Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-12-05

| ID, IN my JuuSuehI, VI tue SiooIesI tuPot
tance. The Constitution ofthe State, Article
K, Section 9, makes it the duty of the Gen
eral Assembly to provide for the maintenance
of this institution. The faithful discharge Of
the duty thus imposed is rendered more bind.
ing by considerations of the highest policy.
There can be no doubt that the unity of our
people in the past, and the commanding posi-
ton which, for 80 many years, South Carolina
held in the councils of the nation, was due in
some measure, to the influence of the college
Nothing will contribute more to the material
prosperity Of The State than the restoration Of
this institution to it's former condition of use.
fulness.
I do not underestimate the denoninational
colleges which now exist in this State. They
are contributing largely to the education OF
our people, and they we'll deserve the patron
age which they receive, and more. But in
order to complete our educational fabric, we
should have State institution not only wor.
thy of the past, but fitted for the increasing
wants of the future. This matter, however, is
solely for you. You are better informed of
the wants and wishes of the people than my.
self; and with you, to whom this subject prop
erly belongs, J. respectfully leave it.
MILITIA.
The general condition of this branch of the
public service shows great improvement, as
will be seen from the full exhibit in the re-
port of the Adjutant and Inspector General.
Many nominal organizations of the National
Guard, which, on inspection, had failed to
meet the requirements of law, have been dis
banded, but all effective bodies have been
retained, and the State Volunteers have
rapidly increased in numbers and effcien-
cy, and their condition is highly credita-
bic to their officers and the people. The
supply of arms and equipments, however, is
totally inadequate. Many of the commands
are entirely without outfit of any kind, and,
though several artillery companies have been
organized, yet the State does not own a single
piece of ordnance.
The usual source from which supplies have
been drawn, is the general government By
Act Of Congress, the sum Of two hundred
thousand dollars is annually appropriated for
arming the militia of the States, and efforts
are now being made in some of, the Northern
States to have the sum increasedtaone million
per annum. Under the present law, the
quota for this State il the sum of $3,35850,
due on the Goth of June of each year. Under
the proposed increase, South Carolina would
be entitled to about $4,000 annually. This
sum would be adequate to the wants of the
department, and would soon place it on first
class footing.
There exists, however, serious difficulty
in the way of obtaining the ordnance stores
needed from the general government. In the
year 1869, Governor R. K. Scott, being au-
thorized to obtain two thousand stand of
arms from the United States, actually drew
ten thousand stand of obsolete muzzle.loading
muske:s with equipments. The government
claimed to regard this issue as having been
drawn in advance OF the whole quota Of the
State in the years thereafter, and now declines
to issue any ordnance stores to South Caro-
lima. Under the third Section of the Act
of March the Sd, 1875, this State has also
been charged with all its quotas during the
period of the war, although six years before
this Act, the large drafts above referred to
had been made. 1t is believed that Congress
will readjust this account as soon as the facts
can be made known, and it is earnestly de-
sired that the matter should be brought TO the
attention of our members in Congress by such
action as your wisdom may dictate. Until
this matter is settled, the troops must remain
tunequipped to great extent, as the financiai
condition of the State at this time will not
Justify the expenditure of the large sum nec-
essary to purchase the arms and accoutre-
ments needed. Some legislation, however,
will be needed to perfect the system, and l re-
spectfully recommend to your consideration
the report of the Adjutant and Inspector
General as embodying the immediate wants
of this department.
PENAL AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS
The report of the officers of the penal and
charitable institutions will give you all neces.
sary information as to the condition and
wants of these institutions. have had an
opportunity of recently visiting the Lunatic
Asylum, and I must congratulate the State
in having Board of Regents who are most
zealously devoting much of their time, with
out compensation, to the amelioration of the
condition of the unfortunate inmates of the
institution.
COURT OF CLAIMS.
have been informed by the Hon. j. G..
Colt, Judge of the Court of Claims, that, in
the discharge of his duties it became necessa-
~ to have counsel to represent the State, and
that Mr.. John R. Abney, Solicitor of the
Fifth Circuit, rendered professional service to
the Court at such times as he could spare con-
sistent with his duty upon the Circuit. The
Act organizing this Court authorized the
Commissioner, in cases of doubt or difficulty,
to call in the aid of the Solicitor of the Coun-
ty, but no provision was made for his com.
pensation. I respectfully recommend this
matter to your consideration, both as to COM
pensation for past services, and also as to the
propriety of fixing sum for the future, If
counsel should be needed.
THE PALMETTO MONUMENT.
Pemit me also to call your attention to the
condition of the beautiful monument which
stands on the Capitol grounds to the famous
Palmetto Regiment of South Carolina, which,
by its gallantry on foreign field, reflected
so much honor upon its State during the
Mexican war. Two panels, containing the
names of many of its officers and soldiers have
been lost. They could be restored at trifing
Gust, and thus the monument preserved, as it
was intended, an ever.existing memento Of
that gallant band of Carolinians.
MATERIAL DEVELOPMENT.
hope gentlemen, that the period is now
rapidly approaching when the people of this
State can give less time and attention to po.
litca affairs and devote themselves to the ma
terial development of the State. do not
mean to imply that they should abandon all
interest in those public matters usually un-
derstood as political. On the contrary, every
good citizen should take deep interest in
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