The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1871-01-19

ne may deem IL JuolclOus 10 issue tnenl-1
He:should also have the power, when
ever in his opinion. the importance Of
the case requires it, to retain assistant,
counsel and see that the State is fully
and efficiently represented:
! I think: also, that corps ofdetectli
i've police, officers should be placed ;uns
der his control, to be used by him, aud
the solicitors, as occasion may require.
I do not propose that these officers
should have any power. Of arrest. This
responsibility must be assumed by the,
law officers Of the State;- but the crimes
from which society is suffering can
never be suppressed without efficient
organization by which the preliminary:
Investigations can be conducted, the
traces of guilt promptly followed up,
and such testimony procured as will
justify prosecuting officer in asking
from conscientious jurors ayerdiet of
conviction. Neither the attorney-gep-
eral or the solicitors can give ethan
a general superiutendence and skillful
direction to such investigations. and
they need the aid of a body of dis
Greet, practiced and temperate minded
men, to perform this important duty.
As the attorney. general and the solicit
tors are elected by the people, they have
1t in their power to select men in whose
characters they will find sufficient guar
antee that this power will not be abused.
To carry out this plan would require
that contingent fund sufficient to meet
its expense be placed at the control of
the attorney general, which I there,
fore recommend.
I think it proper also to call to your
attention the fact that the judicial dis.
trict in which these disturbances are
most fragrant is practically without a
judge. The presiding judge of that
circuit is now under impeachment be-
fore the Senate for high crimes and
misdemeanors, and while it would not
become me to anticipate this solemn
trial, yet I cannot forbear, saying that
nothing would contribute more effect
lively, or more speedily, to the restora-
ton of order than the presence in the
courts Of this circuit of a magistrate
who shall possess the ability to know
his duty, the resolution to do his duty,
and that high character which is in it.
self pillar Of strength to the good, and
living admonition to evil.doers.. Nor
can leave this subject without ex-
pressing my regret that the trial JUS
tices have SO signally failed to meet the
requirements of their Office. In a con-
dition of things such as wesnow deplore,
the preliminary investigation in nearly
all the prosecutions of.the crimes we
wish to suppress is within the province
of the, trial justices, and the prompt and
efficient administration of the criminal
law is in large degree dependent upon
their ability, discretion and courage
qualities which, am sorry to say, the
system has not developed.
Believing firmly that1a vigorous ad-
miIistration of the law will be sufficient
to repress crime, l make these recon-
mendations, pledging myself that if
it ever shall be found impossible to ad-
minister that law, I will come to,you
for those extraordinary powers, which
l shall then not hesitate to accept and
use.
.. Ihave the.honor to be-;
very respectfully,
RogERT K. SCOTT, Governor.