The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-11-09

-~v~.--Asasrs.s..e., ,se...-ssIses..a.-,..-..---.
aensyel |ehpspn's ssHagpod. Rrssidept
Of thestate Agricultural and Mceohhssnicai hsii
Sooiety, delivered the following hdd dress
before the society, on Tuesday evening
last: ,etah.si9Sss So. IA tyfS
GENTLEMEN OF THE SOCIETY: at the
convention Of a&rioIlturallsts and me-
ohani5S, Held :H :his city, !. April, 1899.
which resulted in the formation Of this
society. it will be rememba there was
= lengthy discussion as to fixing the per.
nanent plaoe for holding our annual
fairs. s.f The claims of Columbia and
Charleston were warmly pressed by their
respective advocates; aud othes leaned to
the idea OF making our fairs peripatetio,
holding them each year in different SEQ.
hons Of the State, and in that town
which would offer to, the society the
greatest inducement for 80 doing. It
Was finally agreed that the first annual
fair should be held in the city of Colum.
bio, end after that. the matter ba left
with the Executive Committee.
Upon the adjournment of that con-
vention, the City Council of Columbia
took the matter actively in hand; and
hrst having submitted the question to
the corporators. and meeting with their
spproval, proceeded to .expend near
$S. .0oC in erecting buildings for our use.
These buildings were erected upon
srsct Of Land formerly purchased by tho
City Council, aud improved for the use
OF the old State Agricultural Society,
which We have succeeded. The build
ings then erected had been destroyed by
SharnQn Hnrtntt liz La
the first day OF our first fair, the Mayor
and Councilmen proceeded to these
grounds and formally turned them over
TO the Executive Committee for the
society, and afterwards delivered deed
to the same effect, under the corporate
seal. which was accepted and recorded.
Our society being unincorporated, the
deed of the premises was made to the
three resident members OF the Executive
Committee, in trust for our use, so long
us we shall continue to hold thereon at
least one annual fair, and no longer; and
1t was especially provided that the pre-
misses were not to be liable for the debts
OF the society, present or future; and
were also to revert to the city Of Column
bia, upon the dissolution of the society.
AT subsequent meeting OF the Execu
tive Com m!ttee, preparatory to our
second fair, they were warmly urged to
at least alternate between Charleston and
Columbia. As an original proposition,
the scheme com snended itself STRONGLY:
but the liberal action of Columbia. aud
our acceptance of their deed, had de-
cided the matter. It was not contem-
plated to have more than one fair in
each year, and that must be in Columbia.
Accordingly, we have held upon these
grounds two fairs, and are now holding
the third-each Of which, at very mo-
derate estimate, has caused to be ex-
pended in the city of Columbia not less
than $50. 600. Further, upon the faith
OF this deed, your Executive Committee,
last year, laid out in completing the
buildings between 1900 and So, 600 of
the society's funds, and this year have
continued the Improvement, with a
smaller expenditure.
1t seems that u new Council, with diff
ferent views, are now in charge of Go.
lumbia, and recently proceedings at law
have been instituted to set aside the
deed. and to restore the grounds and
buildings to the city. Your Executive
Committee have employed counsel, nnd
the mutter is before tho courts. have
thought it proper to bring it fully to the
attention of the society, but care not to
surmise or comment upon the motives
which have Induced this action. The
complaint alleges that the deed "wns ex.
ecnted in fraud of the public, political
and municipal rights and duties of the
said city OF Columbia, in bad faith to-
wards it ns public municipal corpora
ton, created by the statutes of the State
for political purposes. towards the State
and corporators of the said city of Go.
lumbin, nnd founded in o fraudulent aud
illegal assumption of power" These
are grave, though somewhat confused
charges. If it is mennt that this society
has in tue remotest degree beeu per
verted to political purposes. or directed
itself to other objects than those ex-
pressed in its constitution, viz: ",p de-
velope and promote the entire material
interest of the State, it is my duty, and
us your presiding officer. pronounce
tho charge reckless aud utterly uufoun.l-
ed. 1t is undoubtedly true that lmrgo
mniority Of the members of our society
are not Of the political faith of tho dU
minant party in this city aud State. aud
would prefer thst other men aud mea
sures should control our destinles; but
this iS necessarily the cnaa whonevar tbn