Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1844-12-04

lis important. But in this country, where
the people are truly and practically the
, source OF all power, the application:must
go farther They mus, walchthemselves
They must guard against their own preju-.
dices and passions; against local and mar :
row views; against party spirit; their prov,
erbial love Of change; in short, they must
guard against their own ignorance. which
(. is the fruitful parent of ali these dangers,
and which will otherwise speedily degrade
Them, froul the rank Of people TO thai of
a populace.
In obedience to resolution of the last ses'
sion, have had the repairs made in the Secre
tary of States offic", which were ndspensably
necessary for The preservation the records
There are still many improvements which
might br made in that office, and also in the
Surveyor Generals, that would be both useful
and convenient. The expense of them was
greater thanI felt authorized to incur, without
consulting the Legislature. think it highly
exppdient that Commissioner should be ap.
I pointed to examine the condition OF these ottl-
!; ces. and report to you in detail upon them l
!, have heretofore recommended that all the State
! officers should be consolidated at the seat OF
Governme that the Executive Department
should be properly organized; that stated sal
AIRY should be given to the Secretary of Stale,
in lieu of perqnlsites, which are now his only
compensation, and that the Land Office should
be closed. The experience Of another year has
confirmed my opinion of the propriety and i'm
portance OF these measures, and suggest them
again for your consideration.
The power of appointing Notaries Public
1 has been irnnIemOrally exercised by the Exec
utive. Gun find no law comforting atpower;
nor can l. indeed find any statute creating such
an Office. Itis recognized in some acts. and
its authority is sometimes specially limited; bnt
none OF them prescribe its powers and duties,
or fix its term OF duration. The office "rigna-
ted in the Civil Law, wa, handed down with
it to all modern nations, and probably has no
other authority here than that derived from
usage. As ills held by hundreds in the State,
aud is more and moro sought after, think you
would do well to legulize its existence, and reg
ulaie its appointment, powers, aud tenure
| Much Inconvenience, and sometimes serious
evils. arise from the ignorance Of the common
Magistrates, und their irregular distribution IN
the Districts for which they are commissioned.
They are also undoubtedly too numerous. IL
one Magistrate. and only one, was appointed
in each beat company in the State, the number,
| apprehend, would be sufficient, the location
I more convenient and the chances ui procuring
| the most intelligent citizens 10 fill station SO
responsible greatly increased. As, however,
bu: few of the Magistrates can be expected 10
be lawyers, or 10 have law library at their
command, believe it to be indispensable 10
the reg uar administration ofihe law within
| their jurisdiction. that Manual should be COM
piled aud published, by The authority OF the
State, explaining in clear manner the pow
ers and duties Of Magistrates, and prescribing
the proper forms Of proceedings III their courts;
to which might be added codlhcat,on Of the
common and statute laws, aud reported decis-
IONS with which II IS necessary that they should
be familiar. The expense oil such " ork would
bear but u small proportion to its value TO the
people at large, as we'll as the Magistrates. The
law strikes many Of its severest blows through
the agency Of the common Magistracy; and it
is but fair that the humblest US we'll rs the high
est citizen should be dealt with by the same
rule, we'll defined and thorOugh ghly understood
! h., t,ssn- whn-are its MINISTER'S
elerung District officers, requires some amend
ment In case Of the death Of the Clerk of the
Count, The mode Of filing the vucuncy Is not
distinctly suited 10 prevent great and press
ing Inconvenience and loss, 1 liuve been com
PEELED TO make an appointment under the act
OF lelo, which 1t was probubiy the intention
oi the Legislature oi 1899 TO supersede. Its
requlsItlons US regards The Commissioning of
SherIfts, are extremely incenvenient aud I'M
certalIi, II not incompatible.
title 10 the Mount Dearborn lands has been
at length acquired for the State, and it is recor.
ded III ihc office OF the Secretary Of State, and
Of the Register OF Aesne Conveyances in Ian.
| caster District. e
Duplicates OF the weights and measures es-
tablIsheu by lme Federal Government nave been
received and deposited with the Collector of
the Polt OF Charleston Tor sale Keeping, until
you cdn make disposition OF Them.
llransmlt 10 you the supplementary report
OF MIR. Rutfin, our late able and interchangeable
Stale Agricultural and Geological Surveyor.
In consequence of his resignation OF that ap-
pontment at The close OF The year, offered 1t
10 VI. Tuomey, Esq. nl Virginia, an accom-
plished GeoOglst aud Botan!sl, WHO accepted
II. lis very valuable and Interesting report is
herewith submitted. Ii mas been fond ilnpos-
sIble TO traverse every portion of the State
within The year. Many important localities
remained unexpl0red, and many require % be
visited again to render perfect even u general
view of the Geology oil the State. would not
recommend mnute and detuiled geological
survey at the public expense do not think
II called for at this time, or likely in the pres
ent slate OF that science, to supersede thr ne.
cessity OF other surveys dt no very remote Pc
riod but it is due To science and the character
OF lhe State, that, since the survey has been
instituted, it should be completed on the scale
on which it is commenced. That can proha-
bly, be done in one year more, and recon-.
mend lis continuation for that length of lime.
know of no, measure better calculated 10
improve our agriculture than one which has
been heretofore suggested To the Legislature.
the exemption ofland from executions for debt. |
other than that contracted for its purchase. IL /
a law was passed 10 that effect, to 60 into ope.
raIon at a gwen lime hereafter, lean perceive
but little injury or Inconvenience that would !
be'llkely 10 result from il, while the advantages
10 be derived are numerous and Important II
would enhance the value Of land. induce in.
vestments in it. and insure substantial and ex.
tpOava