The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1870-12-02
INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF GOV.
81 \-.ss>: SCOTT.

and acrimonious DnubtlesS many th.nS3 naso
baen' said. by the advocates of both parties.
which had better have been left unsaid. of
one thing the people Of the St,ts may pc "e'
surel; so far as my coursc As public oheer Is
conc erned, the EXAMINATIONS. and recrlnin"tions
of the oolitical senntest are. forgotten; ana
v lille shall not fail in allegiance to the Pr'n.
eipes Of the party l represent, as Governor o.
the State entrusted with the execution OF ne
laws, / will know no party or class. but shall
epdeavor most earnestly to protect and secure
the rights and privileges Of all. ..-S.
The Constitution and laws of our State give
Ito the Executive large powers. and these pow
sra carry with them corresponding resp"nslo'l
;ties lie would, indeed be.a bold man who
having occupied the pssition which it has been
INV lot 70 ho;d for the post ,wo eventful yea 8,
should claim for bi.nscf freedom from mistakes,
or even serious errore, in the administration OF
tho affairs of Government | certainly make
mn such clam. But do claim that the general
.cope and aim Of my administration has been
good mud ,hat,it has beco mrasurnbly tree
from the errors incident to all human govern
ments. ,i.E4F a.9-.." :. -
A charge freely made against my adminIstra
-,iou h.s been that of the ipcompe.ency OF its
sppoiutees to the varirus Courty and other
offices The charge. 's not entirely without
Ftrn,b Rut recurrence to The history OF the
mast two wears Just pasL will "fsr some justin.
ca,ion for such appointments. When the al.
n, ,nisi ration lust closed came into power. Inc
i,.it;zens EFF the State. who bv education and ex-
nerien,e were best fitted to fill the variens OIL
&c, in the rift Of The Executive, either openly
opposed or silently but pe1sis:ently stood aioot
from thu Government Persons whose services
the s. ate wou d have been glad to secure, re-
fused to Qualify for the positions which were
offered ihem.; :. while, on the other hand, men
were urged uron the Executive, whose opposl'
lion to the Cove, nment was soSwell known, ns
to make thair appointment, so far as The ~xecu
tiou of ,he-laNs- was concerned. farce. IN.
addition, many, if l. OF most of these appoint
,nesnts, had 10 be made immediately; the exi
pencies Of the public service were tuch ns to
preclude th. possibility Of thorough inves,lsa.;;
lion INTO the character and fitness OF the per;
soma recommended by those, upon whom IN,
Executive was compelled to depend for.inform-
alton. In the nature of things, it has been, to
n great degree, imprac. icabie for hin, to snow
fully the quail, ,fica'ion Of hose who have been
urged upon him forappointment: / am salts
sei that, without doing injustice to the e'a'ms
of any. one, the large experience which ""
h. se Al. gained, combined will, the accesslohs
which have been nlade .aothe, ranks OF tebss
who are both actively and passiyely friendly to
,be administs alton, will enable US 10 cure this
evil Ia the sfuture 1t is not aeeessary 10 enter
int. an argument to chow the impossibility OF
q irving On the atssairsof Government ahhout
70 netercy on tile part of those gel. cted to per-
form :ts duties; the, thing IS nselfevident. 1t
il ms purpose, So fsr as thu htresponsihIhty rests
with me. 10 secure such competency > and. iu
this effort, / think may conf1tntT lo.k for
the support of thA people sot the State OF 81
class. ..~-.
Frllow -ctizers, our. State has mnde great
nropress 10 all respects within the last TWO
vars Two yeas ago large class Of our pet.
nh. we're q, unit ,almos,, in their nyowsd deter
,miaatiou NOT to recognize the validity of the
Reconst ruction A.tt Of Congress. or of the
Governments established nnder: then. To-day.
these are al treated ss accomplished facts. by
ali classes of the community, SO far as public vi.
I RANGES have Any value, AID we. have good
reason to believe that the number OF persons
who cherish either tnr hope or the desite TO
disturb the ex:st,pg political re ations OF the
neople. is very 'ineoilsifierable. o." - -.
: Oar material progress has kept pace with
the pultical It is true that the Europe N war.
nv depressing prices. has made our people feel
noor.r than they hnr ed 70 be. but, neyerthe
Lass here are indications Of life ard energy
all over the State. New branches of industry
are being opened up. aud all things promise.
with peace and good order, prosperity tai. The
peopie. The same progress though ssio'y
mot 40 evident t., the casual observer, Eilas been
m ,ds 10 educational matters In this direction
would urge inc rensed intertst and activity on
the part OF the people. The Government can
do much. bu, il cannot do nll; and wit out
rarn,st a.d constant .ffor, on The part Of the
people, any school system will prove failure.
F.l,ow citizens, I do not car. to inquire
whether this favorable condition of ,thingsex.
;et. A. consea ne ce Of onrE administrations OF
nffiiIa Or ID spite 'of It ft'is enongh to know
that thus mneiI hes been Ssecured, and we viii
ls.v. II to the future tn decide what measure
Of praise or bisme belongs to each aud all OF
US, -, ~ -. gs- .,...g ;, -
Tn The few words appropriate 10 tins oc'a'iom
/ cannot indulge in detail. hut eoniine myself
70 A general reference to what brlle'e 70 be
the condii,on Of our Stale. and to the policy
which hope to enforce in the admlniSua at!on
of its Affair." 10 the future:
! Am asking too muci, when call upon the
peoole OF the State. Of all classes and parties,
to stand by the Government in every right
.fortf There cannot lie prosperiiy in ths
State unless there is peHcei there cannot he
pesce unless there is respect for law aud tor the
rights of all, no matter how Objectionable 7"
some of, our, f. How citizens we lnay. be who
make and administering laws;; 9. how hateful
may be those who, from time to time, have had
their lives aud liberties imperiled.
A little forbearance, a little OF that good sense