The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-11-10

<-4Ao-$-
The Nlcarnuxunn FIilibu.ter /, ) :. ] udge.
We make the following extracts from
Judge T. j. Maokey's address to the
grind jury OF York County, on Monday
last.
After Informing the jury that with the
expiration OF this term of court. they
will be relieved OF the arduons and i'm
portant duties with which they have been
charged by Law. he says;
It is, doubtless. q subject OF profound
congratulaton with you, az it is with the
presiding Judge, that. peace and order
prevails everywhere within the limits Of
your County, and that kind Providence
abundant haryests, and kept fnr from rs
the pestiience that has ma,lo its fearful
Visitations to other sections Of ous.ooun-
try.
Within tile recent past, this, County
was the scene Of armed violence: :nrose.
cuted by a powerful organization, com.
posed Of bold, bad men, who scourgsd
and wounded and killed mauy American
citizens becauso of their political OPT
MONS or party affiliations. These armed
bands asserted the law of the strong
hand aguinst the laws of the land they
paralyzed the arm of justice, aud struck
down unofending victims almost within
the shadow Of this building, which is
dedicated to the protection of the weak
against the strong. Indeed, while these
outrages were hagrant. members of the
grand jnries' themselves, who wore 10
tive participants in these crimes, sat
where you now Worthily ,sit, anil with
unblushing forehead looked the presid-
ing Judge calmly ih the eye. az Iii un-
conscious pf frtbe -e1is5snce of the gu
prsme -InQge OF sail, who has, recorded
thai1 1yiolated oaths. These banded cri-
mipglG 10 4ors 10 long:e period thus
grieVodsly pffsasad hun dreds :of their
fellows eitzens; and ibid defiance to the
iaws. were hnt7n part>of mighty ,orga..
nization that extended through many
populoas States Of the South, and into
many Counties of this State. This tre-
mendous and lawless power drew it's
deadly circle Of fire around its desig-
mated victims, and then pursued them
with an untiring step and sieepleas eye
into exile Or death. The archives of the
National Government contain the sworn
Testimony. proving that mp to April,
1871, within period of six yenrs from
the formal cessation of hostilities Ia tho
open field, II, 900 American citizens wore
manned and scourged, aud G,UO0 slain
outright by the bloody mandates of tho
organization in question. The State OF
South Carolina having failed to protect
citizens OF the United States, resident
within her limits, IN the free and safe
exercise OF their! vested rights as such,
the Government Of the United States ;n-
terVened by its courts, sustained by its
army, to protect ita citizens in the en-
joyment. unquestioned, of all their rights
OF citizenship, and to bring to trial and
punishment all who had by force invaded
those rights. That interposition was
timely, mercifui and just. The first
great duty of government is to protect
ite oitizenss In fact, this is The pare
mount object for which governments are
founded. For this purpose the ships of
the republic carry their guns on the
waters of every sea, and the Consuls OF
the United States Hy the national Gag in
every civilized land.
Judge Mackey then cites the arrest of
the Austrian, Martin Kozta, in 1858, as
also the more recent arrest aud impri-
sonment OF DR.. Houard, and thoir sub.
sequent release, upon the demand of the
United States Government, and says:
Who. then, shall question the right of
this nation to protect American citizens
on American soil? And who that sur.
veys events in South Carolina during the
past four years. will be bold enough to
deny that suoh protection was needed
here?
Il, howeyor, the grand juries and the
courts do their duty faithfully and fcar-
lessly, there will never again asise q ne
oessity for the assertion of this proteo-
ton by the exhibition OF military force
on the part of the United States. The
State Of South Carolina has never abdi.
Gated, for an instant. her sovereign iuris-
diction over all offenders against her
laws On her own domain. The Govern
ment Of the United States has never do
manded that she should abdicate that
Jurisdiction; but, on the contrary, de-
mands that the State shall effsctually
assert it,
You will. therefore, mako most rigid
inquisition into the organized system OF
crime in question, and present for indict-
ment and speedy trial all persons who
may De shown, by the testimony before
YOU. to hnva Ioop oonoosno1