Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1857-12-05


/ relieved by executive interference, it has
been owing to the too frequent instances of
a similar kind, imperativcly requiring ex-
a!mplcs to deter others from offending
1t is 10 be regretted that offences by il
ct traffic in spiritous liquors, with negroes
especially, are so numerous, The too prev
alent taste for strong drink suggests this
trade to the unprincipled, as the ready
means Of making livelihood, or of amuss-
ing ill-gottcn gains. As the difficulty Of
detection increases, it may be well to revise
| the law and make some amendment as 20
/ its sanctions and the nature Of its penalties
In certain quarters the evils growing out Of
| its iniraction are complicated and threat
en-, unless checked, to become grave.
1t may be in this, as in some other cascs,
that the law would be ctIicaciouS, if those
who are expected to enforce it were more
faithful and prompt. There is tender
ness in our nature, which misnpplicd de-
tcrS men from informing against offenders,
and from carrying out fully the law cntrust-
ed to their vigilance. There exists, too,
sometimes, an Indifference as to a proper
knowledge of the laws generally, which, in
eXcusablc i'll the citizen, aids the bold man;
whose design is to profit by disrcgarding
their provisions. Even some who bear the
commission of the State, seem, in ignor-
ancc of the law prescribing their duties, to
act mainly ON grounds of cXpcdiency and
motives of fpolicy Surely the citizen who
accepts, much more he who solicitS com
mission, should inform himself as to the
duties of his station, and perform them to
the best of his ability, faithfully.
Whenever 1 have had occasion to inter
fcrc at all with the sentence of the Courts,
in cases where the penalty was TO be infict-
ed on the person, either capitally or corpo-
really, | have directed the Sheriff to con
fine its execution to the precincts of tho
! jail-yard, with the Clerk of the Court and
some few substantial citizens as witnesses.
| think thu the law is deficient ! omit
/ ting to provide some punishment for those
offences which are technically called breach
cs of trust, or cmbezzlemcnt, in coutra-dis-
tinction to larceny; the violation of mo-
rality is the same in both-tho difference
between them, artificial and shadowy; and
| see 10 good reason why the one should
be visited with the most degrading punish
mcnt known to our statute book whilst the
I
has brought forcibly to my notice that some
statutes, prescribing a severity of punish
ment which is not consonant with the nc
cessitcs, or the spirit of the age, have been
allowed, through oversight, to remain un-
repealed and, though nearly obsolete in
fact, are still Of force, legally. In this
view ! would recommend revision Of the
criminal law and considering that this law
is simple and capable of being rcndcr
comprehensive to all persons of inteli-
gencc, | think its reduction into n code
would be advisable.
FEDERAL RELATIONS.
In the occasional discussions of the no-
itical position of the State, have taken
no part. Rcgardngit it as well settled since
the Convention of 1852, perceive no room
for material differences amongst her citi-
zcns who wish to agree If there be re-
spectacle number who desire to associate
themselves with the general Democratic
party in nominating conventions, let them
do so without committing the State While
indul2ing the spirit of concilation, hOwcv-
er, it behoovcs us to beware, lest in our
kind feelings towards distinguished citi.
zens Of that party, we drift into the smooth
current of nationalism. The Federal ar.
pect of South Carolina, so far as it is nflu-
enced 10y her State politv, is obnoxious to
many politicians in America and some Of
our own good men seem TO believe, with
them, that it is chiefly aristocratic pride
which keeps her in position; that the men
of South Carolina arrogate to themselves
superior wisdom and patriotism, and to
their women, superior virtue Where's,
without awogatinG to themselves any supe-
riority, the truth is, that whatever of wis
dom or patriotism or virtue may character
i2c her people, are among the happy conse.
QuencoS resulting from her Institutions, 20
litcal, social and domestic. Long may we
cherish them
The comparative segregation of the State
IN politics heretofore, is not,as hopeful TO
some progressive minds as the powcr--tho
seeming order and harmony proceeding
from combination with national party.
Experience teaches the necessity Of. tolcra.
ting extremes, even in politics, in order to
secure just mean If South Carolina has
ever occupied the extreme position of isola-
ton, it was not from choice, but from the
force OF the patriotic principles which regu-
lated her action, like the balance wheel,
whose motion, peculiar, and to the careless
observer apparently useless, is yet so nccos-
sary to the successful and safe operation of
the great engine. There is, hl fact, no
| disposition on the part of this State to Ell
thcr fanaticism or isolation. Politicians
may wrangle, and public journals may op-
,, s,,,,o A. tron,n of oOinion o,,1 oro.,,,,,,,,4