The Sweetwater enterprise. (Sweetwater, Tenn.) 1869-187?, 1871-11-09
Radical Condemnation Of Grants
Proclamation,

OF South Carolina afflicted with the sus-
pension Of the writ of habeas corpus, to
which, in a free country, all men have
been deemed entitled, we draw at some
length upon the Charleston News for the
presentment and details set forth by the
Grand Juries Of Clinton and York, of
that State, composed equally of eOlortd
and white men, and in view of which
they declare the allegations contained
IN the proclamation OF the President to
be without foundation. And when they
aid that the allegations Of the proclama-
tion "must be the result of falsehoods
communicated TO him by persons equal
ly regardless Of good order and the peace
u society,"" the country must accept
that as the only true solution Of the mat
ter, as far as the President is concerned:
"The laws which regulate the drawing
OF Juries in South Carolina we're framed
by our Radical Legislature, with the set
tied determination to give their colored
constituents the fullest possible protec.
ton. Most of the officers of the differ
ent courts, and the Judges, are members
OF the Republican party, and we have
the right to assume that their deliberate
u%tterances are at least impartial in what
ever may affect the well-be-ing of Re-
publicanism. Nor do we see that the
bitterest Radicals can consistently de-
cline to repose confidence in the state
ments OF the Judges whom they have
placed upon tlie bench, Of tile mixed Ju-
ries, whom their own commissioners Sc
lect. And yet, if the words Of these and
luries, as far as they have spoken, are &C
cepted rs the truth, we have the ~cleares
evidence that the conspiracies and I'M
lawful combinations, upon which the
suspension of the writ Of habeas corpus
is based do not exist.
ave have already printed the charge
Of Judge Thomas to the grand jury Of
Chester County, which jury consists Of
six whitesa and siz blacks, Judge Thomas
told the jury that "As had no knowledge
himself Of any obstruction Of the laws"
and urged upon them the Importance of
making "a searching investigation, of all
the violations OF law that we've alleged
to have been committed in the country.
The Grand Jury (six whites and six
blacks did make a searching myestiga.
ton. They examined the commandment
"
Of the post, and sifted the evidence which
they obtained. The result is, that the
Grand Jury report Of the court that they
have heard OF only two murders nee
the court was last in session. They
furthermore declare upon their oaths
from the testimony they have taken, and
from their knowledge Of the different
parts OF the county, that the allegations
contained III the proclamation Of the
President Of the United States are with
out foundation, and must be the result
of a falsehood communicated to HIM By
persons equally regardless OF good order
and the peace of society," This solemn
presentment of facts (which is elsewhere
printed in full must be taken as u COM
plete refutation OF the false charges
which have brought down upon Chester
the vengeance OF the Administrator.
"The Grand Jury of York County
have also taken %cogni2ance of what is
called KuklpNsmr They hint at no o.
structioa Nav, although their pre-
sentmenW@dSahade before the appear
ance Of the Presidents proclamation.
They examined Colonel Merrill, the post
commandment, Congressman Wallace and
u host Of other witnesses. The examin-
alton occupied them eight days, and
they then formally informed the court
that since the first of July the only vio-
lations Of the peace in the county were
the burning Of the school-house, two ca
ses Of assault and battery, and u rot
which last consisted of the firing Of a
pistol and the use OF boisterous Ian
guage.
"Now, if we add to the strong evidence
which comes from Chester and York the
astounding fact that Marion County was
included by mistake in the list of insur-
gent counties, we have proof enough
that the privilege of the writ of habeas
corpus has been suspended without suf-
tcient deliberation. We waive for the
moment all question as to the constitu-
tionality of the Kuklux law. We con-
fine ourselves to the simple declaration
that q clerical error is allowed to strip a
whole county Of the protection of the
civil law, and that the administration of
the laws is said to be INSTRUCTED in the
very counties where Republican Judges
and mixed juries conduct, without
thought Of hindrance, the usual business
Of the term. Whether Chester and York
are also the victims of o clerical error,
we do not pretend to say. Their part
ners in misfortune are tranquil and law
abiding. What two counties have done
the rest will do in like manner when
they have a chance. But it is useless to
complain. It is poor South Carolina
which muddies the stream, although far
above us stand the spies and fanatics
who stir the waters at their source