Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-12-20

criminal code, and should deeply regret TO SET
them superseded by such system. see nothing
in the statistics of crime in The States where this
novel mode OF punishment has been adopted, to
commend the example to our imitation. No sys
tem, however severe in its penalties, and rigid
in enforcement, has yet been devised, equal 10
the legitimate end of all punishment-the sup.
preston OF crime. In one section OF the Union
men stab and kill each other, in hot blood, to re-
yenge an Insult or an injury. In the other they
lie in ambush OH the highway, or steal under
cover OF night into the peaceful domicil and mur-
der for gain. Neither capital punishment nor
incarceration has been able tu suppress crime.
SO long, then As the Peni,entiaries of our neigh
bors IRE crowded, and, in some Instances, de-
mand enlargement, and our own iails are compa-
| ratively tenanless let Us adhere to our existing
code, and faithfully execute It's provisions. My
own observation authorizes the assertion, that
juries rarely, if ever convict the innocent, while
the guilty are too often permitted to escape the
punishment due to their offences. | trust, for
! the peace and good order of society, that during
my administration, the applications for Executive
clemency may be- few, for it will be only under
such circumstances as are demanded by the pub
lie good, that shall feel at liberty to exercise it.
The control and supervision of the military
| organization Of the State are especially contided
| to the Executive. Our present system is the re-
| suit cs a we'll founded conviction of its impor-
tance and necessity. | shall endeavor TO foster
and keep alive that degree Of military pride and
| enthusiasm so essential 10 its preservation and
efficiency. Ii its practical operation shall be
found to bear hardly upon that portion of our
fellow-citizers least able to sustain the burden,
1t will be your duty to remedy the defect. fear,
however, that much of the clarnor recently raised
against the system, eraanates from that class who
owe most to the Commonwealth, and should be
tho last to murmur ct the sacrifice involved. 1t
ls bad omen when the owners Of slaves grudge
to the State the trouble and expense incurred in
few days devoted to training and the use of the
musket If any people on earth are deeply in
terested in preserving complete and thorough
military organization, it is the people of the
Southern Safes.
The Constitution imposes the further duty on
the Executive, TO collect and lay before you such
information in relation to the condition of the
State as he may deem important. Upon you it
deVolres the higher duty, with knowledge of
the wants and necessities of the people, to pro-
vide the required legislation. The legislation of
the State heretofore has been imbued in the
conservative character of our people. Thus far
SouthCarolina has been exempt from the baneful
influence of that wild spirit OF progressive demo-
cracy, which has run riot over the North, ignor-
ing all the lessons of experience and setting at
defiance the clearest dictates of reason 1t is
the offspring of an impatient, restless principle
in the human Breast which, unrestrained and
unenlightened, is at war with mans best inter.
ests, both in his individual and social capacity.
It lies at the bottom OF those vagares, which in
these modern days, seek to uproot the founda-
tions Of society and to blur and destroy all that
is symmetrical and useful in we'll organized gov
ernments. Rebuked by..th words of inspiration,
in madness it mocks them TO scorn and be-
cause there is spot on the face of the sun,
would strike il down from the heavens" This
desire for change, this restless spirit of innova-
.tion is spreading over the country. In the
Southern portion of the Confederacy it has
mainly developed itself in frequent calls of con-
ventioDs TO alter and remodel constitutions under
the delusive idea that change in government
would remedy "the ills that flesh is heir to,
Our State has not as yet been materially injured
by its influence. Let US shut it out as We would
the pestilence that waketh in darkness" and
"the destruction that wasteth at MONDAY" 1t
is the Moloch which, asking morsel ut the out
set, will in the end demand tho Constitution of
the State that it may devour it also, Itis