The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-10-07
eye Hypocrites'' -

Governor Scott and Mr.. Speaker MOSES
who have entered into an unholy alliance
for the purpose OF making the next session
of the United States Court, in Columbia
.'as memorable TO the midnight aSSaSSfns aE
"uas the late session Of Tie court presided
"oce,. 5y Judge Bond, in Raleigh" ," seek to
Justify their conduct by the assertion that
the State courts neglect to try and punish
offenders, and that, unless the kn-hlux are
arrested by the United States troops, and
convicted before q United States Judge,
they will not be dealt with as severely as
they deserve. We have already given our
reasons for believing that what are called
"Ku- -Klux outragea," in South Carolina, are
either fabricatiops or gross perversions OF
the truth. We have shown that all the
most noteworthy ''outrages" published in
the administration organ, the Columbia
Union, were either the work OF Radical
negroes, or had their origin in the fertile
brains OF INSCRIPTIONS correspondents. But
we are willing to admit, for the sake OF argu-
ment, that acts of violence have been COM
mitted which require investigation by the
courts We stand ready to sustain as pub
| lie opinion will sustain, the judges and the
iures, in the State courts, who shall Impair
TALLY try any OF the so-called Ku-Klux who
may be brought before them. We go fur
lher, and demand that the county solicitors
be removed II they are negleclful in the dis
charge of their official duties. But We still
declare that the State courts, in the coun-
ties where Scott and Moses desire to de-
clare martial law, cannot try any criminal,
whether Ku-Klux or q common thief The
State courts are not organized, and cannot
be organized, in the most disturbed" coun-
ties in the up-country. And why? Because
the State officials, with Governor Scott at
their head, refuse TO commission tile legally.
elected county officers, 'cHhom achons no
petit jurieS can be draacn-aoiNout octona no
criminal cases can be heard. The Cover
nor of the State makes it impossible for the
State courts to try the midnight assassns,"
and, because they do not try them, accuses
judges OF pusillanimity, and juries of vio-
lating their oath. Here is the proof!
The County Commi" "aioners, under the
State laws, have the eItire control OF the
affairs OF the counties. In the words OF the
presentment of the Grand Jury Of Newberry
County, published in the last issue OF the
Newberry Herald:
"Without Board of County Commissioners
there can be no county government; no petit
jnrors can be drawn, that causes may be Tried
TO relieve the Jail Of !ts numerous prisoners,
fed and kept at the expense of the county; no
Jurors that cnuSes 1ndn be tried; no authority
10 have roads worked; no authority 10 have
bridges built"
There were vacancies in the Board OF
County Commissioners fer Union County
and Governor Scott ordered q special cleo
tion. The people elected commissioners to
fill The vacant offices, and the elections were
unquestionably legal in both form aud sub
stance. But Governor Scott withholds their
commissions from the officers elect, and it is
said that he now intends to ignore the elec-
lions and appoint men who will suit him and
his party. In sequence OF Governor
Scott's inaction, no court has been held in
Union County this gear. And for this rea-
son alone are United States soldiers required
to hunt down decrepit old men and beardess
boys whose lives may he. sworn away in
accordance with "the measures which Gov
ernor Scott boasts that he has taken. The
case OF Newberry County is more fragrant,
if possible, than that OF Union. At the last
term OF the court for Newberry County, two
of the three County Commissioners were con-
victed of crime in office; the third fled. An
election was held on the Sth day OF August
to bill vacancies, and Mr.. j. n. Martin and
Mr.. VIM. Lester were elected by large ma
ority, but they have not received their COM
missions, and the public business OF the
county is at stand STILL These facts are
contained in the presentment Of the Grand
Jury of the county, which also contains a
letter from Mr.. o. L. Schumpert, who went
to Columbia to endeavor TO obtain the COM
missions. This gentleman says:
~ went 10 Columbia on Wednesday, the 9Th
inst, and found that The Board Of State Can
yassers had Jailed 10 pass upon the returns oil
the election lately held in our county for Coun-
ty Commissioners, which had been duly for
warded. urged upon the Secretary Of Slate,
the chairman of said Beard, the great impor-
lance of commissioning the commissioners ut
once; that it was necessary that the Board Oh
County Commissioners should be organized,
in order to complete The Board OF Jury Com.
missioners for the county, and have the petit
Jurors drawn for the ensuing term of the court,
and thai the general interests OF The county
demanded 1t. After no little effort the Secre-
| tary Of state succeeded In securing the pres
| ence Of three others Of the Board of State
Canvassers in the city-the comptroller-gene-
| raj. adjulant and inspector general, and State
auditor-who, with himself, constituted quo
| rum. These were all duly summoned To al
tend meeting of The Board in the office Of the
Secretary OF Stale, at o'clock P. NJ, on the
Slh instant. The c0mptrOl,er-geneTdt (NeaSle)
and the adjutant and inspector general (MUses)
refused TO do so; the former alleging as has OBJ
lection that Ku Ktur influence caused thee
commissioners 10 resign; the latter not stating
lis objection, 6M affirming that he ,oould do so
in ,rrit,ng If necessary. 1t was impossible TO
secure The attendance of the other members Of
the Board as they were absent from the State,
as was Informed. Thus the action OF the
comptroller-general and adutant and inspector
general made further effort useless, and | re-
turned home. l feel it my duty 10 say that
Governor Scott, The Secretary of State and
hon. montgomery Moses. rendered me great