Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-04-13

Even II We adopt (tO Which oDJect) lne uSu-
ally received estimate Of the area of South
Carolina which is $4,000 square miles, it is OBJ
riOus that the average extent OF our judicial
Districts is precisely 1000 square miles, or in
other words, that the average area of Judicial
divisions here is much greater than 1t il in any
State mentioned in the proceeding Schedule.
have included some Of the new States, but have
purposely omitted to say anything of Maine,
Arkansas, Texas, Iowa and others, most Of
whose territory is still slunbering in the wild
solitude of nature, instead Of being cultivated,
wealthy and thickly settled region like ours.
But the small Counties of other States are
judcially divided in another respect, to which
our people are strangers. There Is generally q
Municipal or Recorders Court of considerable
jurisdiction, in every City and Town, North or
South of ny. There is also an Inferior or Cuun-
ty Court, of similar jurisdiction, held at more
than one place, and usually at four different
places. at four different periods of the year, in
every judicial County Of nearly every State in
the Union. A few other States, like South
Carolina, have abolished the old County Court
system, which we borrowed from England, but
then the Magistrates or Inferior Judges of those
States, are for the most part, clnthed with both
civil and criminal jurisdiction, far above the
petty sum of $40 and the simple initiative Of
process for furnishing crimes. As nine tenhs
of mankind are comparatively poor, and there
fore never liiigatc matters of much value, limi-
ted jurisdiction, such as is usually given 10
these Municipal or Inferior Courts will generally
cover it. Most criminal prosecutions are like
wise instituted for misdemeanors, that is small
crimes, not extending to life or limb, and juris-
NJ diurr
5000. or $500 in value, as we'll rs cognizance
OF m;sdcmeanorS are generally vested in the
Courts above named in other States. The
people of those States by this means get redress
quickly, cheaply and easily for most of their
wrongs. How different in South Carolina, and
particularly in Edgetield, where the cost of y
suit is often greater than the verdict or amount
recovered, and the time lost perhaps worth rs
much more.
In the same judicial County of many States
rs in New Hampshire and Vermont, there are
also two or more places for Registering Deeds
and other Records, which is of incaculable bene-
fit 10 peaccable citizens. The same is true Of
Counties in England. whether with reference to
Ireland, Scotland Wales. or England proper.
The average extent of Counties in Ireland is
about 976 square miles in Scotland about So
in Wales 677. aud in England proper 1863 but
the Counties in all Of these States are more or
less judicially subdivided, either in respect to
territory or the jurisdiction of the several Courts
In truth, Counties in the British Empire are less
judicial divisions than they are political, or pro-
p'iclary. The land in many of them absolutely
b-I"ngs to the King or Nobility. Many Cities
in South Britain or England proper, such rs
London, Westminster, Bristol, Chester, &C.,
together with their suburbs, constitute indcpen-
dsmt judicial Counties or Districts within them
arlves. They have their own Sheritfs and other
Officers, and their Courts exercise the Same ju-
visdh:,l"n in every respect, as do those of the !
ypral Counties. whose Magistrates have no pow
or 10 in'rrnrddic in the corporate or City Coun-
NeS. Some "f her political or proprietary
Counties. beside having their Inferior, Munri |
PaI and City C"nnly Courts, are further parti.
tio:rrd ini" nurhrr of judicial Districts, called
Rimgs." a. la Yorkshire" Divisions" rs in /
I.,coln>rr. &r These Counties are POLITICAL
~ .ubii, lied into Bor"ughs, something akin TO
the Plr>!l.:. of Soi;sl Carolina or the Towns in
New England Hence. III" fact that the Coun-
lies of England average l2G3 square miles, sig
miles nuiiIng Iii" people of any County in
England, far IL can gather, after careful in
vc-llgatlon. have much greater judicial facilities
illsm liln-c OF EdyceId, of Barnwell, or of many
other Districts in South Carolina. might pro.
bong these comparisons. bnt il iS unnecessary,
as the reader mus, br satisfied amt We need not
sss beyond ibis c"un;r: or England for illus
iratiulrs. The rest "i The world are without
any free institutions lit Iur Us l:. follow, and the
amcirn;s even in Greece aud Rome knew moth
ing of an iudcpcndan; Judiciary, or OF It's proper
organization.
believe that all "f our ne,e Slai.s, except
perhaps iIiinoi, and Kentucky, have honght the
matter Of furnishing their ii zcrls with convent
ell, jrdisiaI farili,ie> Of such vital mnurlaIce,
AZ to makc :. Constitutional provision ior it
while most of The "nri.inal liricr;l in their
CONSTITUTIONS have left their policy in this ~.
gard, 10 The discretion Of their L..yi>ia,urrs.-
This could tc r@.ily rxp;;;;;e.i, but s!HlIl no: