The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-12-12
JUDGE ORR TO THE RESCUE.
An outspoken Approval OF tho Ku-
Krux Law-No Remedy but the Ballot.

The following Is an extract from the charge
Of Judge James L. Orr to the grand jury Of
PIckens County, delivered on Monday last:
Since November, 1868. when your first court
was held after the division, there have been
only tWenty-seven bills Of indictment handed
10 the grand Jury BY the solicitor up 10 the pre-
sent term Of the cDurt-three years Your
population Ia not less than ten Thousand.
Have fewer violations of the rights Of persons
United States, as exhibited by these sta
tlstics, by an equal population, than in the
County Of Pickensl Yours are pre.eminent-
ly O law-abiding and .law-enforcing people.
Peace, order and prosperity pefvadts as
8 result In. your borders. No disquiet,
alarm or interference with your usual
avocations have overtaken you: The contrast
of the counties of the State, Is siDgularly ;fa-
vordble and gratifying to you. However men
NAV differ In their opinions as to the wisdom
and Justice of She course pursued by the Fede-
raj Government in suspending the writ of
habeas corpus In several Of the counties OF the
State-and 1t is due to frankness that should,
as an Individual, say 1t was, In my judgment,
a necessity-it is very certain that the coun'
ties that frowned down all unlawful combtna-
tions-the counties that have protected person
and property by law-the, counties where
peace, quiet and good order have prevailed
have been exempted from the stern provi-
sions of the Presidents proclamation suspend
ing the habeas corpus Persist In the good
conduct which has marked your history for
three years past, and be assured the privileges
of habeGs corpus will never be denied to che
County Of Pickens. r. ~. ...!
You have been taxed more heavily for three
wears past than ever before. and complaints
are made in many quarters that larger sums
are collected than judicious economy would
Justify, and charges are preferred that there
ls not faithful dlsbursing or accounting for
the collections, and 1t Is recommended IN
some quarters that the people should refuse to
pay the taxes imposed for the fiscal year end
ing 10Th January next. Such advice In my
opinion is illjudged and will work out perni-
cso,ls results. ~
Under our system of government, the rene.
dy for legislative and executive malfeasance--
and the only safe and legitimate remedy-is
ing. but, sooner or later, evils which may be
subjects Of Just complaint will there be cor
reoted. But the man OF community who nn-
dertakes to oppose the laws Of the Slate under
which they live. by force or violence, will
surely come to grief; they will most certainly
find the arm OF even an obnoxious law strong
or than their best concerted opp0 iti0n, until
repealed BY competent authority. .4,sg ,r.
As IaW.abiding citizens, you. Will, am sure,
hesitate long before you resolve to resist the
tax laws passed by the Legislature. whether
you think them oppressive or otherwise. II
The public officers charged With Ilecting and
Disturbing the public funds have been guilty
of fraud or peculation, Let, their nIsdeeds be-
ferreted out and the guilty brought to pun
lshment. ,.lies4l. .ga q