Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1871-12-07
FROM COLUMBIA.
COLUMBIA, Dec. 5.


In the Ku-klux trials yesterday tfe
Hon. Mr.. Stanbury, for the defence, moved
to quash the indictment against Crosby
and others. The grounds Of the motion
were: The name of the person injured
was not mentioned in the indictment; that
only three of the qualifications of a voter
were named; that the grand jury had
come to the conclusion as to the law, in
stead of as to the facts; that voters re-
ceived their qualifications under the state
law only; that the Indictment was defec-
tive in stating the deprivation of the right
to vote as taking place at future date;
that the United States Constitution and
laws do not secure to any citizen the right
to vote; that the burglary countin the IN
dictment was defective as being stated to
be against the ''dignity OF the State Of
South Carolina" instead of against the.
'dignity of the United STATE s;' that the
fifteenth constitutional amendments does
not secure to colored persons the right to
vote except as subject to the state laws;
that the indictment is not specific in
stating mere intimidation; that the state
courts and not the United States courts
must redress personal grievances, such as
security from search, SC. thai. A. s. Wal
lace was lawfully qualified Candidate.
Mr.. Stanbury supported his objections
in an elaborate argument Of two hours
length Attorney General Chamberlain
occupied about two hours in an elaborate
reply to Mr.. Stanbury. After recess Of
District attorney Corbin followed on the
same side. The main point in both argut
ments was that the indictment was drawn
in the exact words of the congressional
statute. Reverdy Johnson will close for
the defence to morrow.
If the temper and intentions OF both
Houses of the present Legislature can be
predicted from the language of the host
of bills that are being crowded upon them,
it seems very evident that desperate at
tack is to be made upon every one of the
State officials whose position makes his
completely in the frauds recently unearth-
ened matter of probability. OF the fifty
odd bills and resolutions presented to the
Legislature about one half were aimed
directly at Governor Scott or Treasurer
Parker, and dozen more were offered in
the House by enthusiastic members, only
to he withdrawn upon the speakers ex-
planning that they would be wholly inop-
erative and futile by reason of technical
blunders fallen into by their hasty au-
thors. Among the new bills are: Bill to
obtain the sterling bonds now in New
York and put them in the hands of the
Secretary OF State; bill to repeal the act
authorizing the Governor in certain cases
to leave the State; bill to require that all
unsigned bonds in the treasury to be
placed in the custody of the Secretary Of
State, to be cancelled by him; bill to OBJ
tain from the treasurer full exhibit of all
moneys paid out since September last; TO
secure possession of the Blue Ridge bonds
guaranteed by the State; to repeal the aid
to the Blue Rid ge Railroad; to secure the
payment of the expenses Of the Legisla-
ture out Of the incoming taxes.
In the House, bills were introduced to
reduce the salaries Of county treasurers;
to punish seduction on the promise of mar.
riage; TO define the jurisdiction Of coun ~
commissioners; To reduce crtain fees of
trial justices, and to incorporate various
associations. The ways and means COM
mittee reported fnvorahl, on the am. nd
mtnts to the assessment law.
The election ct c'rc.lit judges and a.
sociate justices Of the supreme courts il
ordered to take place 90 the 18th instant,
hut the time will probably he postponed
by the action of the House Tomorrow.