The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1877-05-04
GOV. HAMPTON'S MESSAGE.
STATE OF SouTu CAROLINA,
EXECUTIVE DErARrMENr,
COLUMBIA, S. c April 2G, 1877.

CoLuMBIA, S. c April 2G, 1877.
Gentlemen of the Senate and House Of Repre,enta-
ttccs:
It's proper that should, before entering in
to q discussion of the grave questions which will
come before you, give the reasons that impelled
me to call the General Assembly together at
time so unusual aud incony cnicnt TO its members.
recognize and appreciate fully the great per-
sonal sacrifice demanded of the members by the
call which brings them here hut the critical
condition of public affairs and the welfare of
the State made it imperative that l should in
woke the aid of the legislative branch Of the
government to assist in the great work Of reform
before us, and felt confident that the patriot
ism of those comprising this branch Of the State
government would inspire them to meet checr-
fully all the sacrifices required for theinterests
rof the State. Your presence proves That have
FfsF tho additionsf Nope that you viii forget TIC
animosities engcndered by political strife, rise
superior to the petty considerations of partisan
ship, ami devoting yourselves with patriotic zeal
TO the service of your State that you will strive
earnestly to restore its lost prosperity, to revive
Its wasted industries, ts reform all abuses in its
government, and 10 promote peace, harmony,
goodwill and justice among all classes and par
ties. To the accomplishment of these noble aims
pledge my constant, unwearicd and earnest cf-
forts and i'll this patriotic work invoke your
aid, gentlemen of the Senate and House of
Representatives, not alone members of the
Legislature, but rs patriots and Carolinians.
The anomalous condition of affairs during
the past few months, while it has entailcd
the necessity of convcning tho General AS
scmby. has precluded me from laying: be-
fore this body such full and accurate intor-
nation is desirable, making precise
and definite recommendations on particular
measures which will demand your attention.
Circumstances with which ..you arc all familiar
have prevented my access to the books and re-
r., . 90 al.
government, and hence can neither speak au-
thoritatively of the exact financial condition of
the State, nor make such particular suggestions
| as under the ordinary condition of public mat
ters, it would have been my pleasure, no less
than my duty, to have done. AT present can,
| therefore, only call your attention in general
terms 10 q few subjects which require immediate
| action on your part, and must ask for your in
diligence If | am unable to do more than to in
dicae the broad and comprehensive principles
which, in my judgment can give peace, stabil-
ity ard good government to our State. To the
wisdom and patriotism Of the General Assembly
is committed the grave duty of bringing back
to our people these inesiimable blessings. The
merit of success will belong to you, gentlemen,
if you succeed and to you will the rcsponsi-
bility attach if the hopes of your constituents
| arc disappointed.
The first, as it is tho 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 condilio ion is dcporablc,
for it is shown by an empty treasury and n ru-
las4 srsaisi 9 s,aSsaiSa in commercial circles
public md PERSONA fs9SRly, d q.
| lamcntable.
All efforts to bring about better state of af-
fairs 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 occupied. But in
the meantime there is an imperative necessity
that the immediate needs of the State should be
provided for and in doing this the burden of
taxation should be made Ii ght as possible, for
the resources of our people are well nigh ex-
hausted, and the season of the year at which the
tax IS will be called for is most unfortunate
| While it is the province Of the House of Repre-
sentatves to fix the amour, Of taxes requisite TO
nect 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 Legislature. Ii is due alike to the honor
and the credit, well as to its future prosperity,
that there should be no question nor doubt rs TO
our determination TO meet every honest obliga-
ton of the State fairly and faithfully; but it is
equally our duty to ascertain what nre its hon
est liabilities. The suspicious which attach TO q
portion Of the outstanding obligations of the
State, and which, to greater or lesa .".s"' Of
feet the value Of all, render it imperative that
these obligations, whether funded or not, should
be strictly scrutinized, with q view of ascertain
ing which arc valid and which are not. There
: should be q condition precedent to the payment
of interest on any Of the outstanding obligations
Of the State, whether in the shape Of bonds or
otherwise, ana also to the further funding of any
of the State indebtedness into the consolidated
. bonds authorized to bs issued under the act of
1873, to reduce the volume of the public debt
c In order TO effect this object in n mode salts
factory and equitable alike to the State and to
o the public credit, l respectfully suggest the ap
, pointmcnt Of q commission, to consist OF ono
ho, oh ,f f1o rvis sntn
o Comptroller General and the Treasurer Of tho
/ State, and three citizens of financial ability, tt
) | whom the whole question of the financial condi
l. ton Of the State shall be referred, and under
whose directions thorough and complete inrcs
= tgaton of the funded and floating insebt cdncs.
of the State shall be made; and who shall b'
Q empowered to require n registration before them
n | or before such officers rs may be designated 0
!. the consolidation bonds of the State. Obliga
=, tons, the validity of which shall be thus asccr
.. .. tanned, shall be certified in such form as th
u commission or the Legislature may prescribe
and the coupons OH such bonds alone should b
}. | receivable for taxes. The commission shoul,
n also be charged with the duty of reporting Il
} the General Assembly at its next regular session
the precise character of all obligations of doubt
u full validity, clearly fraudulent, with the spc
VI cifc facts or testimony upon whicA their conclu
t. sions are based AS all the records and book
= showing the amount Of consolidated bonds no,
= outstanding, with the nature Of the securitic
on which they were issued, have been Withheld
J. by the late officials, am unable TO state, wit
q any degree of accuracy, what portion of tn
&c public debt has been converted into consolidate
~ bonds and what portion remains to be funded
:, But from the best sources of information befOr
:. me, estimate the amount yet TO be funded O
T. about three million dollars; which, at the rat
l. established for funding, will require the issu
j. of 81 100000 of consolidated bonds
ID Under the act Of 1878, these bonds bear dat