Also the return of the Commissioners of Free Schools for St. Peter's Parish, for the year 1852, which was referred to the Committee on Education. Mr. PATTERSON presented the accounts of Doctors W. W. Smith, and W. H. Haygood, for post mortem examinations; which were severally referred to the Committee on Claims. Mr. TUCKER presented the Return of the Commissioners of Free Schools for Spartanburgh District, for the year 1852; which was referred to the Committee on Education, and Also the account of the Palmetto Standard for Public Printing, which was referred to the Committee on Claims. Mr. HAMPTON presented the petition of the Richland Volunteer Rifle Company for recharter; which was referred to the Committee on the Military. Also the petition of the Commercial Bank of Columbia, praying a renewal of charter; which was referred to the Committee of Ways and Means. Also the Report of the Regents of the Lunatic Asylum; which was referred to the Committee on the Lunatic Asylum, and five hundred copies of the Report were ordered to be printed. Mr. McCRADY presented the petition of the Planters' and Mechanics' Bank for a recharter; which was referred to the Committee of Ways and Means. Mr. REYNOLDS submitted the Presentments of the Grand Juries of Charleston District, for Spring and Fall Terms 1852. So much as presents the practice of running, as vacant land that which had been before granted, was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. So much as relates to the unlawful traffic with slaves, was referred to Committee on Colored Population. So much as relates to the contracting of debts by minors at Colleges and Schools, was referred to the Committee on Education. So much as relates to the Jail was referred to the Committee on Public Buildings, and So much as relates to frivolous prosecutions,-to the delay incident to the recovery of debts, and as recommends an additional term of the Court for Charleston District, was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Mr. DUNCAN presented the petition of Milly Ward, praying for a pension; which was referred to the Committee on Pensions. Also the petition of J. P. Hillhouse, praying for the charter of a Turn pike Road, which was referred to the Committee on Roads, Bridges, and Ferries. Mr. GADBERRY presented the petition of the Teachers' Association and Citizens of Union District, praying an alteration in the Free School system, which was referred to the Special Committee charged with that subject. Also the petition of William Langston, praying leave to hawk and peddle without any charge for a license; which was referred to the Committee on Roads, Bridges, and Ferries, and Also the Return of the Commissioners of Free Schools of Union District for the year 1852, which was referred to the Committee on Education. Mr. GADBERRY submitted the Presentment of the Grand Juries of Union District for Spring and Fall Terms, 1852. So much as recommends a poll tax to be levied on all free white men, and So much as recommends a tax to be levied, to aid in the construction of Rail Roads were referred to the Committee of Ways and Means. So much as recommends a change of the law respecting the appointment of Guardians for free negroes, and so much as presents the practice of negroes conducting religious worship, at other places than on their masters' plantations, were referred to the Committee on the Colored Population; And so much as recommends the establishment of a Penitentiary, was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Mr. HOPE presented the return of the Commissioners of Free Schools of Lexington District for the year 1852, and Mr. CURETON presented the return of the Commissioners of Free Schools for Lancaster District, for the same year; which were severally referred to the Committee on Education. Mr. TORRE presented further returns of the Managers of Elections for St. Bartholemew's; which were referred to the Committee on Privileges and Elections. GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE NO. 1. Message No. 1, from His Excellency the Governor was then received and read by Col. Beaufort T. Watts, his private Secretary. EXECUTIVE Department, Columbia, November 23, 1852. Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives: Another year has rolled around, and brought the day when, as Representatives of the People, you have assembled together to deliberate upon the affairs of the Commonwealth. And before I proceed to treat of the subjects which, for the good of our State, I may deem proper to bring to your attention, permit me earnestly to request that you will join me in rendering heartfelt thanks and praises to Almighty God, for the many and undeserved mercies bostowed upon us as a People during the past year. Although some portion of our State has trembled beneath the scourge of the "Pestilence which walketh in darkness and wasteth by noonday," yet we have cause for thankfulness that we have been permitted to enjoy, in other portions, more than a usual degree of health; and although we have been called upon to mourn the devastation and ruin which marked the track of the late disastrous and unprecedented flood, yet wherever its desolating effects were not felt, a rich and abundant harvest will reward the labor of the husbandman. Terrible as has been the blow to the prosperity of our State, by the destruction of crops and bridges on our water-courses, and as deeply as we sympathize with those of our fellow-citizens who have suffered, yet we are bound to bow submissively to the afflicting rod of our Heavenly Father, and render to him the homage of grateful hearts for whatever mercies He has seen fit, in His wisdom and goodness, to vouchsafe to us, his dependant creatures. It gives me pleasure to inform you that the same flourishing condition of our different Institutions of Learning, noticed in my last Annual Message, still continues. The South Carolina College, under the judicious and energetic management of its able President, is still progressing in its onward course of usefulness. To the already able and efficient corps of Professors, has been added during the past year, the services of Dr. Reynolds, whose high character, devoted piety, and elegant erudition, amply qualify him for the exalted station to which he has been called, and which he has thus far filled with honor to himself, and usefulness to the Institution. The Military Academies still give evidence of increasing usefulness, and bid fair to stand as enduring monuments of the wisdom and munificence of the State, in establishing so enlightened a plan of eleemosynary education. The studies at the Citadel were suspended during a part of the past summer and fall, in consequence of the prevalence of yellow fever; but in future steps will be taken to prevent the disbanding of the corps, by encamping in some healthy region, in case this epidemic should again visit the city. The addition to the Arsenal, ordered by the last Legisla ture, is completed, and, with the former building, will be of sufficient capacity to accommodate all the Fourth Class, (say from ninety to one hundred.) The last Legislature authorized the Trustees of the South Carolina College to build a Chapel, provided they did not call upon it for more