Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1860-09-29

| 3d. The policyof establishing Penitentiary
| in this State as a hctter mode of punishment
for crimo or rs means of supprosslnS ana pre-
preventing crime has been much discussed in
the Legislature and before the people. 1t is
| grave and important matter, and should be de-
tcrmined after the most patient and searching
investigation. If punishment, by confinement
in Penitentiary, would reform the criminal,
ard turn him out an honest man and good cit
| izen, or would prevent the commission OF crimes
! by others. then it should lie adopted. But if,
! from the experience III other States it is not
more eifcctual in these respects than our mode
i of punishment. then it becomes II nero question
of expense and convenience. "A State, like an
individual, should not have too many irons i'm
the fire at ono time The cost of every public
enterprise should he counted. and whenever one
is determined ON, that should he finished. We
have now II new State house half finished; the
Blue Ridge Railrond ncnmplctcd, with many
other matters Of smaller consequence on hand /;
| and in my humble Judgment it would be incS-
pedieut now, to change present mode of
punishment of crime, aud adopt Pcnientiary
ut cost of several hundred thousand dollars,
whom every District in the State has jail, large
| enough and strong enough. 10 nrld hcr crinli-
mails. At another time, and under other cir
cumstAnces. | might be in favor Of PrnitCn-
tiary; but our means arc not sufficient now,
without heavy increase of taxes.
The last question prop"undrd to the candi-
dates IL suroly one of great Importance, aud
upon which the public mind of the whole cnnu-
try il how strongly excited. The election of
black republican candidate to the Presidency
of the United States. and the manner in which
such election should be met by the Southern
penple
When this government was formed, the bond
of uuiUn was the Constitution. The object uf
the constitution, rs declared in the preamble,
was tn form more perfect union, establish us.
tice, insure do .estlc tranquility promote the
general welfare. and secure the blessings Of
liberty to ourselves and our pnstority. To this
compact the State of South Cnrnlihn, ms save.
reign State, subscribed and her c.tzcnS in com.
mon with the citizens IF all the other States,
have the right to require that this constitution
shall be observed. and the object of it faithfully
carried ont Dles the black republican party
promise good faith to the constitution, equal
rights to all. domestic tranquility, and the secu-
rity of our liberties aud prurcrty? Tho whole
object of that party is tn get the control Of the
government. in order that they may better and
more successfully mako war upon the Southern
people and Southern institutions This cannot
he disguised. Such heiug the fact. tlucs it not
bcc"me the people "f the Southern States to
meet in council and devise the means of meet
ing the issue? The Southern States are alike
interested in this question. and any movement
To avert the evils of hlucE republican rule should
he by concert nmnng them. The pc pic of the
South love the union and tho constitution They
have made many concessions and sacrifices fnr
tho union; but they cannot. and should not
sacrifice their equality, under tho constitution.
Our leading Politicians those in whom we have
heretofore had confidence and trust, advise the
secession of the Southern States If the black re
publican candidates. elected President | skall
not attempt TO advise; can ony sav, that if
elected t" represent the citizens "f PickenS Dis.
trict in The Legislature and this issue is pre-
sencd for our consideration. that shall cn,lcnv-
or SO to shape my course. that the hnnnr and
safety nt the people of my Sta'c may he pre-
served as guaranteed to us 10y the constitution
or least. that they may receive no dctriment
at my hands cannot pledge myself to any
particular course. / only ask that the conf.
dcnce which should exist between the constitu-
cnt am! The Legislator. should he extended to
nc. and shall not knowingly abuse it, Suffice
it to say. | shall cast my vote, if elected, for
BRECKENRIDGE and LANE.
j. c. MILLER
Sontcmhcr % 1900