The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1871-01-19

of the law have been ( resisted In the
discharge of their duties. There is no
invasion which I am called on to repel;
no insurrection which I am called GU to
suppress.
While I cannot say that the public
peace of the State is threatened so such
degree as to warrant the exercise of
the power of calling out the militia,
given me in the section of the consti
tuition just quoted, l deeply regret that
it is my duty to inform you that the
condition of several of the counties 10
the State is disturbed and dangerous.
In laurens, Union and Spartanburg,
persons and property are not secure
Repeated instances of violence, disre-
gard of the law and murder have been
reported, and there is a well founded
apprehension, on the part of the law
abiding citizens, that unless these out
RACES are promptly checked the evil
will have become too great for ordinary
remedies ! do not propose at present
to refer to these crimes in detail, nor
to attempt the discussion of their cases.
1t is enough to say that they are so
grave and SO numerous as to call for the
unainching application of all the power:
of repression which the Executive can
lawfully exercise.
1t is proper for me to state, and l
am glad to be able to do it, that the
public sentiment of these counties seems
to be aroused to the character and con-
sequences of this state of affairs, and
public meetings have been held in
which the responsible and influential
citizens of Laurens and SpartaDburg
have declared in language sufficiently
strong, their adherence Of these crimes,
and their willingness to aid the Execu-
tive in the suppression of them. If
these opinions are carried out in action,
we may anticipate the speedy restora-
tion of peace and order; but something
more is needed than the resolutions,
however just and generous in senti.
ment. 1t is my opinionsthat the civil
law of the State ought to be sufficient,
and it is my determination that it shall
be sufficient't to protect the person and
property of every and any citizen Of
the State, however humble, friendless
or obnoxious. I cannot bring myself
to contemplate the use of an armed
force to punish individual violations of
the law in time of profound peace
Such remedy would be as bad as the
disease, and would be public declara-
tion that there was no civil government
in South Carolina, and that we are
living in a condition of social anarchy.
l am bound by my oath of Office as
the Executive of this State, and in
reverence for those principles of con-
stitutioual liberty which are the vital
force of true Republicauism, to see that
the law is duly enforced before / resort
to other and dangerous powers. / dare
not and will not assume that justice
cannot be administered, until the effort
has been made and the failure evident.
tits therefore, my intention to see
that the law is enforced, and when |
fail in the effort, I will unhesitatingly
call upon you for the extraordinary
powers to which society must resort
for self.protccton. But at present, |
would call your attention to the fact
that all the cases of reported violence
are individual violations of the law;
that none of them have assumed the
character ofpublic combinations against
the law; and that they arc all within
the regular jurisdiction of the criminal
courts of the county. But do not
think the administration of t. criminal
law is sufficiently vigorous. AS the
Executive of the State, it is impossible
tor me to superiDtend or control the
tria, of criminals. This duty must be
left to the attorney general and the
solicitors, who arc the prosecuting Off
GERS of the State, and to whom the ad-
ministration of the criminal law, in
their respective spheres of duty, is
committed by the same law which de-
fines my own duties and powers
That these officers have done and will
do their. duty I have no doubt, but l
do not think their powers are sufficient
ly strong, or their means of action
sufficiently large To illustrate my
meaning more fully: Each solicitor has
several counties under his official charge.
A murder is committed in one Of the
districts where he does not
reside. A warrant is issued. A coro-
ner's inquest makes very unsatisfac.
tory report of the circumstances.
Unless the friends or family of the
victim are especially active, few
witnesses are bound over, and the papers
are put in the hands Of the solicitor
the day that the court opens, and if o
true bill is found he goes on with the
trial with slight and imperfect prepa-
ration thus made. Nor-can the snlici=I
tor be blamed. He has many courts to
attend, very many cases to prepare,
has not had an opportunity to learn the
circumstances of his case or the charac-
ter of his testimony.
Now in ordinary times, when cases
of violence are rare and shock the hu-
manity of public opinion, and excite