Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-10-12
THE NEW COUNTY MOVEMENT.


THE NEW COUNTY MOVEMENT.
We observe that the remarks of Senator
Hart at Hickory Grove, on the subject of new
counties, and the reported speeches of Col.
Wilson on the same subject, during the pri-
mary canvass in this county, have been extern
sively copied by several of our exchanges, and
the question of creating fifty new counties in
the State, whether a majority Of the people de-
sire them or not, is beginning to be viewed by
the press with the serious consideration it de-
mands-a question involving as it does so
many points affecting the material and politi-
cal welfare of the State. The question is not
viewed with favor by a large portion of the
press, and as has been truly remarked, simply
because a Democratic Legislature submitted
the proposition to be voted upon, it does not
follow that it must be voted affirmatively as a
purely Democratic measure. The preSump-
tion is reasonable that Democratic Senators
and Representatives in the last General As
sembly voted in favor of submitting the pro-
posed amendment to the people, when at the
same time the members themselves were op-
posed to the adoption of the amendment. How
many there were of this opinion we do not
know but it is fair to presume there were
some; and again it is eminently proper to re-
member that the question was engineered
through special session, hastily convened
for another purpose, the members hurryng
through with the business before them, that
they might return to their homes. At the
regular session, when the members were work.
ing deliberately, and when, perhaps, no undue
outside influence was brought to bear upon
them by wire-pullers and tricksters 1--WE do not
mean to impute the money potency of a lobby
the proposition as submitted by the joint COM
mission, was rejected. 1t would have met a
similar fate, we doubt not, had it been again
brought before regular session of the same
members-or even if there had been more time
at the disposal Of the special session.
Democratic voters should remember that the
question is not one implying an affirmative
vote from Democrats simply because a Demo-
cratic Legislature submitted it, and they
should hesitate long before voting Yesupon it !;
and we are glad to be able to state, on the au-
thority of Col. Izlar himself, as will be seen
from his letter published at the head Of this
column, that contrary to the practice hereto
fore with the Democratic Executive Commit
tee, on questions of this nature, voters will be
furnished the opportunity to vote on either
side.
We print to-day several pointed editorials
from the Abbeville Press and Banner, showing
the fallacy of this movement, and we invite
our readers to give them careful perusal, as
also the following from the Walhalla Courier.
After quoting a portion of the speech deliver
ed by Senator Hart at Hickory Grove with
such Surprising" effect, the Courier says: .
Viewing this amendment in political light
are not these views of Senator who ought to
know the motives of the amendment, both
sound and sensible, and do they not demon
strate that if any people under the sun should
oppose it, those of the upper counties should,
both for the sake of good government and for
the sake of preserving their present influence
in the General Assembly Are they not facts
which cannot be denied or contrOverted ? Do
our people desire not only to put it in the pow
er of the lower counties to increase the negro
counties of the State, but also to take away
from us any influence in legislation ? 1t is the
height Of folly to suppose the smaller and less
populous upper counties only will be divided
and the large counties of the seacoast left as
they are. Local consideration will govern
here will strive for the court house town.
We see Seneca City and Pendleton each look
ing for court house, and Sc will it be with
towns below. We did not jump the question,
as our correspondent "S'' insinuates. We had
thought and talked of the very point ''S''
makes, but to us it appeared so absurd, in
view Of the large and populous counties below,
that we had not the heart to suggest such a
reason. We can hardly see how any one can
SO look at it, and if our solons passed the joint
resolution with this view, they showed as lit
tie wisdom as our people once did in seeding
Preserve the control of the Senate indeed ! 1t
is sure step to lose both the Senate and the
House, as well as our present up country in
tiuence in legislation. At present we have
control of both houses and expect to retain it
if our people are content to let we'll enough
alone.
1t is useless for us to farther discuss the
financial view of dividing counties. Every
county is an integral part of the State and it
is the duty of the State to so protect it's inter-
ests as that no portion of her people shall be
overburdened with taxes. The counties have
local governments with some legislative pow
ers and all those must be provided for. Every
new county calls for it's new officers doubling
the expenses. Fifty new counties with their
900 local officials, their fifty Senators and their
court houses, jails and poor farms, would cost
a vast deal of money annually. Besides it
would take from the walks of productive in
dustry 600 intelligent men, who, instead of
adding to the wealth of the State, would create
nothing but simply suck the public teat. Is
this wise, especially at this time ? That gov
ernment is the best and that State is best gov
erned which employs as few but perfectly COM
netent mon tO run the government. as are re-