Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-12-05

<tfa9S III totue{ CouUlO0Ry. ~ ne ldeLd QdS
ont Of. the earth does not ese its original charpc
ter by the atamp;ef government: To the mine,
II is as much the product of his labor, qs eettol
i s4teths planter. There iscas good reason 70.
government TO- undertake to fx the value Of The
one rs. of the other. Both ire. exchangeahle
commodities. and their prices should be left "a
be regulated by the law Of supply and demand
Byylrtne of charters; associated capital is per.
mitted 10 realize eight, ten, and even larger pc,
centage.s Why should. individual capital .be
restricted, upder,a penaitYr TO seven per cent
Nit be a question Of morals, it is difficult. TO
comprehend; the code. Which in the one. case
.s,igmalizes the individual who seeks ten per
cengfor the ute, Of his capital, as an usurcT, and
iaths other attempts 10 dignity the same practice
by ealing it deaIingin exchanges. Competition
IN money, MS iR. everything else, must operate
benefcialy :pthe public at large. These hwa
have been abolished in the country from which
we borrowed them, and think. the, example
worthy of Imitation. -. 49,, 80.
i recommend an alteration of ,our enclosure
laws, as measure demanded by our interest
and necessities as an agricultural people. When
timber was abundant and, but little, Of our soil
brought into cultivation, these laws may have
been proper, but this ntotal change which has
taken place;in our condition; brings along with
it,a necessity fora corresponding change Of our
policy The system should nov be reversed,
andiusfsad Of compelling tho cultivator OF the:
soil to fence his crop, the" owner should be re-:
quired to enclose his stock. Tillage u our.
great interest," and should no longer be- subjected
to a. tax so 'onefous and unnecessary: It Is
vastly cheaper 10 fence OUT stock than our crops:
The, time >and timber annually consumed in
building and repairing fences, (Which, fairly es-
tinated would amount to an enormous eufl is
40 much capital literally sunk, with no return
whatever >Tbe products.of the soil will ma!
turo as we'll without rs with fences and the law
should protect them from The depreciation of the
stock Of the; country. We are not q stock
raising: people, and If we were, our. present
method is tie worst possible plan that could be
pursued, to accomplish the object "A :change;of
our policy is desirable; considered simply ,im
relGenre tolts effect upon stock. Their vafuc
would be- greatly enhanced, for animals, like
human beings, thri1e,in proportion to ;tile care
bestowed upon them. l hazard little ih- saying
that in FIVE years, under The better treatment
they would receive: ahe: en,ire stock Of the
State would bring more money in market than
they would at this moment, while 10 the mean.
time their value rs means of enriching our
impoverished lands would be increased to, an
extent almost inconceiyable On the other haBd, ii
j. difficult to estimate the advantages that wonld
result from the proposed e6ange. A sssp8ouId
be put to the annual custom of burning our
forests for pasturage-a practice dangerous in
itself and Injurious both to soil and timber.
Liability 10 accidents on our railroads would be
lessened, and our courts would be rid of the
petty, and, tear, demoralizing litigation grow
ing out of the killing Of stock by these. reads.
The land now taken up by fences-and it is
rich, and embraces thousands of acres over,the
State, would be at once broughtinto cultivation.
The time now wasted in the construction and
repair of FENCES would be devoted to the i'm.
provenent Of our farms. The timber that is
left incur forests would become money 10 our
people. Such law would infringe upon no
mans right nor deprive him Of n single privilege
10 which he is properly entitled. 1t would i'm.
part new life to agriculture, give new direction
to its efforts and add largely 10 the aggregate
wealth of the State. ! know that there are
portions of tho State that do not and perhaps
may never, feel the necessity of this change Of
our policy, but is it wise or just that the great
permanent interest of the State should be sacri.
fled in nero Difference to the mistaken and er-
roneous notions of our people on the subject Of
stock raising and its supposed privileges?
. Anappiication will be madetoyou for aid, by
the State Agricultural Society. The Legislature
has wisely contributed to themedisal association
and the mechanics institute. The baSis Of the
organization of this society affords reasonable
grounds to hope that il viii be permanent; and
am sure you cannot hesitate to give substantial
encouragement to an interest which is the great
source Of our wealth, and which, without mur.
muringr payes two-thirds Of our. annual taxes.
recommend the sum of five thousand dol
lars be annually contributedto this sooiety,so
long al il continues 10 exist. II, -. = -
/, The administration Of our laws In relation to
our coiored population by our courts of magis.
tr,tes and free holders, as these courts are at
present constituted. calls loudly for reform.
Their decisions aro rarely in conformity with
justice orhumanity. have felt constrained, in
& majority oftahe cases brought to nv notice,
either to modify the sentence, or set It aside
altogether. recommend, 10 all easses involving
life, that the trial of slaves and free persons Of
color be held at the court house Of the district
in which the offence is cominitted-that the /
clerk, ordinary, and sheriff of the district con-
stitute a court to'try such cases, and that while
thus employed they be allowed the usual per
diem. These officers enjoy the confidence Of
the community, and would be free from neigh
borhood prejudice, which too often stands in tho
way ofimpaftial justice. The decisions of such
tribunal would give satisfaction to the public,
and afford ample protection to the master. 1t
would be court always at hand, and would
possess the requisite intelligence and humanity,
qualities indispensable; in those armed with,the
power to pass upon the life pnd death Of human
being, whatever be his condition or complexion.
Should you deem itproper to associate free boil.
ders, then it might he the duty Of these officers
to name six, from whom the defendent7 should
have the right TO- select three Unanimjty should
be required in the verdict However you muy
regard these suggestions, bring the matter to
your notice, under The strong conviction that
reform, is Decessary.;., .;-
The legislation of the State in relation to COL
ored seamen has feng been matter Of COM
plaint and remonstrance on the part Of foreign
nations So strong, indeed, has been the op-
position to our laws on the subject, that at ono
time formal proceedings were instituted BY the
British Government to test heirvalidity. That
attempt To- coerce the State into relaxation of
n policy deemed to be unauthorized and unne-
oessarily stringent, was soon found u be an i'll.
advised movement. md the proceeding we're
abandoned as formally as they were instituted.
The right Of the State to enforce, within her
limits, such police laws as she may deem essen-
tiaI to the public safsty, is a right which South
Carolina will never submit to the arbitrament of
any tribunal on earth. She does not hold this
right by virtue of written parchments, and she
recognises no restraint in its exercRe but such
ns is imposed by her own sense Of justice and
prupriety.: SO long as thisight~as questioned
and any disposition manifested to interfere with
Its exercise, South Carolina 'esolutey maintain.
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