ism. Governor McDuffie's message to the legislatures of 1835 and 1836 so clearly state the condition of public affairs at that time, and the subjects that were brought to the consideration of the legislators are so distinctly set forth that I reproduce them in the Appendix to this work, and ask the reader's reference thereto. These State papers will not only grace this Memoir, but are deemed by the writer the best means of presenting a just conception of the momentous questions that for years after engaged the attention and invoked the thoughtful consideration of the best and wisest men of the entire country, and are yet forming, to a certain extent, subjects for discussion that excite in the minds of the patriot the gravest apprehensions.

The session of the House of Representatives in which Mr. Memminger first took his seat as a legislator was remarkable in that it brought to this Council Chamber of the State a number of young men who have since become distinguished in the history of this State, and whose names are familiar to thousands throughout the country.

MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, NOVEMBER, 1836.

St. Michael's and St. Philip's Parishes.-Kerr Boyce, Otis Mills, C. G. Memminger, Richard Yeadon, Jr., Joshua W. Toomer, John Phillips, Samuel P. Ripley, Charles Edmondson, Edward H. Edwards, R. W. Seymour, John C. Ker, George Gibbons, James L. Petigru, Wm. Cross, Edward Frost, John Huger.

Williamsburg.-Joseph Scott, W. J. Buford.

Lancaster.-Wm. Reed, J. P. Crockett.

Horry.-John W. Durant.

Prince William.-J. B. Ellis, James S. McPherson.

St. James, Santee.-John A. Wigfall.

St. John's, Berkley.-Peter P. Palmer, F. A. Porcher.

All Saints.-Joseph Alston.

Laurens.-John H. Irby, Henry C. Young, Thomas F. Jones, John F.

Kern.

Marlborough.-C. W. Dudley.

Prince George, Winyaw.-John W. Coachman, T. P. Carr, A. H. Belin. St. Mathews.-Thomas J. Goodwin.

Fairfield.-David McDowell, David H. Means, John Buchanan, John

J. Myers.

lin.

Union.-Wm. M. Glenn, M. A. Moore, A. N. Thompson.

Marion.-Wm. W. Harllee, Samuel F. Gibson.

Richland.-B. F. Elmore, J. H. Adams, D. J. McCord, B. L. McLaugh

Pendleton.-F. W. Symmes, O. R. Broyles, John Maxwell, John Martin, Joseph T. Whitfield, Joel H. Berry, Bailey Barton.

Clarendon.-Wm. R. Burgess, James P. Richardson.
Claremont.-Isaac Lenoir, James W. English, R. R. Spann.
Lexington.-Henry Arther, Samuel Boozer.

Newberry.-John P. Neel, James Moffett, P. C. Caldwell.

York.-J. D. Witherspoon, Samuel Rainey, James Moore, A. Hardin. St. Luke's.-James A. Strobart, William F. Colcock.

St. Bartholomew's.-John D. Edwards, J. Murdough, Hugo Sheridan.
St. Andrew's.-W. T. Bull.

Barnwell.-John M. Allen, John B. Bowers, W. M. Duncan.
Kershaw.-John Murry, Lewis J. Patterson, M. M. Levy.

Abbeville.-David L. Wardlaw, James Fair, A. B. Arnold, James Gillam, Donald Douglass.

Chester.-John Douglass, William Woods, F. W. Davie.

Spartanburg. John Crawford, H. H. Thompson, A. Barry, John H. Hoey, S. N. Evins.

Edgefield.-John S. Jeter, James Tompkins, John Hunt, Tilman Watson, Abner Whatley, M. Laborde.

St. James, Goose Creek.-John Wilson.

St. Helena.-Thomas I. Fripp, A. M. Smith, Charles W. Capers.
St. Paul's.-Benjamin Perry.

Greenville.--Benjamin F. Perry, Spartan Goodlet, T. B. Brockman.
Orange.—W. D. V. S. Jamison, Elisha Tyler.

St. George's, Dorchester.-David Gavin.

St. Peter's.-W. G. Roberds, William W. Gavin.
Darlington.-George Huggins.

From among these representatives David L. Wardlaw, of Abbeville, subsequently eminent in the history of the State as a jurist, was chosen "Speaker." There is no more important duty imposed upon the presiding officer of a legislative body than that of forming the committees, to whom are referred for special investigation and report such matters as may come before the body for consideration. In making these appointments he is supposed to be selecting from

among the members those whose experiences and abilities best qualify them for the discharge of the special duties assigned to them. I find upon an examination of the Journal for this session that the following members composed the Committee of "Ways and Means" (or Finance): F. W. Davie, C. G. Memminger, Benj. T. Elmore, F. W. Symmes, Charles Edmondson, Ker Boyce, Otis Mills, F. A. Porcher, A. B. Arnold, Thomas E. Powe, John Wilson, and Lewis J. Patterson.

