Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1867-08-10

upon it thereafter So the Excise law was
nullified for six months, until the Court of
Appeals set things right.
The reviewer sketches the career of anotll-
er New York judge whose name te does not
mention, nor; shall we. He is understood to
be jealous friend of o notorious local polti-
clan, whose name is d synonymous with cor
ruption. "a number of suits had beet, brought
against this politician, aud action delsye ssou,
time to time Until clay no longer pos
sble. Finally, TIC Causes sSame Oh sfor trial
before u judge from the interior of the State.
The defendant .purposely allowed them to 20
by default, and then applied to the judge
OF w !, m W speak to have the default
opened. Although the fraud was evident
the application was granted, with an order
Tor the costs to be paid by the plaintiff
to the defendant. A bill passed tho Iegisla-
turc short time ago, the effect of which
would have been to place in the hands Of a
single judge all the enormous patronage con-
nected with reference, recevcrships, and sim
liar appointments Though it created such.
lucrative Office, there We're ,sany good rea.
SONS Why the bill should have passed This
same legal functionary was candidate for the
place: 10 the delight of the public he suddenn-
y yappcared as Champion Of the taxpayers
oSooiuoo ou0 CAtOl VI GnS NluH. Lie
issued several injunctions against the corrlIp.
tionists. The Citizens Association, aud many
other excellent gentlemen, became his SUP.
portcrs. But no did not obtain tho appoint-
meut The injunctions were Immediately dis
solved and he moreover issued n ,mandamus,
in grossly irregular manner, requiring the
Controller to execute a VIGOROUSLY corrupt
contract. The mandamus was set aside On
one occasion motion was made before his
honor in behalf of man who had been i'm
prisoned by the War Department on charge
of fraud. !" What !" he shouted, (" was he
put in jail by those williams down there ?''
moaning President Liucoln and the Seoreta.
ry of War--and immediately granted the mo-
ton
1t is well-known fact that in some of the
New York courts there are certain lawyers
who can obtain any motion, orany favor, with
out even plausible prctext, It is q common
practice with judges to allow counsel out Of
court to make ex parte sInJsIiicuts of shfSS1f
onnscs, in tho absence of their opponepts, and
virtually to decide them before they have Heard
argument. This is in the higher courts. In
the petty civil courts the same Ignorance and
dishonesty prevail, but the reviewer deems it
hardly worth while to expose their condition
in detail.
LII Inc cTlIlllai COURTS matters ara even
worse. Bribery is less carefully concealed,
and rapacity is the general rule Criminals
are heeced by the disrcputable lawyers who
are popularity understood to BE in league WITH
the justices, and what with the harpies on the
bench, the "shysters" who undertake theil
defense, and the professional bail who 20 de-
curity for prisoners in consideration Of fees,
ranging from $40 to $50, and give them .up
as soon as they have secured the money, it is
not often that friendless man, whatever his
guilt, get out Of court with a penny in his
pocket. For quashing an Indictment OH the
ground of some informality, certain Judge
is said to have received $4,000. During the
war, it was a very common thing. for prisoners
to be discharged on condition OF cnlisting.-
1t is generally understood' that. mots Of the
bounty money in these cases found it's way in.
to the pockets of judges and lawyers.
But we have no heart to follow the re-
viewer further. live can find DO way to check
at once the appalling and ast-growing evil of
a dishonest, swindling, ignornnt, damoralizing
judiciary, there is small hope Of future hap
piness for our city. The Constitutional Con-
ycnsion must do something for rs. We must
make the bench an honorable goal for tho am-,
bition of the best men, and we must ronder
it possible for the Best men to pct. on the
bench. At present judgeship will hardly
tempt first rate lawyer, and he could hardly
attain it if it did - 6
WHAT THE PREsIDENr Map Do. The
Z" "Chronicle." Of Wednesday extracts 4 part
of q very short article Which .apbSealud in tirfs
paper on Tuesday, and makes comments
which might, pcrhaps$ have been spared If
the whole had been quoted. AS we then an
bounced, tho position Of the administration,
has been substantially taken in the matter Of
the reconstruction statites If it is expected, !,
as:is inferable from thc tenor of our cotempo.
rary's remarks, that he will become in any de.
gree, or under any circumstances, the instru-
ment Of his own overthrow, then it attributes
to hima disreputablc quality. The Exeou-
tive office is a unit, and, consequently, there.
can be no legitimate Executive action but
that of the President. AS an ninevitablo con-.
sequence, any provision Of a statute which.
contravenes it is not law, and shonld be pre-
vented from being cnrtied into effeos IF, for,
example, tho her,insubordination Of Gen,
Sheridan should throw inpediments in the
way Of executing tho statute consistently with;
the Constitution OF tho Unit States, md
the Presidens should determine 10 sppersede
him, it would be an act clearly within the op,.
Grafton Of the principle we announced, and
from which the President could not desiate,
in the exercise Of sound discretion, as tho
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