The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1847-12-08

most wholly Of the objects for which it has
been appropriated. There is, un1ucs,iona-
| bly,, defects in the system itself; but the
great defect is in the want of principle and
rule in its administration.
known and conceded. The difficulty is as
to the remedy, and I feel great distrust of
my ability to suggest one which will prove
cilcctuaI. The leading feature of any re-
mcdy, ought to be to secure the propt ac-
countabIity of all the Boards Of Comms
| sioncrs or other agents, TO an authority in
dependent of their own; and | would re-
sp :ctiiilly recommend, as worthy n, least of
an experiment, the appointment Ola Court
or Supervisors, of the Police in each district
to be appointed by the Executive with the
advice Of tho Senate, TO consist at least Of
one for each member OF the House OF Rep
rescntativcs, allowing at least one of each
Earlsh-clothed with all the powers ofthrsc
several Boards of Commissioners, and with
power TO appoint ovcrsecrs Of the roads, of
the poor, of public buildings, and Of free
schools, in such numbers as they may
think fit, TO be charged with the execution
OF the laws provided for their respective de-
partmcnts within the precincts to be assign
ed to them, and to account TO the Judges or
Supervisors at regular periods, for the man
in which they have discharged their duties
and disbursed any funds that rsa have been
committed to them. submit, too, that the
Judges Or Supervisors should be required 10
meet regularly at the Court House Of their
respective districts at least once in every
three months, and hold their sessions pub
licly, and be authorized to punish all deln-
quencies in the ovcrsecrs. Tho report of
the Circuit Solicitors to the Legislature in
December, 1880, will supply useful guide
III framing the details of such a system and
their able arguments as to the necessity Of
u radical reform Of our District Police, su-
persedes the necessity of vindicating il here.
The proposed reform has at least the adj
vantage Of securing accountability TO all in
dependant authority. Clothed with limited
judicial authority it mi ght be rendered emi
ncntly subservicnt to the purposes of Justice,
particularly in the trial of slaves and free
persons Of color for capital offences. The
tribunals which now exercise this power, it
is known, are generally not only ignorant
OF the principles, but even the forms of law,
and incapable Of anna lying and comparing
facts. Independent Of the humanity con
cerncd in it, it has always stuck me as
strange incongruity in our laws, that whilst
the lie of slave is put in jeopardy on a
trial before such Il tribunal, the slightest in
SORT to the highest tribunal in the State-
II there he a class Of offences Of which they
are capable, requiring a more summary
mode Of trial, make them an exception. 1t
is believed too, that the jurdiction Of con-
tracts to a very limited amount, of petty
trespasscs and m:slcmcanors, mi ght be
safely confidcd to it, and would relieve the
Superior Courts of "a burihen, which un;m-
portant in itself is calculated to delay and
ohstruct matters of more consequence
The want of men to fil the Offices of Judges
was leading. and according to my rccol-
lection, the only reason for abolishing the
County Courts III 1899. and that is no mat
ter of surprise, as that generation was
brought up during the Revolutionary War,
when there was no means of Obtaining an
education, and yet the memory of some of
the Judges is cherished by the old inhab-
tants, as examples Of strict impartiality and
ability in the administration of Justice
But that objection no longer exists. The
South Carolina College has shed its light
throughout every portion Of the State, and
it is believed that in every district, educated
gentlemen, some of whom have studied law
as part Of finished education, and in other
instances retired lawyers, will be found
willing and able to serve the country in the
capacity of Judges Of such Court, and one
such at the head Of the Cour,s of each
District, would ensure it confidence and
respect.
EDUCATION.
In the increasing usefulness and growing
prosperity of the South Carolina College,
the State is rcaping the full fruits to the lib
eral patronage which she has heretofore be-
slowed upon the institution. 1t ranks now
among the most useful asylums Of learning
in the Southern portion of the Union, and
under its present wise and prudent and en-
ergetic-governmcnt, it bids fair to take the
lead of all. 1t is only a few who have liv-
! cd Like nnusnlf In timns nreceedinn the Or