The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-05-02
Hampton's First Message,
THE POLITICAL AND FINANCIAL
CONDITION OF THE STATE.


Themselves to the Common Sense
of the Public-Retrenchment-Low
Taxes...No Considerable Collec.
ton at Present.-.A Rigid Scruti.
ny Of the Public Debt, to Ascertain
its Character and Amount...The
Amendment of the Funding Act...
Safe Measures for Both Creditor
and Debtor.
COLUMBIA, Thursday, April 2o.-The
message of Governor Hampton present
ed t. the General Assembly, to-day, is as
follows:
STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
COLUMBIA, 8. c., April 26, 1877.
Gentlemen of the Senate and House OF
Representatives:
1t Is proper that I should, before enter
ing into a discussion Of the grave ques-
tions which will come before you, give the
reasons that impelled me to call the Cen
eral Assembly together at q time so I'M
usual and inconvenieat to its members.
I recognize and appreciate fully the great
personal sacrifice demanded of the NOM
bers by the call which brings them here
but the critical condition of public affairs
and the welfare of the State made 1t i'm
perative that I should invoke the aid OF
the legislative branch of the government
to assist in the great work of reform be-
fore us, and 1 felt confident that the patri-
otism of those comprising this branch OF
the State government would inspire them
to meet cheerfully all sacrifices required
for the interests Of the State. Your pres
ence roves that I have not been disap-
pointed in this hope; and I cherish the
additional hope that you will forget the
animosities engendered by political strife,
rise superior to the petty consideration OF
partisanship, and devoting yourselves
with patriotic zeal to the service Of your
State, that you will strive earnestly to re-
store its lost prosperity, to revive its vast
ed industries, to reform all abuses in its
government, and to promote peace, harL
mony, goodwill and Justice among all
classes and parties. To the accomplish
ment ofthese noble aims I pledge my con-
slant, unwearied and earnest efforts and
in shis patriotic work I invoke your aid,
gentlemen of the Senate and House OF
Representatives, not alone as members
of the Legislature, but as patriots and
Carolinians.
THE ANOMALOUS CONDITION OF AFFAIRS
during the past few months, while it has en-
tailedthe necessity of converting Ii Cen
eral Assembly, has precluded me from
laying before this body such full and &C
curate information as is desirable, OF
making precise and definite recommends
tons on particular measures which will
demand your attention. Circumstances
with Which you are all familiar have pre-.
vented my access to the books and
records of the various departments Of the
State government, and thence l can
neither speak authoritatively Of the x
act financial condition Of the State, MOI
the ordinary condition Of public matters,
it would have been my pleasure, no less
than my duty, to have done. At present
I can, therefore, only call your attention
in general terms to a few subjects which
require immediate action on your part,
and I 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,
liability and good government to oul
State. To the wisdom and patriotism OF
the General Assembly is committed the
grave duty of bringing back to u peo'
pie these in estimable blessings. The
merit of success will belong to you gen.
tlemen, if you succeed and to you will
the responsibility attach If the hopes Of
your constituents are disappointed.
U 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 fol-
me to say that this condition il
deplorable, for it is shown by ar
empty treasury and a ruined credit; by
stagnation in commercial circles and de-
preston in agricultural enterprises; by
public and personal poverty a. wide
spread as lamentable.
All efforts to bring about q better state
of affairs will prove u~navailing until tn
finances Of the State are put in a healthy
condition and the credit of the State es'
tablished on the sound and honorable
footing they once occupied. But in thu
meantime there is an imperative necessi
ty that the immediate needs of the Statt
should be provided for; and in doing thi!
the burden of taxation should be made al
light as possible, for the Of ouI
people are well nigh exhausted, and tn
season of the year at which the taxes viii
be called for is most unfortunate.
H PUBLIC DEBT.
While it Is the province of tn,
House of Representatives to fix tn
amount of taxes requisite to NEE
the demands of the State, and tn
time and mode Of their collection,
venture to offer some suggestions OF
these points for the consideration
of the Legislature. It Is due alike to tn
honor and the credit as well as to its flu
ture prosperity, that there should be N
question mol doubt as to u determine
ton to meet every honest obligation o
the State fairly and faithfully; but it /
equally our duty to ascertain what are it
honest liabilities. The suspicious which
attach to q portion of the outstanding oh
legations of the State, and which, to
all, render it imperative that these obliga
tons, whether funded or not, should b.
strictly scrutinized with a view of ascer
tanning which are valid and which ar
not. There should be a condition prece
dent to the payment Of interest on any o
the outstanding obligations of the State
whether in the shape of bonds or other
wise, and also to the further funding O
any of the State indebtedness into tn
consolidated bonds authorized to be is
sued under the act Of 1873, to reduce tn,
volume Of the public debt.
FINANCIAL COMMISSION.
In order to effect this object in a mod,
satisfactory and equitable, alike to tn,
State and to the public credit, I respect
fully suggest the appointment of a com
mission, to consist of n member from
each House Of the Legislature, the Comp
troller General and the Treasurer of tn
State, and three citizens of financial abili
ty, to whom the whole question
Of the financial condition of the
State shall be referred, and un'
der whose directions a thorough ant
complete investigation Of the funded anc
floating Indebtedness Of the State shall b,
made; and who shall be Empowered IN re
quire a registration before them, or be
fore such officers as may be designated, o
the consolidation bonds Of the State
Obligations, the validity of which shall
be thus ascertained, shall be certified ir
such form as the condition of the Legisla
ture may prescribe, and the coupons or
such bonds alone shall be receivable fol
taxes. The commission should also b,
oho ruaa with Tho dnfr IF roporfipr IN ~.