The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-11-07
BLE\SE IN MI.SS.\GE TO GENi.R-
Al ASSEMBLY EXPRESSES
OPINION or BOND
ISSUE.
Does not Approve Measure, WhicI, il
Rca'Cn for His Failure to- Veto ii or
to sign it-Citcs Constitution to
SHOW That il Will not Become La"
Without His Signature Until too
Late for People to Pass on at Gen
cral Election.

occasion which had occurred in our
state felt it incumbent upon me, for
the welfare of the planting interests
in South Carolina and all classes OF
our citizenship, to convene the Gen
eral Assembly in extra session to pass
such laws as in your good judg-
ment would be necessary and proper
for the relief Of, the citizens OF our
state. When your body met, in ac-
cOrdance with my proclamation, had
the honor to communicate to you
suggestions with regard TO certain
measures which it seemed to me
would, to a great extent, relieve our
people from the distressing condition
into which they had fallen on account
of the fall in the markets of their
staple product and their inability to
find the necessary funds wherewith
to meet the demands that were made
upon them. as we'll as the conse-
qucnces which would befall our people
for some time and until the foreign
markets could again be open to them
and the readjustment OF affairs made
which had been produced by the
fearful and deplcrable war then and
now raging in Europe and upon the
seas. You have now been in session
for nearly four weeks. To great en-
tent the measures that recommended
have not met with your appreciation
and it is now too late for them to re-
ceivc adequate consideration or to
pass in any substantial form to our
statute books as laws Of the state.
| am now, however, in receipt from
your bOuy, ana which you have raul
fed. an Act entitled An Act to au-
thorizc the issuing of thirty-five mil
lion (35,000, ,000) dollars in per cent
coupon bonds of the State, to be
known as South Carolina Cotton
Bonds, and to submit the question of
the issuing o. the same TO the electors
at the next general election, and to
provide for the payment of interest
and their retirement, and to prescribe
the terms and manner of issuing and
delivery Of the same l am bound to
officially accredit the members Of
your body with having passed this Act
in the best of good faith and patrio-
tism, and that you have brought to
its discussion and it's consideration
the very best thought and the most
earnest desire to give relief from the
distressing conditions which surround
our people. The Act is now before me
for executive action, and l have en-
deavored to give to it all the consid-
Grafton of which / am capable in this
time OF dire necessity to our people
1t has brought to me great embarrass-
ment and hours Of most harassing
clusion as to what is my duty and
what Is good for my people and State.
With regard to the Act have grave
ana serious doubts as TO whether it
meets with the requirements OF our
Constitution. Upon this point. how
Cve.. l feel compelled to forbear pluc-
ing my opinion as to such question
which certainly presents some reason
able doubt, before the express wish Of
the representatives, of the people in
such a state of affairs as has arisen.
The courts constituted for the Dur-
pose Of deciding these questions must
decide this question. If | were abso-
lutely satisfied that the Constitution.
which in my oath Of Office [ OBLIGATED
myself to support and respect, forDids
it, ! would. under the solemnity OF
such oath, unhesitatingly disapprovc
OF this Act. l am impressed with thc
that ii is rot fair to our
citizens that they should be called up
on to vote upon such n measure as
this upon such Inadequate noticc--in
fact, without discussion among them
or knowledge Of its main
features.
AT this late day it seems to me i'm
possible for them 10 give the due con-
sidcration and free consent which the
constitution intended if not cnioincd
Here again the representatives. of tie
people, however, have seen fit i'm tie
exercise of their Legislative wisdom
and in accordance with their duty as
they consider it. passed and ratified
this Act, which they by such action
are convinced is for the good of the
people, and asked that it be submit
'cd To them. That the Act has been
passed 50 hastily rs to time. and that
1uch Inadequate. if not actual lack Of
notice, has occurred. may and should
hc good reason why the voter shulld
not SiNc il his assent, but cannot