The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-12-05

is exercised, no: by few but by the
whole people; hence, it follows that
every good citizen should take active
part and exert all his influence towards
the accomplishment of that great end
good government-which in Itself is the
beginning and foundation of all progress
and prosperity. But good government
has now been accomplished in South
Carolina. Home rule has been rescued
from the hands of those political brigands
who marauded the State for so long a
time, and I hope that it 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
eminently distinguished the present ad-
ministration and which so fully meets
the appreciation Of the great heart of the
people. Such being the fact, it is time
to begin material recuperation in earnest.
After good government, in this lies the
strength, greatness and power of q
people.
All history teaches the fact that there
are three grand departments Of human
industry-agriculture, commerce and
manufactrres-which are the corner
stones of human progress. The temple
of earthly prosperity rests upon them,
and that people is most fortunate who
have been blessed by kind Providence
with material for their full development.
Now this is precisely the condition of
this State: Small in extent, limited in
territory, yet it is full and abounding to
q remarkable degree with all the mate
rial elements necessary to the develop
ment of these main industries of life.
No part of the globe is blessed with
more fertile soil or genial climate; no
portion of the Atlantic coast is marked
with better harbors; nor can cheaper
roads be built elsewhere; and where can
there be found in any country better ia
cilities for the building up of all kinds
of profitable manufactures, both great
and small, than herei When you look
at the State and see it thus so full of such
important natural resources, it would
seem that Providence had intended that
great and happy people should dwell
within its borders. 1t should be our
aim not to defeat this benehcent end of
Providence, either by suffering misrule
on the part of the government or by sloth
and inaction on the part of the citizens
in failing to make use of the advantages
by which they are surrounded. And I
would earnestly recommend to the Gen
eral Assembly to take this matter under
consideration and to see how far legis-
lation can aid in the building up of these
industries. have no special scheme to
recommend, but have thought it would
not be out of place to suggest the great
ends to be accomplished, leaving the
means to your better judgment and supe-
rior information and wisdom.
will, however, venture to suggest, in
reference to agriculture, one measure
which, in my judgment, is greatly need
ed, at least in much the larger portion
of the upper country. refer to what is
usually known as the stock law. This
law has been tried in several Counties in
this State and in other States, and, from
my information, wherever tried it has
invariably worked we'll, and ultimately
gives satifaction even TO those who were
opposed to it at the outset. 1t greatly
reduces the expenses of farming opera
tions, improves the stock, more etfectual-
ly protects growing crops, brings thou
sands Of acres of good land under culti-
walton, and, what is Of great importance
in some sections of the State, would pre-
serve the timber and forests of the coun-
try, and it adds in every way to the end
of all investments and labor, viz, profit.
In some Counties in the State it has been
adopted by vote of the people, under
previous law enacted by the General AS
sembly. With great Difference, would
say that this mode OF legislation is an in
novation of doubtful policy upon the es-
tablished manner of enacting laws; and,
besides, elections upon local questions
generally produce discord and strife and
split communities into parties, which
has tendency to involve other and per-
haps more important matters, to the gen.
eral prejudice of the country.
In this connection, let me say that I
have understood that during the past two
years there have been 600 able-bodied
men constantly on the list of Peniten-
tiary convicts, 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 be dug, mines ex-
plored, railroads built. The beautiful
stream that flows by the capital now use
less and wasted on account of few
trihing distractions across its bed near
this city, might be made vital artery,
high above this point, to the internal
commerce Of the State; the old Santee
Canal opened; those immense phosphate
deposits which lie imbedded in the rivers
of the lower country fully explored and
developed, and many other important
enterprises consummated by systematic
employment, through series of years,
of the labor supplied from this source.
If men will commit crime, what better
atonement to the public for their vicious
conduct than to be made useful in the
development Of those matters in which
the whole people are interested. The
forfeiture and sequestration, so to speak,
of their labor to the public good, it seems
to me, would be more sensible, humane
and effective punishment to them than
the immuring of their bodies in cells and
dungeons, and at the same time would
afford some compensation for the evils
which they have committed. :.
I do not know how far legislation al
ready had may accomplish results in the
direction indicated, but l would recon-,
mend the whole subject to your careful
consideration.
If FIVE intend to become great, strong
and prosperous State, the mudsills of our
building must be made of material devel.
opment. Commence with that, and all
the other elements of strength and great
ness will come ofthemselves.
| The lien law expires by its own limi
tation on the 1st of January next. This
law seems to have been we'll matured al
! the last session. 1t protects the interests
of the landlord, opens way for the pool
man who has nothing but his health and