Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1873-12-11
New Counties.

We understand that application will
be made at the present session of the
Legislature for the formation of two new
judicial and ;election Counties wherein
the people of Edgefeld are much inter-
ested., ~
One of these new Counties will be COM
posed offa corner from each of the four
Counties of Edgefeld, Newberry, Lau-
rens and Abbeville, and will be known
as Ninety-Six County, with the flourish
ing town Of Ninety-Six as the county
seat. The:convenience Of the people in
the section mentioned would be greatly
promoted by the formation of this new
County, and as the present status of the
voting population of the proposed new
County is largely Republican, doubtless
the scheme of the petitioners will be
consummated during the present session,
and the new, County Of Ninety-Six will
become, as it should be, an established
reality. Edgefeld, it is true, by the
establishment of this new County, will
lose no inconsiderable portion of her
very best people and territory, and we
deeply regret, on that account, to see the
change made; but then we are satisfied
that the interest and wishes of our
friends in the eaaNorth- West corner of
Edgef1eld will be best subserved by the
creation of this new County, and we will
therefore raise no captious objections in
the matter. And furthermore, we are
firm in the belief that the robbing Of
Edgefield, and the other three Counties,
of portion of their respective area, with
which to; create; the new Ninety-S Six
County, will right speedily "prove a
blessing ins Disguise Because each
County will also lose aheavy Republican
vote, the losing of which vote will
certainly enable the four Counties men
ltionedtowin conservative victories much
sooner .thanif We have the Republicans
of the NinetysSix country to contend
against.
/ Another new County is being talked
of by our fellow-citizens Oh the Saluda
Regiment. Theywish, we understand,
to cut off thatportion of Edgetield lying
North of direct line running from
Johnston's Depot, ola Meeting Street
and Mountain Creek, on to the Abbeville
line, and have their county-seat in the
vicinity of Sardis Church. This section
has long been clamorous for greater
judicial facilities, and not without just
cause. Hundreds ofithese good people
live full days journey from the Court
House, and are therefore seriously dis
commoded when having legal business
to transact. But, gentlemen, be more
moderate. Yon cut too deep. Say the
North Eastern half of the Salnda Regi-
ment, and we will right heartily join
you in your appeal for new County.
In fact, I'VE rather, favor the idea of diyi-
ding each of our large Counties into two
or three, small ones. Small counties,
and more Court Houses would not otneces-
sarily increase litigation, as some con-
tend-but weuld indisputably lessen the
expense and trouble now attendant upon
the transaction of legal and public duties
by parties residing twenty and thirty
miles from the County seat; and '7ould
likewise inaueurate more frequent inter-
course and closer social relations between.
the people. And then these small Coun-.
ties, If not already conservative, would
very likely become so in a few years.
Radical strength, in great measure,
lies in its known large majorities, but
once divide these large majorities into
small majorities, and the great work of
breaking the backbone OF Radicalisn is
we'll nigh achieved:
Hence, looking to the future prosperi-
ty of the country and the long hoped-fo-
triumph of conservatism in the State,
we side with our Ninety-Six and Saluda
friends in their new County projects, and
bid them God speed! The first will
doubtless be established before the Cen
eral Assembly adjourns; but in our
opinion the divisionists of Saluda are
hoping in xA.n, inasmuch as our Radical
Legislators know full well the conserva
tive strength of that section of Edge
field, and in their usual partisan spirit,
will oppose the measure out and out,