Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-01-23
For tho Advertiser.

For tho Advertiser.
Mr.. EpIroR:-Aftcr thanking you for the
kindness extended towards me in publishing three
letters written from Columbia, would state that q.
fourth ouc was prepared but could not reach you
in time for publication before the adjournment OF
the Legislature. Ard rs Legislation assuned
different shape from what was promised in my
former letters, at the suggestion of various friends
shall ak you to givo this letter publication in
your esteemed Journal.
Never in the history of South CarOlra have any
set of men been inpublic life under circumstances
so embarrassing as the present members of our
ty revolution, and after four years of the most
devastating war the world ever witnessed; at
time when all the landmarks Of those who pre-
celcd them were nearly swept away; with over
three. .iourths of the aggregate wealth Of their
people destroyed; with nearly half Of tho State
in smouldcring ruins; twenty thousand of the
best sens Of South Carolina sacrificed in the war,
many of them leaving helpless and dependent
scrvilc population turned loose in Ignorance and
idleness, in which prepert5~nlone the pcoplc lost
more than two hundred millions Of dollars; called
to lcgs.atc under the provisions of new and
altered Constitution with the credit of the State
as PROSTATE as that of the people; with society
demoralized, anl our whole political structure
snbverted; generous and intelligent people, after
such radical changes. would not expect am Thing
like perfect system Of Lasislaton> But that
there arc murmurs Of discomfort and dissaisfac-
tion land I think wcll-foundcd,) it is not north
while to ds:suisO.
The District Courts that nrc cngraftod upon the
organic law have occupied about six weeks Of the
four Sessions, end arc now almcs: universally
conceded to be not adapted to our impoverished
condition. And have no doubt they will be
discontinued by tho next Legislature, as the
present Legislature has already erased that por-
ton Of the Constitution making it obligatory
upon t.o Legislature to establish District Courts.
1 havo ever considered them us huge monuments
of folly, even in the modified form they now cx-
isl. They have cost the State about forty thou
.and dollars in tie time they have consumed of
the Legislature, printing, &c.
The Stay, or rather the Installmcnt Law, which
was set aside ly the Judiciary, I considered
wisc measure, one which would hare given, rs |
believe, general satisfaction to the people. And
that decision certainly was nn unfortunate one.
Since then, much Of the Sine Of the Legislature
has been consumed in discussing remedial meas
urcs, anu, as inforlrcd you in one of my letters
frnm Columbia, elections have been held in several
Districts in the State to fill vacancies occasiOncd
by members accepting di.qualifying Offices; in
nearly all which cases the candidates in favor of
relief have been elected. But. owing to lisa-
r5eement between the two Houses, and sone
members who lad hcrvtoforo acted with those Of
US in favcr of remedial measures going over to
the opposition, oil remedial measures were lost.
The Bills of the House and Senate to provide
Corn for the INDECENT Of the State experienced "a
similar fate.
The Legislature at the late Session, transferred
from the Charlotte Railroad certain stock held by
the State to the Augusta & Columbia Railroad,
and endorsed the bonds of.thc latter Company
six thousand dollars Gu car mile of tho Road.
In reference to remedial Legislation the dcega-
tion from this Di. :ict acted in concert, and VIC
all came to the [ iusion that if VIC could not
get our own plans VIC would take those Of others.
In reference to tho Tax <Dill, we also acted in
concert, except ms to the dog tax, to which was
opposed; the balanccof Of our delegation favorcdit.
The two parties, the relief and anti-rclief par
ties, wcrc very nearly equal in both Houses. The
President of the Senate and tho Speaker of The
House were strong anti-,elicf men; they had the
appointment of all committees, which gave them
decided advantage. Besides, large proportion
Of the legal profession were anti-relief men; but
several of the most influential lawyers Of the
State advocated relief measures. Bonhaln at tho
extra and regular sessions, and Butler at the c1-
tra session, Darlington, Sabcr, Mullins and others,
lid all they could for relief; and the contest was
one OF the most stubborn, I suppose, that has
ever taken place in the State. But all vas lost
have writton this with no other design but to
,ct myself and colleagues in true position bo-
roro tho people of tho Dis,rct.
AS the reeplo haze cnquirci, both verbally and
oy letter, Of tho condition of the Courts and the
prospects of litigation, I can only answer that
hero arc now no restrictions upon tho Courts
The Court of Common Pleas will sit in March |
ind October as heretofore; and tho Court of
Equity in June as heretofore. The District Court
tits on tho Second Monday in January, and after !
hat, quarterly. Yoa will thus perceive thatcvery-
,ody can sue everybody Mt will, and have but
,tlo dulbt tie paop!p vii! have litigation to their
,earss content. But, Mr.. lsdtor, L do not despair
If the future if our people will act considerably.
There is no earthly doubt that the private in
lobtedncss greatly exceeds tho means Of the poo
,le to pay, even il the rsmsining property were
old at fair yalue and if general financial crash
;onss, INV not bOl!sye !Ao property Of tho State 4