Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1866-09-19
Latest from the Legislature.

From Columbia dispatches to Charleston Courier.
COLUMBIA, Sept. l3.
The Senate this afternoon defeated the Bill
providing for postponement of the fall term
of the Courts. The vote on the measure was,
yeas IL, nays l6.
In the House of Representatives the Bill to
authorize the City Council OF Charleston TO
proceed in the matter of the Fire Loan, was
taken up, read third time and passed.
The Bill to incorporate the Planters and
Farmers Relief Association was also taken
up, read third time and passed.
The proceedings embraced no other busi-
ness Of special interest.
COLUMBIA, S. c., Sept. IA.
The Senate to-day agreed to postpone fur
ther legislation on the Negro Code till tie
regular session. They also agreed to the re-
port of the Committee, unfavorable to present
action on the provision question, on the ground
of Hot being in possession of sufficient intor-
nation as to the necessities of the people 10
enable to form proper estimates for an appro-
priation.
Mr.. Buist's Bill to fund interest past due
was passed.
The Senate refused to concur in the House
resolution requesting the Rail Roads to re-
duce the charges to refugees and their bag
gage.
The Bill to postpone the Fall Term Of the
Court of Sessions was reconsidered, and will
be discussed again tomorrow.
The House was engaged in the discussion
of the same Bill all day without coming to q
conclusion.
Col. t. G.. Barker, of Charleston, offered c
series of resolutions requesting the President
to inform the military of South Carolina Off.
cially, that the war is ended; also requesting
the discontinuance Of Provost Courts and to
restrict the jurisdiction of Military Courts
within the limits prescribed by the Articles
of War. The resolutions were referred to the
Committee on Federal Relations.
"SIcMA," the Columbia correspondent Of
the Courier writes as follows:
Hopes are entertained that the Senate will
pass the Bill for the repeal of the UsurT Laws,
which at the last regular session passed the
House of Representatives by a small majority.
Capitalists ard men of business believe that
this is a necessity of the times, and that If
money is left 10 regulate itself, large amounts
! will flow from Wall-street to investments in
this State. The fact should be remembered
that the best writers on finance and political
economy have exhausted the argument, and
demonstrated that the old ideas as to usury,
and the laws to regulate rates of interest, are
antagonistic to the truest and best interests
of the people.
The House passed the Bill to prevent par
ties, who are plaintiffs or defendants in a suit,
to give evidence, which Bill had already
passed the Senate. 1t enables oil parties to
testify in their own behalf in civil causes, and
gives permission to defendants in criminal
cases to testify as to facts, but does not re.
quire that they should give any, evidence
tending to criminatc themselves.
| General Butler, of Edgetieled has intro
! duced Bill "to declare the law in regard to
the liability of purchasers Of slaves" which,
after reciting the facts of the emancipation
of the slaves of this State by Ordinance Of
the Convention of September last, and che
consequent destruction thereby of all proper
| ty in them, considerably and coolly' enacts !:
"That all contracts involving the payment OF
money for the purchase Of slaves that have
been made and are hereby declared so, be null
and void, and that all parties indebted there.
for, under laws existing anterior to the 9th
day of September, 1865, are, and are hereby
declared to be not liable for'such payment .
think am justified in adding that this is
clear case of ror et preterea n,ihil, unless it
is designed as the entering wedge to gene
raj reputation of debts.
The special committee of one member from
each delegation, to whom was referred the
subject of the poor, reported bill to an,
thorize the Governor to issue bonds Of the
State to the amount of $3.50, O-s2OO,0 900 10
be appropriated for the purchase of corn, 10
be distributed among the poor.