The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-01-25

ever humble, friendless, or obnoxious.
[ cannot bring myself to contemplate
the use of an armed force to punish in
dividual violations Of the law, iu atime
of profound peace. Such remedy
would be as bad as the disease, aud
would be public declaration that there
was no civil Government in South Caro-
lima, and that we are living in condi-
tion of social anarchy. lam bound BY MY
oath Of Office, as the Executive of this
State and in reverence for those princi-
Piles of Consiitu ional liberty, which are
the vital Iorce of true Republicanism, to
see that the law is duly enforced, before
| resort to other aud dangerous powers.
| dare not aud will not assume that
Justice cannot be administered until the
effort has been made and the failure
evident.
1t is therefore my intention to see
tha, the law l. enforced, aud when |
fail in the effort | will unhesitatingly
call upon you for the extraordinary aid,
to which society must resort for self
protection. But at present. l would call
your attention to the fact that all the
cases ofreported violence are individual
violations of the law hat none Of them
lave assumed the character of public
combinations against the law, aud that
they are all within the regular jurisdic
.ion of the criminal Courts of the coun-
try. But l do not think that the ad-
minisiraiion Of the criminal law is sufd
cien;ly vigorous AS the Executive of
;hc State, it is impossible for me to
>upcrintend or control the trial OF Grim
inals This duty must be left to the
Attorney General and the Solicitors,
who are the prose cutting officers of the
State. and 10 whom The administration
of the criminal law in their respective
spheres Of duty, is committed by the
same law which defues my OVID duties
and powers; that these officers have
done aud wil! do their duty l have no
doubt, but do not thirk that their
powers arc sufficiently strong or their
means of artion sufficiently large. To
illustrate my meaning more fully, each
olicror has several Counties under
HIS official charge a murder is com
mtied in one of tn, remoter districts
where he does not reside; warrant is
issued Corners inquest makes very
,n-ati~'ac.o'y report OF the circumstan-
cc<. unl.>S III frirn.is "r ,aniy Of the
vicr;m are especially active. y few
witnesses are bound over, aud the papers
Ar4 put in the hands oi the Solicitor.
The day that tie Courr opens. and ifaI
true bill is found. h.. goes on with tie
trial. with slight and imperfect prepa
ration. thus made nor can The solicitor
be blamed. He has many Courts to
attend, very uany eases t" prepare, aud
has not had an opportunity TO hear the
circumstances of his case. or the charac
ter of his testimony Now, in ordinary
times, when eases Of violence are rare.
aud shock the humanity Of public OPT
mon. and excite the indignant activity
of those who are interested in the suffer.
in. parties, the labor Of preparation was
>parrd the Solicitor. because he always
i.ad All individual prosecutor behind
him. but when the crime is one in which
the sympathy of public opinion is not
warmly interested, or where a disturbed
condition of popular sentiment is not
disposed actively to assist public justice.
where the parties suffering are too
friendle>s to make themselves heard,
then. the drty OF the Solicitor, while it
becomes more imperative, also becomes
more difficulty to do Justice He needs
lar.,r powers and more assistance.
would therefore recommend more
ard efficient organization OF
the machinery necessary for the admin
istrarion of criminal justice. The At
torney General is the proper representa-
tive of the criminal justice Of the State,
and he should have the authority not
onl7 to prevent, TO consult and advise
with the Solicitors, but to review and
direct their action, aud they should be
required to report to him regularly the
condition of the prosecutions in their
respective circuits and to be governed
BY his instructions whenever he may
deem it judicious to issue them. lie
should also have the power whenever.
in his opinion the Importance ofthe case
requife- it, to retan assistant counsel
and see that the State is fully and ef-
iciently represented.
Il think also that corps Of Detective
Police Officers should be placed under
his control, to be used by him aud the
Solicitors. as occasion may require.
do not propose that these officers should
have any power of arrest
This responsibility must be assumed
BY the law officers of the State, but the
crimes from which society is suffering
can never be suppressed. ,wishout some
efficient organization, BY which the
Investigations can be con-
Quoted. the traces Of guilt promptly fol.
lowed up. and such testimony procured
as will justify prosecuting officer 10
asking from conscientious jurors YER
dict Of conviction. Neither the A:tor
pey General or the solicitors can give
more than a general superinteddeueet