The financial condition of the state since the war has been the source of much dis satisfaction. In 1874 the state debt was reported to be t;317,017.651. After much legis lation, however, by which much of it was thrown out as null and void, the debt, as reported in 1878. amounted to $6,537,059; and in 1879 the state finances appeared to be in a satisfactory condition and the administration of the government to be commendably economical. The aggregate expenditures for the legislative, executive, and judicial departments amounted to $124,895. A general state tax of 41 mills on the dollar, with 2 mills addition:LI tor the public schools, and a county tax of 3 mills for ordinary purposes, was proposed for the following year, which would yield about $100,000 each mill, or in all $475.000. Of this amount $344,372 was appropriated to pay the interest on the con solidated debt, and $34.000 to pay the deficiency bonds of the state. The remainder of the state tax, together with it royalty to be collected on phosphates, were considered sufficient to cover all the ordinary expenditures for the new year.
In the matter of educational advantages the state has made progress. By the consti tution of 1868, provision was made for the compulsory attendance upon public or private schools of all children between the ages of 6 and 16 years. The public schools are pre sided over by conlilli*Si011el'S for the state and for each county, and there are hoards of county examiners and district trustees. In 1875 the school population was 20,264, of whom 85,506 were whites and 153,08 colored. The school attendance wl.s 47.000 Nvhites and 63,415 colored. There were 428 school districts, 2,580 free common schcols, and 2,855 teachers. About 800 of the schools were of the first grade, 1Q49 second grade, and 940 third grade. Of the 2,347 school-houses, 1347 were built of logs, 918 were fraine, 18 brick, and 1 stone. The total amount of school revenue for the year amounted to $489,542, of which $210,Q00 Was appropriated by the state. The colleges, aead..mies, and seminaries in the state are numerous, among which may be mentioned n sta:e nor mal school at Colombia; the Clafiin university (Methodist Episcopal) at Orangeburg; Charleston college; Furman university (Baptist) at Greenville; Newberry college (Lutheran) at Walhalla; Wofford college (31. E. South) at Spartanburg; the Southern Baptist theological seminary (Baptist) at Greenville; and the South Carolina medical college at Charleston. The total number of libraries in 1870 was 1603, which contained
540,944 volumes. Of these, 929 with 397,020 volumes were private, and 741 with 140, 224 volumes other than private. The newspapers and periodicals published in the state are about 84, of which 7 are daily, 62 weekly, 4 monthly, and 2 quarterly. The total number of religious organizations in 1870 was 1457, with 1308 edifices and property val ued at $3,26,982. Of these, 523 were Baptist; 611 Methodist; 164 Presbyterian; 83 Episcopal; 49 Lutheran; 12 Roman Catholic; 3 Universalist; 3 Jewish; 1 Congrega tional; and 1 Unitarian.
The constitution gives the right of suffrage to every male citizen 21 years old who has resided in the state one year and in the county where he shall offer to vote CO days preceding the election. Elections are by ballot, and a plurality only of the votes cast is necessary for a choice. The_legislature is composed of a senate and house of represen tatives, the two constituting the general assembly of the state of South Carolina. The senate has 33 members and the house 124. The executive power is vested in a governor and a lieutenant-governor, who hold office two years, and a compt•oller-general, secre tary' of state, treasurer, and an attorney-general, who hold (ace four years. The judi cial power is vested in a supreme court, circuit courts, probate courts, and courts of justices of the peace. By the apportionment of'1872 the slate has 5 members of con gress. The electoral votes have been cast as follows: 1788, Washington, 7, vice-presi dent divided; 1792, Washington, 8, viee-president divided; 1796, Jefferson and Pinck ney, 8; 1800. Jefferson and Burr. 8; 1804, Jefferson and Clinton, 10; 1808. Madison and Clinton. 10; 1819, Madison and Gerry, 11; 1816. Monroe and Tompkins, 11; 1820, _Mon roe and Tompkins, 11; 1824, Jackson and Calhoun, 11; 1828, Jackson and Calhoun 11; 1832, Floyd and Lee, 11; 1836, Mangum and Tyler, 11; 1840, Van Buren and Tazewell, 11; 1844, Polk and Dallas, 9; 1848. Cass and Butler, 9; 1S52, Pierce and King, 8; lt.'56, Buchanan and Breckenridge, 8; 1860, Breckenridge and Lane, 8; 186S, Grant and Cob fax, 6; 1879, Grant and Wilson, 7; 1876, Hayes and Wheeler, 7; 1880, Hancock and English, 7.