Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1882-09-07
"A New Comet.
MousrAIs HONE, September S, 1873:

MOUNTAIN HONE, September s, 1882.
Editors Of the Keo,coe Courier:
notice an editorial article in the Seneca
Journal Of Inst week with proposition undcl
the proposed joint resolution by tho General
Assembly amending the constitution, cary-
ing out u now county, as wild as it is Wis
ionary.
Tho writor Of this article must hayo been
suffering under mental ialucination, which
young men sometimes rcociso from an over
dose of lawn parties. can attribute this
article above referred to to no other cause
| than this. for know that the writer, an
esteemed friond of mine, is above this selfish
motive which perhaps might prompt others;
for instance, know that neither the desire
to make Soneca q great "eoa port town."
bringing tho patronage which usually arrives
to journal thus located, nor the desire
to DO tho leador in tho formation of another
court house ring, (whon rumor says that tho
county is too much cussod with that article
now could havo prompted that generous ma
ture, which hae always exhibited itself above
such sclAshness, to write such on article.
suspcct that tho court house upon which
the writer has had his affection placed is not
to be that whore law is to DO enforced by tho
power of judges, etc., but has been one whore
the writer has been influenced by the genllo
cords of love, with only one plcader, without q
jury, md only one judge OF his faith and that
is II female. Such editorial on grave subject
could have been prompted only by such en-
tangling alliances.
This comet, which my friend has drawn
across tho political horizon of Oconeo is
bubble or an air castle which only has
to be prickod to show to tho people Of Oconco
its utter folly.
The gravcst subject which our people hnvo
to consider is taxation. With county equal
in szc to tho present county Of Oconco, with
its sparse population and comparative roy-
erty, it requires taxation of mills on the
dollar on oil tho property TO carry on the
government. This taxation amounts to about
$1,000. If new county is t. bo chisclcd
out and larger portion Of tho territory to be
taken from the county, then the taxution
instead Of bong 81 900 will be $4,000.
because the same people, having to support
only one govcrnmcnt ms now, would have to
support two with tho additional expense to
the new county Of having to build court
house, Jail and poor house farm at cost of
not loss than $4,000.
Small counties not only thus entail larger
expense for their government, but they are
Objectionable for sc Sernl other reasons In
the legislative council Of tho State experience
demonstrates thnt they nrc without that in.
ilncncc which always attends large representa-
tion aud wealth II the course of legislation is
observed it will be seen that such counties
as Charleston, Edgcicld, Richland, Anderson
and GrccnvilIc, whcro ,hoy have large repre-
sentation and great wealth. direct and control
legislation to grent extent.
There is only ono other way by which
small countios can have u prevailing voice in
legislative council and that is by keeping
trained, skilled and experienced mon to
represent them in tho Legislature. Tho
frequency with which the Legislators from
small counties, either from caprice or love of
change, arc changed, prevents thoir training
and ,hcre(,rc such counties are generally
without influence in the Legislature.
The proposition therefore to divide amnll
and poor county in two etil smaller counties
payers of Oconec County will Mother consider
nor act upon.
Inadd,ion to tho above considerations small
counties usually fall under family influence
which keep down and restrain tho develop
mcnt Of talent, which perhaps may bc with-
out the pale of tho family circle. Some pco-
pie in q county as large NJ Ocpncc, with G35
square miles, now advance tho argument that
it's government is falling into tho hands OF
families and ii this argument ia good now,
how would it bc when divided?
Olher reasons as serious ns those might be
given against this absurdity, bu: do not
like to trcsspass further on your space,
knowing that tho attention Of our people has
only to be directed to this matter for them to
put their solemn veto upon such ridiculous
and prepostcrous idea rs that contained in
the proposition to divide our county.
TAXPAYER,