The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1906-01-10

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embrace such matters as the purchas-
ing Of the valuable collection Of alb
stracts and transcripts Of European pa
pers bearing on America, made by the
late B. F. Stevens Of London, and for
sale by his successors. This particu-
lar collection Of papers would be Of IN
estimable benefit to the student of the
Revolutionary history Of South Caro-
lima, as large part Of the papers bear
directly on the struggle In this State,
and the matter therein contained can
not be found elsewhere.
To the end that the passage Of this
bill may be accomplished, I suggest
that a memorial be presented to con-
gress by your body requesting its pas
sage.
The State GeoIogist.
Since the establishment Of this de-
partment, the work has annually in
creased in magnitude and importance.
Not only Is the State geologist kept oc-
cupied in his own State, but numer-
GUS calls for information have been re-
ceived from various sections Of the
United States and from abroad. Dur
ing the past year much valuable work
has been accomplished by this depart
ment in various sections Of the State.
The State geologist has also given
especial attention to the exploration Of
the mineral resources Of the upper Sec
ton of our State. This work, though
not completed, has been published, to-
gether with previous results under the
title Of "A Catalogue Of the Mineral
Localities Of South Carolina" This
publication alone will be Of great and
lasting benefit to the State, and pre-
sents some surprising facts in refer
ence to our great mineral resources.
The character of the work under
taken and accomplished by this de-
partment has inspired the United States
geological survey to heartily cooperate
| In the work, and valuable aid Is thus
secured.
It is merited tribute to the effi-
cheney and ability Of our State geolo-
gist to add that DR.. Merrill, who Is the
| head Of the Smithsonian institution,
pronounces the reports received from
the South Carolina department the
equal Of any received at that institu-
ton.
Railroad Commission.
The reuport Of this commission has
been received and will be submitted to
you. Full and complete details con-
cerning work within our State Is dis
cussed and valuable statistical infor-
nation has been compiled and classi-
! fed. Other subjects Of interest are
also treated, among these being rail-
road taxation, assessment per mile,
value Of all railroad property in the
| State, railroad construction, COM
plaints adjustment Of claims, local and
interstate private car lines and de-
murrage. The building Of new depots
IS considered also, and this situation
shows Improvement.
A statement Of railroad receipts and
expenses in South Carolina for the
past year Is also included in the re-
port, which deals fully with the large
interests in charge Of this commission.
LawIessness.
| In my last two messages I thought
it my duty to call your attention to the
absolute necessity Of adopting more
stringent measures for the proper en-
forcement Of law, and particularly for
the prevention Of lynchings. In re-
sponse to my request, you appropr1at-
ed special fund for this purpose.
This fund has been practically ex-
hausted in the prosecution Of cases
which occurred prior to your last ses-
sion. Although I. cannot report a
single conviction Of the parties sup
| pOSSQ " NC c@AA1 Se@SA9AASN
that the appropriation has not been
used in vain. Investigations and pros
ecutions were possible only by means
Of this fund, and the results have
strongly contributed to the uphold
ing Of law and order throughout the
State.
You are only too familiar with the
record Of past years. You know how
South Carolina, together with other OF
our sister States, has had reproach
heaped upon her on account Of the
dastardly deeds of reckless, lawless
and irresponsible men. I have just
stated that no convictions have been
secured, yet, in spite Of this fact, the
realization that the arm Of the law
would be invoked; what a determined
attempt a. least would be made te
prevent its ruthless and barbaric des-
ecration; that criminals would be
prosecuted for their crimes; that the
coroners' inquest and the usual verdict
would not be the end, but only the
beginning-these have produced the1l
effect, and, as a result better con.
ditions have prevailed. Those who
would take the law in their own hands
have been made to think; the masses
of our people, who are at heart law
abiding, have found hope and encour'
agement, and the sworn officers Of the
law have had their grave response
bilities brought more closely home te
them. For more than a year South
Carolina was not disgraced by a lynch.
ing, no case occurring which coulc
properly be 80 classed.
Had T been able to report to you
as I had sincerely hoped to do, tha'
our State, since your last session a
least, had been spared the shame o:
another lynching-that for this period
no human life had been lawlessly ant
barbarously taken by an armed mob
would have been deeply gratifiet
at such a convincing evidence Of tht
Increased respect shown for law AND
order. While we have every reason
for encouragement, the recent killing
Of two defenseless negroes by an arm
ed mob Is for every reason to be de
plored and condemned. Such outrage
are not only fragrant and inexcusable
but they inevitably lead to the dis
regard Of all law, the cheapening o
human life and the undermining o
our very civilization. The lawles
element must be made to realize tn
sanctity Of human life; they 1.,ust b.
taught the fearful consequences tina
follow the blind passions and preju
; dices of mobs which take the law int
their own hands; human life mus
have every right guaranteed by ou
; constitution, and lawless and reckles
violators must be prosecuted withou
fear or favor to the utmost limit o
the law.
AS long as I am governor of tn
State I shall use my strongest en-
deavor for the suppression and pun
: ishment of those who disregard ou
laws, especially in the matter of lynch
, ings. 1 shall not be deferred in tn
discharge Of this duty, however un
, pleasant it may be. believing that II