Year: 1878

State Affairs.


GOVERNORS ANNUAL MESSAGE,


STATE OF S. c., EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,


COLUMBIA, November 26, 1878.


Gentlemen of the General Assembly:


The painful accident which happened to
Governor Hampton on Thursday, the 9TH
instant, and which sent deep sorrow and gloom
to every household in this State, having dis
abled him physically from the performance
of his high duties as Governor Of the State OF
South Carolina, with that exalted patriotism
and selfsacri6cing devotion to the best inter
ests of the State which has characterized him
through life, as soon as he became aware OF
the full extent Of his injuries, he at once re-
lieved himself, by proclamation, of the powers
and duties of said Office, and, under the pro-
visions of the Constitution, the same devolv-
ed upon me. This took place on the 18th
instant, and on the same day | took charge
of the Executive department. Under these
circumstances, it has become my duty to ad.
dress you at this your annual meeting. This
calamity to Governor Hampton was 80 unex-
pected and the time has been so short since
assumed the discharge of the duties apper-
tanning to this Office, and the pressure of the
current business has been so heavy, that l
have been unable, up to this time, to inform
myself fully of the wants and necessities OF
our people go as to make such full and ma.
tured recommendations and suggestions stD
your honorable bodies, as the condition Of the
State may perhaps require, and as, no doubt,
Governor Hampton, had he been spared this
misfortune, would have prepared to make.


The reports, however, of the very efficient
officers in the different departments and
boards connected with the administration,
which will be laid upon your tables at an
early day, are 80 full and thorough, 80
abundant in information and so replete with
valuable suggestions covering the special sub.
iect matter to which they severally refer, and
these matters embracing as they do almost
the entire field of legislation, feel greatly re-
ieved thereby and shall content myself, on
this occasion, with calling the attention of the
General Assembly, especially, to the valuable
contents of these reports, with such recon-
mendatiops thereon as within the limited time
which has been allowed me, I have been en-
abled to conclude would be wise and proper.


FINANCE.


The annual report Of the comptroller gen.
eral, to be submitted to you with the other de-
partment reports by the 1st of December, will
contain an elaborate and carefully prepared
statement of the errors and inaccuracies in
the books of his office and of the treasurer's
Office, as turned over to the present incum-
bents by their predecessors, and also a report
upon the value of numerous accounts which
Gu Der the books and render deceptive the
balance sheet, which he is, by law, required
to lay before your honorable bodies, as exhib.
iting a true and accurate account Of the actual
state of the treasury. | beg to commend this
report to your consideration.


Besides the usual statistics relating to taxes
and the finances, his report will also be found
to contain some suggestions upon these mat
ters, and other subjects relating to this depart
ment, which I regard as valuable, being based
upon the experience and observation of the
last two years, of most careful and compe-
tent public official. The importance of the
subjects dealt with in this report, and the fact
that any discussion of them, to he of value,
must 20 into elaborate details and statistics,
induces me to refrain from further allusion to
them at this time, as the report itself will be
found to be full, clear and accurate.


There is one matter, however, which is
brought out in the report, to which I desire
to call your attention especially. There are
some evils connected with the organization of
what is known as the board of equalization.
which eminently deserve consideration. In
the report of the comptroller, will be found
suggestions intended to remedy these evils. 1t
certainly is just that every citizen in the State
should be required to aid the government, in
the shape of taxation, to the extent Of the
value of his property protected thereby. The
burden of taxation, however, should bear
equally on all, and it is hoped that, in your
wisdom, some measure may be adopted to i'm.
prove the present system of assessment and
promotive of the great end of equality, so
much to be desired. If this is done, no citi-
zen would have the right to complain, nor
would they complain, for l feel sure that all
of our people are willing to bear their share
of the burden of necessary taxation; but in
the absence of this, complaints will not only
be numerous but well.founded. The object
of the board of equalization is to produce THE
equality, and to this end the manner in which
the board is to be organized is matter of the
highest Importance.


EDUCATION.


The report Of the State Superintendent of
Education gives an encouraging account of
the condition of the public schools.


The last General Assembly made impor-
tant changes in the school law, which is now
better adapted to the wants of our people


The report shows that 1929 children at
tended the public schools last year, an increase
of nearly $4,000 over the number reported
for the preceding year. This fact, together
with the increased interest in education, man.
ifested by all classes of our citizens, and the
improvements in the public school system,
show that gratifying progress has been made
in this most important department of the
State government.


1 would especially recommend that, in &C.
cordance with the suggestions of the State Su.
perintendent of Education, some action be
taken which will secure more prompt pay
ment of the teachers salaries. During the
past year much embarrassment and loss to
teachers resulted in the delay in the collection
of taxes. Unless some remedy for this evil
is provided, it is feared that we may lose the
services of some of our best teachers.


The other recommendations contained in
the report are we'll worthy of your careful
consideration.


The last General Assembly prepared me-