Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1878-07-25
For the Advertiser.
s .:icitor Abney Upon Reforms Need
ed in the Ccurts of Sessions.
co1,,uni, s s. july II, 1875

last issue, that of they1lih iNstant,
communication in whichthe writer COM
msnts, amongst other things, upon the
Courts of General Sessions. Hic article
plainly shows that tho people feel deeply |
the unjust burden they have to bear IN
the payment of the expenses of these
Courts; but, it also show, that they do
not know where the seat Of the trouble
is. or how to obtain relief This sans
barden is lnllc and felt blythe people o;
the entire State; and it is to be hopet.
that the next General Assembly VII
consider the evil, and apply the remedy
necessary to its removal. The members
of the Legislature have hitherto laborec
under many disadvantages, ana had
number of matters to engage their al
tcnlions; hut, when they meet again. Ii
will be their imperative duty to revise
the criminal law Of the State. l have
not time now to point out its radical de
fects; bat / suggest to the good people
that the criminals should be made to pay
the crpeaSes Of their concict'on Unui
this be done, know not how any ade
ouate relief can be had. as the evil is a
the very foundation Of our laws. Our
people, as general thing, are conserva
tive, and have desire to adhere to Ole
laws ard TRAD j iol S: and there may ce
some who will oppose any change. This
desire springs from noble sentiment F;
but circumstances have changed, and il
would be worse than folly should we re-
fuse to alter our laws SO as to meet iht
changes of the period. Before the lat
war. the Court Of Sessions was held only
twice year in each County: and then.
too. the colored defendants were tried IL
tie Magistrates Courts; but, now, W.
have three terms of said Courts III eaci
County, and they are crowded with col
ored defendants, thus making the Dusi-
ness at least four times as much end th'
expenses proportionately greater. AND
all this, while our people are not fouI
times as able to pay Indeed, while they
are at least four times less able! 1t is
simply shameful! But, let MS not blame
e,ch other for 1.-THE ills we bear;'' let Us
then rather be charitable and generous,
and 60 to work to revise AID re-lnvlgo
rate our laws so as to promote the well
fare of the whole people, white AMI col
ored. And I know of nothing, which
the Legislature can do. that would Sc
much benefit our poverty stricken Stat
as to pass an Act requiring persons con
victed of crime to BE sGlptene s. I TO s,I ps4
-ss.st :c:iiion. and in default of payment
labor at certain price per day until In
fine is thereby paid; and also be sell
fenced to Imprisonment at had labor;
certain period for the crime itself. An'
then, as the Counties are already bodio'
C Corporate and polite. another S,aiul
should be made enabling each OF then
to work aid manage their own c,nric''
If sue laws were enacted. The C"lintis
CO I'D ork the roads, build their bridge
grade their Railroads, sustain their pau
pers, fee d their prisoners in jails, an'
pay all costs for tho conviction of IN
c 'imlnnls There are many laws of ,hi
character which could be passed, an,
the peop.e relieved of burdensome taxa
ton. AS to salaries and fees Of officers
they should De regulated By the OIL
standard, in my judgment. They shoui
be just what they were before the Radi
cils took charge of our State and before
the war, as cotton, the chief product o
the State, is now selling forts old prices
and the costs of living are not mucl
greater. But our people will make
gave mistake il they reduce salarie.
and fees below what they were before
the war. In that case, only those who
are rich, and those who are triiling. ca'
afford to hold Cilicc. The law is more
important to the people than most of u,
conceive, and should be !auch NOR
p.ized and reverenced than it is; and
they need the best talent they can com
mand to enact and administer it, provi.
ded that talent has honesty coupled with
it, without which it is nothing. There
are however certain regulations which
should be made in regard to fees. IL
some Of the Counties the Clerk of the
CoIft gets more fol his services thar
the Judge OF the Circuit and over twice
a;much as the Solicitor. This, of course,
is absurd, and should be remediod.
JNo. r. ABNEY.