The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-12-20
Editorial Correspondence.
COLUMBIA, Dec. l9, 1854.

have given you a condensed account of
the proceedings and doings Of the LegisIa-
ture for our last issue, but unforeseen cir
cumstances prevented. We were glad to
| see, however, that you did not oufer for
want Of Columbia newa,--our attentive
correspondent having given yoa a very
intcresinS letter. We now take nus turn
and will en,leavor to fill ep our omission Of
last week by giving you sort OF general
account Of lhnas and matters as they have
transpired within our knowledge. The
first two weeks Of the session we're taken
up in presenting petitions. accounts, me-
rnorials, &C, and in reading Bills the first
time, the last has been occupied n discuss.
ing and dispensing Of Bills Of various in.
tonts and character. Some of them Of
great interest and Importance to our coun-
try al large. The several Bills upon the
eubject OF Electors of Presidcnt and Vice
President Of the United States have oil
been postponed and mnde the special order
for the first Tuesday after the fourth
, Monday in November 1855. .#
Mr.. Cunningham's Bill. "Tn provide
for Banks of DISCOUNT ana depo.it and to
define and limit the business, powers and
privileges of Banks" which has created
considerable interest and good deal Of
talk and upon the principles of which, ne
has written so much during the last gum.
mer, will in oil probability be lost, az it has
been reported sniavorably upon by the
Committee of the Whole. The proposition
to establish branch Of the Bank Of the
Stale at Sum,errille seems to meet with
but little favor. 1t too has been reported
unfayorahly upon.
The Bill upon the Free School System,
proposed BY Mr.. Tucker, Of Spar,anburg,
hau been d.acusaed several times in Com
lni,tce OF the Whole and has, nj last, hern
passed with good many essential modlti-
cations. 1t created good deal Of interest
and much discussion. The Bill, as il has
passed This House, provides the same per-
munem amount Of appropriation for Free
Schools as was appropriated for that pur-
pose for last year, with clause empower-
ing the Boards Of Commissioners in the DIFF
feren, Districts 10 levy Free School Tag
to the amount Of twenty five per cent upon
the general tax of each District shcud the
wants of The District demand it, and direct
ing the Comptroller General to warrant
the said D3arti of Commissioners 10 draw
from the State treasury sum equal 10
that raised by such taxation iu be applied
hy them to the Free School wants Of the
District. Thus making, in reality, an ad-
dilional appropriation for Free Schools,
equal TO whatever sum the people Of each
District may choose to rase by self-taxa-
lion, for that purpose, within twenty-five
per cont. Of the General tax. Fhe
Bill also provides for a general Superin.
fe,dant Of Free Schools, whose duty i,
will be TO travel over the State and super
:,sG lie thanageiir,i oi The different
Boards o: Commissioners and To examine
and suggest improvements in the dscip-
line aud systems OF he different teachers
and to report To the Legislature the man.
ncr in which the money has been cxpend-
cd, the progress made and the wants OF
the different PORTIONS of The State in this
respect A Bill which we sincerely hope
may lie perfected into Iar.
The next moat important Bill Of the
session and the one " hich has created The
most discussion and feeling is the " Bill to
authorize the aid of The Stale 10 the Blue
Ridge Rail Road Company" to the
amonll Of Two million dol 'ars," this being
seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars
more than the amount Of Bonds of the
Company asked to be guaranteed by the
STATE, at the last scsslon. The present
Bill asks ior one million in money and one
million to he guaranteed on the Bands Of
the Company Company to relnqush
the million add a quarter guaranteed on
their bonds at the last session. This is a
groa, project and although we are not sat
istied fully Of the propriety of the State
rskins So much money, yet we cannot cay
we arc opposed to the Bill. 1t will pass
IN all probability. The result Of the cleo
ton for Governor, on Monday last, you
have in all probability heard; Gen. Adams
was elected on the first ballot. On We'd
nesday las, he was inaugurated and made
a very strong and effective speech on the
occasion. He deprecated the TOO Tree use
Of the pardoning power and thought We
were upon times of danger and ruin TO the
South and proclaimed himself ready tc
stand b; the honor and welfare OF his State
, and the South to the last, and to any ex
tent. The Hail Of Representatives pre-
,1