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

BarnwelI opposed TO it! Why did the Lawyers oppose
the division of Pcndleion until the people drove them
to il! WHY did the Bar of Charleston, in the early
history of the State resist and resist successfully for
nnety.eght years, every attempt 10 establish Court
House outside of the Queen City, for the benefit of the
country people!
JUNIOR {" essays to handle mo without gloves, for
another expression that short, but truthful paragraph
in regard 10 lawyers and Division-iiamely, that
Body, ll.ey would oppose division, because "they
were competitors for Offices in the gift of the Legis
alurs, which was under the control Of the Parishes"
1t is richly amusing to observe, the complacency,
with which he attacks my position, that tho Legisa.
ture is under the control Of the Parishes" And be.
cause the Districts have 4 majority Of twenty-three
on Joint ballot of the TWO houses he exus over his
defeated antagonist in the following elegant man.
ner: "But we are not surprised that this would.be.
statesman, with iaundiccd eye should have mistaken
these facts nlso" Junior" forgot that each House
of the Legislature has negative on the otiler-he
forgot that although the Districts have fur more terri
tory, wealth, white population, or slaves than the
parishes, tim, yet tho latter have majority in the
senate and always ontrolt-he forgot that ho parishes
are ever united against because they wish to retain
the POLITICAL power which rightly belongs to the up
country, while we hopeIes'ly divided by the
ambition of traitors amongst us-he forgot that the
Iegslau 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 tho
Legislature as the parishes-he forgot hatthe manner
of voting in the Legislature is by secret ballo-he
forgot that ambition is as strong feeling in mans
nature religion love of property any other great
principle that actuates humaniIy-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 tho hundred and
sxiy.nine members in both branches of our Legisla.
inre are lawyers and Of This number. large majority
always represent the Districts. Very few Offices
ever given by our Legislature to Farmers, Doctors,
Merchants, or aty other class except lawyer This,
"JUSIoR' concrrles hecause he could not deny ii,
and as lie admits that Lawyers aspire 10 Offices of
distinction" no might well go II step further with
me and say that The Bar are opposed to division, be-
CAUSE as Body they competitors for Offices in
the Gift of The Legislature. The parishes all
tlnlleu against any HcW lH
rn.cunnlry, lest such District might demand Sena-
tor And as the parishes have seventy.ihree Of tho
hundred and sixly.nine in the Legislature,
Lawyer in The np-counry, who hopes to get on
office from the Legislature at any period Of his life
will advocate DIVISION simply for the thai by
that one uc, he would aieae all the parishes votes
and be defeated by some boot-lickins, trucking,
iptriuuinr tr,itur frnm i,s Districts
do moi wish to be understood asserting that all
the lawyers who represent the up-country, arc false
TO their section. On the contrary, can hear willing
testimony The fidelity, ability and boldncss with
which some of them speak and act in presence Of their
Parish masters But ! do maintain most emphaticaly,
that at least two thirds of the lawyers in the Legis.
la,ure from the Districts bctay their constituents and
bend The supple knee TO the Parishes And il the up.
country which contains four .ffhs of the white in
habitans of the State, would erect penitentary
all the other States have dUne-fs voters would give
the election of Governor and Of Presidential electors
10 the people, Us MI the other States have done-f
they would be represented in the National Conventions
as all the other State represented if they would
abolish the secret ballot system Of voting in the Legis
aiure, as all the other States have abolished il If
they would have any voice in tho choice Of their
rulers; they woudbe equally and fairly represented
in the Legislature with the Parishes If they would
modify their worthless. idle, vicious. expensive, crime