Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-11-06
Mistrllaneous BEADING.
GOVERNOR ON THE BOND BILL
Explains in Message Why Measure
Was Not Signed.

| "do iNoh SiShSS'
Governor Blease on Monday night.
sent the following message to the
general assembly on the subject Of the
bond bill:
"On account of the extraordinary
Occasion which had occurred in our
state, l felt it incumbent upon me,
for the welfare of the planting in
terests in South Carolina and all
classes of our citizenship, to convene
the general assembly in extra ses-
sion to pass such laws as in your good
judgment would be necessary and
proper for the relief of the citizens of
our state. When your body met, in
accordance with my proclamation,
had the honor to communicate to you
suggestions with regard to certain
measures which 1t seemed to me
would, to a great extent, relieve our
people from the distressing condi-
ton into which they hade fallen on ac-
count of the fall in the markets Of
their staple product and their inabil-
| ity to find the necessary funds where
with to meet the demands that were
made upon them, as we'll as the con-
sequences which would befall our
people for some time and until the
foreign markets could again be open
to them and the readjustment Of af
fairs made which had been produced
| by the fearful and deplorable war
then and now raging in Europe, and
upon the seas. You have now been in
session for near four weeks. To a
great extent the measures that I rec
commended have not met with your
appreciation and it is now too late for
them to receive adequate considera-
ton or to pass in any substantial
form to our statute books as laws of
the state.
II am now. however, in receipt
from your body. and which you have
ratified, an act entitled An act to
authorize the issuing Of S35,000,0OO
in per cent coupon bonds of the
state, to be known as South Carolina
cotton bonds, and to submit the ques-
ton of the issuing of the same to the
electors at the next general election,
and to provide for the payment Of in
terest and their retirement, and to
prescribe the terms and manner Of
issuing and delivery Of the same 1
am bound to officially accredit the
members of your body with having
ot in tha haSt nf pnn6
faith and patriotism and that you
have brought to it's discussion and its
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 I have endeavored to give to 1t
all the consideration Of which 1 am
capable in this time Of dire necessity
to our people. 1t has brought to me
great embarrassment and hours of
most harassing anxiety in endeavor-
ing to reach a conclusion as to what
is my duty and what Is good for my
people and state.
with regard to the act, 1 have
grave and serious doubts as to
whether it meets with the require
ments of our constitution. Upon this
point, however, l feel compelled to
forbear placing my opinion as to such
question. which certainly presents
some reasonable doubt. before the ex-
press wish of the representatives of
the people in such state Of affairs
as has arisen. The courts constituted
for the purpose of deciding these
questions must decide this question.
If 1 were absolutely satisfied that the
constitution, which in my oath of Of
flee / obligated myself to support and
respect forbids it, I would, under the
solemnity of such oath, unhesitatingly
disapprove Of this act. am Impress
ed with the conviction that it is not
fair to our citizens that they should
be called upon to vote upon such a
measure as this upon such inadequate
notice-in fact, without discussion
among them generally or knowledge
Of it's main features.
"At this late day, it seems to me
| impossible for them to give the due
consideration and free consent which
the constitution intended if not en-
ioined. Here again the representa-
tives of the people, however, have
seen fit in the exercise of their legis-
| tive 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 submitted to them. That the
act has been passed so hastily as to
time. and that such inadequate, If not
actual, lack of notice has occurred,
may and should be a good reason why
the voter should not give it his as
sent, but 1 cannot stand between the
people and the legislature and prevent
the expression of their will upon this
subject.
IF felt that my action would be
| final it may be that, holding the con-
vctions l have, that this is the most
dangerous act of legislation that has
ever been presented to the people or
South Carolina, l would unhesitating-
ly give my executive disapproval OF
the act. But the people, whose wish
es | have always sought TO obey and
whose welfare l have always endeaV-
ored to care for and promote. have
the decision with them as to whether
| it should become a law. l am so ap-
prehensive of the dire disaster which
may come to the credit Of the state by
lincurring such fearful amount of in
debtedness for such a small state as
South Carolina. and which perhaps
and in all probability. in my view OF
it, will not give any relief to the poor
farmers of our state nor sufficiently
protect the large planting interests OF
many Of our citizens and so fearful of
such woeful consequences as may arise
to our people at large. that l hesitate
to assume any responsibility for the
D,t T haoorpa hacitaDt and