The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1871-04-27
THE JOURNAL.
CAMDEN, APRIL ~, 1871.
The Dawn OfLighf.

Grand Jury upeo the fearless manner
.sis'wbiea they had discharged their du-
sies. when about to dismiss them, and
/: it is,a matter of coDgratulatiou to know
ii shatsthe present Grand Inquest is de .
sermiued to uuearth the villaiuies that
have been perpetrated spon our unfor-
::itunate people, since the erea of Radi,
cal iruleTn our, county. We, who have
supported BY our taxess incompetent
and percbauce, corrupt Office holders,
will now know how our stewards have
> treated their trusts, though, until now,
every means has been used to keep US
in tile dark.
We expect to have to make some
startling revelations as to the conduct
Of the finances and other business of
the county, and perhaps the guilty par
ties may at last stand before the bar OF
Justice to answer to the charge of high
= crimes, and misdemcanors in Office.
3. -, STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
Presentment of the Grand Jury to the
April Term of the Court 1871, for
: County Of Kershaw, ia the said
State:
!. The Grand Jury beg leave to- report,
That they have examined the Public
Buildings of the County, and find the
jail TO be insecure, and in an unhealthy
locality. AS far as we have had the
opportunity of examining, we find the
liI properly kept; but as q sanitary
measure we would suggest that the
. interior of the same be wLite-washed.
In reference to the Offices Of Sheriff
aud Clerk, we fad them IN good
condition, as far as we were able to
ascertain, with the short time alldAed
rs. In reference to Roads and Bridges,
we would further state, that from per-
sonal observations and numerous reports
from different sections of the Comfy,
they are in most deplorable condition,
making it dangerous both, to life and
property to travel over them. We
would report especially, that the Bridge
over Twenty-Five Mile Greek, and the
Bridge and causeway over Spears
Greek, in the neighborhood Of John o.
Higgins, has been represented to us to
be in an almost impossible condition..
We have examined tie Office of the
Auditor, and find the same in a state
Of utter confusion, and regard the Au-
ditor himself incompetent for the pro-
per discharge Of the duties of the Office.
} We have not been able to examine ac-
curately the financial condition of the
County, but have ascertained that the
expenditures by the County Commits
sioners have been reckless and extrava.
CANT. The Poor House, now containing
about twenty inmates, costs the county
about four thousand dollars per annum.
This Institution, which if properly
conducted, should be ,self-sustaining,
consumes about one half of the taxes
assessed by the County. The duties of
: the Assessors Of the County, under the
tax laws of the State, have not been
properly performed. The names of a
!, number of individuals who are properly
'n liable to taxation, do not appear on the
books in the hands of the Treasurer
The amount of Poll Tax in the year
1869, was about three thousand dollars,
for the present year it seems to be about
Two thousand. %. ...-. e..
The time allowed us has been 80
short, that we have not been able to
make as full a presentment as we would
like to do. We hope at the next Term
Of the Court, to be able to present fully
the condition of the County in every
department.
1t is matter Of coDgratulation to us,
to report that only three bills have been
presented to Us at the present term, and
only one ofsny merit. Peace and good
order prevail throughout the County,
and entire harmony exists between the
two races. This condition of affairs we
regard as attributable in great meas.
ure, to the able and impartial manner
in which justice has been administered
by His Honor, the presiding Judge.
J: .@ Respectfully submitted,
Z. II. CLARKE, Foreman.
g A Fiery, Wild and Untamed