than $10,000. This building, so much needed, has been contracted for by the Trustees at $22,000, and will be of sufficient size to accommodate 1,600 persons. The Trustees have paid $4,000, (the first instalment,) out of the Tuition Fund, and have contracted to pay $10,000 after the adjournment of the Legislature, and the balance when the building is completed. You will perceive from this statement that the Legislature will be only called upon for the sum which it authorized the Trustees to use. As no appropriation was made for this purpose, and as the Trustees, acting under the authority given them by the Legislature, have contracted for the pay ment of that sum after your adjournment, I recommend that at the present Session you make an appropriation to meet this call. Before I leave the subject of these your cherished Institutions of learning-the one which has given to your history some of its brightest names, and the other, which, although but in its infancy, begins to show its practical utility by giving to the State the services of well-educated gentlemen, who, but for its munificence, might have grovelled forever in obscurity— permit me earnestly to invoke for them a continuance of your care and liberality. 1 have endeavored, during the past summer, to inform myself thoroughly upon the subject of our Free School System; but from the want of interest generally manifested, I have been able to collect but little information. There seems to be a general belief that it works badly, except in the large cities. Conducted as they are in the country, I do not hesitate to pronounce it an almost useless expenditure of the public fund; yet I am far from being willing to recommend a discontinuance of the appropriation. The object of extending the blessings of education to the poor is too just and noble a one to be abandoned. In some of the older States, more densely populated than our own, beneficial results have been seen from it. I am sure the system could be so altered and improved as to work well with us. But to do this it would require a thorough knowledge of the subject; and it appears to me that the only way in which you could obtain that knowledge, would be to authorize the Governor to appoint a suitable and competent person to travel over the State for a year, and notice the manner of its operations, point out its defects, and suggest improvements. To do this, it must be made the specific duty of some one to collect this information; pay him for it, and require a strict performance of it at his hands. I feel more certain of the propriety of this recommendation, inasmuch as I am sustained in it by high authority. One of my predecessors called upon all the Commissioners of Free Schools to make reports of the condition of them in their respective Districts, and to suggest such alterations and improvements as they deemed necessary. These reports were placed in the hands of Dr. Thornwell and Bishop Elliott, who, after a careful examination of them, recommended the plan which I have done. The Bank of the State, according to a Report made to me by its Presi dent, is in a highly prosperous condition. The capital is $100,000 more than last year. The capital in use may be set down at.... Deduct Fire Loan Bonds, The Profits are. Deduct Interest on Fire Loan Bonds... Leaves... which is about 9 per cent. on its capital. $3,450,000 298,500 3,152,500 309,405 29,680 $279,725 The Charter of this Bank expires in 1856. The short time it has to run renders it proper that you should consider the question of its re-charter at this Session. I think there are many reasons why it should be re-chartered. This Institution has proved itself to be highly useful and safe as a fiscal agent of the State, and has aided materially in sustaining our people during the severe monetary crisis through which we have passed. As all human institutions are imperfect, no doubt but some instances of mismanagenient have occurred in the conduct of its affairs. I believe that the only mismanagement that has been complained of is an over indulgence of some of its debtors. I have not been able to learn, however, that the Bank has sustained any losses from this cause. In some instances a long indulgence has secured the final payment of the debt, and at the same time enabled the creditor to secure a competence to his family, when the sudden calling in of the debts would have resulted in heavy losses to the Bank, and brought ruin and bankruptcy upon the debtor. It is much more creditable to the management of this Institution that it should have erred in this particular, than that it should have proved a relentless creditor, by forcing sales of property at a ruinous sacrifice. If any real abuses do exist, they ought, most certainly, to be reformed. The existence of them in a system is no proof that they are incident to it, or that the system itself is a bad one. The Charters of many of the Private Banks are about to expire; and in all probability application will be made to you for a renewal of them. Whatever may be thought of the policy of the Banking System, were the question of its introduction amongst us for the first time made, one thing is certain, it has so completely interwoven itself into all our habits of business, that to abandon it now would greatly embarrass the commercial interest, and probably bring ruin on the country. It perhaps would be wise to re-charter them all; yet some check ought to be placed upon them. I know of no other better than a strong Bank of the State. Another argument in favor of its re-charter is the amount of taxes it saves to our citizens. During the past year, as I have already stated, its profits have amounted to $279,725, which, of course, has relieved our people of that amount of taxation. But, above all other reasons why you should renew its Charter, the fact that the honor of the State is pledged to it should have greater influence with you than anything else. When the Fire Loan Bonds were negotiated in England by Ex-Governor McDuffie, the profits of the Bank were pledged as a security for their payment.* Thus it would appear that a refusal to re-charter this Bank, at least until these Bonds are liquidated, would involve a violation of the pledges, affect the credit, and tarnish the honor of the State, which every Carolinian should regard as sacred as his own. Without making a positive recommendation on the subject, I suggest to you the propriety of considering at this time whether it would not be wise under existing circumstances, to increase the capital of the Bank of the State. The great increase of all kinds of business, caused by our Railroads, calls for additional Banking Capital. Some of the large manufacturing establishments which have recently sprung up amongst us, have been greatly embarrassed during the past summer for the want of Bank accommodation. In fact, the complaint is very general on this subject. No doubt this state of things will produce applications for charters for more Banks. Now, as the Banking system has proved so highly profitable, would it not be wise to appropriate a large portion of it to the State, and thus in a measure free our people from taxation? * See Mr. McDuffie's letter to Col. Elmore, Bank Compilation, p. 661. |