The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1899-08-02
A CENTURY AGO.
Pinckney's Message About Nov
ing the Capitol.
VALUABLEDocUMENTF FOUND
information of Great Historic
Value Contained in an Old
Paper Discovered Last
Monday.
Monday.

Paper Discovered Last
Monday.
In looking through some old books IN
the Office Of the secretary Of State Mon,
day Chief Clerk Can't found sticking
between the pages document of great
value. 1t was no less than the message
of Gov. Pinckney to the Legislature
dealing with the moving of the capitol
Of South Carolina to Columbia. The
docu nent is l09 years old and is in a
fine tate Of preservation. It's OF so
mucc local Interest that it is given
here in full:
Mr.. Speaker and gentlemen Of the
house of representatives.
Gentlemen: By an act of the legisia
ture passed on the 22l day Of March,
1886, entitled AN act to appoint COM
missioners to purchase land for the
purpose Of building town, and for re-
moving the seat Of government there
to-" after several provisions for this
purpose, it is among other things en-
acted-that as soon as the public build
ings therein before mentioned shall be
erected in whole or in part-in such
manner as shall be sufficient to accom-
modate the legislature and officers en-
! ployed in the executive department Of
government, the same shall become the
seat of government.
And by another act passed the 1th
day Of March last, entitled "an act for
the removal of the public records out
of Charleston, and for the purposes
therein mentioned" it is enacted-that
on the first day Of December, 1889, all
the public records, except such as re-
late to the property within the districts
of Charleston, Georgetown and Beau
fort, shall be removed to Columbia,
provided that the commissioners shall
certify to the governor, or commander
in-chief for the time being, that the
public buildings mentioned in the act
of the 22d Of March, 1856, are erected
as therein directed.
In consequence of these acts, and Of
the reports Of the commissioners ap-
pointed to carry them into execution
(copies of which are herewith trans
mitted) it became my duty to give the
necessary directions for removing the
Offices Of Secretary Of State, the sur
veyor general, and those belonging to
thet1easury, together with all the re-
cords which are separated, and for con-
vening the legislature to meet at. this
place.
During your recess the general GOV
ernment Of the union has been formed
by the assembling of the different
branches Of the legislature, and the
qualification of the executive. You
will receive copies Of all the acts and
resolutions passed during their late
session which have been officially trans
mitted by the president for that pur-
pose. One which will claim your i'm
mediate attention is the resolution pro-
posing amendments to the constitution
| of the United States. These amend
ments are proposed, as congress de.
clares, in consequence Of number Of
the States, having at the time of their
adopting the constitution, expressed a
desire, in order to prevent misconsteuc-
ton, or abuse of its powers-that furth-
er declaratory and restrictive clauses
should be added. And, as extending
the ground of confidence, will best en-
sure the beneicent ends Of its institu-
ton. They have therefore submitted
them to the legislatures Of the several
States in order that they may be rati6-
ed and become part Of the said con-
stitution.
have also the honor to enclose a
letter from the governor Of New York,
transmitting concurrent resolution OF
both branches of the legislature Of that
State, on the subject of an application
to congress for another convention OF
deputies from the several States to re-
wise and amend the federal constltu-
ton.
Since the duties on tonnage and I'M.
post have been received for the use OF
the United States, our public funds
have been in the most impoverished
condition. I have directed the commits
sioners to lay before you, for your IN
formation, such statement of the
treasury, as will, | have no doubt, con-
vince you Of the necessity there is for
the most speedy and efectual measures
to place them in the future, in more
certain and respectable situation.
shall continue, gentlemen, to make
you such communications as shall ap-
pear to me necessary for your informa-
ton, or such as at this time should en-
gage attention, convinced that all your
proceedings will be calculated to ac-
celerate business, to place the public
funds upon the most honorable and
permanent footing. and establish that
harmony in our councils, which is es-
sential to the true interest and happl-
ness of the public.
Charles Pinckney.
Columbia, January 4th, 1890.
The commissioners for laying out the
town of Columbia, and for contracting
| for the public buildings therein, have
the honor to acquaint your exccllency,
that Mr.. James Brown, the carpenter,
has given satisfactory reasons why the
State house is not finished according to
his contract. and has engaged to COM
plete it within two months from this
date. That they have contracted with
several other gentlemen to do such
other work as appears necessary for the
reception Of the legislature, and for
placing of the public records, which
will be finished by the first day Of De-