The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-12-04
COITRT OF

StlTN W luNC VIE w
and that Mr.. John II. Abncy, solicitor OF inc
fifth circuit, rendered professional service 10
the court at such times as he cou!d spare,
consistent with his duty upon the. circuit.
The act organizing this conrt authorized the
commissioner, in case of doubt or diifieulty,
to call in the aid of the solicitor OF thecouhtS'
but no provision was made for his compensil-
ton, respectfully recommend this matter
to your consideration, both as To compenSil-
ton for past services and also rs TO Inc pro-
pricty OF fixing n sum for the future II cOuii-
sci should he needed.
THE PALMETTO MONUMENT.
Permit Inc also TO call your attention to the
condition of the beautiful monument which
on the Capitol grounds to the famous
Palmetto RegImcntof South Carolina. which,
by its gallantry on Il foreign iicid, reflected so
much honor upon its State during the MrXl-
can war. " panels, continuing the names
Of niany Of the officers and soldiers, hnVc been
lost. They could be restored 1T trii!ing cost,
and thus the monument preserved, rs IL was
intended, an ever-cXisting mcmcnto 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-
litical affairs and devote themselves to the
material development of the State. ] TO not
mean to imply that they should abandon all
interest In those public matters usually uII-
dcrstood as political. On the contrary, every
good citizen should take IL deep interest In
SUCH issues.
The character of tle government under
which Il people live eXerts Il more powerful
influence upon their destiny than all other
agencies combined, and thnt character almost
officials. That governments best
which is best administered, and the highest
and surcst guarantee to this end Is capac-
ity and integrity on the part Of those to
whom the different departments are cntrust-
ell.
Under our system, this depends on the man.
ner in which the elective franchise Is cXcrcis-
cd, not by a few but by the whole people;
hence, 1t follows that. every good citizen
should take active part and exert all his inilu-
cnce towards the accomplishment of that
great cnd-g0od gOvcrnmcnt-which In itself
Is the beginning and foundation Of all prog
rcss and prosperity. But good government
ma. Home rule has been rescued from the
hands of those political brigands who ma.
raudcd the State for SO long a time, and !
hope that has been made permanent; If not,
it certainly can be made so by the continued
observance OF those great and wise principles
of Justice and equal protection to all which
has so eInincEtly distinguished the present
administration, and which so fully meets the
APPRECIATION of the great heart Of the people.
Such being the fact, II Is time to begin mate
rial recuperution in arrest. After good gov
eminent, in this lies the strength, greatness
and power Of II people.
Ali history teaches the fact tina there are
three grand departments OF human industry
agriculture, and manufacturers
which arc the corner stones of human prog
rcss. The temple Of earthly prosperity rests
upon them, and that people Is most fortunate
who have been blessed by a kind Providence
with material for their full development.
'rcw this is precisely the condition of this
State: Small in extent, limited in territory.
vet It Is full and Astounding TO q remarkable
degree with all the material elements neccsSa-
ry to the devclopcincnt OF these main indus:
tries Of life. No part Of the globe Is blessed
II a. 49, 1,n fn,ftI I, coil nv r,r 4 ~, 4, /, -,
portion of the Atlantic coast Is marked with
better harbors nor can chcnpcrrouds be built
elsewhere; and where can there be found in
any country better facilities for the building
both great and small, than here? When you
look at thcStatc md see 1t thus so full Of such
important natural resources, It would seem
that Providence had intended that q great
and happy people should dwell within its Dor.
dcrs. 1t should be our aim not to defeat this
bcneflcent end OF Providence. either by suf-
frring mlsrule on the part OF the government
or by sloth and inaction OH the part Of the
cltlzcnsin filling to make use of the advnn;
tages by which they are surrounded. And
would earnestly recommend to the General
Assembly to lake this matter under consider
alton and to sec how far legislation can aid in
the building mp OF these industries. / have
no special scheme to recommend. but I have
Thought 1t would not he out Of place to sug-
gcst the great ends to be accomplished, lcnv-
ing the means to your better judgment and
lIlOl ldtlV ulu loOblH.
will, however venture to suggest, In refer
cnce to agriculture, one measure which, in
my judgement, Is greatly needed, ut least In
much the larger portion %: the upper country.
