The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-12-20

fant at night. fears TO find her home
mass OF oharred ruins In the morning.
What's husband to do under such cir
cnmseancaee what q hrntha.. vhat a
father, but 70 combine for rsell-protection?
This is what these four witnesses for the
prosecution tell you. The Distriot.At-
torney must believe them, else Why bring
them here2 Gan he ask you 70 believe
part OF their testimony, that suits his
purposes, and discard this? think not.
Suppose. now, gentlemen, that the
whites had 30 thI eatened. and alarmed
the blacks, would anybody blame them
that they combined for self-proteotion?
This young man. the prisoner at the
bar, joined the association in 1871. He
attended bnt one meeting, and went
upon but one raid. Now, what was
the object Of that raid? The entire tes-
timony, both OF the prosecution and the
defence, goes to prove that the purpose
was to wrest the arms from the hands of
the threatening and defiant militia COM
pany, OF which James Williams was cap
tain. They went upon tho raid; they
sought guns; they got guns; they return
ed with guns. And there is not one
title OF proof that this young man en-
tanning the arms Of the militia. That
may be an offence, gentlemen, but it is
not charged in this Indictment. This
defendant was no moro party to the
hanging OF Rainey, than the four mem
bers OF the khan who have testified
against him. He remained with them
at the horses, and took no part in the
tragedy. don't suppose you would
convict them. it they were on trial; and
ne stands precisely on the same footing
with them. They were on the same
laid. He did nothing more than they,
and you have no right to assume that
he was actuated by any other motive
than that which they declare to have
prompted them. Yet you are asked to
convict Robert Hayes Mitchell, because
DR.. Bratton and some others perpe-
trated most foul and disgraceful MUIR
dur, on the 9th of Maroh, upon one
James Williams, and because, upon
another raid. come other parties were
guilty OF the revolving crime of beating
aud iacerating poor, unfortunate AMI
Rainey. But, gentlemen, am wearing
out my own strength, and. doubtless,
taxing your patience over-much. Ishall
touch bnt one other point, and then
CLOSE. The Attorney General says it was
horrid organization-this Ku Klux-
to put down, not erroneous principles OF
government, but the Radical party. I
should like To know what tbs league .as,
II its object was not to put down the
Democratic party.
But, gentlemen, suppose that these
Ku Klux apprehended what might be
the result of placing the government OF
tho State in Radical hands; suppose
that thoy feared that their taxes would
be quadrupled; the expenses of the Go
vernmentinoreased to fabulous amo cunt
that an era of corruption would bo in.
angurated TINT should pervade every
branch of the Government, Legislative
and executive; suppose they believed
that under Rndioal rule q debt of SIS, ,OOO,.
600. which remained with tLeir i'm.
poverishment after the war, would be in.
creased IN three years to upwards oi
W., ,O00, 600, and that the fair fame o1
their beloved State for financial integrity
would thus be crushed in one fell blow
suppose all these things. gentlemen oi
the jury, and tell me if snch results
were reasonably apprehended? It was q
felony to oonspire to put down the Radi.
cal party. Don't understand me to say
that there are no pure and patriotic men
in the Radical party. There are good
and bad men in all parties. But in these
evil days that We have fallen upon, the
talnt OF corruption seems to have touched
everything. Remember, gentlemen, who
South Carolina is, or rather, who was
South Carolina in former times. In the
days Of her Marions, her Sumters, he1
Moultries. who, with dauntless hearts
and unexampled skill. built her revolu.
tlonary fame. Who was she. when rep.
resented by a Pinckney and Rutledge,
In the days OF the constitution, who
afterwards in her Lowndes and Calhoun.
Think what she was then under their
management-peerless in her financial
faith. and commanding the confidence
and admiration of the world. Then
think what she ia nowi and then con.
denim her sons that they are restless in
her day Of troubled
Mr. Corbin followed Mr.. johnson md
closed the case.
MAY IT PLEASE THE COURT AND GEN
TLEXEN OF THE JURY: 1t is, indeed, With
pleasure that announce to you the ap-
proach Of the termination of this long
and tedious trial. It is. doubtless, graft
lying. both to yourselves and to the
Court. You have sat patiently, day
after day. listening to the discussion OF
legal points, of which you are supposed
to know nothing, and the examination OF
witnesses has been detailed and tiresome.
The Court having allowed the utmost
latitude in this respect, in order to un-
fold every feature of this monstrous con-
spiraoy, that would tend either to it's
condemnation or excuse, or palliate it's
excuses. Whatever have done or said,
or am about to do or say, has been, and
will be, done and said solely In the dis
charge of my public duty. shall not
address myself to any matters foreign to
the issue before me, nor indulge in
strains of eloquence intended for other
ears than yours, as have some OF the