Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-07-22
CHARLTON COUNTY, GEORGIA.
The Crop Prospect Legislative
Measures on Temperance The
Commission TO Run Railroads.

CENTRE VILLAGE, July 19-Charlton was
named as a tribute to R. NJ Charlton, the
learned jurist and eminent lawyer, who by his
virtues adorned private life, and shed lustre
on official position Long like an unpublished
jewel in the mine, this county, ere long, as a
polished jewel in the coronet of Georgia win
be an emblem of the advancement and grow
ing prosperity OF the State.
Notwithstanding the drought that has pre-
vailed in many sections, blighting the hope Of
the farmer, yet in Charlton crops are generally
good. For months 1t has been dry, and only a
few light showers have fallen, except along
Spanish creek, where the usual floods have
occurred, but in many neghborhoods crops Of
corn are good and peas and potatoes are
promising.
The position of this county is favorable to
success sful cultivation of the soil and to the
growth Of field crops and Of vegetables. The
great Okefenokee, unfailing reservoir of water
and Of moisture, bounds it on the northwest
the deep and ever flowing st Mary's borders it
west, southwest and south, and the Satilla
flows along its northeastern boundary. These
temper the winds of winter and lower the tenn
perature of summer render the atmosphere
pleasant and health giving, and are store
houses, providing showers in times of need.
The great Savannah Florida and Western Rail
way will give impulse and new life to this re-
gion and Falkeston will be pleasant town
and this county an eligible region.
The great temperance measure will worry
and vex the Georgia Legislature during the
heated term. Intemperance is mighty evil,
blighting curse, and remedyis pressing ne
cessity. Is it practicable to overwhelm the evil
by a mighty assault? or does wisdom suggest
| moderation and point to a gradual siege and
rcfff nFr
If public opinion is sufficiently educated and
enthused to give irresistible impulse and COM
plete success to assault, let the assault carry
the siroDgholds To attempt and fail, will turn
back the tide now onward and give new
lease to the power Cf the monster evil. The
public mind is not ready is not vet educated to
carry out prohibition or extreme measures.
Any law is imperative and void as to enforce
ment, unless sustained and executed and enforc-
ed by the moral force of enlightened approval
and public opinion. The best that can be done
now 20 curtail and restrain the evil by inn
posing proper tax, to wit: 800 or $500 for Ii
cense. That would top off al crCsS-road grog-
geries, the bane Of society and hotbeds of
rows, and confine the vending to towns under
the public eye and the surveillance of law. Such
law. under proper safegua ds, would produce
revenue in aid of education and in great
measure protect society against the outbursts
of the evil Make the eUiL furnish the means
to educate the public for its overthrow. Take
the world as it is. not as it ought to be but is
not, and let broad wisdom plan, and just,
| brave InOQ0TdI1On enforce proper reInoUtdl
measures. Passion and prejudice and zeal
without knowledge are not safe counsellors
| Better SkirmiSh with the enemy and rally
| strength than to rush into conflict and meet
overwhelming defeat. FeStinG Iente is often
| true wisdom.
| 1t is an axiom that law is designed to protect
| life, liberty aud property. Law is q protector
| against evi, not creator of good. Under pro-
| lection OF law, each must pursue his own true
| substantial interest. Laws ought to be few
| and simple, not vague and complicated, and
| easily enforced Multiplication of laws is evi
| dence not of wise legislation, but of erratic
ambition or of zeal without wisdom. 1t is VIOLA
| tive Of the object of law and of government to
| legiSlate as to the manner of conducting per
sonal interest for accomplishing best results.
| It is impracticable to attempt TO make the
| law the guardian of the citizen. and to
| assume the management of his interests.
| The farmer, the mechanic, and all others, may,
| as of right, manage their own business in their
| own way. whether skillfully or unSklllfuily
| successfully or uusuccessfully, so far as they
| infringe not the legal rights of others. En-
ightened and JudiciOuS forming redounos TO
| the prosperity and general welfare of the
State aud an ignorant indolenDnd thriftless
| farmer is an incubus upon the public weal-a
! stumbling block in the pathway of progress
| Yet is it wisdom and sound law for the State
| 10 take possession of all neglected or badly
| cultivated farms and appoint commissions to
manage them on the plea of the public good!
| The attempt would be a great error
| / Because violatiye of the object of govern
! ment and law.
| 2 Because such commissioners would lack
| broad varied and accurate information to ac-
| compIish the object
| g. because it would conflict with private
! property and personal rights.
! The Railroad Commission law, as construed,
| violates all the sound principles herein stated.
1t seems to be a hybrid, not quite a court to
hear and decide complaints, nor a fully en-
| powered overseer. to manage, direct and run
all the railroads in Georgia and all trains that
pass over into the State. 1t would be a less
difficult job, requiring less extensive and
| minute information, to manage all the farms
in Georgia by commission. than to control and
| direct the affairs of all the railroads.
One President cannot manage and direct one
railroad without the aid of many experienced
subordinate officials. To manage all the rail
| roads with their various and varied interests.
| requ res large number of experienced and
| trained officials, yet three men-talented aud
well read, no doubt-but unschooied as rail
road men are by law stationed in offices at
! Atlanta, charged with the onerous duty of man
aging all railroads in Georgia.
The scheme is unwise and impracticable, and
in coufiict with the great object of government
and law.
Ie another court with more ample powers is
needed, let the Commission be erected into q
court, with an pie powers.
QUID NUNC.