The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-06-21

has been invested In agricultural pursuits, anu tne
success Of these parties is dependent, in q great
measure, on hired labor. In examining the re.
cords, am not sure but that the farmer wall not
make more than even under the old system;
While know that by acts Of both Congress ana
Legislature, you are invested with certain ngnts,
are YOU not bound to tolerate the laborers, to
make them good men and citizens, to elevate, edu-
cate and encourage them, and, instead OF using
the heel to oppress them, to make them able 10
exercise the rights recently conferred upon them,
to understand that their new relations require
some increase Of knowledge? There is no doubt
that the feelings Of the former owners are most
cha ritable toward the'r old slaves. Many OF them
have been nursed, ca. ed and tended by their
slaves, and if, under their changed circumstances,
their weak minds are wrought upon by foreign
fanatics--if they have yielded to their teschngs-
is it 80 wonderfulP Are they not human creatures,
subject to the same passions and temptations thst
surround us and hold him to be the most OBJ
noxious Of his race who wreaks his petty spite upon
these unfortunate creatures. They have not their
guardians, and are without education, and, IN the
twinkling of an eye, their characters may be
changed for better or for worse.
Iwould respectfully suggest to you VINO repre-,
all the arguments that have been advanced on thus
subject. Have you req dlrsd your representatives
to answer for passing tha Civil Rights Bill? Thls
is law emanating from source that 1t ls your
it is one that has proclaimed that all men are Tree
and equal. As good citizens we should DO al IN
our power to forward the complete restoration OF
the late Confederate States, and should prevent
any action that would retard this object Our In
tentions should be to make this country equal 70
any, and by renewing our allegiance and becop-
ing again portion of the Union, We may yet be
able to see this desired end.
Gentlemen of the Grand Jury, you sit as grand
;urors of Charleston District, and have perfect
right TO prevent any breach Of peace or violation
of the laws which you may consider your duty
to inquire into. would particularly direct your
attention to the administration Of justice ss con-
Quoted by the inferior magistrates in the country.
In the city criminal has able counsel both for the
prosecution and defence in the country it s differ
emit, and there is no curse greater to any secuon
than bad magistrate or roguish constable II
you know Of any such cases it ls your duty TO re-
wise the officers of the District, the Sheriff, the
CLERK Of the Court and the Jailor, and if you
find any case Of oppression, or any dere-
LECTION Of duty, to report the same.
The Stale expects you in manly voice TO pro
claim any fault You are required to visit the jail,
to ask and inquire into the condition OF the public
buildings and in particular to investigate the late
robbery that occurred in the jail. Ibis is subject
of grave Importance; prisoner, commltted 70 tne
care Of the Sheriff. has been robbed and the cir
cumstances require o careful investigation.
have not been furnished with the reports OF
the different Boards, and am not able to give any
information on the subject The act OF tho Legls-
lature requires report, and would advise care
full inquiry into tie returns of the differ Mt boards
of Public Buildings, Roads, &C. These should be
examined into but the poor OF the city OF Charles
ton should especially obtain your attention. This
subject comes especially under your jurisdiction !;
YOU should look to the welfare Of these unfortu-
mates, and If compelled to sit from week to week,
should give all your time and attention TO this mat
ter. In Charleston, the poor are taxed for by tho
City Council in the rural districts oy the @ Commis- nus
class in the field. There are none more entitled to
apply for charity than the blacks; they are more
enhtled to this than many others, Tor they nave
been cast out Of their old status in society, and
have none now to care for them but God and the
charitably disposed in society. II no .provi-
sion has been made for their support, it is your
duty to report the fact, and the Attorney
may rule the Commissioners to show cause why
this has been neglected.
as find by conversation with the tax collectors.
The condition Of the roads call for your conslde-
ration. It is very necessary that the country
should be represented IN every Jury but 90 not lot
his peers, but general amendment should be
made that Sartee and Goose Creek should be repre-
sented. These sections are in the district, and
are entitled to jurymen.
There is another matter to which I should like
to call your attention, and my suggestions do not
come from the bench, but from the bar. There is;
in the Charleston Circuit great difficulty in en-
forcing the attendance of Witnesses; in the coun-
try this is different-some come from fifteen to
/ fifty miles, and are prompt in their attendance.
I do not reoolleot, from my long experience
at the bar, any detention OF more than
q few hours, but here it seems to be practice.
Many persons do not attend, moving the punish,
they can escape this duty and leave to it the COM
mon people, This is great mistake, and II the
reasons tor absence are not good it s an imprson-
ableofence. You have been here for three days
and your business has suffered by the derelchon
Of these parties. T. trust that you will mention
this il your 'presentment, as know that o word
| from you win be Of more Importance than any
lions are not known, and in the city, where more
privileges are granted the parties, they should GER
Various bills win be presented before you, and
the Coroner asks, as he has particular business TO-
OCCUPY his tlme that you will take up that OF
murder first. I shall not dilate on the different
grades of murder. think it is difficult to give
the points OF the case; how the party came to his
death and at whose hands. II the evidence is
clear it would be best to bring In true Dill as
no bill was found, the Attorney General might
bring another Indictment and the prisoner be kept
/ in jail from term to term.
Various cases for assault and battery are pre-
sented. The raising the hand and threatening ID
an assault, and by raising the hand and touching
the person Of any party this act is committed.
| By touching the person OF another with malice
case is established.
Perjury is an Indictment for false swearing, but
in order to make it legal offence it must be done
judicially. II any man swear that he was not
drunk il Is not perjury even though it was alleged
by those present; but IT, by judicial investigation,
| the false swearing is in matter material to the
issue, it is perjury. II, in the course OF swearng
the party said that he saw Q blow given, and did
not, il is perjury. Perjury must be in the course
of judicial investigation, and be established Dy TWO
! Witnesses; one, even with corroborating circum-
stances, not being enough. Cases have occurred
where this rule has been established.
Tho Indictment for erecting wooden building
is ore against both the City and State Ordinances
established for the benefit Of the city. By reading
| violated the Ordinance, there should be no hesi-
| fancy in bringing in true bill.
| Larceny in its various forms is another subject
for your consideration. There is no material dlf-
| ference between the Common and Statute Law IN
the definition Of Larceny, and any one caught
carrying away the goods or another must Dc con-
sidered guilty Of Larceny.
Another point is receiving stolen goods, and this
is liable to great by some parties;
For instance, # a party bought horse and did
not know that it was stolen he is not liable, but II
it was known that the horse or any goods were
stolen and then purchased by the parties, they are
| clearly liable to be indicted. Two cases OF this
crime will be brought before your attention, and
| should receive your most urgent attention.
There are also several cases OF burglary to be
presented. Burglary is breaking into and enter
ing any dwelling in the night time with intent TO
commit felony. Most parties who engage In
this nefsrious business 60 armed to resst any ID.
reference, and are prepared tor any robbery that
may be committed. The law Of South Carolina de-
signates the entering into any house within two
hundred yards from the dwelling house as bur-
glary; but the question before you la simply on
the facts Of this case, and you will find true bill
| or not, as the evidence may determine. Other
bins are for assault with intent to kill. This
means an assault committed under such crcum-
stances that il death had ensued it would have
been murder. If it is found that the assault was
not of the character to induce killing, the return
should be simply assault and battery.
The Judge then directed the Jury to examine all
Witnesses, and if they considered the testimony
Of few sufficient, it would be useless to examine
all. They were then placed in the charge Of a
constable, who conducted them to the room.