Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-07-04
families and their tircsdcs FROM insult aud
oppression.
Send the bSest Men.

| pick cut their best men and send them to
tho Legislature make them go into tho
service of the State. lie was giving advice
which has since found Judgment in every
noo; and corner Of tho State; aud if wo
rcud the signs Of the times Alright the people
arc preparing to act upon the suggestion by
demanding the services Of the very best
men who arc not now in Office. 1t is no
time for selecting legislators with reference
to cxpcdiency locality or occupation.
The question Of cxpcdicncy is always
flaught with danger to the best interests Of
tho people. A man whose nomination
merely fills gap created by supposed po-
come Up to the standard Of fitness in other
respects. He is governed too much in his
conduct by reference to the cXpedicnt wiIich
caused him to rise to the surface, aud in
| deciding questions Of The utmost concern to
the State, when Independence and self
reliance ough; to govern, he is too apt to
Guogo his conduct by tho supposed popu-.
| iarity Of the measure under considerations
lie mover olcavcs tho way for useful and
practical legislation, nor rises above the
prcjudccs of the hour, but is always on
tho scent for the popular side Of every qucs
| tion
In reference to the locality of candidates
it has grown to be tho custom in some
counties to make up ticket composed Of
men selected for their geographical location
| "a custom which would oftimes be more
| honorcd in tho breach than the observance
Members of the Legislature do not repro
sent particular sections of their counties
when they come together to enact laws for
the State. Indeed, beyond the mere local
| legislation which is required for the several
counties, the members arc representatives
of the State in the truest sense. They are
to mako laws which operate with equal
force upon every citizen, and in discharg-
ing this high trust no conscientious man
| will undcrvalue the rights and privileges of
all sections Of tho State. It doubtless
serves q good purpose to distribute the
responsibilities of the local officers, such as
County Commissioners, for instance, where
the duties require an intimate knowledge of
the wants and necessities of every section
Of the county. But this cannot be made to
apply to the members of the Legislature,
if chosen from the class OF men who are
qualified by reason of their abilities and
character for the position. They are equally
familiar with every portion of their counties
or else they arc fully capable of asccrtaining
its peculiar needs without residing iu any
special locality
Then, again, mans occupation does not
give him any claim upon the position
There arc scores Of lawyers who arc unfit
to make laws, because the prerequisites Of
u we'll balanced mind, independence of
| thought and just cqupois in action, arc
1l,r nf 1,a
nifty. But the nero fact that one is law
otherwise worthy Of election. In truth,
the prejudice against sending lawyers is q
lamcutablc misfortune to the State. The
crude and hasty Legislation of the past two
! years might have been largely avoided, if
| thero had been moro liberal distribution
Of tho legal fraternity who were cognizapt
of tho laws in force already, a few men,
no matter how well yerscd in their profcs
sion, could not inspect every measure crti
cally as it, passed. through the ordinary
course Of legislation 1t requires careful
ness to y srco: degree iu the most ordinary
situation Of affairs and when a Legislature
is confronted with the most difficult prob
| lens growing out OF al onomaous condition
OF society us was the case with the last leg
| islaturc, it does require wisdom aud ox
, ;2rience to seer clear Of blundcrs anl mis-
takes. Tie woulev is that 50 few were
oo%mitlad
In our judgment, then, it is folly to
select members Of tho Legislature by reason
Of their occupation or residence, and far
more damaging to choose them for their
availability on The grounds of expediency
| It il tho best men that arc wanted to deal
with the intricate questions before tho next
Legislature, tho men who ara best
adapted to tho work before them, because Of
their training Industry and devotion to the
State, mon Of brains and character,
With tho will aud determination to do
what is right, rcgard!css OF the effect it
will have upon their personal popularity.
The work of rehabilitation is not complete
Much has been done in short time, but
vastly more romans to bo accomplished.
The Legislature next winter wi! not be idle
or u, mployod. Itshould be composed Of
men capable of dealing with every emor-
gene 1, and in all respects fit cxpononts of
the honor, intelligence and wisdom Of South
Curoina, tho browning adornmcnt Of tho
mighty revolution which has transformed
tho commonwealth from pit of corruption
and degradation into the dwelling place Of
dcconoy, morality and highest integrity in
official life, and illumincd tho hopes and
aspirations Of people who were crushed
beneath heavier weight than ever borc
down upon Anglo-Saxon civilization.
Send tho best men to complete this work.
Columbia Register.
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