Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-02-04
THE GOVERNOR AND HIS APPOINTMENTS.

We are pleased TO note determlnatlon on
the part of Governor Chamberlain to make
good, so far as lies in his power, the promise
enunciated in his inaugural that none but
competent men should be nominated or ap-
pointed by him to Office The matter has
already been the subject of two communca-
tions addressed by the Governor to the SEN
ate, in which he takes the positive ground
that while he will not leave the dominant
party to make appointments, yet the compe-
tency and qualification Of the appointee shall
receive consideration as we'll as his mere po-
litical predictions. One of these communi->
cations was induced by the Senate failing to
confirm the appointment Of a Conservative to
the office of trial justice in Aiken county, in
which the Governor uses the following Ian
guage:
l have addressed you message in execu-
tive session, in order that may lay before
you my views respecting the appointment of
Trial Justices. From all the information
within my command, 1 am fully satisfied
that there is no one feature of our administra-
tion of the State government at the present
time which demands change and reform more
than the Trial Justices. The only reform
practicable so far as 1 can see, is the removal
of unworthy Trial Justices and the substitu-
tion of worthy men in their places. My de-
termination in this respect has been fully an
nounced in public. 1t is not to consent to the
appointment of any man as Trial Justice
whom do not upon my conscience believe to
be honest and capable. This 1 owe to my
SELF to my Office, and to the people.
I am now endeavoring to discharge this
duty, and regret to find that there are, in
many instances, irreconciable differences as
to the proper men to be. appointed, between
the Executive and those who represent the
several counties in the General Assembly. [
am anxious at all times to agree with those
of my own political party in these appoint
ments, but I can never purchase this harmony
by disregsrding my own judgment, founded
upon the information which I can obtain. [
am not tenacious of any selections which
1 may make, if others equally competent and
honest are presented to me, but feel it due
to the Senate and to myself to explicitly say
that l cannot be expected to nominate men
whom do not believe to be duly qualified,
even after the rejection by the Senate of those
whom I may have first nominated. | think
public duty will require me to make only such
nominations as commend themselves to my
Judgment as fit to be made under all possible
circumstances. In regard to political quail
6cations, recognize the rule that the domi-
nant party is entitled to the greater part of
these appointments; provided, always, that
party can furnish men qualified for such
offices. I do not think that this rule requires
me to refuse to appoint a political opponent
as Trial Justice when, upon the whole, l
Judge that the good order and general wei
fare of community will be better promoted
by appointing, occasionally, one Of the party
now in the minority in this State.
On Saturday last, l sent to the Sen; e
list of nominations as Trial Justices tor
Aiken county, All but one of those nomina-
tions were made upon the recommendation
of the delegation from that county. The one
exception was most worthy, liberal.minded
and competent citizen, universally respected
in his community, but belonging to the Con-
servative party I have been notified of his
rejection by the Senate. This 1 regard as
grave mistake, and a mistake which tends in
large degree to paralyze my efforts to rescue
the administration of the law by our Trial
Justices from the degradation into which it
has fallen. IF there were any charges of in
competency, bitterness of political or color
prejudices, to be urged against the gentleman
referred to, would not have nominated him;
but the only possible ground for his rejection
was his political opposition to the dominant
party.
I transmit herewith a list of nominations
for Trial Justices in Chester county. These
nominations are not wholly selected from the
Republican party, because l have not been
able to find men of that party in all the seve-
raj localities who have seemed to me to be
qualified. present them to the Senate as
the best result of my most careful inquiries,
and trust 1 shall be pardoned for expressing
the hope that none of them will be rejected,
except upon the ground that they are not
qualified to fill these offices, or that others
equally we'll qualified can be recommended to
me in their places.
1 am always ready, upon suitable grounds,
to recall any nomination made by me, but 1
most earnestly urge Senators to consider these
nominations from the high plane of the public