Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-04-05

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vigils for the approach of morning, or expose
their health and lives to the cold and rain, under
the canopy of heaven-who, whether rich or
poor, if they would redress themselves, for even
the most fragrant or iIsufferabe wrong, must!
pay perhaps Il host of witnesses for attending.
Court tco whole weeks, Mt several Terms. i
say, can men. who endure such hardships as these
who are kept in continued contact with such
temptations to vice or crime be as meek as
saints, as pure as virtue and rs forbearlng as u
member of the peace Sociely!" Let the tlstl-
cuffs and homieides which adorn our Public
Square on Saledays, Court weeks, DC. answer.
have heard The report of death shots even
while Judge was administering his Office In the
Temple of Justice. Can ours ever become
law abiding people, rs long rs there are so many
inducements TO violate law-as long III 50 much
time and space stand between half of them and
the means of even peacefully obeying the Law,
or rs long as 50 many of them have but few, or
no facilities for learning Law! Some old men
in Edgcficld District have never visited their
Cour, House. Many others have only crossed
its threshold once or twice. and those from a
distance who attend rs spectators, parlies,. wit
nesses or jurors can have but little or no enjoy
ment there Long absence from ones family or
business is not agreeable, and extravagant Bills
are bv no means luxury. So that about hall
of our population know nothing of the other
half. and there are hundreds, yea, thousands in
Edgeficd, who are as ignorant OF the people,
or history of their District, rs they are of the
Laws of their country, because they are depriv.
I'd of the instruction and pleasure of frequently
meeting their fcllow.cilizens from all quarters,
as we'll as of seeing, hearing and observing wha;
is done in Court.
Example we know is contagious, be 1t good,
or bad. For instance, one drunkard makes many,
and one liar, gamester, fighter or murderer will
soon have Il number of brethren initiating his
conduct. Habits, principles manners and Gus
toms, act and react upon each other from the
centre TO the circumference, and from the cir
cumfercncc 10 the centre OF every community,
which is governed by the same laws and idenllti-
cd by the same interests. must, therefore,
again declare my Interchangeable belief, that it is
The huge dimensions of Edgefrd with its nu.
merous, but scattered population, producing
general immortality. rs well On the borders rs ut
The centre of the District, that is the Chief cause
of the many crimes and infamous fame, which
have so lon. been the rcproach Of Edgefield.
further believe that it has engendered the bitter
hatred and blind Prejudice which the country
people bear towards Edge6cld Court Hou~,
and the Lawyers who reside there No District
in the State, and venture to say, no County
in the United States, cherishes such antipalhr
to its County seat, or local Lawyers as do the
people Of Edsefeld against theirs. The reason Of
this is that our people have no pleasant associa-
tions connected with their District capitol. 1t
is pilgrimage of pain TO 60 there; long jour.
neys, heavy bills, cares veXa,ions and exasprra-
tions are involuntary called up in the breast OF
half our peaceable or li!igious citizens, Mt the
very thought or name Of their distant Court
Fiouse. Demagogues for their own selfish po'
lhical purposes, feed this popular prejudice
against the village, and thereby as wei as other.
wise encourage the dcIusion against Lawyers
bat the people now feel and think, they will
soon see that they are made the dupes Of all
parties will endeavor to convince them, that
they should hate the Parishes not their Court
House, and quarrel with the Legislature, 'ohich
is rotten 10 the core, not with their Lawyers, fol
the wrongs That they suffer.
HARPER.