Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-05-11

e Carolina, except Charleston. Our candidate
It have longer campaign than thoseof NewberI
or Of any other small District, md their strife
y much more bitter, because every nan tolls hare
er for a big reward than he does for little on
n Our Offices are so very desirable, that the il
n cumbents always seek to be reelected, unit
) death, defeat, or fortune accumulated in ottc
\ bdsHthem retire. A public officer should be fire
f from every influence except that of the Ia,
f which he administers but how can y Head Q
police in so large 4 District as Edgefeld be in
dependent and impartial, when he has to pariri
pate in obstinate and vindiclire contests, to Sc
cure his first, or any subsequent election! Is j
not natural TO suppose that he will neglect murl
of his duty, or leave it to be performed by De
puties? Are not irresistible temptations con
stanly inviting him to spare his friends, punish
his enemies and employ the power of his Office
TO revenge tic past, or secure his reelection IL
the future? conclude therefore, that large
District has less efficient police than small
one for several reasons: @
lst. Because the labor Of the police in large
District is TOO great to be performed well.
I'd. Because some Of this labor is never per.
formed at ALL and much. of it is done badIy.b
perhaps incompetent or irresponsible Deputies,
contrary to the settled policy of the law and the
Dictates of common prudence.
Sd. Because the POLICE of large District neg
lcct nany of their duties, for the reason that
they do not feel the necessity of laboring dill.
gently to obtain sufficient compensation
4th. Because the police of !. large District
can practise more extortion and oppression with
ont being detected
9th. Because as the police Of large District
m ,J.t,,,
giles for Office, they more inclined to practise
favorilistn and persecution than tile police of
small District
How large then shall District be, and what
number of inhabitants must it contain TO sup.
port police? What amount of compensation
will secure the services of efficient officers!
think that any District, which has 4 population
of five thousand whites, can sustain good po-
lice. A District with that number of inhabi
tants will probably yield annually, $500 fees to
each of its officers. This sum is amply snlli-
cient to engage the devoted attention of many
poor, but honest, intelligent and energetic young
men, who would gladly serve as Clerk or Sheriff
Of Edgeheld, for IN amount of compensation
that but few Of them can earn even by shaving
themselves as overscers. The local police in |
the Counties Of New England are very efficient |
men, and their annual pay ranges from $3.50 to
5000. Every office here is created for the good
OF the people, not for the good of the officer,
and there is no necessity for having policemen
with talents worthy to be president of the
United States. An honest man with plain CON-
mon sense, who can read and write, is as well
fitted TO be Sheriff or Ordinary of Edgefeld as
Gen. Pierce or any, one. else. Iwould not have
4 5Distrirs,s small ns that there should be no
for. its Offices, but purse of $500
will always have two or three entries for it, Nor
would have 4 District so small as that its po-
ice must practice extortion and oppression 10
,ain a support. Georgetown District is Il de.
,lurable instance of Il Judicial Division that is
90 small to sustain polite. The fact that the
OF that District has been vacant for
onc time, and that its duties are now perform
ID by the Coroner, is in the mouth of every
nt-dirsionist from the Sea Board to the noun
aims. But no other officer of the Georgetown
olice goes Il begging, although the white popu- $
ltun of that District is only 1923, or rabout one
rrenh part as much lis that of Edgelicd The =
nader must not recur to number Ill for this in |
but he should consult page 4l9 of /
ne Reports and Resolutions Of the Legislature T
'r the year l8l9 Williamsburg, our next g
nallest District in population has only $500 n
te inhabitants, yet we hear no complaints Of {
lcant Offices, or Of an inefficient police there
ershaw has a population of but 4,947, which h
less than one-third Of what Edgefeld con- S
ns, still Korsfaw has ust rs intelligent, faith d
Il and responsible police as EdgciicId, and | o
,fy any man to gansay it. So have several #
her Districts in South Carolina, which number Ii
1t about one-third of the population Of Edge I,
I'D. Then surely it is not unreasonable to es- q,
nate that Edge6eld even with her present popu- d.
lion can support an admirable police for three c,
parate Districts. ! have no fear in announc- fo
9 The proposition, that il EdgefcId were di. tv
led into four Districts, each and all of them E
ould be able TO maintain IN excellent police. te
new District that has population of 1000 at 70
e start, will gain another thousand in 4 very C,
Ort time, as all experience proves. Mechan- is,
I, manufacturers, merchants, gentlemen of or
sure, &c, will quickly settle at the new Court d
'uses until u small town is formed. Farmers nj
% flock into n small District and reclaim lis ~
laus'cd lands. The small Judicial Districts n,
South Carolina are much more densely in. 50
1i!ed than the large ones. The white popula- an
n Of Newbcrry, 4 small adjoining District to r,
RS, is something over Is to the square mile of Vi,
X paying territory while that of Edgeficld is sti
j
oulaton of Laurens, another small District is M
" '.'e squ'ie h'e. He uocirlhe ltat slnall ant
'trcts are more popuous than large ones. Oft
ds good throughout this State and the United is
ties, Louk what small counties have done cur
Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee and even nv
run carolina: Are not Their people staying lice
ton'e' ",'l'e ours are enlSrathS IN every d. sep
''u" ARE not those states progressing III the
'ulation, wealth, education and internal i'm Ics
vements, far more than South Carolina We
accustomed TO look down upon North Caro- r
with contemplate call her Rip Van i
ukle and other hard names, while she is out. l". l
ping us in every element, that makes ma !" ,'' :,
great. The sub division of her territory Ls' i,s'
small Counties was the first thing that gave Va;
impetus to her prosperity. Vir m
n this paper have twice referred 10 the act ma,
l!6S for establishing new Districts in South Der
oIlna will now quote the whole preamble yea
ustaln my assertion that large judicial Dis the,
IS retard the growth of population. "Where- WI
he establishing Courts, building Goals, and hall
Olntlng Sherfs in different parts of this pro- see
e under proper regulations, will tend to pro- TO
c the interest Of our most gracious Sovcr-
and his good subjects theruin, also to pre- Y
c their just rights, liberties and properties s,r
the public peace, inasmuch as the distance on,,
l Charleston OF many persons who, however dou or;
ote from thence, are often obliged, either as oui,
les, jurors or witnesses to attend the Courts 1sn
esent held there for the trial of all criminal net
es, and OF all civ ACTIONS, exceeding the or,, eu-
OF twenty pounds current money and the esta es,'
y oil suits, by ruason of such distance are anoa @
great, The charge and Inconvenience of such
'dance, bnrthensomc and detrimental, the NJ
Is' mI,, VI LIB provost marshal too much to pliel
uly executed, his foes by reason of the ex- of Of