Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-11-28
From the cbarle,ton Courier.
DIVISI0MMpVEMENT.

UlVlSl ~ WV u " II ~ i.
Ata public meetnetheId in Aiken Oh Tues
day, the 18th of November, 10 take into con.d
Grafton The propriety Ind praeticability Of divi
ding Barnwell and ottr large Districts, IA mo-
ton of JAS. Pervis, EN-, Dr. J. G. RaRe. was
called to the Chair, aaleE. J. C. Wood, DrrB. a
Rodrigues and F. L.sWalker, were appointed
Tho Chairman then explained the object oil
the meeting in few brief and pertinent remarks
when on motion ofSCaPiain Gideon Evans
it WAS '+:l'. . Z
he appointed by the Chair TO pr: pare and report
business for the consideration of The meeting.
Whereupon the Chairman named The following
gentlemen, az constituting the said Committee
Cnp,rin S. s. Evens1 ggJohD Green, Dr. E, C
Toolc, ]. 7. Wise, DFsJ. CIV. Mcdonald, Col
]. Marsh, Miedge Hankerson, Abner w. At.
knson, Benz. Hard, Woodard, M. I. Mar.
shall, Geo. Robinsons Matheney, Allan Frank.
lin, A. Hatcher, ]. D!e Piunkett, Dnyton CAN'T
R. ,,eedman, John Courtney, F. Kennedy and
James Kitchen.
The Committee thsD retired, aud nfter.a brief
absence made tho following report through their
o'"' REPORT.
Your committee would call the attention of
the meeting, TO the.present disproportionate
representation of the Parishes and the Districts
proper; or in the common !paflance of the day
of the Low and the Up-eonntry /; and would call
attention to few statistical facts drawn from
recent official returns. q.
The Parish Districts are six in number viz
Beaufort, Colleton, Charleston= Gncluding the
city,) Georgetown, Sumter, and Orungeburg.
The remaining % judicial districts. constitute
what is generally cal,ed The Up.country or Dis.
tircts proper.
The whole tax-paying territory of the Parish
Districts is only S,i32 square miles: while that
of the Up.Country is:1s.52s square miles; ; or
more than twice as much as that of the parishes.
The white population of the parish districts
in 1850, was but 5S,65l; whilst that of The Up
country was 22l, 1884.
Basing the calculation rs to the property of
the Two sections, upon the last federal census,
and the last annual report of the Comptroller.
General, and with reference TO the five items of
lands, implements and machinery, live stock,
slaves and town lots, including the city Of Char
lesion, and estimating slaves at $500 per head,
the wealth of the two sections stands rs follows
Parishes. .........., ....,....Sl32,044.762
|
The number of slaves upon which taxes were
paid last year is as follows:
Parishes. ......:. 160,753
Op.counlry. ...... ........ III ,S4I
The six Parish Districts above named have
twenty-three Senators: in the Legislature, while
the Up.country. have, but the same number /;
therefore every 353 square miles Of tax.pnying
territory in the Parishes hns a Senator, whereas
only one Senator IL allowed to every 805 square
miles of such territory in the Up.country. Again,
every $3.50 white inhabitants of the Parishes
lave Senator; whereas only one Senator is
assigned 10 every 9640 white inhabitants of the
Districts proper. Furthermore. every $5.74l,-
076 Of property in the Parishes is represented
bv Senator; whereas only one Senator is per-
mtted to every S8,0S7 55l Of the Districts So
likewise every $3.50 slaves in the Parishes have
u Senator; whereas only one Senator is given to
every 9645 slaves of the Up-country.
Edgefeld and Bsrnwell have more than 3lO0
square miles of tnx-paying territory, and allow
ing proper margin for vacant lands, for defec.
tive surveys, for under returns by some free
holders, and for no returns at all by others, to
avoid payment of taxes, it is believed that these
Districts contain at least $500 square miles of
surface.
well, was 2s,5l2 in the year 1850; and the ag.
gregate property of the two Districts is S29,-
828,O75, according to The last federal Census
and the last annual report of Tho Comptroller
General of thia State, estimated upon the basis
before indicated. Edgeield and Barnwell like
wise paid taxes in the year 1854, for 36.002
slaves.
These two districts could be divided. so as TO
| e ~ of tha
four districts over 800 square miles ofterritory; /;
over 1000 white inhabitants; and over 81 ,000,-
900 of property; which is more territory, more
white population and more wealth than each
of half The present Judicial Districts in the
State contain.
Edgefed and Barnwell then, have fur moro
than sufficient territory, wealth. population or
slaves, than would entitle them to four Senators
according to the ratio Of Senatorial representa-.
tion in the Parishes.
There may be some slight errors in these esti.
mates, but your committee feel confident that
they will not materially change the result; and
your committee insist that the five items embra.
mate indices of the relative wealth of the two
sections.
Your committee are thus particular in the
matter of Senatorial Representation, because
they are advised and believe, that the proposed
division of EGgefeId and Barnwell. il resisted by
the Parishes, upon the express ground that the
wealth nor slaves to claim two more Senators );
but this is shown by figures that cannot lie, to
be an erroneous impression.
As every $3.50 slaves of the parishes have
Senator, and as Edgefeld and Barnwel have
36OO2 slaves it follows that If the senatorial re.
presentation of these two Districts were bast
upon the number of slaves they contain, these
Districts would be entitled, according to the
parish ratio, to FIVE Senators, instead of the two
they now have, or the four that they claim.
Again as every S5,74l ,637 of parish property is
represented by Senator, and as Edgefeld and
Barnwell have S29,s2sO75 of property, it like
wise follows that they should be entitled to more
than FIVE Senators.
There is one point of view, that should be
taken, which has been generally overlooked in
regard to this subject, that your Committee
would call to the especial attention of the meet
ing. 1t is this: As the parishes have an equal
representation in the Senate with the Districts
and have 1904 slaves less than the Districts, it
is clear thnt they have senatorial representation
for 6l,os4 Slaves more Than they possess, and
that the Districts proper have senatorial repre-
sentation for 5l,O94 slaves less than they possess
which would be equivalent to the parishes own
ing l6O,753 slaves Plus 6l,O94 equaling 22l ,s47
slaves, and thu Districts owning 22l ,847, minus
81 O94 slaves equaling l6O,753 slaves, which any
school boy will prove is equal to the parishes
having senatorial representation for l22,lsS
slaves more than they should have and that the
Districts have senatorial representation for l22-
1873 less than they ought to have. That is to