The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-12-13
The Case of tho Laurens Prisoners.

The facts connected with the case
which heads this article, are of such a
character as to pnt every mind upon
serious reflection. The question involved
is no party question-it is question of
personal liberty. The great principles
of Magma Mdrler-principles which our
ancestors made every sacrifice to main
tain and establish-are being tampered
with in the most reckless manner, and it
behooves every citizen, whatever may be
his color or condition, or political
opinions, to use his influence to arrest
tho course of action which seems to be
determined upon in relation to these
prisoners. What are the facts a
number of gentlemen of the highest re-
spectability-bearing characters without
stain or blemish-wcre arrested on the
Goth and 9th November last, in Lnurens
County, by Deputy United States Mar
sha, sustained by the United States
military authorities. No effort had been
made to arrest these gentlemen by the
civil authorities of the United States or
The State, and no little surprise was ex-
cited by the appearance of General
Carhn in that part of the country, sur
rounded by all "the pomp and circum-
stance of glorious war" It is said that
Joe Crews went to Washington and pro-
cured the President to turn over to him
part Of the land forces of the United
States to enforce these arrests. Be this
as it may, the forces came in martial
array, and made bloodless conquest.
1t is we'll known in Lnurens that every
man who was arrested, had he been
informed that q warrant had been issued
against him, and his presence was de-
sired by the Deputy Marshal, would have
gone forward and surrendered himself as
prisoner. There was, therefore, no
necessity for this great display of folce
to secure these prisoners. The officers
in command did not know this, perhaps,
but the authorities of the State knew the
fact. They knew that the persons
charged with the violation of the laws in
the disturbance Of Goth October had no
intention to offer any resistance whatever
to civil officers acting under legal process
Tho arrests having been made, the pri-
soners wero hurried away from their
homes, and, reaching Newberry by
forced marches, were placed upon n
special train after midnight, brought to
Columbia, and locked up In jail withou t
q commitment. Tho following day, they
were lot to bail by the United States
Commissioner, who, by the admission of
the prosecuting attorney, had the right
to grant the order Of bail-the charge in
the warrant being bailable offence.
Let it, however, be borne in mind, too,
that thcro is United States Com
missioner resident in Laurens; that tho
offer vas made to the Deputy who made
tho arrests to take them before this
Commissioner for bail, and that he re-
fused to do so, saying his orders we're to
take the prisoners to Columbia. Orders
from whom, we would like to know2 Let
it also be remembered that the prisoners,
when they reached Newberry, and ascer-
tanned that they were about being taken
to Columbia, aeked tn privilege of
sending for their counsel, who were
knownto be in Newberry, on their way to
Columbia. Their object was to. get their
counsel to accompany them. This sacred