The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-08-15
y,tAugust Is, 1877.
The c County.

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temper are much unprecedented en-
tirely unobjectionable. 1t is much bet
ter and more respectful to readers to con-
duet an a rgument witho 1t offensive per-
sonalities. 1t need not diminish earnest
ness or zeal, and decided; increases the
effect of what is urged, while it gives to
the newspaper that dignity and character
which should ever attach to a public
journal in South Carolina.
In EXPRESSING u views upon the sub
iect of the proposed new county, we in
tended to give the public tho reasons for
the very decided opinions entertained by
us, and then leave tho subject. We
thought if we we're fit to edit a newspa-
per in the distinguished county of old
Abbeville, that much, at least, was due TO
u readers. Wc arc of those who think
a newspaper should he something more
than mere advertisingmedium or a fol-
lower of public opinion, but should aspire
to be something Of a leader o.
publico pinion." There is not a man
in the county or in the pro-
~posednew county, to whom we could
be induced to give just u OF
offense. We have never reckon
cd the temperate and proper expression
of opinion upon any subject, as giving
elst cause of otfense to any one, and we
are sure that the intelligence Of those
: with whom we have differed will bear us
out in this assertion.
Unless something occurs which we
do not f~oresee, we may not have occasion
to , fer to this subject again. Having
called public attention to the matter. we
think the people and their representa-
I tives will take care that the State suffer
no detriment. We cannot suppose thai
there is any serious danger Of the Lcgis-
lature doing what is proposed. Some
time ago there was a kind Of mania for
new counties, especially In our great
neighbor State Of Georgia. Our State has
always been moro conservative OH that
subject. After a large experience upon
the subject our sister, Georgia, has decid-
od~lychanged her views. In the Convention
now in session they are taking effective
measures to stop tho injurious and fatal
policy Of making new counties. The
committee on "Final Revision" has
made the following report which there is
good ground to believe will be incorpora-
ted into her constitution---thc fundalnen-
tai law of regenerated Georgia.:
Sec, /. The metes and bounds Of the sew.
eral counties shall remain as now prescribed
by law, unless changed as hereinafter pro'i-
Sec. Q. No new county shall be created.
Sec. 8. County lines shall not be changed,
unless under the operation OF Il general law
sec. i. No county site shall be changed, eX-
cept by a two-thirds vote of the qualiied Eo,
tors of the county, voting at an election held
for that purpose; and q two-thirds vote OF the
Sec. 5. old county organizations may be
dissolved and merged with contiguous coun,
electors OF such county voting at an election
held for that purpose"
1t will be seen that Georgia will not al
low any more new counties. Changes may
10 made, but they must all be in the other
direction. Two may be made out of
three, but never three out two.
They have been going on the an
alytical system. In the future they
propose to go on the synthotical.
Our own State also has in her constitu-
ton a limitation upon the process of
manufacturing new counties. 1t was
well known that parties directly interest
ed, would always press for new counties.
which would not promote the general
welfare, and therefore the prohibition
which is in these words:
mo new county shall be hereafter
"formed of less extent than six hundred
''and twenty-five square miles, nor shall
"any existing counties DO reduced to a
'less extent than six hundred and twon-
''ty-fve miles," &c.
We think this a wise provision. Geor-
gia now proposes to follow the example.
This Is manifestly disapprobation Of the
tendency to make new counties. We I'M
derstand that to conform to this constitu-
tional provision, the proposed new coun-
ty Will be subjected to the following con-
ditions:
No part Of the territory Of Newberry
can be taken, which has not now more
territory than the minimum allowed in
the constitution.
That the whole area Of six hundred
and twenty-five square miles will have
to be taken from Edgefeld, Laurens and
notwithstanding a largo plug out Of
each, leaving the old counties shapeless
and mutilated---mere wrecks of their
former selves.
The new county formed must itself be
shapeless and inconvenient---the Saluda
traversing it ~diagonally, and the Court
House would be within q very few
miles--we believe within five or six
m1lesof the Newberry line.
The Guardian still thinks that while
We may havo q right to our opinion upon
the subject, yet that the "pcople Of Able
Vile have no right to decide what is best
for us''---that is, the people of Ninety
Six. That is true, they are the proper
Judges of what is best for them, but we
have a right to have q voice as to what is
best for us---that Is all of Abbeville---in-
deed of the whole State. Who euer heard
of a partition without all the parties being
consulted. 1t is an important question:
not a local but comfy and State ques-
ton, The constitution so regards it, and
the whole Legislature have a vote upon
the subject. If the question was nota Sc
rious one, We would be pleased if the
good people of N~inety-Six, who desire
1t, could be gratiied. Butt this is too im-
portant a matter, and we are sure they
would not wish anything which would
run counter to good policy and the general
welfare Of tho State.
Tho Goyernor Glyes Mack Thomas q