The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1882-07-06
The Governors Message.
STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
EXECUTIVES CHAMBER,
COLUMBIA, June q, 1882.

Senator's ana Representatives.
In the Proclamation converting the
General Assembly in Extra Session. and
issued in the exercise Of the discretion
vested by the Constitution in tho Exc
cutive, ] have stated the fact which con-
stituted in my judgment. the "e1traor-
dinary occasion" requiring your pre-
sencs here at this time. Recent legis-
lation Of the Federal Congress, based
upo2 the relative advance of the seve-
raj States in population. has entitled
South Carolina to two additional mem
bers of the House of Representatives Of
the United States, to be elected before
the next regular session of tbe General
Assembly of this State; and it is incum-
bent upon you, by auch legislation as
your wisdom may suggest, to give
effect to this increased representation
in the councils Of the General Govern
ment.
In discharge of the further duty i'm
posed upon me BY the Constitution of
recommending to your consideration
such measures as I shall judge neces-
sary or expedient, you will permit me
to refer to one other and kindred mat
ter. The increase in population and
rapid development of material resour-
ces in al sections of the State make a
readjustment, to g limited extent at
least, of the Counties desirable in the
near future. The Constitution Of 1868
authorizes the formation Of new Coun-
ties from time to time, but provides
that after the date of that instrument
no new Counties shall be formed with
less area than six hundred and twen-
ty-fve square miles, and that each
County shall form one Election District.
Both Of these provisions were innova-
tons upon the policy which had so long
prevailed, and both seem to me injudi-
cious. Several of the old Counties, and
same of the most thriving and we'll
managed, contain less than this terrific
rial limit. Besides, area is not the true
criterion in this matter. Where there
is the necessary population and proper
ty to meet the expense of the new or
ganization, the convenience of the peo-
pie is the true test in the formation Of
these subdivisions of the State. Ncr is
there any necessary connection between
the Judicial and the Election Districts.
It may be preferable to retain the same
divisions for each. or it may be prefer
able as formerly, to haye them in some
instances different. Certainly, provis-
ions on these subjects find their proper
place ia the Statutes, where they can
with more facility be modified or chan
ged. They should not be incorporated
az Procrustean rules in the fundauen-
tsl law. ! therefore recommend that
at this session the necessary legislation
be had to submit to the qualified voters
Of the State, at the coming election, the
question of repeal of the provision
referred to in Section 8, Article H., of
the Constitution. These restrictions be-
ing removed, whenever applications
are hereafter made from localities inter-
ested in the formation of new Counties,
or in the establishment of new Election
Districts, they may be considered by
future Legislatures upon their merits,
and disembarrassed Of limitations with
out foundation in reason.
Called together upon the occasion Of
q particular emergency. and at a time
so near the period when through the
ballot box the popular wishes will be
decisively made known upon questions
now occupying the public mind, no
other measures occur 10 me as necessary
or expedient to recommend to your
consideration.
JOHNSON HAGooD, Governor.