The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1871-01-25

| laW-aOlQluS ciIILCIS, lHd' unio9'
these outrages are promptly
! checked, the evil will have become
too great for ordinary remedies.
do not propose at present to re-
/ fer to these crimes in detail, nor
to attempt the discussion Of their
causes. 1t is enough to say, that
they are so grave, and so numer-
Gus, as to call for unfinching ap
plication of all the power of re-
preston, which the Executive can
lawfully exercise.
1t is proper for me to state, and
am glad to be able TO do it, that
the public sentiment of these
counties seems to be aroused to
! the character and consequences Of
this state Of affairs, and public
meetings have been held, in which
the responsible and influential cit
izens of Laurens and Spartanburg
have declared, in language sufi-
, ciently strong, their adherence
Of these crimes, and their willing
ness to aid the Executive in the
suppression of them. If these opin-
ions arc carried out in action, we
may anticipate the speedy restor-
alton Of peace and order; but
something more is needed than
these resolutions, however just
and generous in sentiment.
1t IS my opinion that the civil
law of the State ought to be suffi-
cicnt, and it is my determination
that it shall be sufficient, to pro-
tect the person and property Of
every ard any citizen of the Statej
however humble, fricndlcss or OBJ.
noxious. l cannot bring myself
to contemplate the use of an arm
ed force TO punish individual vio-
lations of.the law in a time of pro.
found peace. Such a remedy
would be as bad as the disease,
and would be a public declaration
that there was no civil govern.
ment in South Carolina, and that
we arc living in condition Of So
cial anarchy. l am bound, by my
oath of Office, as the Executive of
the State, and in reverence for
those principles Of constitutions!
liberty which are the vital force
Of true Republicanism, to see that
the law is duly enforced, before |
resort to other and dangerous
powers. l dare not, and will not,
| assume that justice cannot be ad-
miniStcrcd until the effort has
been made, and tic failure cvi-
dent.
1t is therefore my intention to
sec that the law is enforced, and
when I fail in the effort, | will
unhesitatingly call upon you for
the extraordinary authority to
which society must resort for self
protection. But at present, /
would call your attention to the
fact, that all the cases Of reported
violence are individual violations
Of the law; that mono Of them
have assumed the character Of
public combinations against the
law and that they arc all within
the regular jurisdiction of the
criminal courts Of the county
But | do not think that the ad-
ministration Of the criminal law
is sufficiently vigorous. As the
Executive Of the State, it is i'm
possible for me to supcrintcnd or
! control the trial Of criminals s.
This duty must be left to the At
torney General, and the Solicitors,
who are the prosecuting officers
Of the State, and to whom the ad-
ministration Of the criminal law,
in their respective spheres Of du-
ty, is committed by the same law
which defines my own duties and
powers. That these officers have
done and will do their duty l have
no doubt, but l do not think that
thcirpowers are sufficiently strong,
or their means of action sufficient
ly large. To illustrate my mean
ing more fully: each Solicitor has
several counties under his official
charge. 4 murder is committed
in one Of the remoter districts,
where he does not reside. A war
rant is issned, coroner's inquest
makes very unsatisfactory re-
port Of the circumstances, unless
tho frinndc or e. uoil1- of tho vic