Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1842-12-07

or the Executive; or whether The interest,"
OF the STATE III lhcs,. works cannot DE ad'
vantagcuusiy disposed "i, are subjects
worthy "i your deiih rat"us
In the Charters OF Roads, Bridges, and
Ferries. usually granted 10 Companies o.
individuals. | would suggest greater eau.
liou and E sIncIIuns, To prevent me cnor'
nous abuses and convcuiraccs 10 which
The public are 80 frequently subjected by
tic negligence aud imposition oil their pro-
p%ricturs. distances oil tilis kind are be-
couilu. OF "a character 81 ingrant aud nu'
mcruus. as 10 constitute an evil OF no lttlo
magnitude and importance.
Much has Uecu achieved by the deli5c'
ra,ions at the last SESSION., TO improve our
system uf road working. The reSultaious
requiring Commissioners OF The several
Boards 10 he same amount oil laoour
from each individual within their respcc'
live jurisdiction. has accomplished some
thing to equaiize, aud perhaps to lessen,
the burdens OF this public duty; aud tho
reference oil fines over q certain amount,
10 a judicial jursdlcuon, instead OF tho
former summary mode Of imposition, by
sell. constituted body, acting both as judges
and accusers, has certainty thrown some
pruiec ion nruund The civil rights Of the
community. But the reform is no. sutt'
cientl, radical. for The perfection oi q sys'
lem 50 essentially detective. The inlqui'
~ Of al irresponsible lcg~islaion-the enor'
NIFTY Of a selt-pefpe.uatins aud seii-suPer'
vising power Of rs uwn privileges and au.
,horty--tno injustice Of exacIinS the ,shoie
amount ul ID IncOnveCicn' nnd irksOme n
pubic service, eru!usirely from The agri'
cultural lnrcIcsl-and the gross neglect,
aud unpEohlable result oi It's execution,
still constitute lis most prominent features,
and rulerpose insuperabIc obstacles TO its
success and satisfactory obstacles.
Some system OF chartering our most
public highways 10 companies or individ-
uais. win Cautious restrictions, TO prevent
imposition or abuse-connected with q
SINAI TAX on every species OF productive
capital, l~lnstrad oil being exclusively borne
by agricultural labor; to supply tho def
cIcncy. o. revenue, In lhDse less profitable
would lie The most elective, and cheapest
mode oil improvement aud at The same
lime the lnu,I equitable distribution OF
Tue expense. But should i, be deemed
advisable. To cdeavor TO Improve rather
,ian TO abnnlOn a system so radically de-
%lccliye. aud incorporating all the errors
aud abuses Of u long aud f~ruilless expert
cnce. still The application 10 heavier penai-
ties aud more equitable aud summary
mode. OF cvuvictIon, are necessary 10 pro-
tee, the community from the %luconVeni-
ences and delays, US we'll as the dangers
aud loser So ollen aud so vexatiously ex-
perlcuced. from the negligence OF irres-
pousib.c commissioners. and the privileged
proprietors oi chartered bridges. and ler-
rics.
Motives Of economy would seem TO
suggest compliance with tbs rccommen'
daii0rs Of the Luualic Asylum herewith
unlimited, TO increase ite accommodates
OF thai institution, for The reception of
class of patients, whose contribution would
diminish, j! nol entirely defray, the gene
raj expenses of the establishment. If this
be indeed lrue.-ani ! am sure cannot
refer you 10 higher authority, or moro sat-
I~.IaCIory evidence, than their own frank
aud Intelligent sia,emen,,-iherc would
seem 10 be neither wisdom or prudence
ia withholding The necessary and de-
.ircG aid. To the considerations which
a wise economy would thus appear most
obviously 10 suggest, | ain sure | need
mol I'D The appeals Of an enlarged and
enlightened ucnesolen,c; w.iich on 10
,.Iars. uc,2s.aa iIr is exercise. has ever
tailed Ia INSPIRE lhe counscls OF our rulers,
or L" ac;uaIe The hearts OF our people.
For HE CORRECTION Of some Of the harsh
features OF our Criminal Code, must
ugaIn refer you TO the yiews express
sed IN my las. annual Message. For the
tnal of slaves Tor capital offences, | respcc-
lu.lt bui urgently. rc-i,c'atc my Iuvoca-
Iiom. 1" sub,'ilu TIC some mode less summa-
~. less calculated to pcrvcrl The spirit Of
our benign la"s 10 the injury Of property
AMI the sacrifice OF lie, lran the prcseut
imperfect and iSnoran'ly administered
forms ol justice, Is applied to cases ol hat
character.
The existing punishment Of petit larceny
has been iound in practice. Que Of tho
most sanitary hul one Of the most odious'
pl all The ml.icIinn, of the law. But the
vrryciica,y it derives from It's degrading
influence on The character Of the criminal,
unfortunately produces, in some instances
a revolving effect upon the sympalhics Of
The community hat may lead 10 remons-
trance and opposition. Notwithstanding
l. is the worst dreaded aud abhorrent OF ali
legal Infections, and that The criminal In
variably and earnestly petitions Tor IT'S
Communication 10 any other pcnal'y, yet
the Irresistible temptations land some
| Tines he wants and ucccssiies) growing
! ON of tie emharraSsmcn;s, and The imn'o-
rnlily Of The times, have greatly NULL
Piled ard aggravated, the crime aud the
.,ifrndcfs. Under The circumstances, II
would seem 10 he i,npolitIc, at present, 10
amcirorair ~ penalties. The degrada-
lion which il, InfIct, upon the character
of the culprt. canuur in iaci. he supposed
TO exceed The inlimy and disgrace OF an
open conviction, n hIighted character, and
n dcba>ed mind. The scnsibilities OF a
convict. hardened 10 the moral impressions
% a senrracc uf guilt pronounced by his