! refer to what Is usually known us the stock
law. This law has been tried I'm several coun-
ties in this State and In other States, and
from my information wherever tried II has
Invariably worked well, and ultimately gives
satisfaction even to those who were opposed
to 1t ut the outset. 1t greatly reduces the eX-
penScS of farming operations, improves tho
stock. more cllcc:ually protects growing crops,
brings thOuSands'of acres Of good land under
cultivation, and, what IS of great importance
in some sections of the State, would preserve
tie timber and forests Of the country. and II
adds In every way to the end of all invest.
ments and labor, viz, profit. In some cOun-
ties in the State it has been adopted by II
vote of the people, under n previous law en-
uctcd by tho General Assembly. With great
Difference | would say that this mode Of lcgis-
lation Is an innovation OF doubtful policy
upon the established manner of cnnctirg
laws; and, besides, elections upon local qucs.
tiOns generally produce disrord and strife and
split communities into parties, which has n
tendency toinvolve other and perhaps more
important matters, to the general prejudice Of
the country.
II. this connection, let me say that I have
understood that during the past two years
there have been 600 able-bndiCd men con-
besides Others in the county jails. This Is a
great mine Of useful labor comparatively lost
to the State. All this labor should be utilized
in the development Of our resources. We
have rivers that need deepening, canals that
ought to he dug, mines explored, railroads
built. The beautiful stream lhnt flows by the
capital now useless and wasted on account OF
Il few tritiing distractions across It's he'd Ecar
this city, might be made Il vital artery high
above ibis point TO the internal OF
the State; the old SEntcc Canal opened those
immense phosphate deposits which lie i'm.
heddcd In the rivers OF the iOw-rOuntry fully
explored and developed. and many other i'm
portant enterprises conStlnmatru by q syStc-
matte employment, through q series of year
of the labor supplied from this source. ii
men will commit crime. what better atone
than to be made useful In the development OF
those matters In which the whole people are
Interested. The forfeiture and seGnestration,
so to speak, Of their labor to the public good.
name and effective punishment to them than
the dcinuring of their bodies in cells and
dungeons, and at the same time would afford
some compensation for the evils which they
ave cOmmittcu.
/ d not know how far legislation already
had, may accomplish results in the direction
indicated, but / would recommend the whole
subject 10 your careful consideration.
If we intend to become a great, strong and
prosperous State, the mudsills OF our building
must be made of material development. Com
mence with that, and all the other elements
Of strength and greatness Will come OF them
selves.
The lien law expires by its own limitation
on the LIST OF January next. This law seems
to have been well mutured at the last session.
1t protects the interest OF the landlord, opens
q way for the poor man has nothing but
his health and muscles upon which to obtain
credit to make these available, and 1t cheap
ems the arrangement Of recording and filing,
and | think 1t would promote the welfare OF
the people to have 1t l. Enacted.
coNcLUsl. :.
In conclusion, gentlemen, permit me to con-
graduate the General Assembly and the whole
State upon the peace and good order which
has marke ed the conduct of our people during
the past year, and especially during the excl
ting circumstances of the political campaign
through which We have Just passed. since
the late war we have constantly claimed that
if the State could but be placed back under
longed, on account Of their experimentation
tons OF Integrity, competency and Interest,
free from foreign interference and domestic
incompetcncy and miSrule, that the violence
and turbulence thereby en%gcndercd, and
which were fast becoming chronic features In
her history, would instantly disappear, and
that peace and good order would Immediately
re-nSScrt themselves. In 1876 this revolution
was accomplished, and the late campaign
during the present administration fully vim
dicatcs the justice and truthiulncSS of our
claim In that event, and should silence forev-
cr the libels and ISLANDERS to which the char
acter of the citizens of the State has been so
long, and SO sllamcfully and so u~njnstly sub
jectcd. We as q people are entitled to re.
jO!ce at our redemption from governmental
miSrulc and its consequences, and ! feel sure
that good men everywhere, when they come
to understand the situation, will join with lis
In our rejoicing, and will ~syIIpathiZc with lis
In our struggle for the pcrlnanency of that
redemption. Let INT express the hope that
nothing will occur in the future TO mar this
record, and that our people throughout the
State will unite together In tho preservation
of the public peace and the continued SUI