The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-09-13

PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
These necessary appurtcnanccs arc
in good order, and are pronounced
commodious enough and otherwise
suitable for the purposes for which
they were designed. 1t would be @
matter convenience and comfort f0l
jurors, witnesses and lawyers, if q
watcr-closct could be erected some.
where upon the public inclosurc, to be
used only during the sittings Of the
Court.
POOR HOUSE.
BY committee this institution was
scrupulously investigated and foundin
good condition, and is reported as pre-
senting an air Improvement in many
OF its departments. a new coat OF
whitcwash, which is now in prcDura-
ton, will we think make it us neat and
comfortable rs the finances of the
county would justify.
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
We have examined by committee tho
books of the various county officers,
and find them correct and neatly kept.
lDc grand jury recommend that The
Judge OF probate require all parties
having papers that should br ON file
in his office to file the same. And in
case his request is not complied with
to institute legal proceedings against
them. The grand jury further recon-
mend that this Office be furnished with
stationery. The grand jury recon-
mend that thcspropcr officer be author
lied to cancel all claims against the
county that have been paid. The books
of the different trial justices have been
examined and found to be correct, the
fines having 'll been paid over.
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
Tho spirit Of litigation, we think. is
on the increase, especially upon the
! part Of the colorcd portion of our
citizens. and some cases are sent up by
trial Justices that might be dismissed
and no larm to the public result T.:
fees 70 tria! justices arc too small for
the services required in many instances.
whilst The costs in the highcr courts
arc still exceedingly high. The true
philosophy Of life is to adapt ourselves
to surrounding circumstancca-a poor
people must have cheap rates, and as
litigation seems a necessity rather than
Il luxury, we recommend lowering of
its prices.
We honestly believe that now law
in reference to the trial by jury is no w
needed. Under the present system
one villain upon Il jury is equal to
eleven honest men,, and may iii all
cases, cvcn of The most tasrant nature,
defeat the ends Of Justice and run the
county to endless expense by making
miStrials from term to term. II six
teen jurors were drawn, with twelve
to agree, the difficulty might be rene
died; and without some change we
fear that trial by jury, as at present
practiscd, although the boasted bull
work of civilization, will be brought
into ridicule.
| BONDS OF PUBLIC OFFICERS.
The bonds of public officers in this
county have i'll many instances proved
worthless, to the serious dclrimcnt of
citizens. and although there is is mark
cd improvcnt as to the character and
qualifications Of the incumbcnts over
some OF their predecessors, still
we think that the public good
would be best served by r,,
quiring that all bondsmen should file
their liabilities on said bonds, and that
in addition to tho above, the officer,
in case Of conviction for matcasance
in office, he considered guilty Of an
offence of such grade as to send him
to tho penitcntiary for life at tho dis
erection Of the judge.
TAX SALES.
Under the old law lands could ONLY
be sold for taxes for term of years
not exceeding seven, when they re-
vortcd 10 their former owners. They
are now forfeited indefinitely, if not
permanently, when sold upon this
account. Before the war the
proposition was to sell land upon tax
account to the party who would bid
the least number of years. for its use
now the plan is to sell the least num-
Der OF acres permanently, it. not re-
deemed in accrtain timc, so that many
farmers arc unable to raise tho MONEY
and it frequently happens that large
tracts arc purchased for nominal
amount of taxes, which it is believed
can never be recovered by their right
ful owners. We recommend the alb
rOgatjon of the present law and q re.
turn TO the old one for two reasons
lst. Our farmers and land-holdcrs. by
being prohibited by law in some in.
stances. from raising money upor
pledged real estate, and from tho ma
turc of their avocations seldom being
in funds during three ofthe four sea;
sons, arc at tho mercy of lan1
sharks and soulless spcculators who
reserve funds for the purchase q
forfeited lands. 2nd. The present law
is q relic of Radicalism an(
was designed by tho vile thieves who
who were permitted for G. while to rule
over us for tho destruction Of every
honest farmer in the State; and fol
this reason if for no other we deem its
repeal cminently appropriate, now
that wo arc returning, though slowly,
to the pristine purity and simplicity
Of those ages which made our ,coltntr,
respected and admired by all tho ma
tons Of tho earth. %lI'Ht ff
The practice, too prevalent, of com.
promising with violators OF tho law il
earnestly reprchendcd. Many in
stances arc noted where thctts have