The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-04-27
SOUTH CAROLINA.
Goy. Hnlnnton,s Me,snrn


ture to-day suys; l cherish the hope thai
you will forget the aninosity engendered
by the political strife, rise superior Il
petty considerations Of partisanshir
and deVoting yourselves with patri,
otic zeal 10 the service OF your State
you will strive earnestly 10 restore its
lost prosperity, revive its industries, re,
form all abuses in its Government and
promote peace, harmony, good will and
justice among all classes and parties. All
efforts to bring about better state oi
affairs will prove unavailing until The
finances Of the State are put In healthy
condition, and the credit OF the State es.
tablished on the secure and honorabefoot
ing that II once occupied. tits due alike
to the credit as well as to the future
prosperity ofthe State that, there should be
no question, nor doubt as TO our deter
mination TO meet every honest obligation
fairly and faithfully, but it is equally our
duty TO ascertain what are It's honest
liabilities. The States obligations,
whether funded or not, should be strictly
scrutini2ed, with the view Of ascertaining
which are valid and which are not.
This should be the condition precedent
to the payment Of interest on any Of the
outstanding obligations, whether in the
shape OF bonds or otherwise, and also to
the further funding Of any Of the States
indebtedness into consolidation bonds,
authorized TO be issued under the act OF
1873, TO reduce the volume Of the public
debt. In order to effect this object in a
mode satisfactory and equitable alike 10
the State and the public creditor, I re-.
specttully suggest the appointment Of a
commission OF one member from
each House, the Comptroller General
and Treasurer Of the State and three cit.
liens, under whose directions complete
investigation Of the funds and floating
Indebtedness OF the State shall be made,
the validity Of which shall he ascertained
and shall 10 certified in such form as
the Commission or Legislature may pre-.
scribe, and coupons on such bonds alone
shall be receiveabletor taxes. The Com
mission should also be charged with the
duty OF reporting to the General Assem-.
bly, at the next regular session, the pre-
else character OF all obligations of doubt.
ful validity or clearly fraudulent with the
specified facts or testimony, upon which
their conclusions are based. The records
and b0oks OF the consolidated bonds out.
standing, with the nature of the
securities being withheld by the late
officials, am unable to state with
accuracy what portion Of the public
debt has been converted into consolidated
bonds and what portion remains to ne
funded, but from the best sources OF in.
formation before me | estimate the
amount yet 10 be funded as SS,OOO,OOO,
which at the rate estimated for fund.
ing will require the issue of 81 SOC, 900
OF consolidated bonds. Under the act OF
1878 these bonds bear date January lst.
1874, and the actual tax provided by
the act for the payment OF interest
on the entire consolidated debt has been
regularly levied every year and the
amount unexpended for interest should
be in the treasury TO meetthe past due cou-
pons ol these bonds as soon as issued.
| have no reason to believe there is any
such unexpended balance available for
this purpose, and il the conversion OF
the debt into consolidated bonds contin.
ues as provided, 1t will be necessary to
provide for the funding Of these arrears
as recommended, and q reduction Of the
expenses OF the State is earnestly urged.
The establishment OF such system OF
free schools as will place the means OF
education within the reach OF all Is also
urgently needed, the present system, as
administered, being mere mockery,
under which the children have been i'm.
perfectly taught, the teachers swindled
out Of their pay, and the money of the
people sQuandered. | have now before
me teachers pay certificate to which
the Board Of School Trustees, con-
sisting OF three members, have
each affixed his cross.mark as his
signature! We are bound alike by every
consideration Of true statesmanship an d
OF good faith to keep up in the State such
u system Of free schools as will place
within the reach OF every child, the poor
est as we'll as the richest, black as we'll
as white, the means Of acquiring an hon.
est and honorable education. shall
look with confident hope 10 your aid in
carrying out faithfully the pledges 10
which we are solemnly committed.