The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-01-10

plored and condemned. Such out.
RACES are not only fragrant and mex
cusable, but they inevitably lead to
the disregard of all law, the cheapen-
ing of human life and the undermining
of our civilization.
AS long as I am governor Of the
State I shall use my strongest endeav-
or for the suppression and punishment
of those who disregard our laws, es-
pecially in the matter Of iynchings. I
shall not be deferred in the discharge
of this duty, however unpleasant II
may be, believing that in thus seek
ing to uphold the law, I am serving 6
the best and highest Interests Of our
State. 7 have been actuated solely by
this motive in what 7 have done, and
am firmly convinced that one convic-
ton would not only materially de-
crease the future record of the State
in respect to lynchings, but would al
so encourage the upbuilding of q bet
ter sentiment among our people.
In this connection I am gratifed to
report that during the past yea,
whenever necessity arose, the solic-
itors and sheriffs have shown every
desire to discharge their full duty and
to cooperate with me in every way
possible for the enforcement Of law.
Special Courts.
In increasing the number Of judic-
ial circuits in the State I understood
it to be your intention to abolish the
holding Of special courts for the
transaction of civil business. The law,
however, providing for these courts
was not repealed at your last session,
and, in addition to this, you renewed
your former appropriation for the
Of holding special courts. a
number Of these courts have been held
during the past year; the appropria-
ton has been entirely exhausted, and
an unpaid balance amounting to sew
eral hundred dollars will be presented
to your committee on claims for pay
n2ent.
Without discussing the serious OBJ
ject;ons to special courts my ex-
perience has convinced me that it is
unwise to maintain them as a part Of
our judicial system, anI I further be-
lieve that this is against the spirit of
the law, which established two addi-
tional circuits. Our tax problem IS i
serious one, and it should be relieved
whenever the interests Of the State
do not suffer. For this reason and
for other considerations which have
referred to, I recommend that you
make no appropriation for special
courts, and, in addition 10 this. that
the law creating them be repealed.
a Public Library.
Ir the growing educational advaH-
tages of our State I have thought, for
some time, that the establishment, up
on a suitable and proper basis, OF a
public library would be most desira-
bic step. Hon. VIM. Courtenay, Who
has done so much to preserve the his
tory and literature of our State, has
submitted an interesting paper to me
bearing upon this subject.
The Catawba Indian Lands.
Another matter which I think nee
essary to call to your attention is the
question raised by the remnant of the
tribe of Catawba Indians, respecting
the tract Of $50 square mics which
they once held in the present counties
of Lancaster and York, and the small
remnant Of that tract, consisting Of
20 acres, which they now occupy in
the county of York. These lands
were formerly ceded to the Indians in
: legal manner, and until 1910 We're
by the State as their prop
arty, but, in the above year, the State
made treaty for the purchase OF
these lands. The matter was not sat
arranged. however, and has
been in an incomplete form ever since.
The Indians are now threatening to
sue the State for the recovery Of these
lands, and have employed counsel for
the purpose of presenting the raa1ter
to your body and for bringing action
in the courts IN case 10 satisfactory
is made.
In view Of these facts. and the in
oortance of having the matter thor
oughiy investigated. both for the pur-
pose OF rendering justice to the In
dams and defending q suit in case
one is brought, I recommend that the
natter be investigated. and such ac-
ion taken as the facts warrant.
River Navigation.
It is matter of prime Importance