The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-01-15

supplying gold and silver for currency ant
the arts ut the rate of about seventy-tlve mil
lions us, ,OO0 0O0) OF dollars, being fully one
third OF The whole yearly treasure product o
the earth.
These splendid possessions and varied re
sources, together with the enlightened popu
lation that utilize them, are embraced within
the limits of thirty-seven States and clever
Territories having local governmental organ
izations, constituting this grand Republic o
which it is our inestimable good fortune 10 bs
citizens.
THIS powerful nation has no slave within ltt
wide domain. It's vast fabric reposes upor
the Intelligent and loyal devotion of free
people, and its elective rulers govern by the
guidance of the benign maxim that all "gov
ernme nts derive their just powers from the
consent If the governed"
This mighty federation of free States Is sc
powerful in It's recognized resources Tor wal
that there is no government strong enough
10 attack 1t with impuDty, and yet II Is 30 just
and reasonable In the exercise of that power
that there is none 30 weak as to fear iIs ad'
| vancing sway.
Let us endeavor, fellow-citizens, TO make
onr State worthy and respected member o1
this mighty republic, and prove by our CON
duct that we rightly value the sacred priVi-
leges Of citizenship which both protects and
exalts.
| The National Debt.
Under this head Governor Moses prints a
| tabular statement of the national debt, COM
| pliments the administration upon the decrease
| of the debt, and says:
The magnitude OF our splendid achievement
Ia national finance during the past seven
years may be, 10 some measure, appreciated
| by reverting to the fact that, during the last
four years of that period, the public taxes
have been diminished proportionately with
the public debt, the reduction in the volume
OF the national currency, and the bonded lia-
| 5ities having moved parallel with the reduc-
| tlons In taxation.
As q consequence of the wisdom displayed
| in the administration of our national finances.
| the credit of the nation has been preserved
unsnllled, while speculative combinations In
gold have been so held in check that the
United States treasury note Is fast approxi-
mating par. The day is apparently not far
distaut when the government will resume
specie payments, the delay In resumption
being. no doubt, In great measure, due 10
the important consideration that about nine
hundred millions of our bonds, bearing coin
interest, are held in Europe, chiefly for specu.
lative purposes; and u sudden resumption OF
specie payments would Instantly be followed
bv drain Of our specie 10 Europe, aud thus
defeat the prime object OF such resumption.
Doubtless the resumption OF specie pay
ments will be effected In good season, and IN
mode least calculated TO disturb the values
dependent upon ordinary relations OF gold 10
currency.
Report or the Secretary of State.
This very full and interesting document has
already been laid before your honorable DO
dies, and therefore it Is useless ior me to
make synopsis of the valuable Information
which 1t contains.
desire, however, to clp your attention to
the very satisfactory manner In which the
late secretary of State has performed those
special duties of his office In connection VILE
the eale of State lands, and the settlement
therein of persons whom he seems TO have
selected with great care aud rare dscrimi-
nation.
Should this admirable system, which he
has begun, be pursued by his accomplished
successor, of which have no doubt, the day
Is not far distant when the poor people Oh
South Carolina will have learned 10 appreci.
ate, in some degree at least. the full value OF
the "land commission" which was Initiated
for grand and lofty p' "'ses.
The late secretary been greatly alueu,
he mentions in his report. in the execution OF
lirng zeal manifested oy his two principal as
sislants, Messrs. w. r. Jones and ]. E. Green.
The work of the former speaks for lsell 10 lne
carefully prepared papers and tables on t1le In
the office Of the secretary OF State; ana take
pleasure 10 being able 10 commend Inc ser-
vices OF the latter, by my personal knowledge
of the labors he has performed In many coun-
ties of the State.
Free Schools.
I transmit, herewith, the annual report OF
the Slate superintendent of education.
This report exhibits the fact that the scho-
laslic poprlatlon Tor the year 1871 exceeds
that of 1869 by twelve thousand one hundred
and ninety-seven, as shown by the following
tables.
Tae scholastic population includes only thai
portion of the inhabitants of the State between
the ages of six and sixteen years Of age (bolh
inclusive.)
scuor ,srtc popurIT1oN FOR THE YEAR 1859