The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-12-04
The Governors Message.

orders DC, should be made payable to the order Of
Z. B. MURRAY & Co.
The Governors Message.
The Governors message is an able,
thoughtful and lengthy document. The
Governor congratulates the Assembly and
the people of the State in; the prologue
of his message on the general agricultu-
raj prosperity of the State, uotwithstand-
ing the drought which at one time threat
ened the destruction of the crops. Touch:
ing our agricultural prospects, the Gov
ernor gives, indeed, cheering account,
all the more valuable because it is based
upon reports which were furnished him
at his own instance, thus establishing a
precedent which We hope will be observ-
ed by the future Executives of the State,
should it not be deemed advisable to es-
tablish statistical bureau, which is now
recognized as matter of State necessity
in the governments of all civilized States.
Touching this matter of the condition of
agriculture, the Governor, amongst
other things, says:
AGRICULTURAL CONDITION OF THE
STATE.
have taken some pains to obtain in
formation on this subject, and ereports
from the different counties show that the
people of all classes and conditions have
been more industrious, more energetic
and enterprising in this department of
industry during the current year than
for many. years past, and am rejoiced to
believe that; the new relations Of labor
and capital which our sudden transform
alton has imposed upon Us as q people
are beginning to adjust themselves more
harmoniously. We have certainly
touched bottom, and the rebound has
commenced. These reports further show
that while cotton still forms the main
product, yet that the people all. over the
State are beginning largely to diversity
their crops. More small grain, especial.
" wheat and oats, has been cultivated
and harvested, at least in upper South
Carolina, during the past year than at
any period since the war, and greater at
tention is beginning to be paid to grasses
and cattle, and the people are generally
and. wisely, I think, coming to.the con-
clusion that while their soil is,well .adap-
ted to the production of the great staple,
cotton, and thatthis product should not
be neglected, yet that their corn, cribs
and meat houses should be built on their
own lands and under the protection of
their own eyes. When this practice is
more generally re-established and fully
adopted, our future, agriculturally, l
think, will become more secure, and
while afording all of our people the
means of a comfortable living, it will
largely tend to relieve them from those
fearful pecuniary disasters which not
unfrequently occur among every people
relying upon but one industry and the
cultivation of q single staple.
STOCK LAWS.
In this connection it affords me pleas
ure to state the law, known as the stock
law, passed at the LIST session, has fully
realized the hopes OF its friends in those
counties where it has been put into oper-
alton. Of course measure so radical
in its character and so suddenly adopted
would meet with some opposition, and, as
was expected, some complaints were
made against this /; but this was immediss
ately upon the passage of the act and be-
fore the people had prepared themselves
to meet it. Since then it has given as
nearly universal satisfaction as any law
ever enacted, and the -concurring testi-
mony. from all quarters is that it is the
greatest blessing to agriculture ever bes-
towed by the Legislature. 1t is,for you
to determine whether or not this law
should be extended to the counties not
now embraced, upon such information as
you may receive fromthe Representatives
of these counties.
PEACE OF THE STATE.
The Governor then presented his con.
gratulations on the peace and order
which has prevailed throughout the State
throughout the year, concluding with a
well-timed and most earnest appeal to q
wholesome public opinion against the
carrying of concealed weapons. His Ex-
celle1cy concludes by saying:
J 10 not know that any additional laws
upon the subject of homicide are neces-
sary. What is needed, herhaps, is q
sterner enforcement of those already in
existence; it is safe, however, to leave
this to the courts and juries.
DEPARTMENTS.
The message presents only such prom
inent points as is deemed advisable with
reference to the information tonching
the financial, the educational and the
military departments, the penitentiary,
tbo 1,rot;o os,,l,,p, tha ;p,t;trt;on sc tho
deaf and dumb and other charitable in
stitutions, the Sinking Fund Commission,
the Railroad Commission and the Phos-
phate Commission, referring to the re-
ports themselves for more detailed infor-
nation.
MEASURES RECOMMENDED.
Touching this matter, the Governor
expresses the belief that but little addi-
tional legislation is now required by the
wants of the people, and in consequence
his Excellency has few recommendations
te make. Under the head of Finances
We find recommendation which appears
to US very wholesome one, touching the
rendering Of reports of County Commits
sioners as to the administering of taxes col
lected for county purposes. 1t is recon-
mended that these reports, instead of be-
ing made to the General Assembly as is
now done, without the possibility of the
due circumspection desirable of the do
ings, contracts and vouchers of the Coun-
ty Commissioners, should be made to the
Circuit Court in the several counties, to
be examined by the grand juries under
their supervision, after being published
in the county papers just previous to the
sitting of the court to which they shall
be made.
Under the head of public shools we
find the following recommendation:
would earnestly recommend some
legislation which will secure to teachers