Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-10-10

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POPULAR ELECTIONS.
1t must be clear to every rejecting man
that the American system of obtaining office
is either fundamentally wrong or greatly
abused. Office seeking is a trade-a profes-
sion; and office holding is source of wealth
and pecuniary emolument. Every four years
the whole of the United States is tossed by
the contest for the chief magistracy, like a
forest visited by tornado or an ocean by a
tempest. Every two years the same thing
occurs in our State. An incalculable amount
of bad feeling is engendered and fostered by
these contests; much time is spent and fabu-
lous sums of money prodigally wasted.
The system now almost universally prac-
ticed to obtain office is, essentially, both in
spirit and practice, opposed to the principles
of republicanism. The whole affair is worked
from its incipiency to its completion by
by leagues, conventions, caucuses, packed
committees and rings. Incredible sums are
spent to obtain nominations. Merit consists
in full pocket. Not long since it was de-
clared by those who are so situated as to be
able to know what they affirm, that certain
individual could not obtain the nomination for
Governor of certain State for less sum
than one hundred thousand dollars. 1t
makes one tremble to think df such state of
things. Clerks about Washington, we are
told on good authority, frequently give thous-
ands of dollars for the appointment to posi-
tions which pay them an annual salary
of only few hundred dollars 1t is not
croaking to say that there is something rot
ten in Denmark"
Reform is needed. The whole system needs
purging. The Presidential term of office
ought to be extended and the pay reduced.
It would no doubt contribute much to the
peace and prosperity of the country if the
Congress of the United States would meet less
frequently and be required, like the members
Of the British Parliament, to pay their own
expenses. It would be an incalculable ad-
vantage to most if not all the States if their
legislators and senators we're chosen for two
terms and the General Assemblies convened
only once in three years. Senators and leg
islators ought to be allowed no pay. The po-
sition should be one of honor-not of profit
Such is the case with the British Parliament.
The members are allowed no pay-not even
their expenses. In the State of South Caro-
lima the expense of the legislature is onerous
in the extreme, and the advantages gained
by its labors little. Sometimes no good, but
much evil is done by its labors. The fewer Of
fcers a government can have the better it is
for it. In the State of South Carolina there
is an office for almost every thing, and all, or
nearly all are salaried officers, and some of
the salaries are most extravagant. Several Of
fees might be safely merged into one, and the
salary of any one of them be sufficient to pay
man handsomely to do all the work which
is assigned to several men. The three Com
missioners of York county cost the county
during the last fiscal year the round sum of
thirteen hunG:ed and twenty-six dollars. All
the work they have done could have been done,
and done as we'll as they did it, for nothing,
by some other county officer. There is no
sort of use for these officers; at least with such
enormous pay as they receive. The more Of
fees we have to fill the more office seekers we
will have, especially if every Office is accom-
panied with fat salary.
SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS.
DR.. Thomas Lake, an old citizen of Edge
field died at his home in that county on the
| oath ultimo.
IF H. Frost, one of the members. Of the
House of Representatives from Williamsburg
county, died in Charleston on Wednesday of
! last week.
An old bachelor of Darlington county,
offers fine silk dress to the best preserved
old maid, to be awarded at the next Darling
ton fair.
- Rev. J. l. Bonner, President of the Due
West Female College, has declined accepting
the Presidency of the Female College in
Charlotte, N. c., which was lately rendered
him.
Gen. E. P. Alexander, formerly Superin-
tendent of the Charlotte Railroad has accepted
the Presidency ola Georgia railroad with his
headquarters at Columbus, Georgia, instead
of Columbia, as announced last week.
Adam NJ. Riser, who has been imprisoned
in the Jail of Newberry county for nearly two
years, under sentence of ten years for robbing
the mail, was last week pardoned by the
President.
The Laurens Herald of last week announ-
ces the deaths in that county of Rev. Joshua
Gilbert, aged 80 years; Harris Riddle, 20
years; and Mrs. Eliza McClintock, aged 60
years.
The "Bolters" and Conservatives Of Union
county, last week nominated the following