Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1882-07-06
THURSDAY, JULY 6, 1882
The Governors Message,

Senators and Representatives: In tho
Proclamation convonipg the General AS
sembly in extra session and issued in the
exercise of the discretion vested by tho
Constitution in the Executive, I havo
stated tho fact which constituted, in my
judgment, tho "oxtraordinary occasion" re-
quiring your presence here at this time
Recent legislation of the Federal Congress
based on the relative advance of the several
States iu population, has entitled South
Carolina to two additional members of the
House of Representatives of the United
States, to be elected before the next regular
session of tho General Assembly of this
State; and it is incumbent upon you by
uoh Legislation as your wisdom may suggest,
TO give effect to this increased representation
10 the councils Of the General Govern.
ment.
In discharge of the further duty i'm.
posed upon mo by the Constitution of
recommending to your consideration such
measures us | shall judge necessary or ex-
pedent, you will permit me to refer to ono
other kindred matter The increase in the
population and rapid development of ma
terial resources 10 all sections of the State
make rcadjustment, to limited extent at
least, of the counties desirable 10 the near
future. Tho Constitution of 1868 author
izcs tho formation of new counties from
time to timo, but provides that after the
date OF that instrument no new counties
shall be formed with less area than six
hundred and twenty five square miles, and
that ouch county shall form one election
district. Both of these provisions wcro
innovations upon the policy Which had so
long prevailed, and both seem to me iuju-
dicious. Several of the old counties, and
some of the most thriving and we'll man-
aged, contain less than this territorial limit.
Besides, aiea is not tho true criterion in
this matter. Where ttere is tho necessary
population and property to meet the cx-
pense of the new organization, the con-
venience of the people is tho truo test 10
tho formtion Of these subdivisions of The
State. Nor is there any necessary ccnneo
ton between tho judicial and the election
districts. 1t may be preferable, as for
merly, to have them iu some instances
different. Certainly provisions on these
subjects find their proper place in the
Statutes, whcro they can with moro facility
be modified or changed They should not
w uS ITOCFuStcau TulCS 10 tue
Fundamental law. [, therefore, recommend
that ut this session the necessary legislation
be had to submit to the qualified voters of
the State, at the coming election, the guess
tion of a repeal of the provision referred to
in Section 3, Article II, of tho Constitu-
tion. These restrictions being removed,
whenever applications are hereafter made
from localities interested in the formation
of new counties, or in the establishment of
new election districts, they may bo con
sidered by future Legislatures upon their
merits, and discmbarrassed of limitations
without foundation in reason.
Called together upon the occasion of
particular emergency, and at timo so near
the period when through tho ballot-box
the popular wishes will bo deoisivoly made
known upon questions now occupying the
public mind, no other measures occur to
mo as necessary or expcdient to recommend
to your consideration.
JOHNSON IIAGOOD, Governor.