On "Federal Relations" the following were appointed: Richard Yeadon, Jr., M. Laborde, James L. Petigru, C. G. Memminger, Benj. F. Perry, F. W. Davie, J. H. Irby, John S. Jeter, A. H. Belin, D. J. McCord, J. T. Whitfield, John D. Edwards, H. H. Thompson.

On "Education": C. G. Memminger, W. F. Colcock, V. D. V. Jamison, James A. Strobart, M. Laborde.

It will be seen that upon three of the most important committees of the House, Mr. Memminger, at this, his first session, was appointed to serve, and was made chairman of one-that on Education. This unusual distinction is seldom, if ever, conferred upon a new member unless he has manifested his ability, and is recognized in a body composed of such representative men as being fully adequate to the discharge of the duties imposed. He does not appear to have engaged, to any great extent, in the debates of this session. Beyond the work of the committees to which he was assigned he was doubtless engaged in studying the rules of the House and mastering the precedents and formulas of parliamentary practice, in which he became a great proficient in after years, and through the knowledge of which he was enabled in many subsequent sessions to become, in fact, the leader of the House, and a most useful member of this body. He was preparing himself for that long term of public service which, beginning with this year, was only inter

rupted in 1860, when his abilities and experiences were transferred to the Cabinet of President Davis and the service of the Confederate States as Secretary of the Treasury. The careful study of the financial policy of the State and of the banking system then authorized by law, claimed his special consideration, in connection with public education, and formed the chief subject matters of his thought. In the next session these subjects brought from him such expressions of his statesmanship as led in the end to the adjustments which secured for South Carolina her high financial standing, and kept her securities and her bank currency at par with the best in the United States. The only measure of consequence originating with Mr. Memminger, and that took the form of law at this session, was an act to prevent the circulation of mutilated bank bills; mentioned here from the fact that it was the first bill he introduced and the first law he ever framed. He also introduced a bill to regulate the lien of decrees in equity, but it failed to pass at this session as it did in the session of 1837; but with a pertinacity characteristic of its author, it was reintroduced at succeeding sessions until finally it became a statute of the State.

The year 1837 brought to the country one of those revulsions which at different periods have evidenced the instability of our financial systems in the United States and brought great disaster upon the people.

This special one grew out of the hostility of the Republican or Democratic party to the United States Bank, which was regarded as being only a feature of consolidation-the cardinal principle of the old Federal or Whig party. Proximately it was occasioned by the withdrawal of the deposits of the United States Government from the United States Bank and placing them with local banks in various sections of the country-a measure of President Jackson. The result

was a widespread depression in all business matters, producing bankruptcy among merchants and business men unparalleled before in the history of our country.

The effect upon the industrial interests of South Carolina is well presented in the message of Governor Butler to the Legislature of 1837, from which I make the following extracts. The reader will be thus better prepared to understand the legislation that followed and was rendered necessary to establish a solvent banking system in South Carolina, and in which Mr. Memminger was not only an active participant, but in which he established his reputation as a leading statesman.

GOVERNOR BUTLER'S MESSAGE.

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, November 28, 1837. Fellow-citizens of the Senate and of the House of Representatives:

At the time of your last adjournment the country was apparently in the enjoyment of unparalleled prosperity. Subsequent events have only developed the true state of things which then existed, and which has resulted in great political confusion and commercial embarrassment. The change was so sudden and unexpected that even the wisest and most prudent were not prepared for it. Although you meet in the midst of difficulty and confusion, and under circumstances seemingly more unfavorable than when you adjourned, I cannot but regard the country in a better situation now than it was then. As our distresses have, in some measure, arisen from the money-making spirit of the times; and as they address themselves to our individual interests, I feel confident that we will profit by the enquiry and discussions that have ensued. The people have been excited to the consideration of subjects which have heretofore too little attracted public attention; and I am satisfied that the country will go through and rise from the severe trial of the times, with im-. provement and ultimate advantage. Our calamities have proceeded from the passions, contrivances, and imprudences of the people themselves and their federal rulers. In a time of profound peace, and while at liberty to follow the pursuits of our own choice, we have brought about the evils of which we complain. Under the influence of a kind Providence, we have just cause to be happy and thankful for the many blessings we are permitted to enjoy; and should manifest our gratitude to the great Ruler of events for the present prosperous condition of the State. The harvests have been sufficiently abundant to satisfy all reasonable demands. The country enjoys uninterrupted peace and general good health.