Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-01-21
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
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of the people affected by these appointments.
This impossibility becomes more apparent
when the Governor finds himself surrounded
and trammeled in the discharge of his duty
in this respect, by what are considered his OBJ
legations to the political party to which he
owes his election.
The people of the several counties are GER
tainl Y better qualified to select these officers
than any central appointing power can he, and
they are more certain to act in the spirit OF
desire to secure the welfare of their local com.
munity than any Governor can be expected
to be. Their knowied ge is greater, their in
terest is greater, and hence their selections
will be better. 1t is sometimes suggested that
if these officers were elected by the people,
their removal, if found unworthy, would be
too difficult. The answer is, that the fact Of
the difficulty in procuring their removal would
in the first place, produce that very caution in
making the selection which is needed. But
in the second place, there need be no undue
delay in procuring the removal Of unworthy
justices of the peace. They can, under the
constitution, be removed by the process of i'm
peachment or address, and see no difficulty
in providing by statute that an indictment
for any misconduct should work the suspcn-
sion, and conviction Of such otfcnSe should
work forfeiture Of the Office. No officer
ought certainly to hold his office by a weaker
tenure than this. If the constitutional sys-
tenn shall, after fair trial, prove to be ohjec-
tionablc, the constitution can be so amended
as to put an end to the system and substitute
a better system. My deliberate conclusion,
after careful consideration, is that the gen.
eral assembly is bound by the constitution to
provide for the election by the people of the
several counties of justices of the peace and
constables and make that recommendation
without hesitation.
REGISTRATION OF ELECroRs.-I In my in
augural address, | recommended that the pro-
vision of the State Constitution which makes
it the duty of the General Assembly "to pro.
vide, from time to time, for the registration Of
all electors" should be no longer disregarded.
1 have observed the discussion which this re-
commendation has occasoned, but am un-
able to feel the force ofany arguments drawn
from considerations of political policy, when
opposed to plain requirement Of the Consti-
tuition If it were demonstrable that party
advantage would arise from the neglect Of
this retirement of the Constitution, it would
not have Il feathers weight in deterring me
from carrying into effect the Constitution
which have sworn to support. But it is
idle to urge that registration Of electors is
an obvious measure of justice. 1t will not
prevent all election frauds, but it will 60 far
towards that end, and will tend to give de-
gree of confidence in the result Of our elec-
tions, which has sometimes been wanting.
In conclusion, | feel warranted in congrat-
ulating the general assembly and our fel-
low citizens generally, on the evidences al
ready presented of a purpose on the part OF
all good citizens to aid the present admins
tration in its efforts to restore and enforce
good government in our State. 1t is not too
much to say that every substantial interest of
our people has already revived, under the be.
lief that our public trusts will be honestly ad-
ministered. acknowledge with gratitude, in
the common interest Of our whole people, the
many proofs which I have received of the sim
cere purpose of those who did not support me
in the late election to sustain the measure and
policy announced in my inaugural address. 1t
betokens q practical uni6cation, in its best
sense, of our two races. So long as | can be
the instrument by which such results are pro-
NOTED, shall not be disturbed by the un-
friendly criticisms of the few who may charge
me with lack Of partisan zeal. My political
principles will never be concealed nor compro-
missed, but whenever the necessities of any po-
litical party shall require me to disregard
or abuse my public trusts, then my allegiance
to that party will cease. All my recommen-
dations now and heretofore made in the d.
rection of public economy, have been made in
good faith, nor shall be satisfied, to borrow
the language of another, with that vague
and verbal economy which public men are
ready to express with regard to public ex.
pendtures, but only with the earnest and in
exorable economy which proclaims its exis-
tence by accomplished facts" The most au-
spicious day for our State will be the day
which finds all our people so united in their
regard for the public veal that the advent to
power of any political party shall not endan.
ger the liberties or the material interests of
any class of our fellow.ctizens.
III. CHAMBERLAIN, Governor.
OK THE RIGHT TRACK-So far the ad-
mnistration of Governor Chamberlain, of