The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-11-02
SOUTH CAROLINA.
The Grand Jury Presentments -
What White and COlored Jurors
Say-The Presidents Prociama.
tion without Foundation. &c.

\ >N JSeShSns iSiot'C W uidtleIS III
the counties OF South Carolina, aft icted
with the suspension Of the writ OF ha-
beas corpus, to which. in free country,
all men have been deemed entitled, we
give the followingdetailed accounts from
the Charleston Nscs, embracing the
presentment and facts set forth by the
grand juries of Clinton and York, OF
that State, composed equally of colored
and white men, and in view Of which
they declare the allegations contained
in the proclamation Of the President
, without foundation. And when they
add that the allegations OF the procla-
nation must be the result of falsehoods
communicated to him by persons equal
ly regardless of good order and the
peace Of society,"" we fain would accept
that as the only true solution of the
matter, as far as the President is con-
cerned:
From the Charleston News OF Saturday.
The laws which regulate the drawing
of juries in South Carolina were framed
by our Radical Legislature, with the
settled determination TO give their col
ored constituents the fullest possible
protection. Most ofthe officers of the
different courts and all the judges, are
members of the Republican party, and
we have the right to assume that their
deliberate utterances are at least impair
tial in whatever may affect the well-be-
ing OF Republicanism. Nor do we see
that the bitterest Radicals can consist
emily decline to repose confidence in the
statements Of the judges they have
placed upon the bench, or of the mixed
juries whom their own commissioners
select. And yet, if the words OF these
and juries, as far as they have spoken,
are accepted as the truth, we have the
clearest evidence,that the conspiracies
and unlawful combinations upon which
the suspension OF the writ OF habeas
corpus is based, do not exist.
We have already printed the charge
of Judge Thomas to the grand jury Of
Chester county, which jury consisted Of
six whites and six backs. Judge
Thomas told the jury "hs had no kno'ot
edge himself Of any obstruction Of the
laus," aad urged upon them the impor-
lance of making "a searching investiga-
ton" of all the violations Of law that
were alleged to have been committed in
the county. The grand jury (six whites
and six blacks) did make a searching
investigation. They examined the
commandant of the post, and siited the
evidence which they obtained. The
result is that the grand jury report to
the court that they have heard OF only
two murders since the court was last in
session. They furthermore declare
upon their oaths from the testimony
they have taken, and from their knowl-
edge OF the different parts ofthe county,
that the allegations contained IN the
proclamation of the President Of the
United States are without foundation,
and must be the result of falsehood
communicated to him by persons
equally regardless Of good order and
the peace of society,"" This solemn pre-
sentiment OF facts (Which is elsewhere
printed iu fully must be taken as com
plete refutation Of the false charges
which have brought down upon Chrs-
ter the vengeance OF the Admins
tration.
The grand jury of York county have
also taken cogn'zance OF what Is called
Ku Kluxism. they hint at no obstruc
tons of the law, although their pre-
sentiment was made before the appear
ance Of the Presidents proclamation.
They examined Colonel Merrill, the
posl commandment, Congressman Wal
lace, aad a cloud OF other witnesses
The examination occupied eight days
and thew then formally Informed the
court that since the first OF July the
only violations OF the peace IN the
county were the burning Of the schoo
house, two cases OF assault and battery
and a riot-which last consisted OF the
firing of a pistol and the use OF boster-
Gus language.
Now, if we add to the strong evidence
which comes from Chester and YORK
the astounding fact that Marion county
was included By mistake iu the list OF IN
surgent counties, we have proof enou2 Il
that the privilege Of the writ OF haoeas
corpus has been suspended without
sufficient cause and without suflcieh'
del,beration. We waivesfor the moment
all ouestiop as to the constltutIonality
of the Ku-Klux law. We contine our
selves TO the simple declaration that 2
clerical error is allowed to strip whole
county of the protection Of the CIVIL ia"
and that the administration Of the laws
ia said to be eb:truc,ed in tue very
counties where Republican judges and
mixed iuries conduct, without thought
Of hindrauce, the usual business OF the
term Whether Chester and York are
also the victims OF "a clerical error we
do not pretend to say. Their partners
in misfortune are tranquil and la"
abiding. What two counties have done
The rest will do in like manner when
tbev have 8 chance. But 1t Is useless
to complain. 1t is poor South Garoilna
which muddies the stream, although
far above us stand the spies and 'anat-
;cs who stir the waters at their source
We find in the Chester Is. Z; he,
porter the presentment of the grand jury
Of the county, which disproves entirely
the charges contained in the preslden-
tial proclamation. The grand jury NS'N
whites and six blacks) say,
I'm consequence OF our having seen
A. Snbl;c nress a proclamation OF
TN; ;ns ;r Substance, among other things
that tbs public justice could not be admin Ini
judiciary or the officers thereon, anu s snt
rights Of citizens could not De pa IoItrt
I'd by the ordinary means heretofore or,