Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1841-12-02


ua,ion which al, sure yon are always ready
10 manifest in promoting The public veal. will
dlI &C, yonr most sedu!ous eSerIion tn the i'm.
prov cIDrnt Of our own.
The revision ofour criminal law. in many
es-en'ai particulars is required BY the dictates
OF policy US vel as OF humanity. The effects
of time aud circumstances. have produced 30
many mod dIiica,iGus IN the character Of some
crimes. that Il is difficult. in many instances,
either l" procure convictions. or enforce punish
mcnt. Where The penalty exceeds the sen.e
ol public Justice. or where the ierlngs OF com.
misseraiIoh for the cup prit oyerpower the ap-
prei'cnSion OF consequences TO the nety or in
rre'i' OF the community, neither the wisdom,
OF The judiciary. or The firmness Of the E,eca.
tive. can prevent 4 lazy from becoming as oIao.
ie,c rs u Is odious. or this class of rase, NAV
perhaps be enumerated some of,hc lesser ,r,dc.
"i forgery, the punishment nf.wirich AZ 9 c,r;.
tai oiience, las gradually been amco,a,ed cv.r
by ,Ie policy OF those nations, from whose com.
merc;al cxigencies. they were originated. Were
II even necessary TO have exceeded, in this in.
stance the infections ofihe divine command in
the enumerated offences 10 be expiared bv
death. it Is hoped that the force OF thai neccss;iy
has gradually diminished, under the Influenza
&c time aud circumstances.
The trinl Of slaves for capital offences in Tho
ordinarily summary mode ofprocess. and in The
midst Of all those circumstances OF e.e;,erc,,
III which feeling Of par,iality or of pre;ud;co
are so apt 10 predominant. must DO admitted IN
be capable Of producing those perversiops in
the administration of justice, from yl,;rJ, ,be
rights Of humanity and the interests Of propertv
should be protected. Within the small rirric
ol neishborhood communities, SO easily s,,aves
by passion "r feeling, vIndictivc motives 10 The
master. may sometimes conducr 10 the oup;.h.
uIcnt Of the slave, while the influence of n pnr,,.
lar iayorl'c, On the other hand, may be s,enssr.
iull. exercised 10 eK!enuatc the crimes af ,b.
cnlpTit. The result Of my reflection and erne.
renee. therefore. induces me 10 rci,cro,r Tho
recommendation OF one of my predecessors. 10
alter the present mode Of trial. 10 jury oftweive
ire holders In be assembled a,tbe courtho,se.
and the prosecution in all cases (apd the do.
fence when PractIcabie) TO be Conducted bv
counsel. The convenience OF the Patish-s ~.
mote NJ some of them are from the sea, oil ;nr.
lice, may readily be- accommodated by spec;oI
provisions. II. IN making this recommends.
ton. have said litue more than to rcpeat tho
suggestions Of some ofmy pr deressors. il il
perhaps Tor that very reason entitled 10 your
more serious consideration. rs the result Of the
matnred and aec,'mulatrd experience OF this
department. IN all IT. stages Of occupancy and
oI succession The instances Of awakened re.
gre, and contrItion. on the par, Of many Of
these Judicial tribunals, invoking the ir,erposi.
ton oi Executive clemency, 10 modify or arres,
'heiT own haS,y ard often illegal convictions.
are OF frequent and ordinary occurrence.
The present. mode Of applying the Ere,
SchO0l Euub has ko.p
TO correspond with the most munifc.nt Of All IN"
beneiac,ions four Slate Government. 10 inn.
prove The moral condition OF her people The
experiment OF many years, not only presents us
with The resi:t OF large proportion Of our ind.
gent citizens, who have grown up without the
encoura cement OF The opportunity 10 participate
III lis advantages. but at the same time fosces
upon Us ih'' conviction. that these opportunities
nhsu enjoyed, have in many Instances been nc,
'ompaned by standard Of morals. rs well as
OF tuition, viii, ed, and perhaps moro iniu.
rous. than the worst consequences of tbs mos,
acknowledgements While our srnmn,sr acbcols
aud literary srminarics have advanced and
improved ~ proportion TO the increasing intel-A
ligencc OF the age and 10 the hishsr rfouire.
in0utE OF oar Colleges the character of our free
schools has drpieciaied IN all the essential re.
quisIies oi 4 sound and juGicious course Of s.'u.
cation. Where are their beneficial effects IN h.
III any Of their influences on soc;e,y,
Where are the monuments of their Usefulness
To be scrn, IN any new illumnati lions of sc;enc,
or improvements in tie arts7 Wha, signal CT.
ample can be adduccd. 10 illustrate soli,orv in.
stance of moral OF intellectual reclamation. for
tue expenditure OF more than thirty.six ,housan6
dollars annually Better would !, be TO lcaye
the mind entirriy to natures influences. and
il'avrnsiisi II tic 'han TO pervcr, the under.
landing, and corrD: the heart. BY depraved
and InIudlcion- cnnrs" of education. The rr.
suit OF so many ,cars' X e.irpcc. il enoush to
dissaiisiy your hopes. in the prescn, mode of
applying the libcraliiy of The State: bu, not,
trust. 10 discourage your efforts 10 improve il.
When the State assumes to become tho guar
dian o the education Of any portion Of her citi.
zens. the character Of that education should bo
o! Il Lind not inferior 10 the mos, useful and i'm.
pro DIS miari Of tuition. aminclned 10 tho
Co, v!c;ou. that II ele, ed 10 the condition of
tic IIgliest order Of English Grammar Schools
lone 10 be established in each district. county,
or parish-t! courss' OF instruction being chief.
ly directed 1" the acquisition OF some Of those
scIen'ihc tainnicniS 20 III ccssary 10 surcexs liz
the useful and ncrhanic arts-and associated
with system Of manual labor. 10 invigoiaie
thu body, rs well as IN cnlightcn the understand.
in--uny would attain 10 much more perma.
ncnt AID extended sphere Of usefulness Blu,
a very necessary arrangement. in my view. to
any radical reformation in the system, would bo
the appointment, of General Superintendent,
wEu-c practical observation aud experience,
would furnish many valuable suggestions for
your future action, rs well as introduce in the
meantime. saIu,ary Improvements, in The pre-
scnt mode of instruction. IF the expense Of u
salary should be thought TO constitute an objec-
lion 10 this experiment, the amount necessary
TO compensate such an officer nigh, be bcuefi.
ciay ab-rrac,cd from the fund itself: and
have no doubt will be found to contribute to the
economy, rs well as The improving effects aris-
ilis from the distribution OF the balance.
In pursuance Of m Act Of the Legislature. to
carry into ciec, treaty TO exiting suish the title
Of the Ca;lwba Indians. 10 lands n the districts
of York and Lancaster, and to purchase other
territory for their residence and subsistence, an
agent. in whose intelligence and fidelity tho
creates, confidence is rcposed by the Prupnetors
and Chiefs was appointed by this department.
with snch specific Instructions, rs were deemed
best computing with The wise and benevoient
views oi tho Legislature. By the report OF tho
81 ,,aI