The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-02-02
VOLUME e---No. 81.
E.

From the Charleston Daily Republican.
Attorney General Chamberlain on the Up.
Country Troubles.
Attorney-General Chamberlain has addressed
! letter to the Hon. Warren D. Wilkes, Chair.
man of the judiciary Committee, House Of
Representatives transmitting Herewith the
draft of bill intended to embody in the form
of law, the ideas suggested in his Excellency,s
special message, of the 18th instant concern
ing the more effective enforcement Of the civil
law of the State. j
The Attorney General declares that tbs bill
has been prepared by him as part of his ofi-
cial duty, and at the immediate request of the
Governor, as well as of numerous other patri!
otic gentlemen of all parties, who have seen in
the suggestions contained in his Excellency's;
message, ground of hope for a repression Of
the crimes which now disturb the peace of the
State and it is directed to Mr.. Wilkes as BE-.
ing the head of the committee more especially
charged with the care and development of the,
laws of the State
The bill, following the line of thought en-
bodied in Gov. SCOTS message, devolves large
powers and responsibilities upon the Attorney-
General. In view of this, Mr.. Chamberlain
says II trust shall be believed when I say
that personally should have been far better
pleased if some other way had been devised
than by adding to the duties and labors of my
Office; but if the Legislature agreeing with
the Governor, shall find in this hopeful rem.
edy for our present evils, I shall not only not
shrink from the additional responsibilities, but
I shall cheerfully accept them, and shall deem
myself most fortunate if vigorous and faith
ful use of these enlarged powers shall result in
the re-establishment of good order and person.
al security in our State"
Mr. Chamberlain refers to the fact that of the
many remedies for the evils now existing, two
are now engaging the attention of the Legisla-
ture; namely, declaration of martial law,
and call upon Congress to "protect the State
against domestic violence" AS to the first, he
is compelled to question either the motive or
the Judgment Of those who thus advise martial
law. The consequences to his.mind are as plain
as they would be disastrous. Even success, in
the application of this remedy, would, in his
Judgment, be a disaster, and he had almost
said, the greater the success, the greater the
disaster.
A more reasonable method of dealing with
the difficulties, he says, is suggested BY the,
joint resolution now pending in the Senate,
which contemplates call upon Congress, un-
der the provisions of the fourth section of tho
fourth article of the United States Constitu-
To this he would have no objection, provided
we have no adequate means within our reach.
But he does not think that we have any facts
which will convince Congress or the President
that the domestic violence" now existing in.
the State, is beyond the rower of our own civi
authorities to control and repress.
This brings him to consider the remedy sub.
stantially proposed in the bill which he trans
mits. 1t consists, briefly, in giving enlarged
powers and facilities for the detection and pun
ishment of crime to the prosecuting officers Of
the Stase He is not tenacious of the exact
mode proposed in this bill. Special prosecu-
ting officers other than those now provided for,
or machinery which shall have the effect of
giving greater efficiency to the administration
Of the criminal law, will meet his entire ap-
proval.
He declares that the bare hope that the pow
ers and agencies provided for in this bill will
secure the permanent and peaceful removal of
present dangers is enough to condemn martial
law, and postpone call upon the United !
States. ye
But the great hope, after all, rs he admirably
sets forth, is in the disposition and determine
ton of the now troubled communities. IF they
only will it they can have peace. If they ara
not disposed to detect and punish crime, he has
small hope that this bill or any device of hu-
man ingenuity will avail. ..,.,
But he says: "The Governors Office is al
most daily thronged with delegations, repre-
sonting, as is alleged, the property, the inteli-
gence, and the public sentiment Of those COUP
ties. They say they are law-abiding communi..
ties, ready and anxious to enforce the law. II
they speak the truth, the remedy is at hand,
and we need look no further There Is not.G
county, nor community, IN South CAROLINA,
,oherein such spirit, honesiy feh and displayed.
,oould not restore order in "a hours. 1t is bald
nonsense to tell me that Spartanburg, or Union.
cannot rid themselves of these marauders, II
they will. 1t cannot be done by indifference.
or empty words. 1t can be done by octs-acts
which show an unqualified determination on
the part of those who now make fair promises
to the Executive to bring to punishment every
man arho commits crimes, no matter vhat may be
his color, his social standing, or his political
party"