulties
were overcome, the war in Europe in.
ts$vcned and rendered their sale i'm
practicable. l have no recommends
tions to make on the subject, as all
the laws necessary are in existence,
and will, therefore, refer you to the
annual report of the President Of the
Road for all the necessary informa-
ton 10 an understanding of the de-
tails. 1t is cXt:cmcly unfortunate
that personal ambition or political
rancor should be permitted to delay
or interfere with the progress and
of q work Of such vital
and transcendent Importance to shc
of the State and its chief
commercial city.
EMIGRATION AND LABOR.
While am willing and anxious, by
all legitimate means, to encourage
and promote emigration to this State
of all peoples who arc homogeneous
10 customs and usages with our own,
t hat arc willing to labor, as we'll as
those who will bring into it skill and
capital, 1 cannot forego the express
sion of my opinion that the passage
and enforcement of stringent laws for
the protection of life and property,
and tho free and unrestricted express
sion of politita opinions, is all that is
necessary to accomplish that. purpose
in q State tina; presents so many at
fractions and advantages to the emf
grant and capitalist rs ours.
LABOR AND CAPITAL.
There has been much discussion
1ron the alleged scarcity of labor,
and q: variety Of schemes has been
suggested for its al!cviation; but thus
far without practical result. The i'm
oortation Of foreigners. either Chris
ian or Pagan, can work but an in
considerable influence, as these arc as
Sccnly' alive to the facilities OF i'm
their condition as the natives
whom they attempt to supp'ant, and
will dispose Of their services to those
who will pay the highest prices for
hem. My own impression is, that
he present labor Of tho country, "na-
i've and to the manner born" fur
,ishcs the most economical, the most
killful, and the most efficient system
If labor for the South, and cannot ad-
'antagcously be substituted for any
'thcr A true appreciation of the
mutual dependence of capital and la
'or, ard disposition to arrange,
micabiy and eqnitaLly, terms Of
grecment between them, would 60
ar to reconcile existing difficulties,
nc remove a fruitful cause Of dissen-
ion and irritation among our own
people. Inducements might also be
lcld out by which the ranks Of the
productive class may te largely re-
,ruted from those who gre non-pro-
lucers, and whose complaint is, that
hey can "get noti,ingto do" and also
,y grants OF land to tenants in fee,
he payments, properly secured, run
ling over a long series Of years, to
hose who may settle in families.
LANDLORD AND TENANT.
Attention is called to the necessity
# q cheap and speedy remedy by
which the owners of property may
epossess themselves Of it by q sum
mary magisterial process, while
'onest poverty is deserving of our
and entitled to all legiti-
nate protection, yet there is too
auch reasonSo believe that there are
ascs in which the law is perverted,
which. by their vexatious results, COM
vel landlords to enhance their rents,
nd initiate against tho interests OF
he public at large.
APPRENTICES.
The attention of the last General
Assembly was called to the necessity
nd import: nee of law to regulate
nd define the relations and obliga-
ions Of employer and apprentice.
IN intelligent and Industrious work
nan has within himself the elements
# independence and respectability.
lis art is his capital, Of which he
annot be divested his labor is al
Ways and everywhere in demand. AS
Illustrating the. effect Of idlencss as
he source Of crime. it is stated in the
Report Of the Prison Association,
ately issued, that of fourteen thou
and five hundred and ninety-six
prisoners confined in the Pcnitentia-
les Of thirty States, in 1870, more