The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-01-28
EXECUTIVE CHAMnER.


EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,
To THE SBNATK I'm EXECUTIVE SEs-
sIoN)-GEnT1EMEN: have addressed
you message In executive session, in
order that may lay before you my
views respecting the appointment of
Trial Justices. From all the informa-
| tion within my command, I am fully
satisfied that there is no one feature
of our administration of the State go.
vernmsnt at the present time which
demands change aud reform moi than
the Trial Justices. The ouly reform
practicable. SO far as can see. is the
removal of unworthy Trial Justices
and the substitution of worthy men III
| their places. My determination 10
this respect has been fully ANNOUNCED
IN public. It is not to consent to tho
appointment of any man as Trial JUS
tloe whom 1 do not upon my con-
science believe to be honest and capa =.
BILE. This 1 owe to myself. TO my
my office, aud to the people.
Lam now endaavoring to discharge
this duty, and I regret to fud that
there are. in muuy Instances. irrecou.
oilable differences as to the proper men
to be appointed between the Executive
aud those who represent the several
Counties in the General Assembly. I
am anxious at all times to agree with
those Of my own political party in
tnese APPOINTMENTS, bat I can never
purchase this harmony by disregard
ing my own judgment, founded upon
the best information which L can Oh
tain. l am not tenacious of any SO.
lections which [ may make, if others
equally competent and honest are pre-.
sented to me, but feel it due to the
Senate and to myself to explicitly say
that cannot be expected to nominate
men whom do not believe to be duty
qualified, even after the rejection by
| the Senate Of those whom I NAV have
hrst nominated. think public duty
| will require me to IN Ike only such no.
minations as commend themselves to
my judgment as fit 10 be made under
all possible circumstances. In regard
to political qualifications, I recognize
the rule that the dominant party is
entitled to the greater part of these ap
pointments; provided, always. that
that party can furnish men we'll quail
had tor such Offices. I do not think
that this rule requires me to refuse to
appoint political opponent as Trial
Justice when. upon the whole, I Judge
that the good order aud 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 Se-
nate list of nominations as Trial
Justices for Aiken County. All but
4 one Of those nominations were made
npon the recommendation of the dele
cation from that County. The one
exception WIS most worthy, liberal
minded and competent citizen, univer-
sally respected in his community, but
belonging TO the Conservative party.
have booS notified of his rejection
by the Senate. This regard as u
grave mistake. and mistake which
tends in largo degree to parnlyze my
efforts to rescue the administration OF
the law by our Trial Jnetices from the
degradation into which it has fallen.
Ii there we're any charges Of incompe.
tency, bitterness of political or color
prejudices, to be urged against the
gentleman referred to, would not
have nominated him; but tho only pos
sible ground for his rejection was his
political opposition to the dominant
party.
[ transmit herewith list of nomi-
nations for Trial Justices in Chester
County. These nominations are not
wholly selected from the Republican
purity, 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. I present them to the
Senate as the best result of my lost
careful inquiries. and I trust shall be
pardoned for expressing the hope thct
none of them will be rejected. except
upon the ground that they are not
qualified to fli these Offices, or that
others equally we'll qualified can bo
recommended to me In their places.
am always ready, upon suitable
grounds. to recall eny nominat alton
made by me, but I most earnestly urge
Senators to consider these nominations n
from the high plane OF tho public vel.
fare. and not to reject nominations