The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1870-12-10
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Egontinus1 First Rage.]
thoasand iclla.s for range lights on Sui
iiyan's Island, Charleston harbor, and
chat Il is necessary that an act should be
passed csding the jurisdiction of their
sitos to the United States, to which your
attention is respectfully invited.
There arc a number of provisions in
che constitution which require appropri-
ate Legislative action to carry them into
effect, such as the provision for divorce,
tho appointment of officers and employ
eos Of the Lnnatic Asylum, time anu
manner of inaugurating the Goyernor
and Lieutenant Governor. and c!octing
Justices of tho peace. BE, to which 1
would respectfully call your attention.
MISCELLANEOUS
Gentaenaen ot'Me General Assembly
Taxation is the vital power Of all gov
ornments, and | invoke your serious at
Atentionto tho necessity Of a strict econo-
my in expenditure, SO that no more
taxes be levied than is consistent with
an efficient administration of the gov
ognment. Notwithstanding the consti-
tutional provision for q uniform and
equal rate of assessment and taxation,
the taxes on real and personal property
have become onerous, while railroads
and other important interests are virtu-
ally exempt. There is much roou for
retrenchment in the salaries of county
officers, and especially in that of school
and county commissioners, whose com
pensation is greatly disproportionatc to
the trifiing amount of duty performed
by them. Having thus submitted to
you the condition of the State, aud made
those recommendation as to your legisla-
tion which seemed to me judicioust l
might perhaps properly conclude this
'fncssagc; but I cannot refrain from say
ing what ! feel deenly I am conscious
'that L have been reelected by large
majority of the citizens of this Statc-a
majority so large as to secure my nd
mlnistration against any opposition of
practical consequence, and l trust that
my conduct in the future, as in the past,
will show how thoroughly [ recognize
tho confidence which has been vouchsafed
to me-but cannot refuse to recognize
the fact that large body of those in
whose hands the wealth, the influence
and the education of the State have, in
former times, been entirely placed, and
in whose hands. to very considerable
extont, they are still placed, have been
opposed to the party of which I am the
chosen representative, and are to-day
apprehens:ye Of the results of lily adj
ministration. AS far as am individually
concerned, wilifc- I wish 1t were other.
wiSe, | will bear with patience the
denunciation that I know proceeds from
an entire miseonstructiop of my acts, my
thoughts and my feelings. But if L
know myself, that which desire above
all things is the restoration of harmony
70 tho disturbed opinion of this State,
the recognition by all classes in the State
of their mutual dependence and their
common interest; and if l could close
my term of Office knowing that my efforts
had been successful in making all men
feel once moro that they have common
interest in the reputation and prosperity
of tho State, [ should rest content with
myself and thankf full to the God of Peace,
who used me as His instrument. know
how difficult this will be but, in conclu-
sion, will say that will pledge myself
to every legimatc effort for the accom-
plishment, of this desirable result and
will hail, as the best friend of the State
and my administration, every and any
man, supporter or antagonist, who will
aid mo in any way to compass this per
feet work ofpeace.
(Signed.) ROBERT X. SCOTT,
Governor.