Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-12-03

llOM OuCuuluS.
1t is to be regretted that offences by Illicit
traffic in spirituous liquors, with negroes,
especially, are so numerous. The too pre-
valent taste for strong drink suggests this
trade to the unprincipled, as the ready means
of making livelihood, or of amassing i'll
gotten gains. As the difficulty of detection
increases, it may be we'll to revise the law
and make some amendment as to its sane.
tions and the nature of its penalties. In
certain quarters the evils growing out of its
infraction are complicated, and threaten, un-
less checked to become grave.
1t may be in this, as in some other cases,
that the law would be eficacious if those
who are expected to enforce it were more
faithful and prompt. There is tenderness
in our nature, which misapplied, deters men
from informing against offenders, and from
carrying out fully the law entrusted to their
vigilance. There exists, too, sometimes, an
indifference as to proper knowledge of the
laws generally, which, inexcusable 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, prescrib.
ing their duties to act mainly on grounds Of
expediency and motives of policy. Surely
the citizen who accepts, much more he who
solicits commission, should inform himself
as to the duties of his station, and perform
them to the best of his ability, faithfully.
Whenever I have had occasion to inter-
fere at all with the sentence Of the Courts,
in cases where the penalty was to be infict-
ed on the person, either capitally or cor
poreally, I have directed the Sheriff to con-
fine its execution to the precincts of the
jail-yard, with the Clerk of the Court and
some few substantial citizens as witnesses.
I think that the law is deficient in omitting
to provide some punishmentfor those offences
which are technically called breaches Of trust,
or embezzlement, in distinction to
larceny. The violation of morality is the
same in both-the difference between them,
artificial and shadowy; 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 un-
noticed. Recent experience has brought
forcibly to my notice, that some statutes, pre-
scribing severity of punishment which is
not consonant with the necessities, or the
spirit of the age, have been allowed, through
oversight, to remain uurepealed, and though
nearly obsolete, in fact are still Of force, le-
gally. In this view I would recommend a
revision of the criminal law, and consider
ing that this law is simple, and capable of
being rendered comprehensive to all persons
of intelligence, 1 think its reduction into a
code would be advisable.
FEDERAL RELATIONSHIP the occasional
discussions of the political position of the
State, I have taken no part. Regarding it
as well settled since the Convention of 1852,
I 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 Demo
cratic party in nominating conventions, let
them do so without committing the State
While indulging the spirit of Cancellation,
however, it behoves US to beware, lest in our
kind feelings towards distinguished citizens
of that party, we drift into the smooth cur
rent of nationalism. The Federal aspect of
South Carolina, so far as it is influenced by
her State policy, is obnoxious to many poll
ticians 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 vir-
tue. Whereas, without arrogating to them
selves any superiority, the truths, that what
ever of wisdom, of patriotism or virtue may
characterize her people, are among the happy
consequences resulting from her institutions,
political, 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 power-the
seeming order and harmony--proceeding
from combination with a national party
Experience teaches the necessity Of tolera-
ting extremes, even in politics, in order to
secure a just mean. If South Carolina has
ever occupied the extreme position of isola-
tion, 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 necessary to the
successful and safe operation of the great
engine. There is, in fact, no disposition on
the part of this State to either fanaticism or
isolation. Politicians may wrangle, and pub
lie journals may oppose one extreme ofopin-
ion and argument against another; the peo-
pie of the State will adhere to the just me-
dunn. Venerating and preserving those
principles so essential to the reserved rights
of the States, which are illustrated by the
history of Carolina during the last thirty
years, they will be ever ready and willing to
make common cause with the neighboring
States, having common interest to protect,
and to unite as heretofore with the general
Democratic party in the Electoral College,
and in the Federal Councils, also, so long as
those principles are duly respected in prac-
tice.
KANsAs.-Our friends in Kansas, who