The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-01-29
BYW: A. LEE AND HUGH WILSON.

disbursements were s6G,506 92; liabil
tiles due and unpaid at date of Super
intendent's report, S62,Ol5.65.
The following statement shows on
what account the present liabilities
were incurred: For supplies, s36, 2O5.'
II; salaries and wages, Sl5,4962o
furniture and bedding, 1884 21
minor expenses, s754,SS; money Dor.
rowed, ST 600; duo the Treasurer OF
the asylum. 1924 70. Total liabilities
unpaid, s62,015.65.
The balance Of the appropriation
for the past fiscal year remaining un-
paid is s75,U73.53. Of that sum,
however, s2o,2l4.1l have been antici-
pated by the sale Of the Comptroller
Generals warrants, drawn upon the
appropriation, as shown above; leav-
ing the actual balance of the appro-
pria,ion S54, 1929 A.
The merit displayed by the Super
intendent of the Asylum in his efforts
-providentially successful-to main.
tain the institution during the fearful
EN- mbarrassments of the past ten
months, is very commcndablc. On
more than one occasion, there was
imminent danger Of his being forced
to make his choice between the terri
BILE alternatives of locking up the
unhappy inmates, and leaving them
to starvation, or to lay bare to this
civilized community the appalling
spectacle of more than 800 inmates
being driven out into the streets.
1t is proper for me to add, as a
matter Of public interest that the
present Superintendent CDR. J F.
Ensor) has materially changed the
mode of treating the insane formerly
practiced in our State Asylum. The
sorrow-laden patients no longer pine
in tue gloomy shadow Of sombre
walls that shut out every cheerful
sight. or sound. They are now envi-
roned by music and flowers, and fur
nished with attractive games and
light and interesting literature, and
are allowed to indulge in weekly
musical reunions, all Of which tend
to divert them from that depression
of feeling which rs said to present the
most difficult phase in the cases of
the insane.
The curative treatment Of insanity
is matter that deeply concerns the
whole people of this State, in view of
the fact citod by DR.. Ensor, and at
tested by the highest authority, that
lin every community in the United
States and Europe. having a popula-
ton Of $50 souls, there is at least one
person insane.
IMMIGRATION.
There is no subject that with
greater propricty demands your leg
islative action than that of immi gra-
ton, or the coming into the State Of
persons from abroad, 1or permanent
settlement.
Especially is it desirable that the
class Of industrial immigrants who
are skilled in agriculture, and who
possess the requisite amount of CAPT
tai to purchase and cultivate small
farms, and thus swell the aggregate
of our agricultural products, and
cheaper the prime neccssaries OF lite,
dcrivable from the tiIagc Of the soil.
should he encouraged TO come among
US.
The attention Of the State Legisla-
ture was directed to this subject in
1866, and accordingly, on the Goth Of
December, of that year, an act was
passed "for the protection and cncour-
asement Of European immigration"
That act provided for Commissioners
of Immigration at a salary of $1,000
per annum, and appropriated the sum
of $4,000 to carry out its objects.
The same Legislature had previously,
on the 2lst of December, 1865, grant
ed charter to the "South Carolina
Land and Emigration Company form
ed for the purpose Of encouraging the
immigration Of free white labor TO
this State"
The plans proposed in both Of those
acts were essentially the same and
fatally unwisc, both in their inception
and execution.
They were designed practically to
incite and foster the importation Of
European laborers for hire on the
plantations in the State, with the view
ungcncrously to supplant the colorcd
agricultural lab0rcrs with whom the
State was abundantly supplied, and
who were able, and willing, and eager
to perform fair days work tor fair
days wages.
However desirable European immi
grafton may be to our State, those
plans failed, as they ought to have
failed, and every humanitarian in our
State should have been delighted at
their Glilure. s.. -.
Under the operation of the act first
cited, limited number of emigrants
arrived at Charleston, in the year
1867. Pursuant to the 7th section Of
that act, they were, on arrival, duly
registered at the Office of the Com
missioner of immigration, and were
classified as artizans, mechanics, farm
laborers, house servants, &c.
They were nearly all, if not entire
ly, from Germany, a land that fur
nishes our country with large
fraction of its most intelligent and
enterprising adopted citizens.
Many Of them were speedily en-
ployed BY planters in the interior, at
what should be considered as q mod
crate rate of wages, or about sl2 n
month and found" in provisions.