The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1872-08-07
Judge Thomas.
BY REQUEST.1

BY REQUEST.
Judge Thomas in dischargine the
juries for the term took occasion to
mention that it was the last court he
should hold in the county his term
of office being about shortly to expire.
In few feeling remarks he took
leave of the grand jury, and it can bo
safely said that the announcement was
received with universal regret. Judge
Thomas has made great impression
upon tho hearts of the people of his
Circuit during the four years of his
term of office. Elected by the Radi-
cal party, he has never shown in the
judicial office any political predilcc-
tions whatever, & very rare virtue in
these partisan days. It is for this he
has been cast off by the party. Had
nc shown the bitter zeal of Logan or
Turgeo (Judges Of North Carolina)
he would have been unanim ously re
elected. When martial law was de.
termincd on at Washington, by the
prompt action of Judge Thomas, with
tho grand jury of York County, the
whole move came very near being
checkma When the story of that
transaction is thoroughly ventilated,
which it will be ere long, a very in.
teresting case of fraudulent misrepre.
sentation will be given to the public
and it will be shown moreover that
Judge Thomas struggled manfully to
the last for the preservation of civil
liberty Chester Reporter.
In reply to set of complimentary
resolutions offered by the York Bar
upon parting with Judge Thomas, the
Judge said
GENTLEMEN OF THE Yonxyr11E
BAR: [ thank you for your compIi-
mentary resolutions. Nearly four
years ago | came among you COM
parative stranger, junior to many of
you in the legal profession, and Of
different political principle, yet I
Lave never known anything from you
except the kindest consideration, and
the most courteous attention. Our
intercourse has been so pleasant, I
leave you with regret. While this is
SO, my term of office has not past
without having to encounter q series of
symoons, which made shipwrcck of my
career. First came tho organization
known as the Ku Klux, against whom
our court was impoteut. You will all
bear me out that I did my part, as q
Judge, in the Court House, and as a
citizen in private communications, to
suppress tho outruges. But neglected
ny the State government, though |,
and your Sheriff had called for assis-
tance from them, our efforts we're una
yailing.
In this emergency the United
States troops arrived upon the stage
of action. But instead of their up
holding tho law under misrcpresenta-
tion of recent ouirages being COM
mitted after the Investigation Com
mittee were here, and under the illib-
eral denunciation that every white
man was Ku Klux, they rode down
the law, organized a military cam
paign against a peaceable, and de-
fenceless people, and turned this tenn
pie OF ustioe into n farce. | tried
to restrain it, holding that the militia
ry was subordinate to the civil au-
thority, and that tho State Court
! should have jurisdiction over the
troubles in the county. For this ac-
tlon OF mine, tho same military by an
unJustiiable interference with the
Legislature, succeeded in making me
the hrst martyr, to those principles
which l conscientiously held, and
which now rises in the North as tho
polar star, for the emancipation of the
whito man of Carolina.
While therefore [ regret to part
with you because of our pleasant inter.
course my regret ceases when sec
the cause Of our parting, like on
Angel Spirit tapping upon every
Northern heart and pleading for JUS
tice, reconciliation, peace, and
the constitution. If then, in after
days, in recalling the memories of the
present, solitary and alone during
the storm, can be Unidentified in your
minds in aught with this Angelic
Spl'it, my regret will turn to Joy, and
my retirement result in great victo-
ry.
For my own shortcomings I ask
yonr forgiveness. Collectively and
individually, you have my kindest
regards--I bid you good bye.
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