Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1863-02-11
TheIegislature.

- - aCEAS .r=AarN-a
This boiy atjournsl on Friday night last nj
two hours after midnight. Having just heard
bad isws from Loine, tho writer Of this detcrmiupa
to ieayc atihat hout; und in the hurry md con-
fu$ion, of doing 80 the i"x containing his lcriS4i
tivss nupers was left brhiuL. We cannot th%ersfore'
,entur. to be explicit in reference TOT The aets
passed during the litter portion Of thisfirkscnie
and luxurious double Session.
The chi.c measures We may :neraiY indicate a.
fullos.:
l.. An Act for 'he better Organization of the
Militia and f?r other purposes. .~....>..
,. An Act 70 vacato lie commissions cf Militia
; oadcer-.I ; 7GA&Gi1'& B
8. An Act to provide for the Confederate War
'Tlx:-whirh i. yery muci, TIE sans MS tie arrange
uent Of last wear.
4. An Act continuing in lorce the stsy.L.aw a
1851. .r,--aa
S. An An, 70. prevent Extorti"u and :" punish
Esturriouers..-iae clause including farmers hav-
ing been stricken out.
r Q. An Act to provide for a gua7snteo by the
State of the Bombs ufSihe Confederate States, TO
the extent Of (aboutr thirty four millions Of dol
lars. - st "'j -
T.. And, lastly, An Act to limit tho production
of Cotton, fixing the allowance 10 the. hand a.
three ares. See u communication (Which should
have been received in time for our last weeks
issue) giving the details Of this net.
Many othor. nets were Perfected, but mono OF
them Of very general interes', except (of course)
the Ac.s to make appropriations and to raise sup
plies for the current fiscal year. If We remember
Alright, the tax upon negroes is one dollar and
twenty six cents per head, and upon land one dol
lar uui thirty ceuts, al ratorem, on every hundred
dollars worth according to the old classification.
Tho Senate adopted n tax upon cott"n manufhc-
lures susgesteiby Mr.. GARLISoroS, but the House
refused to concur.
Wo hope to lay the details Of these yariou'
measures before our readers st an early day and
therefore decline to add moro at present. As to
the ~e1turtion bill, The writer of this il free'to say
| that be voted against it and has various goot
reasons for having done SO. But he is nevcrthe-
less in hopes, that the act may turn out to be S
good one, and does not therefore desire to be in the
least instrumental in weakening its force by nr-
gument or otherwise. 1t is d Law now and we
trust it will subserve o good end.
There was another act, by the way, which is OF
pecinl.interest at this time. 1t provides for fur
nishing alsye labor for coast defences, by. amend
ing the Act of December 20 as to allow the quotas
to 20 forward notwithstanding tho Confederate
| Government has not yet assented to the provision
Of that act STIMULATING that said Government shall
be liable for oil losses of slaves or damages to the
same. The present Act also amends, by allowing
the State Agent 10 employ assistants ut u per diem
pay, and by giving owners Of slaves the option Of
either sending the slaves or paying two dollars
pcr day far each slave in lieu Of servicc. The
State does not by this act waive tho right to de
mund liability as abovefrom the Confederate Gov
eminent, md the Governor is directed to prom C.
the stipulation without delay.
We should also mention that an effurt was male
in secret session of the Legislature (afferward:
declared pub!ic) to continue the Reserve in SER
vice for thirty days. For one, we were opposed
to the measure from the beginning; but the SUD
denness Of .iu introduction scarcely allowed q
moment for thought, nndit passed both Houses.
} TIL opponents Of the scheme however went viz
Luruusry 10 wore anu VupoT TecuurIurruuop1 It w"s
reversed as speedily rs it had been adopted. How
it is that the Reserves have been since retained
over their term (~unless by their W choice) we
are unable to understand. If they elected to re-
main, it was honorable to them. But it was no
part of tho Legislature 10 violate thu express
pledge given them, that they should not be r@-
taincd in service beyond the limit of their original
term. God knows they have suffered enough t"
no purpose except to place their own devoted pa.
triotism above suspicion.