Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-04-10
THE CIRCUIT COURT.

in October, 1873"
THE CIRCUIT COURT.
His Honor, Judge Mackey, reached this
place on Monday last, by the extra train from
Chester, and opened the Circuit Court at
about 12, M. The grand and petit jurors
were organized Immediately, after which the
Judge charged the former, in substance, as
follows:
After instructing the Grand Jury, in gener-
al terms, as to their duties in finding bills or
making presentments, his Honor proceeded to
direct their attention particularly to other
special duties which devolved upon them. 1t
was the duty of the grand jury to examine
the iail and ascertain whether the prisoners
confined there are securely kept and comfort
ably cared for; and whether they are supplied
with necessary clothing and wholesome food.
1t is an indication of the civilization Of the
age that prisoners are treated humanely and
under the laws of South Carolina, there
should be no difference, whatever, in the treat
ment of the prisoners on account OF race or
color.
The poor house of the county should be
looked to, and the grand jury should see that
its inmates we're properly cared for. But, in
addition to this, it is the duty Of the county
commissioners to supply physicians in each
township, to attend on the INDECENT poor.
Contracts should be made with physicians for
that purpose, and the county should pay for
the medical attendance furnished to those
who are unable to pay for themselves. 1t is
better that the county should pay 100000
in taxes for this purpose, rather than that one
citizen should die from the neglect Of the
proper authorities to furnish that assistance
which he himself is unable to furnish.
The civil and criminal dockets Of the Trial
Justices, are to be carefully looked into, and
the Grand Jury should presentany Trial Jus.
tice who is incompetent or fails properly to
perform the duties of his Office, or is guilty of
malfeasance in Office. The Office Of the Trial
Justice is an important one in many respects.
Within their Jurisdiction their powers are
ample. They can fine or imprison, without
the intervention of q jury, and it is important
that such high powers as these should not be
abused
The Office of School Commissioner is also
important. The Grand Jury should see that
it is faithfully and efficiently administered.
Upon our common school system depends the
future of the country. 1t is absolutely essen
tial for the proper government of this country,
that the masses, whose votes are the controlling
power under our form of government, should
be educated so as to enable them to use that
power intelligently. In Mexico, there is not
a solitary free school in operation. The peo'
pie there are ignorant, and the result is con-
slant succession of civil wars. Within the
last fifty years, the government Of that eoun'
try has changed forty one times. Military
forts and engines Of war take the place OF the
school houses.
The duties of the County Commissioners are
also very important, and the Grand Jury
should see that these duties are properly per-
formed. The roads and bridges Of country
are q good index of its civilization. One OF
the great needs of our people is ready and
easy means of communication. The Com
missioners should be required to enforce strict
" the law in regard to work on the roads.
The Office of the County Treasurer should
be carefully looked into, and the Grand jury
should ascertain how much money the Treas
urer has paid out on account of the county
during the present fiscal year, and what bal
anCo he mas now Ou uduu w sAo Sa0oAs Va oAAS
county. The Grand Jury should also ascer-
tain and report whether the tax levied tor
the support of the widows and orphans Of per-
sons slain because of their political opinions,
is sufficient for that purpose, or whether the
tax Yields more than is sufficient for such
purpose. :, -,
The Grand Jury should see, especially,
+ha lava in regard to the retailing of LIQUOR
are properly enforced. The license law of
the State on this subject was intended to put
a check upon the drinking of Intoxicating
liquors. The State recognized the fact that
such habits are an evil and intended, by the
license law, to place such restrictions upon
the sale of liquor, as would lessen the evil.
Carefully prepared and reliable statistics
show that the liquor drank in the United
States costs more than its churches, and al
most as much as its schools Were there no