The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1869-12-03
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE

TWO gave, last week n portion O
Governor SCOTS Message to the lie gis
laturc. Tho remainder VIC could 10
get. 1t is as foIlows:]
TIE MILITIA
z The records Of enrolment not hav
ing been yet completed. and tho quot,
OF arms and accoutrcmcnts appropri
atcd to the State not having been re
ceived from tho Federal Government
until recently, the organization Of the
Militia has been somewhat impcdcd
1t will be FASTENED, however, as rapid
~ as practicable, and 1 hope soon t,
be able to report that the require
mcnts of the law have been fully com
piled with.
JURIES
a change is demanded in tho sys
tenn of selecting jurics. AS at pres
cnt managed, it is liable, and pcrvertc,
w SaNo' "ouot, Oll uCCounI OI ln(
character Of the persons placed upol
them. Men have been appointed on
Grand and Petit juries who were Il,
the time, and are now, under heavy
bail on charges of completely witt
murder; and in one case, when one
of these accused individuals was fore
man of the Grand Jury, bills for mrr
der submitted to them by the Solici
tor Of the Circuit wcro ignored and
thrown out. Notwithstanding the
oaths of witnesses who identified tn,
accused rs participants in the murdcr
Cases are decided, not by the guilt OF
innocence of parties, but in accord
ance with the political bias of the ju
rics; and, from the intensity Of pre-
judicc existing, it is vain to expect {:
better condition Of things while til.
present system of drawing jurics con
times. This corruption of Justice at
the fountain head demands a prompt
and efficient remedy, which will place
the jury box above the Influence OF
politics, and fill it with our best anc
most intelligent citizens, whose rcpu
tation places them above rcproacl
and above suspicion.
MAGISTRATES COURTS.
1 have heretofore directed your at
tention to the subject of Magistrates
Courts, and would urgently renew my
recommendations on tho subject
The wide latitude heretofore given to
the discretion Of Magistrates and
Courts has had the effect TO crowd
our jailswith petty offenders, at hca,
w expense to tho State, much OF
which could be avoided by giving fl
nal Jurisdiction to Magistrates Courts
with right of appeal of all minor Of
fences, such Us petit larceny, simple
assault and Battery, and other misdc,
meanors Of aimilar:.Grndo, with power
TO determine the question Of guilt
and It's extent, and to infict penalties
by fine. This would obviate the ne
cessity. of a good deal af Sessions bus
mess, and the cost Of witnesses fees
and expenses. A fair and reasonable
fee bill should be established, as there
is much complaint that Magistrate.
and Constables arc guilty Of maxim?
eNtortionatc cXactions from the poor
and ignorant. Many cases have beer
so manipulated as to involve the larg
est amount Of costs, and others again
have been instituted for malicious pur
poses, frequently from political mo
tives Or political objects. When such
cases have been substantiatod, have
promptly removed tho offenders, anc
many of them, in my opinion, deserv.
ed a moro rigorous punishment. ]
have been appriscd Of cases where
Magistrates have attempted to inter
fore with the State Constables while
in the discharge of their duty, and re
commend that adequate punishment:
be provided for such offences. Severe
penalties should also be provided fol
carrying concealed deadly weapons, .
cowardly practice, which has become
entirely too prevalen:.
THE CENSUS
1 tranmit the report Of the commits
siouer of the Agricultural Bureau
containing tabular statement of tho
results of tho enumeration Of the in
habitants Of this State so far rs they
have been ascertaincd from tho re
turns made to his office. The state
ment embraces the returns Of twenty
Counties, and there arc still eleven tt
be accounted for. AS it is expected
that the missing returns will be receiv
cd in few days, any further remark
are deferred until tho completion O