Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1853-12-07
]. q ON MtEnl IC CIsAIT lows.
IoR 'rHE gApyERTIsER.
cOLUMBIA. Dec. 3, 1853.

AppeUlH, tOOk Oc.dSOu W tuC VI ou'
Legislature now in Session, and found the Members
as busy as bees but whether in the service of thcn-
selves or of their constituents the sequel will show
1t is certain however, that they have various pro-
jectn which SAVIOUR greatly of sefshness and folly,
without phase of reason or justice, to say nothing
Of wisdom and craftsmanship, to palliate or excuse
them A Mr.. 49, of ST. Parish introduced
bill to sell the property belonging to the Commits
sioners of the Poor in said Parish, alleging as
reason that their poor were not fed and clothed,
but suffered to famish for want food and rnimcnt
| had thought that the Commissioners for Edgeficld
District had gone to the ulthnatum of derelctlon
in duty by permitting urscruptlous Shyocks to prey
upon the pubic-spoils, until lsaw men calling upon
the Legislature to exonorate Commissioners from
any further care of their paIpers, and thus leave
them to starve, literally to statye-or be driven out
upon other Parishes and Districts. 1t is hard to
ray whether this project involves more of inhu-
manity than of injustice. Bit it is to be hoped
that tho aelHsh device will meet the execration Of
all, if not from moro elevated and more humane
sentiments Of the heart, at lcast from policy, invov
Us it does gross frard upon other Districts.
Another project is to diminish the number Of
peremptory challenges from twenty to eight This
law is designed to consult thclspecia benefit Of the
Parishes without regard TO the condition and in
terests of the Districts. AS the law now stands,
only tweniy-our Jurors odfiof the forty-cisht are
impanneled and the accused is required to go
through these with his chals snge, beginning with
Jury No. l. 1t follows therefore, that four Jurors
are assigned to the accused Without any reference
to his interests or wishes AID il you will suppose
him to exercise his right Of challenging twenty in
the panel, The other eight whth are to try him are
obtained according to an accidental order made by
the Sheriff and Clerk, over Which the accused has
no control. This law is founded in just and hu-
manc spirit, and operates very Justly in the Dis
tr;cts. 1t may not do so in e Parishes bcca';se OF
their limited territory and sparse population, on
account of Which forty-eight Jurors are seldom in
attendance at Court. But not 80 with US. The
forty-cisht always attend in nthc Districts, and the
Solicitor has tho power of challenging ad iibit"m.
In place of altering the law to adapt it to the special
or capricous wants of The Parishes, | must be al
lowed to say that more permanent good would be
derived to the State ty breaking up the Parish
system altogether, which gives to the lo~-country
an unjust advantage in representation.
There are various other projects, such a, bill to
abolish all laws prohibiting usury, and to leave each
one 10 lis contract 1t is surprising that this bill
should be the project Of a--nan who has character
for intelligence and integrity. Whether he has
any money at interest not II could not learn. 1t
sounds very specioua to say leave every one to his
contract" But upon looking at it more closely, it
is no better than to leave every one to his own
course without any restraints Of Legislation. When
man stakes his fortune upon game at cards, is ii
not his deliberate and positive contracts -
Blu. yet it is a vicious practice which the law
wisely restraints, And Is it less wise to put re-
ssraint upohhc absorbing and sordid desires Of the
unfceng usurtr who would profit by the necessities
of hi, fcllow-man.
1t is very natural for these monicd men to imag-
inc that thc,eare very conscientious and are on
their way to Heaven rejoicing
But the future very probably will show their d.
mcnsons to be too large te enter that narrow ga c.
.ul.i4h-l.I4 10 rn.a-Ds;e.S lu-whch they LarA no
title. So far as my observation COCO, .Itcsc rabid
usurcrs are the most unworhy-thc most pretend.
ng-prcsumptuous- heartlcss men in society.
and therefore tho most ncedfu Of the wlolcsolI,,
restraints Of the law.
But will enlarge upon this topic hereafter il
should think proper. | mean by usurcr not one
who simply charges unlawful per ccnt-but on.
who looks out for necessities, and presses down
accordingly. ~
There is a bill also, 10 require each surety Of Al
Administrator to be worth double the estate Of til,
intestate. This is monstlous project The rcsul
will be to alow only a few wealthy men 10 talk,
charge Of every important estate, matter how
Indifferent he may feel in respect 10 the welfare o
the distributes.
There are several other outragcs in contcmpla
tion upon which will not now anna,lv,rt Let i
suffice to say that there are two prominent ten,
dcncies in the Legislature. One is to alter til,
general law-the other to Iquander public money
lncTe never VIII Oc Il ctllscTfItlNc anu TcIldDlt
Legislature constituted, until the people learn IL
elect their representatives from the more intelligent
and informed citizens, and then continue them
longer in office. 1t takes man about two years t.
learn the routine of business, let him be apt
and Industrious. hope therefore, that our pre-
sent members will continue to serve us, as they
seem 10 be working men. They very frankly ad-
NIT however, that they need u lawycrof good sense
to consult with, and one who can "spcak in public
on the stage"
As good law, would suggest that Charleston
be given reduced and fixed number Of representa-
tivcs. She has now very worthy and honest men
with two or three very papabe and morlfying
exccptions) to represent her in the House. But as
a matter of self-defcncc against partial legislation
and local power and influence, l think it would be
well to limit and fix the number Of her Reprrscn-
talivcs. You may hear from me again, il take a
notion, for have not said onehalf
Yours truly, SPECTATOR.
FOR TIE ADVERTISER.
Unprr rnnT "