The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1850-12-04
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support Of the schools was S37, 800,
equivalent TO about $50 annually for
each Tenchcr, and $3.50 for every
pupil.
South Carolina expends for the pur.
pose OF education nearly one. fourth Of
her income derived from taxes. 1t
would seem, that if so largo disbursc..
mcnt were wisely und economically
apporlioned, it might secure all the
benefits whiel, the wisdom, of the Legis.
luture designed; but SO fortunate re-
suit has not been produced.
In submitting the whole matter 10
your careful consideration, consider il
my duty TO recommend the appointment,
of general superintendent of free
schools and that the several Boards of
Commissioners be authorised and in
structed, where the school fund is in
sufficient, 10 raise, by assessment, OH the
general tax Of their respective Districts
and Parishes sum Of money equal in
amount TO that appropriated by the Leg.
islalure. The probable effects Of this
duplication of means, will be the multi
plcalion ofscholars, embracing perhaps
all who may be entitled to The public
bounty; n higher grade Of instructors,
and the establishment of the right. Gin
consequence Of his contribution, whit h
every citizen would feel that he possess.
ed, OF consigning his child to the rs,entul
guardianship OF the State.
The expediency Of revising oy4 Grim.
lnal code seems 10 be universally con.
ceded. The number Of ofeuices pun.
ishable capitally is unwise, .l,d repug-
nnnt 10 the dictates Of humami.v. MANY
OF the statutes Of force in Sout {. c.7!arolna
IN relation 10 crimes, are wholly iH,appli.
cable 10 the condition of our society, and
may add, form Of Government. fE.nacled
in Great Britain, at an early .fperiod oil
her history, but subsequently, modified,
IN part with view TO IheiH ad. ptn,ion 10
the si.Eh Of usnu age, and DIG progress OF
Society, yet, in this Stale several Of ibem
are unrepealed, and others ars practic..
ally inopcrntive ts.lt .1ss.
Undislingnished by iarger cities. /,
sparse population, which Too is ulpos
exclusively devoted 10 agricultural pnr
suits, exemption 'front.' q evils OF foreign
emigration, md llr 81
greea,,s yr the Inv ,slail Vl RI! ts5a
sItuo! BIZ thx','.,,.. -.""s s.,'S'e'y :, s"''tf
| The pauci.y Of crime in our limits, and
which huve rendered unnecessary.
until now, any material cl,unges
in a code that, in other communi
ties, the public safety would have
imperalively demanded.
| twenty-five crimes, OF which seven
arc clcrgyablc, are punishable with
death; still, hanging is on uncommon
spectacle in South Carolina. The pub
lie whipping Of white man, believe
TO be in opposition 10 popular sentiment.
In my judgment, it is inhuman, derra,l-
ing, and q violation of the rules of sound
policy in southern community. In.
lawful trading and ,ratlicing with slaves,
10y which white person knowingly
Inilicts upon society, and especially his
vIcnagc, widespread and prolific evils,
is perhaps one Of the very few offences
deserving Of corporal punishment.
,imPs'sonmcn,' unaccompancd by
labor Of any kind, experience has
demonstrated to be Of little efficacy MS a
means Of reformation. The period for
which culprits are confined, seldom as
long rs two years ior'ihc most aggrava-
ted lranSgrcSsons, is too short for the
mind to be awakened 10 lhc necessity Of
a viruous course Of action.
Fines are seldom paid. IN perhaps
lwo-ihirds Of the cases which have been
brought to my notice, the plea Of power
~, or inability n, the time 10 comply
with the rcQuisilion Of the law, was
certain to be urged. AT the expiration
Of the term Of their confinement. the
benefit OF the Prison Bounds Act is
taken, by which in ten days the inpris.
oncd are released from Jail.
10 the catalogue Of punishmenis,
hard labor for certain class of offences,
might ndvaniagcouslv be added, G
substituted for that Of whipping.
reco,'T"nd that the matter onevis-
ing The hinal law be ref. led TO
commission Of three compcsnt lnris's,
who shall receive sala9 lnily adr-
qna'c 10 the impor,an, "vlcc to be per-
formed.
Soon nficr your adjournment, ] open
ed correspondence with the Indian
Department, at Washington, in relation
to tho admission Of the Ca,awba Indians
into the Chick.saw tribe. The answer
10 my application, which was moi re-
ccived unit May, showed the existence
Of ndverss influences, the precise char
acter Of which cannot now be deter.
mined. The Chickasnws and Choc-
,aws, it seems, own the same district Of
country; while the former have express
sed their willingness to grant the re-
quest which has been made, The latter
Tor unassigned reasons, interpose OBJ
Ject'ons. Since August, no further ~
formation on tho subject has rrachcd
this Department, although cbrts have
been used TO elicit it, J., ma, therefore,
bo inferred that ,hs-ooicctions Of the
Choctnws still ~Sist.
Early IN the winter, considerable nun.
a th,. n IL.