The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1869-10-30
The State Of South Carolina,
COUNTY OF ORANGEBURG.

NOONA1 vi hG.
OCTOBER TERN 1869.
To the Honorable Richard b. Carpenter,
Presiding Judge:
The Grand Jury for the said County
beg leave respectfully, to submit to your
Honor, the following Presentment:
They have visited the Public Build
ings in the discharge of their duty, and
report first, as to tie jul, (Which is in
process of completion, that the same is
substantial building, secure and safe
for tho confinement of prisoners, aud the
County Commissioners deserve credit,
not only for the style of the work, but
for the expedition with which it has boen
accomplished. When completed, (Which
will be in short timo,) the County can
boast of building suitable for the pur-
poses for which it was erected, and will
be rid of what, for two years, has been a
laughing stock to all prisoners. AS tho
Jail now is, it is perfectly secure and
safe. The prisoners confined express
satisfaction with their diet and treatment.
and their rooms reflect credit upon the
Sheriff and Jailors in point of neatness
aud good keeping.
The Grand Jury have visited the Pub
lie Offices, and report the Offices of
Judge of Probate, Sheriff and Clerk,
kept with method and system. It ap-
pears, however, that in neither of those
Offices is there an iron safe for the keep,
ing of money or bonds, or other valua-
bic papers which, in Wow of the impor
tant object of these Offices, would seem
to be SO necessary. And they would
therefore recommend the immediate pur-
chase of n safe for these Offices.
The Offices of County Commissioners,
County Treasurer and Auditor appear to
be we'll kept, but these, too, lack some
secure place for their papers and oney,
and for these Offices the Jury would also
recommend the purchase Of safe.
All Roads and Bridges that have
come under the observation of the jury
are in good repair.
The Court House now used is ridicu-
lousy small for the business of the
County, and is, in every respect, unsuita
BILE for its purposes. The Grand Jury at
the last term recommended the building
of new Court House Mt once. This the
present Jury would heartily endorse. and
suggest that the same be commenced ut
an early day. They have been advised
that the County Commissioners can raise
the fumes for building by borrowing
money at per cent from time to time,
and it is recommended that they be au-
thorized SO to do, limiting the amount to
$40, 900, which is beloved to be amply
sufficient. The building of the Court
House will probably takc two years. in
the meantime it is suggested that the
County Commissioners either rent more
suitable building, or add such conyeu-
fences and comforts to the present house
as the necessities Of the case may de-
mand.
The attention of the Grand Jury has
been very earnestly called to fast grow
ing nuisance in this County. The 1fag-
isfrotc's Courts, underlined and uncertain
in their jurisdiction, in some way or
other, have flooded the Court of Sessions
with business. Numbcrless cases have
been brought before the Jury, which
they are satisfied could have been adiu-
dicated elsewhere, but more especially
cases which have come up by ,eay Of op-
peal from these Courts 1t docs occur
to the Grand Jury that the County is
put to vast deal of unnecessary ex-
pensc. Whether the difficulty BE- IN the
uncertainty of tie law or tic unwisc ap-
pointment of totally incompetent Mag
istrntes they arc unable to say, but as it
now stands the Grand Jury would re-
commend either radical change in the
present system, or the entire abolition of
such Courts for tho County and State.
Some definite and we'll understood powers
to these officers, and the appointment of
trust rort.y and sensible men to exercise
them, perhaps may remedy the evil
Numerous complaints have been made
as to matter which involves not only
the interests of planters, but of tho
Court itself. The Jurors are informed
u at there are a larpa number nf atnraa