South Carolina. General Assembly

S.C. Statute 1811(5)639 specified that every board of commissioners of free schools was to make a yearly return to the legislature. Governor Middleton recommended the passage of this act as a response to the systematic lack of education in the state. The first appropriation made possible 124 elementary schools for the state. As the system progressed, the term "free school" became embarrassingly exchangeable with pauper schools, because the 1811 act carried within it a written directive that an admittance preference be given to the poor and orphaned. This doomed the system since the poor refused to except a bounty that carried with it a stigma. The system ended in 1868 with the veto of funds appropriated for the free schools of that year (S.C. Statute 1868(14)167). The State Constitution of 1868 laid the framework for a new school system.

From the description of Free school reports 1812-1866. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122530030

S.C. Statute 1799(5)362 marked the infusion of order into state finances and centered all control relating to fiscal matters in the Comptroller General. The statute required the Comptroller General to examine the treasurers' reports of cash transactions and transmit the reports to the legislature along with his annual report, which gave the legislature a fiscal review of the state.

From the description of Annual reports of the Comptroller General, 1800-1865. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122530031

Committees in this period are predominantly of two types, special (or select) and standing. Special committees deal with one single specific issue and dissolve. Standing committees deal with a category of issues and are permanent. The best example of standing committees in this period are Ways and Means, Judiciary, Agriculture, Education, Finance, Military, Federal Relations, Medical, and Labor.

From the description of Committee reports, 1776-1882 (bulk 1782-1865). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 86167852

Col. James D. Williams' regiment raised men from old Ninety-Six District in vicinity of current Spartanburg and Laurens Counties; Williams had formerly served in the House of Representatives but did not win reelection to the General Assembly due to Loyalist sentiment in his district; Williams died in 1780 at battle of King's Mountain.

From the description of Petition of James Williams, 1779 Sept. 3. (University of South Carolina). WorldCat record id: 50943434