The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1839-12-21
SOUTH CAROLINA LEGISLATURE.

This D0dy au]Ourneu, dCCo'u'"5
Joint resolution, adopted on the l3th inst.
last night. How much Of The business be-
fore them has been accomplished, we are
not advised, the journals which have come
TO hand are only up to the evening OF the
, l4h. The most important matter which
the Legislature has had under their con-
sileration, was the Report Of the Circuit
Solicitors, who were appointed at the last
session, under the following Resolution:
Rcsolred, That the Reports of the At
torney General and the Circui. Solicitors,
together with the accompanying docu.
ments, in relation TO District Offices: also
Bill the better to regulate the fees of
Sheriffs, Clerks, and other officers OF the
State, and BIZ concerning the liabllilles
of Constables, postponed at ,lils session,
he referred 10 them as Commissioners un-
der the oint resolutions in relation to Dis
!rict officers.
In pursuance of this Resolution the So.
Iicitors reported several Bills. The first
providing for the appointment OF District
Police, to discharge the dutics of Commits
sioncrs Of Roads, Free Schools, PhLiic
Buildings & Approrcrs Of Public Sccuri.
ties, and variety Of other matters. This
Bill, we regret TO learn, has been lost
The other Bills referred 10 the office Of
tue Clerk of the Court, Sheriff, Ordinary
Magistrate and Constable; together with a
new Fee BILL Tho most, il not all, these
latter Bills VIC learn, were likely 10 pass,
and we hope it may bes so. From hasty
perusal of the Report, snmetlme before
the meeting of the Legislature, we were
much pleased with the various rccommcn-
dations. Although there are not many all.
di,ions proposed to the laws already in
force, regulating these Offices, yet The old
laws and recent decisions are so embodied
and simplifed, as to enable the officer at
once 10 determine his duty in any given
case, without wading through the legisIa'
turc of the last forty years.
These Bills. together with one reported
by Military Commission, also appointed
at the last session. and also Bill to pro-
vide against the future suspension ofsPeeic
payments by the Banks, constitute the most
importantsubjects oflcgislationwhich have
been under consideration. The Bill inl
relation to the Banks, proposes to give
those Which have suspended till April TO
resume, and if afterwards suspension
takes place, the Bank is TO pay the State
Treasury, 7 per cent per annum, on It's!
whole circulation, during the period of sus-
pension-the Banks to accept this Bill as
part Of their charters, or proceedings to
be instituted by the Attorney General tot
nrocurc a forfeiture Of those which have
suspended.
It must be admitted or all hands, that
something ought to be done to remedy the|
evil of frequent suspensions, but we fear
this measure is rather too strong, and VIII
operate as hardIy,on the community, if not
more so, than upon the Banks.
Great cxertions are made in the House
to get the Military Bill through. The
thirty-lhird section Of this D;ll is ohJcc-
lionablc. Ii is as follows:
"rhc commanding officer Of ony dlv''
sion, brigade, regiment, BATTALION or com
nanv. who shall call out the men under his
command, to muster, shall have power to
appoint a sut,ler to retail spirituous H.
ouors. at the muster ground of such di'
vision, brigade, regiment, battallon' or
COMPANY, without any other license or
ncrmission: Provided. the suttler SO ap-
pointed, shall furnish a suitable field to ex-
ercise the troops in, to be approved by The
officer who shall have ordered such mus
ter"
A motion was made on the l4th inst.to
strike it out, and was lost; yeas as, nays
4G. The delegation from this District Vo'
ted in the negative.
The Committee TO whom was referred