The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-12-01

of the State. Much of the difficulty
attendant upon Initiating the system
has been overcome, aud I have rea-
son to expect that, during tie ses-
sion, i viii be enabled TO transmit
for your information such statistics
as will afford basis for future legis-
i-lation. ~ a-'T 49,
The subject Of Magistrates Courts
was treated at some length in my
former message to the General AS
sembly. I would again earnestly
call your attention to this important
matter. No discrimination has here
tofore been made between grand and
petit larceny, nor has any precise
limit been fixed for the guidance of
Courts in such cases. A wide lati-
tude has. accordingly been, given to
the discretion Of Magistrates and
Judges, and in consequence our iails
are crowded with petty offenders, at
an enormous expense to the State.
Indeed, it has been the heaviest item
of charge upon the Treasury. I
would respectfully suggest that final
jurisdiction be given to Magistrates
in ell cases of petit larceny and sim
PIE assault and battery, and misde-
meanors of similar grade; giving,
however, the accused parties the
right of appeal. Also, I would re
commend the establishment of fair
and reasonable fee bill, as reports
have reached this Office of unreason
able and unjustifable exactions of
Magistrates and Constables, from
the poor and ignorant, in cases
where, by little effort, the matters
bin dispute could have been amicably
bartanged. Cases have. also been
brought to my attention in which it
is alleged that prosecutions have been
instituted for malicious purposes,
and Executive interference invoked
AS g remedy for injustice. If this
loose and profigate administration, of
law Is not checked, and the offender
held to a strict accountability, the
courts of justice, instead of being
a shield and a protection, may be-
come an engine of oppression and
wrong to the people.
1 transmit for your consideration
the report of the Regents of the Lu-
natic Asylum for the year ending No
vember z, 1868, covering the reports
of DIR. j. w. Parker, the Superintend-
ent and Physician, and of John
Waties. Esq, the Treasurer of the
Institution. The report of the Su-
perintendent shows thot at the COM
mencement Of the year, the number
of patients was 1877; and that there
were received during the year 80.
making total of 269; Of this number
II have died, 2 have been removed,
2 eloped, and SO have been discharged
cured-total G5; leaving in the Asylum
at present 204 patients; Of which 1O7
are males, and 81 females. Paying
patients, 50; paupers, 152. The re-
port and accompanying tables exhibit
a very favorable condition of affairs
showing that 81 per cent. of those
admitted have been cured, while only
4 per cent. of those under treatment
have died. Among those received
were 25 colored persons, who
we're, with few exceptions, in great
destltutlon--three of then, exhausted
from disease and want of attention.
Four of their number died, eloped,
and 13 were sent home cured; l.,
however, relapsed, and of his own
accord returned to the Asylum.
For more than twenty years, colored
persons have been admitted to the
benefits of the institution, and have
enjoyed the advantages afforded, and
such as facilitated their cure and con-
tributed to their comfort, as is now
the case.
The Asylum for the education of
the Deaf and Dumb and Blind was re-
organized in November, 1866, at the
Cedar Spring Asylum, Spartanbu
County, and was operated very sue
cessfully until the close of the fiscal
year on the 1st of October, 1867. The
appropriation being then exhausted,
the further exercises of the institution
were suspended, and the pupils sent
to their respective homes. The loca-
ton is an admirable one, the build
ings large and commodious, and to
avoid their going to decay, I concur
in the recommendation heretofore
made, that authority should be grant
ed to rent or lease the buildings, so
that he may avail himself Of any op-
portnnity that may present itself of
securing n tenant, who will protect
the premises and keep them in neces-