The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-03-05

A Grain OF Wheat and =. Crumb of Com.

IT premiums had been offered for the
most absurd and worthless laws possible
to be ooncooted, we think that in the
sharp competition which would hsve
ensned. those just passed by tho General
Assembly Of South Carolina, would have
stood good chance Of bearing off the
highest prize. Many OF them read as ii
they had been enacted for the govern.
msnt Of the island Of Barataria, presided
over by his Excellenoy Sancho Pauza.
The best of them poorly reflect the
dignity, and inadequately secure the
interests OF the State. We're its charac
ter, intelligence, business activity and
enterprise, its social oharaoteristics, it's
intellectual worth and literary ard
scientific status to be learnt only by in
ference from this specimen of it's laws.
it would sink beneath contempt. The
Acts concern Che merest ephemeral inte-
rests, and are only grounded in particu-
lars. Yetthis tomfoolery has. cost the
people dozen times the sum necessary
:, to have secured discreet Legislation. pro-
per enactments. both for undoing villainy
and unwinding fraud, aud for the adj
vancement Of the State on new line Of
progress and improvement. When we
reckon what it has cost the country to
change the name of Elmira McNary
Speers to Elmira MoNary Ritohie, and
comfortably to settle Henry Hash into
Henry Hash Shiver; when we think Of
the wisdom OF an Act to punish any per-
son who shall sell or convey any real
property on which lien exists, without
notice OF the same to the purchaser, we
conclude that we have paid too much for
the whistle, that South Carolina hos lost
her identity, and become either Bmotia,
or miniature edition Of Africa.
We rashly said, yesterday. that there
might be found grain or two of wheat
in all this; ehaff.; We shall have to
scratch hard to find this grain. Let us
tsse. Here is 'an 40. 10 repeal the gen-
eral license law: This wasr one of the
most odious forms 'df Legislative greed,
and it was proper 70 repeal it. That
may be called good; or, at any rate, a
removal of evil. Next we find the
Attorney General instructed TO institute
criminal and other Prdceedings against
the late Oommisaiohers Of the Sinking
Fund. This is . faint gleam OF light.
But why should the Attorney be limited
to this one abuse? Why not instruct
him to;lay bare all the gross frauds per.
petrated on the State and people by the
officials. and bring them ster6l5 to the
bar of justies? Tit be means to exclude
inquiry in other directions, it: is not an
unmi1ed good. Then again We have 6
new node of fees for Probate Judges
Trial Justicea. and Clerks of Court
This. we believe. will prove q saving tc
those who unfortunately beoomeinvolved
in litigation. The fees fc. saninistra
tors upohr Estates are reduced more thar
ohe-hatf. Recording by all officers i.
placed at fifteen cents per copy sheet o.
100 words. and other reductions are
made. We can safely say this is pretty
good. Again, in allowing foreign insur
ance companies to make deposits OF either
State or United States bonde, instead o
requiring them to be exclusively State
as heretofore, the Legislature mas oni,
done all act OF justice towards them
This is all Of positive legislation that We
can find to commend, and it is email
indeed. .'i.
On the other hand, there are some
omissions to pass laws. which the Legis.
latnre had the amplest opportunity o1
doing, that deserve severe rebuke. The
failure to pass the bill to aid and encou.
rage manufactures, bill to promote
immigration, and general incorpora.
ton bill is to be keenly regretted. The
effect will be to throw rs back at least
FIVE years in the race of improvement,
in the struggle for recovery. While we
thus stand still and repel capital, labor
and enterprise from our borders, other
States moro liberal, more enterprising,
having more sense and foresight, will
reap the benefit of our niggardly policy,