The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-02-23
a Sensible View or tile Work OF tho
Legislature.

The following editorial from the Sum-
Ter Spirit Of The Times has good deal
OF sound reason and practical good sense,
which great many Of the editors of the
State and some other people would do
we'll to read and ponder. It is a very
complete argument against flying into
independent'sm because one does not
like oil that Legislature has done at
one session.:
The General Assembly adjourned on
on the 9tI instant, after protracted ses-
sion of over forty-ni working days, and
at cost to the State of about one hun.
dred and sixty-fve thousand dollars.
Tho measures which have attracted the
greatest attention, and received the sever
est criticism, are: the General Stock law.
The Registration md Election Jaw and
the appropriation to the Citadel and
South Carolina University.
1t would be useless to pretend that the
entire proceedings of this body have been
regarded with satisfaction by the people
generally, or even by the Democrats of
the State; but we are fully convinced
that each enactment was o sincere en-.
deavor to promote the best interests of
the people, however much it may have
coniiicted with their opinions. If many
of the measures which have been adopted
incur the disapprobation of constituents,
or utterly fail to accomplish beneficial
results, this Legislature will form no ex-
ception to the many which have preceded
it. The ever changing interests of the
people, and the fallibility of human
judgment make it impossible to devise a
code of laws which will pcrpetually pro-
tect and promote the interests of the
majority. Every enactment is an oxper.
lment at best, and our statute. book con-
tains the record of many unhappy guesses.
From the beginning of our existence as
State, we have been busy at this work
OF law-making, yet the prevalence of
poverty, crime, litigation and unhappi-
ness shows how far we are from the COM
pletion of a final and perfect arrange
ment of civil and social relations. Near
ly every legislative proceeding is tacit
confession OF lncompetency; and altera-
ton. explanation and repeal form the
chief employment Of every session.
There is scarcely bill introduced but is
entitled "An Act to amend An Act"
and every preamble is introduced BY n
"Whereas"-a confession of legislative
miscarriage. With this experience of a
hundred years it seems strange that we
should expect anything else, yet strange
as it may seem, every blunder that is
made is treated with as much apparent
surprise as though it were the first on
record. 1t seems to ,s that the most we
can expect is wisdom and honesty on the
part of our representatives, and endowed
with these in an eminent degree. we
should not be surprised at repeated fail
ures of judgment in the creation and
change Of statutes. OF course dissatis.
faction is inhamed by opposing politi-
clans whose success depends upon the
overthrow of the party in power, but be.
fore change is contemplated let the
people be well assured tcat another party
will display wisdom which will avoid
those errors which have characterized the
proceedings of scores Of similar assem-.
blies.
The rise Of every party to power is at.
tended by ample professions of ability tc
improve the condition of the people, and
by faithful promises to widen and pro
mote tho rights of the majority, but theil
futile endeavors should make us pause
before effecting change unless sure o.
the advantages derived therefrom.