The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1868-02-12
For The anderson Miclliqeneer.

simple and cheap form of government Ihe
civil government of the State has long been too
cumbrous and expensive for the population and
wealth of the area. For the last two years it has
been generous and burdensome, and unless greatly
reduced in its expenses will soon become insup-
portable. The Executive Department ia as simple,
and perhaps rs economical as can be maintained
with proper rcspectability. The Legislative De-
partmcn, measured by the population and wealth
of the area, is on too large scale, end should be
cut down with free hand. The great State OF
New York, with her immense population and large
taxable property, boasts of no larger number Of
Representatives, in the popular branch of the Gen.
cral Assembly, than this State. Now NC suggest,
that State, small in area, meagrc in population,
and impoverished to such an extent, that the light
est tax pnches, should not be ambitious or osten-
tatious, in q form of government. small, COM
pact legislature, consisting of about onc-half the
present number, would be, certainly, more SYM
metrical and becoming, aud just as efficient And
then the expense. If eleven dollars per diem, even
in bills receivable is fair estimate Of the value of
legislative ability and services, the number should
be small indeed. In many countries though IN
better days, such appointments were considered
sufficiently honorable 10 induce good men to serve
without looking TO the compensation and even
now that compensation should never exceed o
proper allowance for reasonable expenses. But,
if the Legislative Department was carved out for
respectable State, whntshall we say of that other
department, which looms Nyp in all its magnificent
and costly proportions-the Judiciary.
Commencing with the ancient and honorable in
stitution, "a justice of the quorum" and running
up by steady graduation to that much awe-inspir-
ing Court of Errors"
OF Justices, or Magistrates rs now termed, we
have one in each beat company, in every District
in the State and two in each corporate town.
goodly number for the administration of justice in
small way.
The District Court, with o full grown judge in
every District, and part of an oldfashioned jury.
The Court of Common Pleas and General Ses
sions, presided over by FIVE Judges, with long
train of Grand and Petit Jurors, Shcrifs, Clerks,
Constablcs, &C.. &c., SC.
The Court of Equity, with three Chancelors in
the State and Commissioner in each District.
The Court of Appeals, consisting of three
Judges.
And lastly "Thc High Court of Errors" con-
sising of eleven Judges being the Law, Equity
and Appeal Judges combined.
One hundred Magistrates and forty-one Judges
for little corporation, whose people cannot pay
three hundred thousand dollars taxes per annum
without compulsion!
Now, We have never been able TO learn precisely
what the administration of justice through these
Courts costs the people each year, but We would
modestly guess some two hundred thousand dollars.
Enough machinery aud enough money to sustain
very respectable judiciary in any country. Indeed
we have read of some full sized Governments that
had not much more revenue.
Itis hnr,l to part with all this glory, but grim
necessity slarcs us in The face, and many of our
luxurics will have to 80, even that of the law. a
very SMALL simple, cheap concern, will now an
swer all our wants. Tho Justices Of the Quorum,
with Jurisdiction TO twenty dollars, in civil Matters
as much as one oMyh 10 decide, according TO
the constitutions AMI about seven Judges in the
State, will be fully able to do all the business like
di,ion of the people. Let the Law and Equity ju-
risdiciions be blended, the State divided into six
or seven circuits, the Judges hold three terms Of
court each year. and meet together twice each
year to near appeals and you will have simple
and efficient Judiciary system, and one which can
proper economy. This opinion is based upon the
decrease of business, from the loss of property and
of tho country The credit sys-
tenn is cfectually destroyed, the negro most pro-
life source Of litigation is now citizen, titles to
land surely settled in great measure, and there
can be hut little left, to amuse or interest the
courts or course, the accumulations, now on the
Dockes, involving transactions before and during
the war; and the thousands of cases Of like charac
ter still TO pour in upon the courts are not taken
in this calculation. If these and kindred matters
are to be settled in our courts, then, it would occupy
the time of more than oil for series of years, and
the COSTS charges and expenses of collection would
amount TO far more, than the whole sum realized in
the end
Cannot some scheme be adopted for the settle
ment of these old debts without resort to the
courts. Surely there should be q spirit of COM
promise manifested by creditors and acccdcd 10
by debtors, which would result in benefit to both.
The creditor should remember that lie was party
to the Legislation which destroyed property in
slaves without compensation, and should be will
ING to bear his share in the loss.
COMMON SENSE.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONVENTION.
NINETEENTH BAY.
The convention assembled at 12 NJ Prayer
hy RnY E. z SmiIh of New ! ork. The roll