The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-06-22
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OoLUMBIA, June A.-The Columbia Canal,
with it's immense water-power OF ten hundred
and sIxty-four horse power, is soon again to
come bsfore the public,eye. The limit Of time
allowed 10 the pnrehasers-=Sena sprague
and Colonel Pearce4A begin operations,
comes on, the 9th Of July. II is generally No
dastood that these purchasers intend to for
felt the bargain. It has not been 80 announced
tauthoritatively; but the inference ffom exist
ling facts Is well nigh conclusive. When That
date arrivesi shouid nothing have been done
| by Nessrs, sprague and Pearce, the commits
sion-Governor Scott, R. N. Lewis and Post
master Charles N! Wilder-wili, it is under
stood, proceed with ther duties Of dispoaing
| Of the canal. tits hoped that this time they
viii require q larger forfeit than two hundred
dollars, 80 as not to keep the State another six
months out of the immense benefits TO be re-
rived from thorough developm ent OF that fine
| water-pover. Let the canal be this time given
to man who means business.
PSYCHOLOGICAL JUSTICE.
At the lest term Of the Court Of General
| Sessions, it will be remembered, very inter-
esting case WAS that of the State vs.. Thomas
Richardson for ftalmutder Of; Dallas P. smith.
in Columbia, last summer. Part Of the in 'er.
est of the case arose, it will be remembered,
out OF the fact that Richardson was member
OF the General Assembly, Radical; and ne
gro, while Smith was Democrat and white
man, and part Of il out OF the intense excite
mept that ate lded the act at the time Of lts
perpetration. Judge Boozsr heard the case.
Both prosecution and defence we're ably ar.
gued. Thejury. consisted OF five white men
and seven negroes. They remained out for
about two days. They took the vote on the
case but once; that vote was, for conviction
FIVE twhite.) and for acquittal seven (colored.
Oae Of the whites was OF the prisoners poll
tical party. Theiury failed to agree. 1t was
mistrial. Judge Boozer balled the prisoner.
This case came up at the present term. The
evidence, pIeadinRs, charge (three hours and
half long, and all were repeated in er!enso.
The jury this time were twelve negroes. They
remained out an hour, and returned verdict
of not guilty. This verdict, like the one at the
first trial, is purely ettno,ogicat. As soon as
the Jury was impaneled, in both cases, no
body in this community for moment doubted
as to what the verdict would be. Among the
witnesses for the prosecution was ons who
swors that he was near Smith when the latter
was shot; that he knew Richardson and recog-
nized hum, and saw" Richardson shoot Smith;
and al this in moonlight. The testimony OF
this witness was not invalidated at all; and
the strongest Offset to it, Of the direct kind,
was the testimony OF the prisoner himself.
Those Of our community who are disposed
to give Richardson the benefit OF all doubts In
the case, think that he shot Smith, but did so
in state OF mental censternation or panic that
be was hardly aware Of what he was doing.
BILLS OF THE BANK OF THE STATE.
II will be remembered that the General Az
sembly at its last session, in pursuance Of an
"Act to close the operations Of the Bank Of
the State" appointed committee Of one from
the Senate and two from the House to examine
and destroy, in company with the Comptroller
General, the bills Of this bank that had been
funded or redeemed by the treasurer with
bonds. The committee consists Of Senator
Rainey (coloIed,) DR.. Bosemon (colored,) and
MIR. Crews, the Comptroler-Gener being DR..
Neagle. These parties have been at work the
past week, I am informed, in the Comptroller
Generals Office In Columbia, at this task OF ex.
amining and destroying these funded billie.
Each member counts his pile, veri6es the
amount, and lays it aside to be burned-and
it is burned. That is regular. That is
right. That is what the law requires.
These men are, Of course, honest; but
suppose, by semo possible mistake Of the Leg
islature, some one unprincipled man had been
put ON that committee. Is it not practicable
for such person to put false labels on some
Of the piles and put soms OF the bills into his
pocket Such bills might, after awhile, find
their way into the hands Of some banker, who
by o 1udicious use of portion Of them, might
secure the passage Of q law to extend the time
for funding the notes OF the bank. What 1
venture to suggest in the premises is that the
Legislature has probably not taken the very
best way to accomplish the given purpose, and
LQAp tulS ultlblOu VI tnO iOoPohoioAAioJ SlAoHO
four men might be, in certain contingencies,
far less safe han if 1t we're given to one officer
I speak OF possible contingencies; and
Of course do not mean to reflect in any way
upon any individual Of this committee, who
are oil, I take for granted, above suspicion.
The Legislature had the most unbounded
reliance npon their honesty, or it never would
have entrusted them with 30 delicate and RS
sponsible an Office. The incorruptible honesty
Of Joe Crows is said.to be s preverb-i in Lar-
rens while; Dr.. Neagle is understood to be q
graduate of Davidson College, Presbyterian
institution Of the highest standing. The two
colorsd members Of the committee have the
appearance OF being honest men; and they GER
tin!y have the confidence Of the General As
semby OF South Carolina. We all trust that
this committee will do its work thoroughly; /;
and let there be no Bank-oWe ghosts to bother
Us afterwards.
FREEDoM AND CRIME.
One item in the lresentment Of the Grand
Jury Of Rlchland County is worthy OF special
note. They recommend to the Legislature ito
eject another judge, whose special business
it shall be to hod court for criminal business
in Charleston and Columbia" In explanat on
OF the manifest need Of such extra criminal
courts they cay: Prom the fact of Columbla's g