The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-02-04

Columbia, Jan. 2S.-The General
Assembly received an unexpected mes.
sage from Governor Blease today. The
purport OF the communication is to
prevent certain office-h holders and
members OF the General Assembly
and perhaps Senator Tillman, from
being trustees OF certain educational
institutions.
The message deals with the su-
preme Court and Its adjournment, all
of which Is spicy and interesting.
The message. as submitted. reads:
Message No. y.
State OF South Carolina.
Executive Department.
Message No. =
To the Honorable. the General AS
sembly of the State of South Carolina
Gentlemen: We hear and read
much these days Of the obedience to
the Constitution and laws of our State;
also much as to the enforcement OF
the laws OF our State.
IL would seem to me eminently
proper that these doctrines should
be carried into effect as far as II is
possible by all OF the ofncers and
citizens OF our State. Beginning,
however. ut the top. II would seem
TO me that those who are In power
and authority should first. themselves,
be obedient and endeavor to carry into
effect. and to uphold the Constitution
and the laws Of our State. In order
that a proper example may be set to
the others OF our citizens.
IL Is intimated by some that our
Supreme Court extends one of Its ses-
sions or terms, into or up to the very
day OF the beginning Of the next, In
order that they may hold their de-
cisions and hand them down when II
In convenient, without any interference
from constitutional or statutory pro-
vision.
sitting In each Of your bodies there
are those Violating not only the spirit,
but the wording Of the Constitution. in
my opinion. by holding two Official Of
nces at one and the same time. I
can call the names OF each, and name
the positions which they hoid; but
this might be considered a personal
matter. and leave that entirely for
your investigation.
Article Q. Section "a. OF the Con-
stitution OF 1895. reads as follows:
No person shall be eligible to a
seat In the General Assembly while he
holds any office or position OF profit
or trust under this State the United
States Of America. or any Of them, or
under any other power. except officers
In the militia and notaries public.
and IL any member shall accept or
exercise any OF the said dlsqualifyins
Offices or positions NJ shall vacate his
seat"
Members Of the board Of trustees OF
all our colleges. members of the board
In control of the State Reformatory
and members of all other State boards,
In my opinion. are officers. and when
members are sworn into your body
who are on any OF these boards, In my
opinion. they should resign.
The position OF trustee (either life
or elected) OF Clemson College is de-
clared by our Supreme Court, In the
case OF Hopkins against Clemson Col
lege trustees, n South Carolina, to be
officers and agents Of the State. and
gives It's reasons for so holding. and.
among the reasons which IT gives for
saying that they are agents OF the
state and officers. aud that under the
original Act accepting the Clemson
bequest and creating Clemson College.
provision Is made that the trustees OF
the Institution shall consist OF life
members and those elected by the
the personal property OF the State of
South Carolina and make annual e.
ports To the General Assembly.
further. in 1890 the Legislature
passed an Act abolish!ug the depart
ment OF agriculture. and devolvinS the
duties Of that department on the trus-
Nnn nj
them officers OF this State.
Furthermore. a municipality was
created by the Legislature I'm 1894, TO
be known AZ Clemson College" and
the board Of trustees OF Clemson Col
lege. and their successors i'm office
=sSuld have provisional control and
d':ect the affairs OF said corporation
III u admitted In the Hopkins suit