Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-05-03
GOVERNOR HAMPToN's MESSAGE.

GOVERNOR HAMPT0N'S MESSAGE.
COLUMBIA, S. c., April 26, 1877.
Gentlemen of the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatives:
1t is proper that should, before entering
into discussion of the grave questions which
will come before you, give the reasons that
impelled me to call the General Assembly to-
gether at time so unusual and inconvenient
to its members. recognize and appreciate
fully the great personal sacrifices demanded
of the members by the call which brings them
here, but the critical condition of public af-
fairs and the welfare of the State made it i'm
perative that should invoke the aid of the
legislative branch of the government to assist
in the great work of reform before us, and l
felt confident that the patriotism of those COM
prising this branch Of the State government,
would inspire them to meet, cheerfully, all
sacrifices required for the interests of the State
Your presence proves that have not been
disappointed in this hope, and l cherish the
additional hope that you will forget the ami
mosities engendered by political strife, rise
superior to the petty considerations of parti-
sanship, and, devoting yourselves with patri-
otic zeal to the service of your State, that you
will strive earnestly to restore its lost pros.
perity, to revive its wasted industries, to re-
form all abuses in its government, and to pro-
mote peace, harmony, goodwill and justice
among all classes and parties. To the &C.
complishmeDt of these noble aims pledge
my constant, unwearied and earnest efforts,
and in this patriotic work invoke your aid,
gentlemen of the Senate and House of Rep
resentatives, not alone as members of the
General Assembly, but as patriots and Caro-
linians.
THE ANOMALOUS CONDITION OF AFFAIRS
during the past few months, while it has en-
tailed the necessity of converting the General
Assembly, has precluded me from laying be-
fore this body such full and accurate iDfor.
nation as is desirable, or making precise and
definite recommendations on particular meas
ures which will demand your attention. Cir
cumstances with which you are all familiar
have prevented my access to the books and
records of the various departments oftheState
government; and hence can neither speak
authoritatively of the exact financial condi-
ton of the State, nor make such particular
suggestions as, under the ordinary condition
of public matters, it would have been nay
pleasure, no less than my duty, to have done.
At present I can, therefore, only call your at
tention in general terms to a few subjects
which require immediate action on your part /;
and l must ask for your indulgence if am
unable to do more than to indicate the broad
and comprehensive principles which, in my
judgment, can give peace, stability and good
government to our State. To the wisdom and
patriotism of the General Assembly is com.
mitted the grave duty of bringing back to our
people these inestimable blessings. The mer-
it of success will belong to you, gentlemen, if
you succeed and to you will the responsbili-
ty attach if the hopes of your constituents are
disappointed.
OUR FINANCIAL CONDITION.
The first as it is the most important subject
to which your attention is invited, is that of
the financial condition of the State. 1t is
needless for me to say that this condition is
deplorable ; for it is shown by an empty treas
ury and ruined credit, by stagnation in
commercial circles and depression in agricul-
tural enterprises, by public and personal
poverty as widespread as lamentable. All
efforts to bring about better state of affairs
will prove unavaling until the finances Of
the State are put in healthy condition and
the credit of the State established on the
sound and honorable footing they once occu.
pied but, in the meantime, there is an imper.
ative necessity that the immediate needs Of
the State should be provided for, and in do.
ing this the burden of taxation should be
made as light as possible, for the resources of
our people are well.nigh exhausted, and the
season of the year at which the taxes will be
called for is most unfortunate.
THE PUBLIC DEBT.
While it is the province of the House of
Representatives to fix the amount of taxes
requisite to meet the demands of the State,
and the time and mode of their collection, |
venture to offer some suggestions on these
points for the consideration Of the Legisla-
ture. It is due alike to the honor and the
credit of the State, as we'll as to its future
prosperity, that there should be no question
nor doubt as to our determination to meet
every honest obligation of the State fairly and
faithfully, but it is equally our duty to ascer.
tain what are its honest liabilities. The sus.
pcions which attach to portion of the out
standing obligations Of the State, and which,
to greater or less extent, affect the value of
all, render it imperative that these obligations,
whether funded or not, should be strictly
scrutinized with view of ascertaining which
are valid and which are not. This should be
condition precedent to the payment OF in.
terest on any of the outstanding obligations Of
the State, whether in the shape of bonds or
otherwise, and also to the further funding of
any of the State Indebtedness into the consol-
idation bonds authorized to be issued under
the act of 1874 to reduce the volume of the
public debt
A FINANCIAL COMMISSION.
In order to effect this object in mode sat-
isfactory and equitable alike to the State and
to the public credit, respectfully suggest the
appointment of a commission, to consist OF
one member from each house of the Legisla-
ture, the comptroller-general and the treasur.
er of the State, and three citizens of recognized
financial ability, to whom the whole question
of the financial condition of the State shall be
referred, and under whose direction thor
ough and complete investigation of the fund:
ed and floating Indebtedness of the State shall
be made, and who shall be empowered to re-
auire a registration before them, or before
such officers as may be designated, of the con.
soidation bonds of the State. Obligations,
the validity of which shall be thus ascertain
ed, shall be certified in such form as the COM
mission or the Legislature may prescribe
and the coupons on such bonds alone shall be
receivable for taxes The commission should
also be charged with the duty of reporting to
H. Ga.a.ol A naarahlu OF tho naxt rannlar