The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1866-04-26
Enr tha Intelliqencer.
THE COURTS or THE WESTERN CIRCUIT.


which business was pressed forward and disposed
of, is an event in our recent history that should
elicit congratulations and rejoicing throughout the
country. For more than four long, dreary years
nothing entitled to the name of Court had been
held by civil tribunal and the decentralization ne
cessarily attendant on state of war, aggravated
by the suspension of civil law, had produced reck-
lessness and insubordnation to authority that was
absolutely fearful to the patriot and christian In
deed, our people had become so much accustomed
to the sharp harsh judgments of military tribunals,
and we're so much distressed by the action OF the
Radical majority in Congress, in opposition to the
patriotic efforts of President Johnson to recon-
struct the Union and restore peace to the country,
that they scarcely thought it possible that serious
attempt would be made to hold the Courts, and Ell
force the good old common and statute law. This
impression forgetting that the Judge not respon-
sibe for the execution of his sentences, had been
increased by the interference of the military, to
prevent the inaiction of corporal punishment on
certain convicts in Charleston. But the presiding
Judge, the Hon. Franklin ]. Moses, who occupied
his place on the bench for the first time zcalousy
sustained by the Solicitor very soon satisfied the
denizens of the respective Districts the Western
Circuit that they were laboring under false i'm
pressions and that the civil law had indeed re-
sumed its dominion, and would be rigidy and i'm
partially enforced
The writer was present at some of the Courts,
and from information derived through one who OF
III 10 cpnoE Of the hilSi-
ness and results of the Circuit. Courts were held
in each of the Districts occupying in all, but one
or two. the entire week. The doCkets were all
called judgments and DEGREES rendered in oil un-
liticated cases several issues the civil side OF
the Court tried and much done to clear out the ac
cumuatcd rubbish of years. But the business on
the Sessions side of the Court engrossed nearly all
its time, and although exceedingly arduous and
oppressive on the prosecuting officer and presiding
Judge was most important in the results to the
country No less than ten capital cases, several OF
them occupying the Court for two days-from nine
o'clock in the morning until after night each day
were tried on the Circuit resulting in three con-
victions in which the parties were sentenced to be
executed, three convictions of mansaughtcr and
four acquittals. Besides these, there was num-
ber of convictions for grand and petit larceny and
various misdemcanors. Everywhere the Grand
Juries were engaged two or three days, and the
vigilance displayed by them generally, under the
direction of the presiding Judge, in presenting all
classes of offenders, affords the highest evidence
that our people properly appreciate the restoration
of civil law and are determined to enforce its sane
tions. 1t was my good fortune to hear the charge
Of tbe Judce to two or three of the Grand Juries,
and am quite sure that all who heard them Will
concur in the statement, that they were models OF
eloouence, learning and hard common sense, such
as have been rarely heard from the Bench since
the paIniest days of the late lamencd John Bolton
O'Neall and indeed many persons, unaware Of the
demise of the latter, we're impressed with the be-
lief that they were in the presence Of that great
jurist!
His Honor briefly alluded to the great events OF
the past FIVE years. and congratulated the country
on the return of peace and the restoration OF our
own civil tribunals, notwithstanding tho peace we
enjoy follows the loss of nearly everything we held
dear as people, save our honor-tfat, thank God'
haQ m1lntalueu III lupCAAoHnoAS ~--''
to assert our manhood and save our honor, VIC had,
in the exercise of right We had been taught TO
hold as inalenable, seeded from the Union and
attempted to govern ourselves But that the right
to secede was denied, war was made upon us, tho
wager of battle rendered was accepted, and after
fearful struggle of four years, we wcro defeated and
vanquishcd. That our armies, our all, was sur
rendered to the conqueror, upon terms OF captula-
ton obligatory upon u.s. and that we had, each for
himself acquiesced in the result by accepting the
terms of amnesty offered by the President, and re-
newcd our allegiance to the old Government
That the same principles of manhood and honor
which prompted us originally to resist in our new
relation impels us to bear true faith and allegi-
ance to tho United States Government, and yield
ready obedience to its authority, civil and military
Tint he who fails to do so violates his plighted
faith. and is traitor to his country and his God:
That peace, as well as war, has its trumphs and
its heroes and he is the best citizen who is most
Jealous in enforcing the laws, and restoring peace
and harmony to the country. That it was our es-
pecial duty to treat with humanity and kindness
that class amongst us, formerly our slaves, WHO
are now freedmen. That every good citizen should
regard it as a sacred obligation resting upon him
to see that they were protected in al their rights
of person and property; that all proper efforts
werc made to advance them in intelligence, civili-
cation and religion, and that full justice was done
them, before the law His Honor enforced these
views with great power, and called upon the peo-
pie to unite as one man in expelling all lawless-
ness and violence from the land, and in restoring
peace and safety to society.
These eloquent appeals, particularly important
at this time were warmly responded to, not only
by the Jurics, but by the people, and have created
feeling of confidence and security, throughout
the country, that had been long unknown.