The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-12-12
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
,.,,t!., -. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.,
Ia COLUMBIA, S. c., December 2, 1872. j.
sr 7zs.. l|rx....,. ~ fbe Senofe E

.:,si,,,e $50 EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.,
,,l,'ss COLUMBIA, S. c., December 2, 1877. y
Fe7lot1- Citizens Of the Senate
-,'i and House of Representatives.:
/ congratulate you that you assemble for the
discharge of public duty at the closing period
of wear which has been crowned with many
blessings to our people. The tillers of our SOIL
have been gladdened with abundant harvests; I;
the currents of domestic trade and foreign
commerce are flowing throughout the State IN
a broader and deeper volume, and private en-
terpriss once paralyzed by the disasters of war,
is asserting itself among us with renewed vigor.
EVERYWHERE; within the limits of our State, law
and order prevail, and the citizen exercises all
his rights without jeopardy, while the courts OF
the State, through their appointed agencies, are
now both willing and able to redress every
grievance either to person or property.
- 1t would not be proper in me, fellow-citizens,
at this time, to commend to your attention any
matter requiring legislative action. This falls
within the province of my distinguished sue
.cessor, who has recently been elevated to the
chief magistracy by vast majority OF the votes
of the free electors of the State.
In terminating my official relation to the
people of South Carolina who have twice hon
ored me with the highest Office within their
+ gift, I deem it due to the party, whose unanl-
.1nons choice, on both occasions, placed me in
snomination, and to the truth of history, that
II Should revert to the causes that have
tended to obstruct the successful adminlstra.
sttion of the State during the past four years.
entered upon the duties of the Office of Gov
ernor on the 9th day of July, 1868, by virtue
.of the election held pursuant to the Constitn-
,tioa of the State, adopted in accordance with
the Reconstruction Acts of Congress.
The advent of the new State Government,
under free constitution, founded upon the
principle of universal equality of rights before
the law, evoked the dercest hostility from the
former governing class That hostility was to
things. A brave people, who had hazarded
life and property for sentiment on the field
of battle, and had maintained their cause
through four years of var, with distinguished
proves, could not have been expected to give
8 cheerful compliance to the new order of
things. founded upon the upheaval Of all that
z they had been accustomed to hold dear in their
ancient institutions and traditions Especially
was this the case in South Carolina, where pol
titics have always been more matter of feeling
than of principle To them l therefore SYM
1oolized, in my character as Governor, an I'm,
,nitigated usurpation, originated by an Act OF
CONGRESS. and ratified By the free votes of q
class of citizens who, frou, time immemorial,
had been held on the soil of the State as chat
tel slaves. Recognizing this hostile spirit. and,
-as an American, respecting the manly though
mistaken sentiment from which it sprang,
earnestly endeavored to appease it by every
concession that deemed either safe or consist
ent with selfrespect, or warranted by proper
fidelity to che party that had elevated me to
Office. In pursuance of this policy of concil-
ation used the following language in my irst
inaugural address:
"While I believe that in my election the
will of the majority of the people of South
Garolina has found fuller expression than
ever before in her history, | am at the same
fine aware that an influential minority OF her
neople view the acts that have resulted ln the
adoption of the Constitution under which we
nre assembled, and my election to the offlce OF
Governor, as in violation of their constitution
al rights, and that they more or less earnestly
and honestly look forward to the time when
these and all other acts done under the au-
thority of the United States Government, since
the close of the war, shall be declared null and
void. -,
majority to treat with Indifference or unneces-
sary rjgor the opinions and wishes OF the mi
nority. In community like this, where socie-
ty is being completely. ,reyolqtionized, and
5 Where. as the result of that revolution, sore-l
,,ess and bitterness of feeling necessarily
tsti6o,;e All classes, but especially among tie
former ruling class, it is Of The very hfst I'M
Tertance that we, who represent the majority
Of the people, shall exercise great moderation
and +forbearance in all that we d. so that we
NAV disappoint both the hopes and! fears OF
those who have prophesied concerning us
different result, :, ..;.sl,
aFor, my own part, while 1 shall, within the
scope Of my powers, firmly and consistently
~. &c Troadopo 1oid down
I'm the Constitution, and zealously seek to
maintain the rights of the poorest and, hum
Hest citizen of the State, Iihope to be able to
do this duty in such a manner that large num-
hers of those WHO now stand aloof, foreseelng
only ey;l to the State, will, as time rolls on,
realize that the extension of equal rights to
these hitherto deprived of them, instead OF in
;ur;no the State produces contentment and
neace-conditions precedent to the growth OF
ran intelligent, strong and prosperous people.
Had I not supposed that something could be
done In this direction, / never would have
dared to accept this trust st the hands,of the
-yeeple.n ,- -.t..s, ri 80
sentiments in spirit of singular magnanimi-
.tv and elected the eight law Judges from the
yartv hostile to the administration. In like
manner, -e-appointed the majority OF the old
r,aoistrates and many other public officers.
The former political leaders, however, with a
few honorable exceptions, were not appeased
Inv those concessions. In their own Judgment,
t6ey were the State, and if they remained out
5of bower the State was lost. That antagonsrn
anon developed itself in a formidable combina-
tion against the financial credit OF the state.
The condition of the State was favorable to its
;ncention nee and execution. The State credit had
-Sesn t blown away from the mukzles of its own
snns There was an outstanding bonded debt
,of S5523, 900, and but $45 in the State Treas
nry. Even the funds necessary to pay the ac-
cr1ed per diem and ndmiieage of members OF the
General Assembly were raised by my private
efforts. The several issues of bonds made pur-
suant to Acts of the General Assembly, for the