The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1870-12-08
froNTINurp From FIRST PAGE )

CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAaE.)
summer, employed by the State Of New
York, in restocking the Hudson River
with shad, and has been Matching from
one hundred thousand to one hundred
and fifty thousand daily. He states, in
. published communication, that he
can satisfy any person with common
sense that all the rivers on the coast
can be shad, so as to make them equal
" plentiful with the olden time.
NATIONAL cEMETARIEs.
A letter has been received from the
hon. ". NJ. Belknap, Secretary Of
War of the United States, in relation
to the National Cemeteries at Beau.
fort, Florence and Charleston, request
ing that the Legislature of this State
may pass an Act in conformity with q
law of the United States, entitled 'Au
Act to establish and protect National
Cemeteries"
Information has been received at
this Office from Hon, W. B. Shubrick,
of the Navy Department, that an appro.
priation was mado, July 20, 1868, of
$4,000 for Range Lights on sullivan's 8
Island, Charleston harbor, and it is
Necessary that an Act should be passed
ceding the jurisdiction Of their sites to
the United States, to which your atten.
ton is respectfully invited.
There are number of provisions iE
the Constitution which require appro~
pirate legislative action to carry them
10 to effect; such as the provision for
divorce, the appointment of officers and
employees of the Lunatic Asylum, time
and manner of inauguratiug the Govern
or and Lieutenant Governor, and elect
ing Justices of the Peace, &C., to which
I would respectfully call your attention.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Gentlemen of the General Assembly,
taxation is the vital power of all Co.
vernments, and I invoke your serious
attention to the necessity of strict
economy in expenditure, SO that no
more taxes be levied than is consistent
with an efficient administration of the
Government. Notwithstanding the
Constitutional provision for uniform
and equal rate of assessment and taxa
tion. the taxes on real and personal
property have become onerous, while
railroads and Other important interests
are virtually exempt. There is much
room for retreuchment in the salary of
County officers, and especially in that
of School and County Commissioners,
whose compensation is greatly dispro.
portionate to the trifing amount Of
duty performed by them.
Having thus submitted to you the
condition of the State, and made those
recommendations as to your legislation
which seemed to me judicious, 1 might,
perhaps, properly conclude this mes
sage. But I cannot refrain from saying
what I feel deeply I am conscious
that I have b, el re elected by large
majority Of the citizens of this State,
A majority SO large as to secure my adj
ministration against any opposition of
practical consequence, and l trust That
nv conduct iu tue future, as in the past,
will show how thoroughly I recognize
the confidence which has been
yonchsafed to me. But cannot refuse
to recognize the fact that a large body
of,those, in whose hands the wealth, the
influence and The education of the State
has in forper times been entirely
placed, and in whose hands, to a very
considerable extent, they are still
placed, have been opposed to the party
ofwhieh l am the chosen representative,
aud are to-day apprehensive ofthe results
of my administration. AS far as I am
individually concerned, while I wish it
were otherwise, I will bear with patience
tho denunciation that | know proceeds
from an entire misconception of my acts,
my thoughts and my feeling.
But, If I know myself, that which /
desire above all things is the restoration
of harmony to the disturbed opiDitn Of
this State, the recognition by all classes
in the State of their mutual dependence
and their common interest; and if I
could close my term of Office knowing
that my efforts had been successful in
making all men feel once more that
they have common interest in the rep
utation and prosperity OF the State, |
rest content with myself, and thankful
to the God of Peacs, who used me as his
instrument. know how difficult this
will be; but, in conclusion, l will say
that I will pledge myself to every
legitimate effort for the accomplishment
of this dcsi able result, and will hail as
the best friend of the State and my ad-
minis.ration, every and any man, SUI
porter or antagonist, who will aid me in
any way to compass this perfect work
Of peace.