The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-06-21

hiue!i tNAI IS dcmandeu ny the country
in the way Of Legislation is thrown
aside for the want Of time to consider
them. With regard to the election of
electors by the district system, which
preserves the relative position OF
the upper and lower country, in my
opinion it is too complicated and cum.
brous in its operation to work well
ard am therefore at present not an
advocate for change.
10 the second in,errogatory would
reply, that except for very especial and
cogent reasons in particular instances,
shall be opposed to the division of
the large and populous districts, Of the
State into small election districts is
involving in very eminent degree the
destruction Of the present systcm O
checks and balances in the State which
II w SO happily govern us, which are
referred to in the answer to Il previous
interrogatory.
Sd. With regard to the present Fl
nancial condition of the State it would
be exceedingly difficult to trace out the
incidental and remote causes which
have led TO the present stringeuoy iii
the money markets, both in this State
and of The union. Perhaps over trading
i'll the first instance and subsequently,
the disturbed and uncertain condition
OF European affairs, in which England
with whom we hold the most cxten
sive commercial relations, is deeply
involved have both contributed to pro.
duco these results. Perhaps also, we
have ourselves increased the pressure
as far as this State is concerned, BY the
establishment recently Of u number OF
new banks which created necessity
for the Bank Of the State and the lonu
established and well conducted banks
to restrict their discounts to such an
extent as to cut OF the usual accom-.
nodations from our own citizens and
thereby prevent those indispensable
facilities for trade and business at
home, which a"a necessary in oldcr to
meet engagements entered into during
q period Of an abundance of money
and great numerical prosperity.
For this lknow no remedy by legis.
latinn. Prudence and industry arc
in my Judgment the only remedial
agents, to relieve us from present en-.
barrassmcn,s. ! shall be opposed to
any further increase in the number OF
Banks in the State, as dangerous to a
sound currency, aud to the true pros
perily OF the people.
To the 4lh iuterrogatory | reply
that lam altogether indisposed to sac
rlhce the interest of the State for the
benefit OF Railroad corporations or an,
other "lnonopolies.." do not believe
however, that the Legislative assembly
is the proper tribunal to judge of the
Infringement Of charters or of the *.
tent of injury to life and property,
but that all these are property reiera-
bic to the courts ofLaw to determine
the nature of, and the extent of DANA
ges. But am Of opinion also that
their charters should be- SO amended
under the Act of 1871 as to create
greater security to lives and property
committed to their charge ia order to
hold them to stricter obligations, to
discharge the duties which they. virtu-
ally promise to the public; and which
are now greatly disrcgarded in the
manner in which they are at present
conducted. ANY wholesome remedy
for existing evils us connected. with
Railroads, which shall be brought
about in conformity to law and a
proper regard for vested rights will
receive my cordial support.
5th Qustion, Public Education, |
hold to be of paramount Importance,
and no State is injured or impovcrish.
ed, by aiiordng the means of acquiring
knowledge to the poor. | am in favor
of the expenditure Of the largest
amount for the education of the citi.
zens OF the State; provided always
that it is expended i'll q manner so ju
dicious, as to produce results adequate
to the sum disbursed believe, however
that the present system is altogether
defective, that the amount of good re-
suiting from it is by no means salts
factory. | shall feel myself called
upon therefore to support any plan by
which the present free school system
will be improved and made to produce
results which will be moro satisfactory
than at present to every friend of edu.
cation in the State. The power of a
State is in proportion to the education
o. OF all GLASSES of her young citizens.-
The rich have the power to educate
themselves--the poor are dependent
upon proper system established by
the State for their benefit. No system
now exists which can furnish q proper
education for the poor. This ought
not to be.
9th. Withreggara 70 4 cllangei in the,
present judiciary system ! can only
reply in general terms. am onser-
5yative in alIl,ofHyt notions of ofgoverns
ment, and unless changes are Very OBJ;
fvious improy oyemelits ain opposed 10
them. >Ghahgesin this branch Of the
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