The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-07-25
Wednesday, July IS, 1877.
Shnll the Old Parish System Of tn
Low Country be Inauguratsd
in the Up.Countryf

kttS
past eight years has been, r~etrenchment
and reform, there arc exceptional cases
where local politicians or capitalists de-
sire to agitate their respective communi-
ties upon the subject Of organizing a new
county, with the government located at
their doors, which as q consequence,
when accomplished, is attended by the
mutilatiop of the old counties. and the
obllteration Of the established roads.
lines and usages Of the people for a hun
dred years. According to provision Of
the constitution, each county is entitled
to Il Senator in the General Assembly,
except Charleston, where two arc very
properly allowed.
The country was ono hundred years
ago, equitably divided into counties, and
in many instances they were separated
by natural boundary lines, with the
county scat designated before local inter
csts and personal prcjudices were brought
into action by restless spirits, whose spc-
cial mission, in the present impoyerish-
ed condition of the country, would secm
to bc that of destroying the land marks OF
our old counties, AMI Of tearing down
old county governments and Of establish
ing, at a great cost to the people, new ones
on their ruins.
We are in favor of letting well enough
alone, and shall oppose tho organization
Of new counties under whatever name,
whether that Of Gordan, Butler, Hamp-
ton or N~inety1Six, and shall as strenuous
ly oppose increasing the present represep-
tation in the Senate.
The organization Of new counties, and
the increaseof Senators has grown to be
so great a nuisance III the State Of Geor'
gia, that the Constitutional Convention,
which is at present in session at Atlanta,
is actually considering the propriety Of
passing an ordinance forever for bidding
tie formation of new counties III thai
State. Before that Convention there is
also q proposition to reduce the General
Assembly Of that great State, with its
one hundred and forty counties to fifty
Senators and s~eventy-tive Representa-
LlNCS III LAX 4iOooSs Az PAoPo-tS'N+
meets q responsive echo in the hearts of
many of the wisest and most intelligent
politicians in the State of South Carolina,
who to-day are in favor ofYery materially
reducing our own, representatives. in the
lower House Of the General Assembly,
\ move in this direction, If agitated,
would meet with popular favor every
where. Suppose. for instance, if the del
egation to the lower House was reduced
from one hundred and twenty-four, as
now constituted. to eighty or OF hun
drcd Representatives, a great saving to
the State Treasury would be effected, and
our work would be equally as well per-
formed as 1t is now with our II hun
bred and t~wenty-four delegates.
In the face of all these facts, and the
probability that the agitation of the es'
adjustment Of new counties will be car
ried to excess, is it wise to allow thu
movement to meet with encouragement
increasing the number Of our Senators
contrary to tho best interests of the Statt
Should this continue, and NEE
with no check, it will not be many year!
before there will be a court hoHs'
for every six hundred and twenty-five
square miles in the State, which vii
claim its constitutional right TO SEM
n Senator to the General Assembly,
1t now remains to be seen whether
Charleston will give us the same
advantage of her that she had Of Il!
before the war. We believe 1t wrong
to increase the number Of Scna
tors from any section of the State, whicl
will as certainly disturb the equity and
equilibrium Of the present adjustment
The apportionment at this time sselns tC
US to be as fair as possible, and We think
any increase, from whatever source, un'
wise and detrimental to oar best inter
ests.
This subject should in our opinion
receive the attention of the press of the
State, rs we believe the agitation ~favoring
the formation Of new counties, unless i
receive a quietus in some way, will event
ually become a source of trouble anC
annoyance to the Commonwealth. We
cannot however expect the country press
to say much on this subject unless on,
city brethren speak out. Is Charleston
willing for US to divide Abbeville county
in order that We way have q representa-
tive In tho Senate equal to her own?
TO End Discussion
upon the subject of The new county
which is likely to become "~stale, flat anc
Improbable" before the dog days arr
over, we submit, the following PROPOSE
ton - Let the q ualified electors Of thi:
and other counties whose ancient boun'
diaries are sought to be obliterated by thu
excessive zeal of a very few persons
have the opportunity and be requested
to give expression to their wishes upoI
this subject, whenever the question of the
fence law is submitted Us provided by
recent act Of the General Assembly. II
addition to the vote upon this subject lie
the ballot contain the words, Yes or No
as regards the question Of o new county
and if the several counties Of Abbevllle
Laurens and Edgeield from whose ter
ritory this new county is sought to b.
made, do not condemn the measure by
vote Of two to one, we will agree to ceas'
our opposition. This is the way to reacl
the bottom facts. To get at the will o
the people, to which when fairly express
ed, we bow with the ~protoundest defer
ence. It is fair. 1t is just, and it SHOULD
be conclusive Of this matter. LET u
have peace"