Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1866-12-05

portant to the interests of the public, ant
some rule should be adopted to furnish tn
] means Of verifying such certificates with rea
sonable certainty. This may be attained b
recurring every person appointed or to b
appointed a Commissioner, to forward, Withil
ninety DAYS, to the Secretary of State, an i'm
Or ssion of his official seal, on wax and Of
paper, together with his autograph; and upol
his failure to do so, the appointment o. eacl
defaulter should be annuled.
Notaries Public are, likewise, appointet
and commissioned by the Governor, and al
invested with grave official duties. The Sec
retarg Of State alone, can certify the ofticia
character of Notary Public, and he cal
make no such certificate with safety, r..
he chances to know the handwriting. Ever.
Notary Public now holding such commissions
or who may hereafter be appointed. shoulc
likewise be required to forward to the Secre
tary Of State, an impression of his ofticia
seal on wax and paper, with bis autograph
within sixty days, or his appointment shoulc
be revoked.
CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS.
The last Congressional election in this State
was. held pursuant to resolution OF the Cen
eral Assembly, and there is. now no provision
Of law for holding future elections. Although
our Representatives last elected, have not
been permitted by the Congress of the United
States to occupy their seats,it is the duty OF
the General Assembly to provide, by general
statute, for-the holding of general elections
for each succeeding Congress. The convent
ence of the people would indicate that these
elections should be ordered biennially, on the
day that members of the General Assembly
are chosen, to wit: The third Wednesday in
October, Of each odd year. Representatives
to Congress would then take their seats the
following December, coming fresh from the
people, and represent popular sentiment on
public questions of the day, with more Ger
t.in,y than if elected as heretofore, the Octo'
Der year preceding the meeting of Congress.
If an extra. session of Congress should be
called before the day fixed for the election,
the Governor might be authorized to order,
by proclamation, the elections at an earlier
dey, and thus secure the representation OF the
State at such extra session.
JURISDICTION REMIrrED By THE MILITARY TO
THE OWL AUTHORITIES.
The Acts passed at the late extra session,
were transmitted to the Military Commandant
of lie Department of tho Carolinas, at Char
lesion, and on the first day Of October last,
hY General Orders, he RENTED all cases in
which the inhabitants of this State were con-
cerucd, civil and criminal, to The civil au-
thorties. If equal and exact Justice is me
ted out to all the inhabitants i'the State By
Courts and juries--if the freedmen receive
that protection Of person and dproperty which
The laws now guarantee them, we will not
again be adjudged by Provost Courts and
,ilitary Commissions, and we will vindicate
before the world, our high sense of moral
right, by enforcing impartial justice, whether
the sutor be humble or exalted.
Experience will demonstrate the wisdom of
Your enactment authorizing negroes to testi.
'ly in all, cases. 1t takes away the simpunity
,wtics bad lsassnhaSe long ed, IN tempt
ing these ignorant people to pcrpetrate crime
for the benefit Of ihe temptors.
The result Of The experiment at the late
Fa. Term of the Courts has been entirely
satisfactory, and most of the freedmen who
lave been called to the witness stand, have
manifested highly creditablc desire to tell
the truth. The extension Of the privilege
has had salutary influence in encouraging
and elevating their moral sense. Many Of
them appreciate their obligation to society,
and readily assist in bringing to punishment
evil-loers OF their own c,lor. They are in
valuable 10 the productive resources Of the
State, and if their labor be lest BIZ removal to
other sections, it viii convert thousands Of
acres Of productive land into a dreary wilder
ness. For this reason, have felt it to be
lny duty to discourage their migration. The
short crops Of the present year should Siimu-
late ;he planter and farmer to renewed cner-
nv aud enterprise. He will, however, find
his lands of little value, il he cannot COM
lnaid labor to cultivate them. If the negro
remain Lere, his labor must he made sulli-
cienllv remunerative to subsist ard clothe
him comfortably. Schools must be established
10 educate las children, and churches huilt for
his moral training.
The experiment of free labor, whilst it has
not been entirely satisfactory, is far from
proving a failure. Where the blacks have
been adequately compensated and kindly
treated, they have generally lubored faithfully.
Suddenly relieved from the controlling will
of others, aud exempted from the compulso-
ry labor which had, through life, been exacted
from them, they have performed, during the
present year, an amount OF voluntary labor
which may we'll excite surprise. The indo.
lence of some, and the improvidcnce Of many,
will doubtless cause them to undergo much
suffering before they are educated fully to the
Necessity Of constant and untiring labor, and
10 proper thrift and economy. 49,
Humanity and sound policy unite in de-
nending that we should provide for the aged,
the intirn and the helpless, and therefore
respectfully recommend the passage of an
Act making it incumbent on the Commission
ers OF the Poor to provide suitable buildings
at the various District Poor Houses for their
accommodation and to subsi,. them.
The Regents of the Lunatic Asylum have
wisely and humanely made provision for the
reception and treatment Of insane colored
patients, and the Commissioners Of the Poor
IN the several Districts should be required tc
make the same provision for their support in
The Asylum as now exists for white pauper
patients in that Institution: The idiotic and
c.pileptc may be we'll taken care Of at the
District Poor House.
TIE FINANCES OF TIE STATE, TAXES AND TIT
BANK OF TEE STATE.
The taxes levied under the Act Of Decem
ber. 1866 ;anount to four hundred and nine
teen thousand six hundred and sixty eight
dollars and seVenty-one cents, (S4l9,66S,7l.
There has been paid into the Treasury, three
hundred and twenty-seven thousand sever
aandred and thirty.seven dollars and twenty
live cents, S5Zl' a5GZo
Collectors commissions. ....... 32,SG9 81
.Freedmen's returns unpaid, (prin-
cipaly capitator tax 1)...... 2l,3l9 Of
Jury tickets deposited By Tax