The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1871-05-12
Governor. SCOTS Letter.

| The Governor, in response to the call
of leading cilizens Of Columbia usiSitg
his opinion with regard to the tnan-
cial cmbarrussments which will eccu-
py the attention Of the Taxpayers
Convention, has written Il letter in
which he expresses his cooperation
in any measure which will Tighten the
taxes, reduce the expenditure, and at
the same time preserve the public
credit. ..... - & !
He concludes his letter with the fol-
lowing recommendations:
Az you have invited my opinion, I
would venture to suggest that Il com-
mittee Of your convention call upon
the officers charged with the care oi
the public moneys, for an exhibit OF
their books aud all official records re-
latlng to the Stale debt, and the re-
ceipts and disbursements OF the funds
committed To their custody, during
their administration OF their RESPECTS
i've. departments. l trust that t'a' sc
officers will Schcerfnliy give the com
mitlre access 10 all sources OF sufor.
nation without. reserve ,ahd AID them
in person To arrive at Il correct cons
ciuSion aud, if it were dcrmcu tx
pedieut for his committee to extend
it's researches to the financial agency
in New York will render al y AID
within my power to,iarilitaie ide Oh
jrcl of such examination, believing, as
do. that the. more complete the, ILL
vcsti-alinn, the more beneficial will
be the rcsul in satisfying the taX-:
payers a"d the public creditors that
any existing dis,ruSt OF the healthy
condition of our fii,ancc$ has arisen
from Il want ct inturmatlnn "i, llt one,
tlanu and OF misrepresentation Oh 1Ec
other.
do not wish to be understood ae
intimatiny that there has tecn n"
extravaganza III the expenditure OF
the public moneys-or no improvI-
dent legislation. These evils have
existed; and demand correction. The
first and most natural remedy for
these evils would be to secure for the
State the services OF citizens whose
experience and personal character
would furnish a guarantee for wise
legislation and judicious exNendi-
tire of the public fands., Events in.
this State for the past three years
have not beer propitious to secure
the services Of. that cluSs of our citl-
zens. Whatever plan may tend to
the achievement Of this desirable end,
in any manner consistent with our
system Of free government. will de-
serve the earliest attention and sup
port of the General Assembly.
l may be par,loned for thus even
casually abiding to the political sit
uation as this must. be recognized in
the appI;ration Of any practical rem
cdy for the d'ransed condition of our
finances, either real or supposed. |
q Yet, even with the most economical
and providcnt administration Of the
affairs of the State, it would be i'm
possible to reduce public expenditure
TO the anli-wa standard. The basis
IF our government is essentially |
changed. At present, we have more
than double the poprlation to be pro-
vidcd for, by law, than formerly, and
sharing and directly subject to the
civil administration. and the eXpenhi-
lure mast be, therefore, absolutely
greater, =. ..f..
So far as that expenditure has been
unnecessarily or disproporlionatrly |
it sheuld bc corrected. and
this is the true financial problem.
Any action that the convention, rising
above the spirit ofsthe partisan, las
trust it wilt may take,@in TIE inter.
est Of the whole people: to solve this1
problem. should receive the cordial
support of alr good citizens, and shcIl.
a,oSt assurcdly, have mine.
,r Permit me to add, in conclusion,
that the disturbed condition Of the
country. resulting in violence, and in
many instances murder, tends To de-
every department OF indus
try, and seriously cheeks the advance
ment of the material interests of the
state. I trust that thi, convention
may give some public expression OIL
decided condemnation of. this law
lessness. WhiIc. do not believe that
the gentlemen comprising this CON
vcntion can, by any expression of
theirs, control the action of individu.
aIs or combinations that .cudnnyer
life and p'"mrtv. yet | am >nrr that
rs rrprrsrnt"'iv men from every see,
lion of tn STATE, their deullncialion
OF MI di<1urbers Of the pnhIr pea c
will do much 10 unitc--u good cili.
zens in an active effort for The main-
,e,ance OF law and order.