The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-12-05
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,
COLUMBIA, November 26, 1873.

COLUMBIA, November 26, 1873.
Gentlemen Of The General assembly,:
The painful accident which happened
to Governor Hampton on Thursday, the
7th instant, and which sent deep sorrow
and gloom to every household in the
State, having disabled him physically
from the performance of his high duties
as Governor Of the State Of South Caro-
lima, with that exalted patriotism and
sclf-sacrificing devotion to the best inter
?sts of the State which has characterized
him through life, as soon rs he became
aware of the full extent of his injuries
he at once relieved himself by proclama-
ton of the powers and duties Of said
office, and under the provisions of the
Constitution, the same devolved upon
me. This took place OIL the 18th inst,
and on the same day took charge Of the
Executive department. Under these cir
cumstances, it has become my duty to
address you o. this your annual meeting.
This unfortunate calamity to Governor
Hampton was so unexpected and the
time has been SO 1hort since J. assumed
the discharge Of the duties appertaining
to this Office, and the pressure of the
current business has been so heavy, that
have been unable, up to this time, to
inform myself fully Of the wants End
necessities of our people so as to make
such full and n,atured recommendations
and suggestions to your honorable bodies
as the condition Of the State may per-
haps require. and as, no doubt, Governor
Hampton, had he br IN spared this mis-
fortune, would have been prepared to
make.
The reports, however, of the very efli-
cient officers in the different departments
and boards connected with the admins
tration, which will be laid upon your
tables at an early day, are 80 full and
thorough, so abundant in information
and SO replete with valuable suggestions
covering the special subject matters to
which they severally refer, and these
matters embracing as they do almost the
entire field of legislation, I feel greatly
relieved thereby, and shall content my
self on this occasion with calling the at
tenton of the General Assembly espe-
cially to the valuable contents of these
reports, with such recommendations
thereon as within the limited time which
has been allowed me have been enabled
to conclude would be wise and proper.
FINANCE.
The annual report of the Comptroller
General, to be submitted to you with the
other department reports by the lst of
December, will contain an elaborate and
carefully prepared statement Of the errors
and inaccuracies in the books OF his
Office and of the Treasurer's Office, as
turned over to the present incumbents by
;heir predecessors, and also report upon
the value Of numerous accounts which
cumber tho books and render deceptive
the balance sheet which he is by law re-
quired to lay before your honorable
bodies as exhibiting true and accurate
account of the actual state of the Treas
ury. / beg to commend this report to
your consideration.
Besides the usual statistics relating to
taxes anil the finances, his report will
also be found 10 contain some suggestions
upon these matters. and other subjects
relatingeto his department, which regard
as valuable being based upon tie expe-
rience and observation of the last two
years of most careful eGd competent
public official. The importance of the
subjects dealt with in this report, and the
fact that any discussion of them, to 5e of
vaue, must 60 into elaborate details and
statistics, induces me to refrain from fur
ther allusion to them at this time, as the
report itself will be found 20 be full,
clear anC accurate.
Their is one matter, however, which is
| brought out in the report to which de-
1 sire to call your attention especially.
There are some evils connected with the
organization Of what is known as the
Board of Equalization which eminently
deserve consideration. In the report of
the Comptroller will be found sugges-
lions intended to remedy these evils. It
4 certainly is just that every citizen in the
4 elate should be required to aid the gov
A eminent in the shape Of taxation to the
4 extent of the value of his property pro-
i !ectcd thereby. The burden of taxation,
4 however, should beal equally on all, and
4 his to be hoped that, in your wisdom,
some measure may be adopted to i'm
& prove the present system of assessment
4 and promotive of the great end of equal
q niy, so much to be desired. If this is
done, no citizen would have the righ. to
complain, nor would they complain, for
ieel sure that all of our people are will
ing to bear their proper share of the
ouroen OF necessary taxation; but in the
ABSENCE Of this, complaints will not only
&c numerous but well-founded. The
s. OBJECT of the Board of Equalization is to
produce this equality, and to this end
'he manner in which the Board is to be
y organized is q matter of the highest i'm
B portance.
@ EDUCATION.
The reportof the State Superintendent
oi education gives an encouraging ac-
schools.
Inc last General Assembly made i'm
"tlant changes in the school law, which
people. ' -
Inc report shows that 116, ,239 children
81 s:teaded the public achoo!e lee. yea:, aa
inciease OF nearly $4,000 over the num-
S'a, w., reported Tor the preceding year. This
;;a'', together with the increased intefes,
ons :" euucatIon manifested by all classes OF
pui r,,S: Sriizens and the improvements in the
ruo,ic nO school systeh., show that crafty
IL e progress has been made in this most
"pol.aht department of the State gov
would especially recommend that in
S,a,a Sss1aGahce lance with the suggestions of the
e ,c,;eS. S.uperintendent of Education, some
n,n 'oh oe taken which will secure more
;U"PG r;sa payment of the teachers sala
h,r, hsr,,. Durlng the past year much en-
il ;tLASSment Ia and loss to teachers resulted
lime r Iae delay in the collection of taxes
,;d"a vdess some remedy for this evil is pro.
,srs;a, ,res, IL is feared that ". may lose the
Tices nv OF some of our best teachers.
in Le ,L other recommendations contained
ca,'e, aet report are we'll worthy of your
NrT:ai Ti consideration.
nrme ne iast General Assembly prepared 6