The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-01-29
States have, already passed laws spo.

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States have already passed laws spe-
,ially in regard to this subject.
. Tho Statue of Rhode Island would
seem to mo to be the most suitable
for us. and l recommend that its lead
ing provisions, if not the whole OF
it, be adopted by the General Assem-
biv and enacted into law for this Statcl
The statute to which [ refer is to
be found in title 8, chapter SIS, of the
s.Rcviscd Statutes OF Rhode Island"
This volume is in my hands, and will
be furnished for the use Of any COM
mittee Of your honorable bodies that
may desire it.
The provision in the l4th section.
one Judgment for damages
run against the body of the defend
ant, should Of conrsc, bc stricken out,
as it would be violat,vc Of our con-
stitution.
STATE FlNANCBs.
My sense Of duty to your honora-
bic bodies, and to those whom you
reprcscut will not allow me TO make
any recommendation in regard to the
debt Of the State until | have amply
fortified myself, by the judgment and
approved Of those whose efforts have
been directed. for long time past,
10 the discovery of q path OF fsafcty for
the State from out Of the labrynlh OF
danger in which she is involved. |
am unwilling to enter upon the grave
and momcntous subject until l can
see my way cicarl y to the end.
Haste to utter an opinion never
proves it's wisdom. Let us ask q pa
lient waiting on the part of the pco.
pie, and 4 temporary pacifcation OF
all their hopes aud fears.
CONCLUSION.
The present administration has en-
tered upon the duties assigned it un-
der the organic law and the Statutes
of the State, with bankrupt Treas
ury, and u shattered State credit. Its
advent has been hcraIdcd by loud
reservations on the part Of political
opponcuts that it would doom the
Commonwealth to still deeper fnan-
cial disaster, and enlarge tho burdens
of the people.
These forccastings Of coming evils
to the State, although impclled orig
inally by individual or party prcju-
dice, also expressed the honest fears
and sincere convictions Of many good
and cstmable citizens. Happily
those who urged hem with malevo-
Iencc were as devoid of the presicnce
of the prophet as they are Of his
charity.
The Athenians built q column, and
inscribed upon it the words "To time,
who vindicates."
1t is for us to determine the ire
vcrsible decree Of history as to
whether our accusers have, justly
charged us. If we faithfully perform
our duties to the State, we can, in
this matter, safely rcpose our vindi.
cation upon the public Judgment and
the public conscience which cventu-
ally are rarely, if ever, wrong.
The passions that were heated in
the fierce cruciblc of political antag-
onism are now rapidly cooling, and
men are temperately viewing the
as it is.
-" l ask only for this administration
that it shall be judged by it's work,
and that ils work shall be measured
by the real difficulties that environ it.
Those difficulties arc not insnr-
mountable. The elements Of materi-
al prosperity are being everywhere
combined and developed in the State.
1t is for us TO take care that no act
of the State administration shall
check this progressive movement.
Our trust which we hold solely for
the benefit of the peoplo--can lie best
discharged by cnactil.g such legisla-
,ion as will give additional impulse to
all the useful industries and beneficial
enterprises already in motion, and BY
q faithful and economical application
of the public revenues to the objects
defined by law.
To this great end, fe!low-citizens of
the Senate and House, my efforts, and
those Of the State officers who sur
round me, will not be wanting, and I
am fully persuaded that yours will
not be denied.
l trust that your counscls for the
common good Of the whole people of
tho State will be constantly enligh.
tened and fortified by the wisdom Of
the Omnipotcnt Ruler Of the Uni
verse. and that, whatever may be the
adverse Judgment of men, each legis-
Iator will deserve and receive the ap-
proving sanction of his own con-
science in all his pab!ic actions.
F. J. MOSES, JR.,
Governor of South Carolina,