Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1881-09-15
The Legislature,


Which meets in November, will have before
1t matters of greater Importance than have
been considered by any Legislature since
1889. The session must necessarily be Ia
borious as we'll Us responsible ono. and can
hardly be expected to close before Christmas
The report Of the commissioners to codify
and arrange tho statute laws. prepared with
much labor and expense, will be presented
for adoption and amendment and it should
have thorough consideration. Our statute
law is in great confusion and it is hoped tho
report will 80 simplify and arrange it that
all can easily understand tho law. Tho COM
plioated and cumbersome system for tho as.
sessment and collection of taxes, wo think
might DO simplificd and tho jurisdiction of
all the inferior courts should be 30 clearly dos
fined as to be easily Ineligible and so ar
ranged as not to conflict with tho provisions
of the constitution. This would save much
litigation and much expense to tho people.
AS this codication is designed to embrace
all the public statutes of the State and to
form starting point Of q system to bc cons
tnucd and extended every ten years, it should
receive the fullest consideration.
The amendments to the State Constitution.
proposed by tho committee appointed for
that purpose, will constitute another impor-
tant feature of legislation. Tho body will
not be confined to the report Of the commit
tee but may propose other amendments.
The constitution protects the reserved rights
of tho people, and while wo think some
changes advisable. al must admit they
should be we'll considered before being adopt-
cd. The people will have the right to vote
on them, but with the Legislature rests the
responsibility of suggesting and shaping
them. In our present political condition no
amendment should be offered which would
be likely to excite or divide the people, and
for this reason wo would doubt the pro-
priety of tampering with the present or fu-
ture qualification of voters. limo and edu-
cation are the remedies we should look to to
secure in the future intelligent and efficient
officers. We boliove the danger of reapsing
into the condition of 1868 to 1876 is growing
less every year, and that without any other
qualification for voters, wo may safely count
on maintaining good government in this
State.
The prohibition of tho manufacture and
sale of liquor will be the most dangerous and
exciting question before the Legis laturc At
first blush it wears tho appearance of
purely social question which should regulate
itself, but cursory obscrva ton of the evils
OF liquor points to its prohibition rs a qucs-
tion of grave political Importance. Intem-
perance not only degradcs the individual and
entails poverty and wrctchcdnoss on the
family, but it demoralizcs society and en-
dangers tho stability and security of govern
ment, which is but an association Of individ-
dals and communities. In this view, with
Its evils spreading and increasing annually,
1t becomes political no less than a moral
question, especially in republican govern
ment. What or whether any additional leg
lslation will be passed rs to it. we do not
know, but there is every evidence that stren-
uous efforts will be maLc either to prohibit
or further restrict it's manufacture and Bal Q
In this Stnte. We suppose tho convention
which meets in Columbia shortly will define
the aim and hopes Of the prohibition movo.
ment aud will exert every honorable influ-
ence to carry them out Tho Act limiting
the sale of liquor to Incorporated cities and
towns, where it's evils are mitigated by po-
lice regulations, and Of imposing license OF
$l00 to be paid to the State by every dealer
has largely diminished drunkenness A
moral wave has also swept over tho country
in the past year, working the election Of dry
tickets in numerous towpe, go that in large
sections Of tho State local prohibition prac
tically prevails. Tho growing sentimen
against the traffic with rigid enforcement
the laws in force would 90 far modify anC
lossen the effects of intomporanco that man,
will oppose farther legislation ut this time
trusting rather to tho enforcement Of exist
ing laws than tho enactment of new ones
10 pass law, leaving the question Of pro
hibition to vote of the people, would yiel'
only excitement and an overwhelming defea
Of the measure, as it did in North Carolina
10 pass law without tho assent or approva
Of the people would probably lead to po
litioal revolution and endargor tho highos
interests Of tho country. Besides suoh Law
might be disregarded or repealed at an earl,
day, in which event tho temperance move
ment would lose more than it would gain
The question is ono Of danger and difficulty
and all look forward with interest to tn,
meeting Of the convention. Any measure
likely to diminish intemperance will meet ou,
approval.
(Jaokson Daily Patriot.)