The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-12-07
AupiTos oI sTXSTs'

falEap ,oomplate report, and call. your
attention so .the Importance Of his
commendafions. ~, sc" ~ So -':.g ~
n y vs.. $50 - :, :, EDGoATtoN. e,.x
For the operations of tho State
superintendent Of education, during the
year,I refer. you to the report Of that
officer. ga !: -; >"s,Ae' - .H - e.
..,.;. y, e. MILITIA.
- The.report of tho adj1tant and in
specting general is referred to for the
operations aud proceedi,gs of :: the mill.
tary department Of the State during the
year. r.. y.Hs. -
The STATE coNsTABULARY.
The repor." Of the chief constable
presents full and satisfactory account
of the proceedings aad expend :tures of
the bpdysuader 6is pontrei during the
past year. Captain Hubbard, in the
discharge of his responsible aud unpha-
SAINT duties, has acquitted himself
!creditably and efficiently. Strong hnpes
were entertained tha. after the expira.
t,on Of the late heated political oontest.
i would haze been deemed advisable to
dispepse entirely with the services of
this force, and orders had been given
looking to that result on the 6rst OF
November; but the unfortunate and
disgrsceful occurrences recently in the
Counties Of l.aurens, Union, Spartan
burg aud Newberry, 10 which outragss
we're perpetrated and vatuabl. lives
sacrificed, have compelled the postpone.
ment Of the desirable result. Recent
indications, however, encourage the
hvpe that the postponemcnt will be but
temporary, and that the police duties Of
the: State will soon revert to the local
authorities. UP to this time no arrests
have been made of the authors and
participators in the recent murders and
outrages. and, having thus long waited
on the local authorities in vain, active
measures are now in progress for the
arrest of the criminals
TRIAL JUSTICES.
Owing to the existing prejudiccs and
the difficulties Of Obtaining Impair
tial decisions in litigated cases, the Ex
ecutive has unfortunately been thrown
almost exclusively upon tho members Of
one political party for his choice of 4, ial
justices, and in many cases persous with
out the requisite qualifications have
been recommended. 1t is very importun,
that this evil should be corrected, and
VIC may reasonably hope that in future
wiaer field may be opened to select from
among such OF our citizens as arc dis
tinguished for their Intelligence. impair
tiality aud love Of justice. In prompt
equitable and economical administration
ofthe laws depends much the peace and
harmony Of the community by the obli.er-
alton OF causes Of discord aud the estab
lishment of friendly rotations between in.
dividnals Bat ess, ntial notifications are
necessary iu the existing administration
OF justice. Complaints urc prevalent that
in many cases spirit Of litigation Is
promoted and stimulated with a view
solely to personal acquisition, and it is
asserted that not only individuals APP
pcariDg before these magistrates are
charged extravagant ices, but there is
too much reason to believe that in many
cases the costs have been not only churg
ed to the parties. but in addition, have
been charged aud collected from the
State. A correction of the abuses is
loudly demanded. There should b.
also an essential modification of the
amount OF costs permitted to be chars-
ed, and the State thoroughly protected
against the abuses Of unprincipled men
holding these POSITIONS. The extrava
gance of the costs. at present, in
e'ses beforesa justice are, in many
instances, a denial of Justice us
10 most Of the cts,s taken before the. g
minor courts they are greater iu amount
than the sum in litigation The powcrs
and the duty Of the magistrate should
be we'll defined, and the severcst pen
alties imposed Tor their violation. None
should be held more rightly amcnablr
to the law than those who are chosen
to administer it. I would here remark
that l must necessarily depend very
much upon the members Of the Legis-
! ture Tor the character and fitness Of
trial Justices, and / am disposed to
consider education as an essential ee.
ment among th.m. This would not only
w p'oPCi tu itoCiI, OuG WOuIu HlOrO all
additional stimulus to its acquisition
BY making knowledge Of the clemeu-
tary branches an indispensable rcqui-
site to appointments or TO Office, q
higher grade of service would be Sc
cured as we'll as a more efficient per
formance Of it, ..3.
~ COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
Il would direct your attention to the
laws defining the powers and duties of
county commissioners, and, their per
versions aud abuses. From the ire
,quept eomplaipts against some of the
boards, it would be imagined that they
were devoted mbfe to private acquisition
than the faithful discharge Of public
trust. In neighboring States the office
Of county commissioner is looked upon
more as an honorary station, bestowed as
O mark of confdenoae aud trust in the
Judgment and business capacity of the
individual, rather than as a position of
pecuniary emolument, and except in the
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES cities, tho com.
pensation -is but trivial, seldom amopnt
ing to more. .hsn from fifty to d ahnndred
dollars per apnum. Stringent laws are
required for the prevention and punish