The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-12-03


him send forward to market his crop. as
it is prepared. Every sale that is made,
every debt that is paid, every hundred dol.
lars which circulates from hand to hand,
will help to restore the general credit, and
to re-establish healthy currency, so neces-
sary to prosperous aud stable markets.
Planters, as we'll as others, must submit to
reduction of prices. They are entitled,
| also, to claim the benefit of reduced scale
in purchasing supplies. Although the mar.
kct for produce must rule lower, it will soon
become healthy and compensating, if the
crops be not withheld.
TIE LAWS.
With my best discretion, have cndcav-
ored to ensure a faithful execution Of the
laws. Several cases Of hardships, doubtless,
have occurred. Where sucl, have not been
relieved by executive interference it has
been owing to the too frequent instances of
similar kind, impcra,ively requiring ex-
ampes to deter others from offending.
1t is to be regretted that offences by
Illicit traffic in spirituous liquors, with
negroes, especially, are so numerous. The
too prevalent taste for strong drink suggests
this trade to the unprinciplcd, as the ready
means of making livelihood, or Of
amassing ill-gotten gains. AS the difficulty
OF detection increases, it may be well to
revise the law and make some amendment
rs to its sanctions and the nature of its
penalties. In certain quarters the evils
growing out of its infrac,ioL are compica-
ted, and threaten, unless checked to become
grave.
1t may bc in this as in some other cases,
that the law would be efIicacious is those
who are expected to enforce it were more
faithful and prompt There is a tenderness
i'll our nature, which n,;sapplied, dctcrs men
from informing against offenders, and from
carrying out fully tho law entrusted to their
vigilance. There exists, too, sometimes, an
indifference as to proper knowledge OF
the laws generally, which, inexcusabIe in
the citizen, aids the bold man, whose design
is to profit by disregarding their provisions.
Even some who bear the commission of the
State seem in ignorance of the law, pre-
scrbing their duties to act mainly on
grounds of expediency and motives Of poll
cy. Surely the citizen who accepts, much
more he who solicits commission, should
lnfurm himself as to the duties Of his station.
and perform them to the best Of his ability.
faithfully.
Whenever have had occasion to inter-
ferc at all with the sentence Of the Courts
in cases where the penalty was to be
inflicted on the person, either capitaly or
corporeally, l have directed the Sheriff to
continc its execution to the precincts of the
Jail yard, with the Clerk of the Court and
some few substantial citizens as wit.
nesses.
l think that the law is deficient in omit
ting to provide some punishment for those
offences which are technically called
breaches of trust, or embezzlement, in
contra distinction to larceny. The violation
of morality is the same in both-tLe differ
ence between them, artificial and shadowy I:
and I see no good reason why the one
should be visited with the most degrading
punishment known to our statute book,
while the other passes unnoticed. Recent
experience has brought forcibly to my
notice, that some statutes, prescribing a
severity Of punishment which is not conso.
nant with the necessities, or the spirit of the
age, have been allowed, through oversight,
to remain unrepealed, and though nearly
obsolete, in fact are still of force, legally
In this view would recommend a revision
of the criminal law, and considering that
this law is simple, and capable of being
rendered compreneusible TO all persons of
intelligence, think its reduction into a code
would be advisable.
FEDERAL RELATIONS.
In the occasional discussion Of the DO.
litical position of the State, have taken
no part. Regarding it as we'll settled since
the Convention of 1852, perceive no
room for material differences amongst her
citizens who wish to agree. If there be
respectable number who desire to associate
themselves with the general Democratic
party in nominating conventions, let them
do so without committing the State. While
indulging the spirit Of conciIiation, how.
ever, it believes US to beware. lest in our
kind feelings towards distinguished citizens
of that party, we drift into the smooth
current Of nationalism. The Federal as.
pect Of South Carolina, 80 far as it is in.
fueneed by her State policy, is obnoxious
to many politicians in America !; and some
Of our own good inen 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. Whereas,
without arrogating TO themselves any al.