Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-01-16

BarnweIl opposed 10 t Why did the Lawyers oppose
the division of Pendelon until the, people drove them
to it! Why did the Bar Of Charleston, in the early
history Of the State resist and resist successfully for
nue,yeight years, every attempt TO establish Court
House outside of the Queen City, for the benefit ofthe
country people @ss.,.
"JusIoR ESSAYS to handle mo without gloves, ,for
another expression in that Short but truthful paragraph
in regard 10 lawyers and Dvison-namely, that as a
Body, they would oppose division, because "they
were competitors for Offices in the gift of the Legis-
lature which was under the control Of the Parishes"
1t is richly amusing to observe, the comPlacency,
with which lie attacks my po-ton, that the Legisa.
ture is under the control of The Parishes" And be.
cause the Districts have minority Of twen,y-three
on Joint ballo, of the two houses he exus over his
defeated antagonist in the following elegant man
ner: But we nre not surprised that this would.be-
statesman with jaundieed eye should have mistaken
these facts Also" Junior" forgot that each House
of the Legislature has negative on the other-he
for got that although the Districts have far more terri.
tory; wealth., ,awhits population, slaves than the
parishes, that yet tho latter have majority in the
senate and always controlt-he forgot that tho parishes
are ever united against MS because they wish to retain
the POLITICAL power which rightly belongs TO the up.
country, while we are hopeIes'ly divided by the
ambition Of traitors amongst us-he forgot that the
Legislature elects every important officer in the State
-he forgot that the Districts have nearly four times
as many candidates for Offices in the gift Of ths
Legislature as the parshes-he forgot thatthe manner
of voting in the Legislature is by secret ballo-he
forgot that ambition is as strong feeling in mans
nature as religion love of property any other great
principle that actuates humanily--I say, he must
have forgotten or overlooked these things and many
others, which might be named, or he could not have
been SO UNJUST to charge with gross ignorance
upon subject, which had studied long and closely.
As general rule, about one half Of the hundred and
sriy.nine members in both branches of our Legisia.
tnre are lawyers and of this number, large majority
always represent the Districts. Very few offices
ever given by our Legislature to Farmers, Doctor,
Merchants, or any other class except lawyer This,
"JuSIoR" concrdes because he could not deny it,
and as he admits that Lawyers aspire TO Offices Of
distinction" no might as well go step farther with
me and say that The Bar opposed to division, be.
cause as Body they are competitors for offices in
the gift of The Legislature. Tho parishes are all
united against establishing any new District in tho
up.cunntry, lest such District might demand Sena-
tor And as the parishes have seventy.ihree Of tho
hundred and sixty.nine votes in the Legislature, no
Lawyer in The up-coun,ry, who hopes to get an
Office from the Legislature at any period of his fa
will advocate division, amply for the reason that by
that ono aci, he would ulieae all the parishes votes
and he defeated by some boot-licking, trucking,
intriguing traitor from the Districts.
do not wish to he understood asserting that all
the lawyers who represent the up-couniry, aro false
to their section. On tho contrary, can bear willing
testimony to the fidelity, ability and boldness with
which of them speak and act in presence Of their
Parish masters. Butt do maintain most emphalicaly,
,ha. a, least two thirds Of the lawyers in the Legs.
Iature from the Districts betay their constituents and
bend the supple knee the Parishes And IL the up
country which contains .fosr ff1hs Of The white in.
habitans of the State, would erect penftenary as
oil the other States have donefs voters would give
the election of Governor and Of Presidential electors
to the people, as all the other States have done-f
they would be represented in the National Conventions
as all the other State arc represented If they would
abolish the ballot system Of voting in the Legis.
a,ure as all the other STATES have abolished it if
they would have any voice in tho choice of their
rulers; if,hey woudbe equally and fairly represented
lin the Legislature with the Parishes if they would
modify their worthless, idc vicious. expensive, crime