The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-12-18
GuvE,.nOit,s nI.ss,CE. +.

FELLOW CITIZENS OF TIE SENATE AND
House OF REPRESENTATIVES,: am hnp;,y
to meet you in this your sixth aun .ial
session. 4 little more than five wears
| ago. our present system of government
was established, and the iirst General
| Assembly convened under the Con.titu-
tlon Of free South Curolina. The meet
ing of that body inaugnrated an expert
ment III government hitherto untricd in
| any Ameiicun Suite. 1t embodied and
reflected the views Of IL constituency.
the majority of whom had been but re-
Gently elevated rom chuitel slavery to
American citizenship. The men of cul
ture and property, with few excep-
tiohs, either stood sullenly nloof, or we're
actively hostile to the now political sys.
tenn. The hereditary bondman thus
Decnme tile builder Of FREQ State, and
the wide arch Of civic liberty here
erected reposed upon the broad shoul-
ders CT the former slave. History, with
her clear sight unobscared by the dust
that rises from the partisan arena, will
record that the sudden political ascend
ancy OF once servile population has
been marked by no wilful or oppressive
abuse OF newly acquired power. On
the contrary, it has been characterized
by the equal administration of Just and
impartial laws. It has endeavored vigi-
lantly to protect all the rights of per
son, and to maintain all the safe guards
OF property. 1t has signalized its au-
thority by the enactment of wise and
benelicent statutes in happy contrast to
the legislation which distinguished the
former government Of the State, when
the mnny were governed by the few
That this great political change could
havc been successfully wrought, with
such preponderating political elctue It.,
has Lccn matter Of profound surprise,
even to those illustrious American states
men who have been tho foremost alyo-
Gates of tia rights of man. Tho cstab.
liAhment and maintenance, however, of
! a government by tho people, and for the
! people, on the soil of South Carolina,
! have evoked from those who nssaled it
in its origin the most bitter malcdic-
lions upon oil whose efforts arc and
haze been directed to its perpctuation
Those who confidently proclaim its
| dissolution, do not correctly read the
signe Of the times, or comprehend the
vital forces that move tho age in which
they live. They have studied the body
politio as anatomists do the human
structure without pcrceiving the spirit
that gives it life and motion. That
spirit has its birth in the unbendiug
will of M enfrancLiscd people, who are
resolved to maintain the government
from which spriEg all their civic rights
fEd privileges, and to transmit their
free citizenship in endless succession to
their posterity. To this end let every
friend Of free institutions in our State
contribute the best efforts Of his head
AID heart, aumindful Of the yoiicys of
coh:umely and ieproach that arc here
dlrcc;ed against all who fcarlessly tread
this high path Of political duty. The
constituency who chiefly maintain thest.
noble institutions. though rude in
speech, are loyal TO principle. Though
Ignorant, they know their duty, and
lave the manhood to perform it. Aud
though poor and needy. no man is rich
enough TO buy their rights us indcpond-
ent cit;znn us of free commonwealth
y wise writer (.Ariosto) has handed down
10 rs all Instructive sto ) of fairy,
WIG, hy aomo mysterious law Of her
/ beng, WIS compelled TO appear among
mankind, ut ccltuin Seasons, in u loath-
| somc shape, and clothed only in the
wrc!2!.cl. rags Os hopeless poverty.
Those who Injured her in this period Of
her ,rpn!s:vc disguise were forever cx.
clndcsi .!nm participation in tho bless
/ iuGs which She bestowed. Bnt 10 lLoa.
who, ~ spite of her degraded aspect,
pniel ana protected her. She afterwards
revealed herself in tho beautiful and
rc., ,s.iai form which was natural to her,
cornranild their steps. guarded them
irom harm, granted nil their wishes,
. ana i.led their homes with peace md
con!cn.mcIt. Such spirit is liberty.
At times sho tnkes rude and degraded
form, which wells her inn beauty and
immol.a! worth from the eyes of man.
But woe to those who in passion shall
venture 10 crush her. And happy are
those who, having dared to welcome her
in her wretched garb and uncomely
features, shall ut length be rewarded by
her in the sure-c coming time of hel
beauty and glory. l herewith TRANSMIT,
for your information and consideration
tho annual reports of the several heads
Of bureaus in the Executive Departmen,
of the State, together with the reports
of the various officers charged with the
administration Of the public institutions
SECRETARY OF STATE.
II - r. II.