The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1858-10-08
Our Court.

The October Term Of our Court commenced
OH Monday last his Honor Judge ON call pre-
siding with his usual courtesy AMI ability. lIrs
Honor appears to be in fine health, and is
rapidly dc>l'atching the business of the term
The Summary Process Docket WAS disposed of
the first day; aud afterwards various cases ON
the Traverse Docket. involving the offences Of
unlawfully whipping n slave: trading with a
slave, &c, which resulted for the most bart in
convictions.
An in'tres ing question was presented in n
case on the Summary Process Docket. as to the
right of Magistrate TO sever the accounts of
sevcra! Years, for the purpose of giving himself
jurisdiction. The Magistrate 50 acted, but OH
appeal his dec was reversed.
In the prosecution Of n case for unlawfullv
whipping slave it was insisted upon the bart
of the defence, that there was reasonable pro.
vocation, as tic slave was cmp!"vr,l TO cn,rar
thc defendants IN an act of Unlawful traIin,.
But the Jury, under the instruct" Of ,h.
Court, came to II different conclusion, and con.
victcl the defendants
o"'"H I" tile absence Of our able and esteem.
ed Solicitor j. =. Reed. ESD, who was detained
at home hy sickness. the Grand Jury hnd but
little to do ON the first day. The Solicitor
e"'ne' however, on Tuesday morning, AMI gave
OUT number of indictments, including two
cases ot ho'nici'lr upon which true bills were
found. The charge Of his II ,nor to the Grand
Jury presented an interesting view Of the vari-
GUS subjects of domestic legislation the Retail
, system; the Road Law; the system of Prison
discipline; the Necessity OF II pcnitcn,inrv: the.
colification of our Statutes and the rev isul of
our Reports.
lie denounced the present Retail system ms
the prolific parent of crime; and thought thai,
even without "ifectina n ,a,lcal change. an i'm.
rr"v"lncns might be made by prohibiting the
drinking of spirits at the place where sold
The present Road law he thought very defect
i've, aud in lis operation lacked that uniformity
which was necessary to the success Of any sys-
TEN. lie suggested. instead, the appnintmcnt
OF General Superintendent, with the opi,p
afforded t the ciizcns Of working or paving
a communication. The number Of Magistrates in
the District, he thought, to bc entirely too
many, aud from their readiness of access TO
give occasion TO unnecessary litigation. One
Magistrate ut the County seat, and one in each
Battalion, would be enough. The present sys.
tenn of Prison discipline, in the opinion Of his
Honor, imposed heavy tax upon the State,
without any corresponding results, and instead,
he recommended the establishment nf n Pcni.
tertiary. The confused condition Of our State
Law called loudly for proper digest and
cod''ieation; and revisal of our Reports
would bc n work o great utility.
From the progress made, we suppose that his
Honor will have no difficulty in disposin. of
the business of the Term the present week.
Among the gentlemen of the Bar who orc
present from other Districts, We observe M.ssrs.
Orr. Marshall, Whitncr and Sloan. Of Anderson. =.
Mcssrs Harris and Williams, of I.aurens; and
Aessrs Baxter and Blake, Of Newberry.