Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1853-12-07
G ON M d n ! /. 1 q At IONS.
FOR 'rHs ADVERTISER.

i
Legislature now in Session, and found the Members
as busy as BEES but whether in the service of them
selves or of their constituents the sequel will show.
tits certain, however, that they have various pro-
iects which SAVIOUR greatly of sefshness and fOlyy
without phase of reason justice, to Hay nothing
of wisdom and craftsmanship, to palliate or excuse
them. A Mir. - of St. - Parish introduced
bill to sell the property belonging to the Commits
soners of the Poor in said Parish, alleging as n
reason that their poor were not fed and clothed,
but suffered to famsh for want of food and rancnt
had thought that the Commissioners for Edseiicld
District had gone to the ulthnatum of dercliction
in duty by permitting unscruptous Shyocks 10 prey
upon the public.spoils, until saw men calling upon
the Legislature to exonorate Commissioners from
any further care of their pagpers, and thus leave
them to starve, literally to stapc-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. Bpt it is to be hoped
,ha, the selfish device will icct the cxccration Of
all, if not from more elevate and more humane
Us it does a gross fraud upon other Districts.
Another project is to diminish the number Of
perempory challenges from twenty to eight This
law is designed to consult the special benefit of the
Parishes without regard TO the condition and in
terests of the Districts. AS the law now stands,
only twenty-four Jurors odfof the forty-cight are
impanncled, and the accused is required to go
through these with Ills chulsnge, beginning with
Jury No. l. It 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 i'll
the panel the other eight whth are to try him are
obtained according to an elcnal order made by
the Sheriff and Clerk, over Which the accused has
no control This law is founded in just and hu-
name spirit, and operates very justly in the Dis
tr;cts 1t may not do so in he Parishes bccarse OF
their limited territory and sparse population, on
account of which forty-eighi Jurors are seldom in
attendance at Court. But not so with US. The
fur,y-cight always attend in the Districts and the
Solicitor ha. the power of challenging ad hbi'"m.
In place of altering the law to adapt it to the special
or capricious wants Of the Parishes, | must be al
lowed to say shat a more permanent good would be
derived to the State by breaking up the Parish
system altogether, which gives to the o@-country
an unjust advantage in representation.
There are various other projects, such as bill 10
abolish all laws prohibiting usury, and to leave each
one to his contract. 1t is surprising that this bill
should be the project Of a1man who has character
for intelligence and integrity. Whether he has
any money at interest moi II could not learn. It
sounds very specious 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 restraint, Of Legislation. When
man stakes Ills fortune upon game at cards, is il
not his deliberate and positive contract
But yet it is a vicious practice which the law
wisely restraints. And is it less wise to put re-
straiut upon the absorbing arc sordd desires of the
untccng usurer who would profit by the necessities
of hi, fcllow-man.
1t is very natural for thcs: monicd men to imag'
inc that thcy1are very conscientious and are on
their way to Heaven rejoicing!
But the future very probably will show their di-
mcnsons to be too large &c enter that " narrow gate
-ll.i4h l4-..l. to rnss~-p;o. hwhich they LarA
title. SO far as my observation gueo, ,I'esr rabl
usurcrs are the most unwor,hy-thc most pretend
ng-prcsumptuous-an heRrtlcss men in society.
and therefore the most ncedful of the wholesome
restraints Of the law.
But will enlarge upon this topic hereafter if
should think proper. mc;n by usurer not one
who looks out for necessities, and presses down
accordingly. -
There is bill also, to require each surety Of All
Administrator to be worth double the estate Of the
intestatc. This is monsrou, project. The result
will be to allow only a few wealthy men to take
charge Of every important estate, no matter how
Indifferent he may feel in renpcct to the welfare Of
the distributes.
There are several other oltragcs in contcmpa-
tion upon which will not now animalvtrt Let il
suffice to say that there are two prominent ten
denotes in the Legislature. One is to alter the
general law-thc other to qrander public money.
lnere never Will DC CONSERVATIVE anu reliable
Legislature constituted unit! the people learn to
elect their representatives from the intelligent
and informed citizens, and hen continue them
longer in office. 1t takes naa about two years to
learn the routine Of business, let him be apt
and Industrious hope therefore, that our pre-
sent members will continue 10 serve us, as they
seem 10 be working men. Tfey very frankly ad-
nit however, that they need awycrof good sense
to consult with, and one who cn "spcak in public
on the stage
Ar a good law, would suggest that Charleston
be given reduced and fixed nj mbcr Of representa-
tiycs. She has now very worthy and honest men
with two or three very pap;ble and moriifying
exceptons) to represent her in the House. But as
matter Of self-defencc against partial Legislation
and local power and influence, think it would be
well to limit and liS the number Of her Rcprcscn-
tavcs. You may hear from again, if take
notion, for have not said one-half.
Yours truly, SPECTATOR.
FOR TIE ADVERTISER.