The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-08-29
Card from Senator Maxwell, Defining
His Position on the New County.

Editor Press and Banner:
In reply to "Many Democrats" I would STATE
that l have no hesitation In giving my opin'
ion, as to the NEW County"
From the lumber OF localities desiring TO be
formed into now counties, I think 1t probable
that tho General Assembly will leave the en-
tire matter to O Constitutional Convention
The proposed county Of Ninoty-Six will pro
badly be o failure, because they will lack Ovel
ono hundred square miles OF the number re-
quired by the Constitution. It will probably
be n failure, because tho opponents OF the
measure ne s%re1 have 0 WoTk Eih T Saxe more n mei e@ergS Of t ciei.
zens in said territory petitioning against IT.
formation. Should the bill reach the Senate
1 will certainly support 1t, II four conditions
arc complied with: First. the village Of Nine'
ty-SiI and the immediate friends Of the en-
tcrprlsc must incur the great burden, II moi
the entire debt Of building court flouse, Jail
&c. If the site was ut Greenwood I should
certainly oppose 1t unless This condition wa.
the people are too poor to be farther taxed fol
this purpose. The three other conditions are
that's majority OF the bona fde citizens OF
each OF the corners Zone from Abbeyille, from
county. must assent to its formation. II
would certainly be unjust II the Abbcville
corner objected to the movement, to force II
into an alliance with O portion OF Edgefeld
corners proposed to DO cut from the two last
mentioned counties. Each Of the three cor
ners must o v q majority Of Its bona tde CIT
II soyering a small portion from Abbevillt
materially effected the interest Of the rest @
the county, as a representative OF her whole
people, l would be bound to oppose It.; but
bold that 1t does not do it; 1t would not EN-,
of u tho County. It wonId:detract nothing from
the general prosperity OF her citizens; II
would not depreciate the value OF property
and would increase taxation very h0e y any
MI -,..k. ~ mt rUNt1lh hn nm uffH
the same number OF officers at reduced sala'
rles and the expense OF paupers, lail, bridges
courts, juries and witnesses would be reduced
In proportion to reduction OF size OF county
OF individuals, and I am not sure that they de
not lessen the current annual expense OF thu
county government. There was q time wher
we needed large plantations. hunareds o
slaves: but that time has passed. We wan
small plantations Of one hundred and ffy u
two hundred acres, occupied by thrifty, indus
trious citizens, and we want our conntr3
thickl.. interspersed with villages Us SIZES o
| education and religion n II this condition
| can be produced by railroads, court houses, o.
otherwise, let us nave them.
H"Many Democrats think that this sec
ton Of Abbcville is opposed to small countie:
they mistakc. I know that there arc some
who believe court houses, courts and al theil
appendugcs are o curse and the farther YOU
are from them the better. The great obJectior
to Ninety-Six county has been o lear OF ~
| TSd6G EtAdllOh Shlo VIZ ~
Greenwood Oh a~ccounto of commercial rivalry
During tae agitation upon this subject,
nave studiously avoided saying anythlnt
that would prejudice any one against or 70,
the new county. and have loft the matter u
the opponents and advocates of the measure
to discuss.
AS "Many Democrats have been free II
offer to dictate to the delegates from Abbe
vile MS to the new county, ! would be equal!
free to suggest to them that they may be abl'
to do the people of Vaudeville more service D.
investigating the extravaganza OF the Radica
marty In Abbeville and ascortaining If gu
own people have in any way been mixed a. tSs !,
that questions of far more vital importanc
than the "new county" will be before ia,
General Assembly at It's next s~essionIsucl
questions ms the reduction OF interest, the re
opening OF South Caroline College, and To-
adjustment Of the public debt. 1t seems T
harmonize any division OF the people hkel.
to spring up on the last three questions, tnai
to widen any breach that may exist betweel
Nincty-Six and the rest Of the county, espe
ciully when those most Interested in the mat
tor, both advocates and opponents, sustai'
j. c. MAXWELL.