The Greenville enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1870-1873, 1870-12-07

discharge of his responsible and
unpleasant duties, has acquitted
himself creditably and efficiently
Strong hopes were entertained that,
after the expiration of the late heat
ed political contest, it wonld have
been deemed advisable to dispense
entirely with the services OF this
force, and orders had been given
looking to that result on the first
of November, but the unfortunate
and disgracefnl occurrences re-
Gently in the Counties of Laurens,
! Union, Spartanburg and Newber.
ry, in which ontrages were perpe
tratcd, and valuable lives sacri.
feed, have compelled the post.
ponement of that desirable result
Recent indications, however. ell.
courage the h pc that the post.
poneinent will be but temporary,
and that the police duties of the
State will soon revert to the local
authorities. Up to thl. time no ar.
rests have been made of the au-
thors and participators in the re.
cent murders and outrages, and
having thus long waited on tie 10
cal authorities in vain, active meas
nres are now in progress for tile
arrest of the criminals.
TRIAL JUSTICES.
Owing to the existing preiu.
dices, and the difficulties Of obtain
ing impartial decisions in litigated
cases, the Executive has, unfortu-
nately, been thrown almost exclu.
sively upon the members of one
political party for his choice of
Trial Justices, and, in many eases,
persons without the requisite quail.
itication have been recommended.
1t is very important that this evil
be corrected, and we may reason.
ably hope that in future n wider
Held may be opened 10 select from,
among such OF our citizens rs are
distinguished for their intelligence,
impartiality, and love of Justice
On prompt, equitable and eco.
nomical administration of the laws,
depend much of the peace and har.
mony of the community, by the
obliteration of causes of discnrd
and the establishment of friendly
relations between individuals
But essential notifications arc nee.
essary in the existing administra.
tion of justice. Complaints are
prevalent that in many cases q
spirit of litigation is promoted and
stimulated with a view solely to
personal acquisition and it is as
serted that not only individuals ap-
pearing before these magistrates
are charged eXtravagant fees, but
there is too much reason to believe
that in many cases the costs have
been not only charged to the par
tics. but, in addition, have been
charged and collected from the
State. A correction of these
abuses is loudly demanded. There
should be, also, an essential modi.
hcation of the amount OF costs per.
mitted to be charged, and the
State thoroughly protected against
the abuses of unprincipled mon
holding these positions. The cx-
travagancc of the costs at present,
III cases before Trial Justice, are.
in many instances, q denial of ius.
tice, as. in most Of the cascs taken
before these minor courts, they arc
greater in amount than the sum i'm
litigation. Tie powers and the
duty of the magistrate should be
well defined, and the severest pen.
alties imposed for their violation.
None should be held more rigidly
amenable to the law them -siose
who are chosen TO administer it.
l would here remark that l must
necessarily depend very much
upon the members Of the Lcgisla-
tnre for the character and fitness
OF Trial Justices, and l am dis.
posed to consider education as an
essential element among them
This would not only be proper in
itself, but would afford an addi.
tional stimulus 10 its acquisiticn.--
BY making a knowledge of the ell.
ementary branches al indispensa.
bic requisite to appointment for
office, higher grade of service
would be secured, as we'll as a
more efficient performance of it.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
/ would direct your attention to
the laws defining the powers and
duties of County Commissioners,
and their perv ersions and aouses.
From the frequent complaints
against some Of the Boards, 1t
would be imagined that they were
devoted more to private acqni
sition than the faithful discharge
of a public trust. In neighboriSe
States the Office of County Com
missioner in locked nnon ,oora as