The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-11-02
1s1.-xsIVA>-Ht1s. ~. "a -, 49, n.-4
The New County QutttiUn.

Nix. EpIrOE: One of the COnstitu.
tional Amendments submitted 10 the peO.
pie for ratification or rejection on the 7th
OF November next, exci,es less attention
than It's Importance demands. refer to
the formation Of ncw Counties. The bill,
az originally reported by the Committee,
made population hundred and
twenty fourth par, Of the Sta,e-thc
standard for the new County. If the
! Constitution Of the State is to be changed
in this matter, this would have been the
| right rule TO be adopted; but the suI'sli-
tuto Of tcrri,ory-iour hundred square
miles instead OF six hundred aud twenty.
five square miles, as at prcscnt-was
passed by the Legislature. As it now
stands the amendment negatives tiit ar.
gumcnt urged for its adoption, either for
political reasons or "a Il matter Of busi.
ness convenience 10 the people. Many
towns, wishing to hc County seats, will
be disappointed, for they will he unable
To obtain the required territory around
them; and when Il new County il pro.
posed The difference Of opinion between
those who favor and those who oppose n
ncw County, will be ~ -ou.ce Of discord
and consequently an element Of political
weai ness to the Democratic party, which
must maintain its supremacy in the State
But all change from the present Con
stitutional rule will be injurious to the
best interest Of the State; the evil results
not Of speculation, but Of actual expe-
ricnce, rs seen in other States where there
are small Counties
The people should remember the heavy
expenses, and Of necessity. the burden
some taxes tha. will be incurred in the
erection Of public buildings for new
Counties, increase Of County officers,
whose salaries will nave to be paid.
There was much opposition to the aprro-
priations made by the last Legislature to
the State University, but the tax neccs,
sary to pay this appropriation is very
small compared to the 0ncrous taxes that
will be incurred if the Legislature makes
new Counties.
Small Counties increase litigation by
the convenience and facility with which
people may go to law. This is shown in
Georgia, where they have twenly.one
Judicial Circuits; whereas, in South
Carolina, we have but eight yet
Georgia has but fifty. five per cent more
population. From the best information
| can obtain, the average Georgia Judge
has rs much business in Court as the
South Carolina Judge.
The division Of Counties will operate
injuriousIy upon popular sentiment, in
separating us, as it were, from i heritage
Of principles aud traditions which make
up so much Of the political and social
wealth Of Il country. Something Of that
sentiment called patriotism lives in the
pride citizen feels in the history of bis
community. The creation of small
Counties lowers the tone Of Il community,
political and personal. In the average
OF cases large County is apt TO have q
higher standard in law, medicine and
politics; and thus better influence cx-
ertcd throughout the country. Less
merit may succeed before smaller con-
stituency
A notable Characteristic of popular
elections consists in the almost conlrol.
ing influence which families of large
connections have so true is this, that
we frequently hear that IL candidate for
office viii! be elected because his relntions
are so numerous. Perhaps no allusion is
made to his personal merit. Now the
American idea is, or ought TO be, that
office is TO be conferred on him who will
use best the power conferred, and not as
a concession or favor to an influential
family.
The smaller the area of territory in II
County, it is evident, the more the Offices
@:!! hc i: .!;o a;cPasa' oT control of one
or few strong families. In large Coun-
ties, extending beyond the local influence
of families, the personal merit of an as-
pirant for office will be better appreciated,
and begin to tell.
A little thought here will satisfy the
reader that such must be tho result, or if
he will go TO those States in which small
Counties are the rule, he will fud the
facts pointed out above in practical
operation.
Ifthe people wish to maintain an eco.
uomicai County government, ii they pre-
fer the higher tone in their politics and
tine professions, ii they desire the highest
development TO the individual man, and
not the growth of family influence, if
above all things they need the unity of
the Democratic party, as representative
Of their intelligence and their civilization,