Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1882-02-09
Legislative Notes.

In the Senate on tho 4th instant tho joint
resolution proposing to amend Section of
Article of the Constitution, respecting the
disqualification of electors 80 as to mako bur-
glary, larceny, perjury, forgery or any other
infamous crime o disqualification to vote. wns
passed by voto Of 24 yeas 10 nays. This
10 good law. We cannot understand why
men who engage in duel. either as princi-
pals or as seconds, should be dcbarred of
their civil rights, while mon may forge, steal,
or perjure themselves and yot havo oil their
tivil rights at the expiration OF their SEN
tences. The duel has its examples in mon
like Clay, Hamilton and other distinguished.
statesmen, as well living as dead. We
would not approve duclling or advocate the
repeal Of it's punishment. but we do think
men fitted neither by their moral nor
intellectual capacities for citizens, who
by the promptings o. their base nature, CONS
NIT Infamous crimes, affecting society, should
lose their civil rights. We hope this amendc
mont which has passed the House will be
adopted by q vote of our citizens.
The amendment proposing to elect judges
for life or during good behavior and oil other
officers tor four years was defeated.
Strenuous efforts have been made both in
tho House and Senate during the past week
to repeal the general stock law or to so modi~
fy its.provisions as to exempt certain counties.
These efforts, after long discussion, have
failed and the law stands as it passed before
the holidays. The strength of the opposition
to the law comes from Charleston and con.
tiguous counties, where stock and pasturage
IRE more abundant than in any other part of
tho State.
The bill to subject persons convicted Of
petty offences, to be sentenced to work on the
public roads aud streets, will be generally
approved. Some doubts are entertained
as to the constitutionality of the law,
but it will probably pass.
An ACT has passed both houses for the ap-
pointmcnt of On additional Trial Justice for
Wagner Township, but It was go amended in
the Senate as not to 90 into operation until mex:
November. Why this amendment The origi-
nal Act provided for nine in tho county, the
intention being to have one for each Township
except Wagencr and two for it. This was not
expressed in the ACT, but both custom and re-
gard for the liberties Of the people pointed out
the true construction Of tho Act. From our
earliest recollection the court house town had
two magistrates, and in addition, Clerks Of
Courts were invested with all the powers of
magistrate, except for the trial Of small and
mean causes. The object was to provide for oil
ready means Of release from jail of parties
committed for light offences, the law requiring
the joint action Of two Trial Juoices to issue
writ Of habeas corpus, when party is once
committed. Those who practice law appreciate
the importance of two such officers at the court
house, as they often must hire some person to
60 after Trial Justice before they can get
bail for client. Besides, this difficulty often
costs the county tho board Of prisoner until
suoh officers can come. Why, then, should
1aeveral townships have two Trial Justices and
che court house Township have but one, while
1t Is tho wealthiest and most populous Of any
of the Townships, and whilo also the proper
enforcement Of the law with mercy TO the
Citizen requires two here? The Governor could
prevent this abnormal condition Of things by
giving the appointments under the old law, SO
as to allow tho court house the extra one.
Ae appointments havo been made to fill out
the nine, tho present Act should have gone
into effect at once and the old law should have
been SO amended as to allow nine only to The
county, two Of whom should hold their offices
in Walhaa. We care nothing for tho number
nor whore they live, but we do think one Trial
Justice should have the power to grant writr Of
hapeas corpus, or that II the law requires two,
then two should be at Walhala.
The bill to incorporate the Southern
Loan Association, with the privilege of
allowing it to charge ten per cent. for
money, was defeated in the House. This
is right. The advocates Of tho bill CON
tended it would bring large foreign capital
into the State to bo loaned at 10 per cent.
and would benefit all classes. This is all
bosh. We want no foreign capital except
for Investment by such capitalists. If they
could mako moro on the money by invest
ing it in productive industry, they would
not loan it, and if they cannot our people
cannot, and by borrowing would become
poorer every year. No farmer can borrow
ct 10 per cent. and make money 10 his
business, aud we are farming people
Foreign capital loaned to our people at a
higher interest than they can make on it,