Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1853-12-28

question. And in prirne life, his integrity, Kindness
and hospitality wereal ways beautifully conspicuous
Few better men have ever lived.
What our Legislators bave done.
We might briefly say that but little has been done
during the Session Of Legislature which has just
closed and that we very we'll satisfied with that
little. But custom requires us TO goa little further
and to be little mure sperfc in our remarks. la
deed were we not so, there might be some little room
to suppose tha, We felt little superciious about the
matter, which is very far from being the fact
To proceed then, the Legislature, among other
things, have chartered the Columbia and Augusta
Railroad Company. We felt from the first that there
would be no difficulty in bringing about this consum'
nation Although may result in affecting certain
other interests innrousy for time, yet there was no
reason, supported by fairness and justice, why the
charter should be refused Our Legislature saw this
At glance, and the consequence was prompt action
in the premises and favorable the petitioners 1t
gratifying 10 know that the South Carolina Railroad
Company receded from their first position of unfriend.
| ness towards this new enterprise. The Charleston
| Mercury reckoned very unskilfuy when 1t spoke Of
the prayer of the applicants as bold" step which
would but I" lead 10 mischief" 1t was, on the con.
,rary most feasible demand, and is likely 10 bring
about benefits of no ordinary kind not only 10 large
portion of our own State but to the great travelling
public of the country. We gather from reliable au.
,hory that the work will be taken hold of Of no dis.
tant day with avdity and will be huit independent
of all aid from the State its fiscal organ This is
what We like to see 1t proves the enterprise to be
practicable and wise If it be true, rs we have
heard surmsed, that this direct inland route will
draw annually from the South Carolina Railroad
much more than hundred thousand dollars worth Of
travel, two conclusions at once apparent The
first is that the stock will be among The very best in
the Union-:he second, that necessity for the Road
is already existant.
The Legislature have also appropriated two hun
dred and fifty Thousand dollars towards the conlinua-
,ion of the new State House which is already under
the hands of the builders. This will be followed up
necessarily by another quarter Of n million at the
next Session, and another ut the Session AFTER and
on until the noble work shall he completed. We take
it that the entire is ultimately to exceed whole
million OF dollars This looks though our lrgsla
tors entirely parati opbus, at least considered
their dear constituents be 1t wond seem too
that all idea of changing seat Of government
had completely vanished. The building is TO be
of stately dimensions and high architectural excel
lence yet we very much doubt whether it will ever
echo back the like Of noble sentiments and patriotic
eloquence which have rung around the walls of the
old wooden building which is soon TO be
But We opposed 10 the construction Of Stale
house. which shall combine tho requisites of security
durability and beauty. And conceiving The work
now authorized and provided for of that charac
ter we regard the appropriation defensible one.
The Legislature have also jnintly resolved that
Commander INeRAHAM be presented with sword by
the Stale The Governor is to select and present it.
We are confident his Excclency will carry ont the
compliment as elegantly MS any 2other man living
could do it. This s very well. IsGRAnAM is, from
all accounts, noble fellow, besides being South
CArolinian. His Koz,a affair was handsome, and he
deserves the sword. Give him keen blade and plain
scabbard-and let diamond, if you like, adorn the
head.
A Bill has also been passed, prohibiting the cullec-
! ton OF demands against students in Colleges and
Institutions Of Education r ,ugout the Stale. This
enactment will probably prove itself to be one of
those nugatory things which stand for few Years
and are then repealed 1t will do but little gnod to-
wards putting stop 10 the old "iick" system which
has 50 long prevailed. We may be mistaken, and
hope we may be. Let it be tried 70 the full. in the
latitude Of New Eng land it might do. But so long
as the youths Of the sunny South retain the bright
sentiment of honor they yet cherish, long will the
merchant trust to that honor for indemnify against
all damages their account
Some sir or seven Banks have been rechartered by
the Legislature and or two new ones Incorporated
Some three or four new Railroad Companies have
been incorporated, besides the one mentioned in the
outset of this article. But help has been given to
none of them. Nor are at all dspea 'ed nj this
feature of the winters legislation. The precedent Of
assisting Railroads with the credit Of the State was
being taken advantage Of TO such extent rs TO be-
come alarming. We never favored it and among
those who rejoice that it has been abolished, if abol
ished it really be. But the lust of corporations is
ravenous, and will, we fear, show itself again and
again, like the manyheaded Hydra, seeking what of
the peoples money may be flung into its capaciuus
throat. Let the people be their guard against this
leentous sprit-and let them instruct their represent
atives that hereafter Railroad enterprises to
stand or fall according to their merits and the ability
Of their supporters.
The Legislature have furthermore exempted the
survivors of the South Carolina volunteers, in the
Florida war, from ordinary militia duty Poor fell
lows many of them are on the free list in Heaven by
this time, We hope; and the greater part of those
alive are too old for duty any how. The gratitude
of the Republic comes late cnough-bIt " better late
than never"
There various other enacimcnts mostly of q
local or private character A list Of them will be
found on our first page, amounting in all 10 fortysiI
Upon the whole, We think the Session has passed
off credi,aby to all concerned Some things were
pushed aside, which many will regret. Chief among
these is the erection of monument 10 CALHOUN.
We have heard some of our most prudent and ecu
nomica old citizens speak of the rejection of this
proposition with deep modification. Our candid
opinion is that it would have been ferveny sanction.
ed by the people of South Carolina.
p. S--Those who wish to see at what rates the
taxes are to be imposed for the coming year will find
in another column short Bill, which We commend
10 their scrutiny.
All the better for being done quietly.
l,, ,nI ,,-phil ~. l,rf,