The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1869-05-29
: On tho 21st the Court Of Common

=
arrangement Of the bar allotting only 25
cases per day for trial on the issue
dockets, there were not perhaps as
many cases disposed of as might have
been. With the energy and prompt de-
eision OF Judge Carpenter, great many
more cases might have been ended |;
and as it turned out, large number
were dependent upon the estimated value
OF tho Confederate money forming the
consideration of the contract, which re-
quired but short time to settle. How
ever the buckets We're severely shaken,
the Inquiry had nothing left, and the
Issue only enough probably to occupy
the Court Mt next term
The Judge has ordered u setting of
the Court for October in place of Sep
fembcr, which We regard us another in
dication of his good sense, aud we sup
pose Lawyers and Sheriff, Clerk and Con-
stables are gratifed at tho prospect of
the long vacation and escaping warm
work in the month of September. Who
lever heard of working seriously in Sep.
tember! Our limited knowledge of the
the subject, however, Induces us to say
even crops are laid by and no work done
ON them in that month. The judge has
therefore got over the arrangement of the
Legislature, and over the rcyul,u term,
Judge Carpenters rulings have given
very mtlcd satisfaction i'm this wise.
He WAS decided that the Constitution of
the United States Was his paramount
authority in his Court. That the
Constitution of South Carolina pro.
vided that the United States Cunstitr.
ton sho"td be paramount Aud therefore
that the provisions of the State Coustitu-
ton rcpuSnant to the United States Con-
stitution are null and void Taking this
as his theory he rul, that the clauses of
the Constitution Of the State declariur
debts for slaves uncollcctable to be re-
pugnant to the Constitution Of the
United States and therefore void. Tae
Judge seemed to be .t;;N of the subject
and d;!ated extcnsi, ely, maintaining that
to hold up the clause of the State Con
stitution, would be tu encourage peorlc
To avoid their debts and tarnish the past
honor of the State, &c. us.opinion has
been published formerly in similar case
in Charleston at lcngth. Those who
had d.Lts due them of course saw the
beauties of the udg:s argument. Those
who had to pay such debts saw nothing
|
but sophistry in the whole, and but lit
| tic fun
The whole matter. VIC are told, is be-
f"rc the Supreme Court, and appeals are
taken here with the view of abiding the
decision of that body. The Judge was
also consistent in his Charleston rulipp
as to the liohes'cad Act. This came
up on rulsa friend Riggs, Sheriff
The resul hat the Sheriff was or
dtrcd t9 acr Judgment obtained
IA oriYr tS Homestead Act, arc,pec-
tee Of tie let land in case of disybc-
dicncc to be attached for contempt.
This puts tie Sheriff in what we
once heard man call quan.d "a
ry BY selling he is open to iudict-
ment under the law. BY not selling he
puts hi...self iu contempt of court. This
dilsmma has only tro hornt, (wo heard
Of one at court h,'v,ns three o: .yur,, !" but
Sheriff Riggs is philosopher and we
have no doubt wiz make his election
wisely. The prcAem don't seem to
bother him much or reduce him in flesh
or spirits. He is very plucky and has
good counsel to back him Upon the
whole, the administration of justice was
or ought to have been satisfactory. One