The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-06-07

to all, namely, sufficient room to accom-
modRte scholars and teachers, and be
trusts that the Catholics of this city will
have provided, by next anniversary,
larger and better accomm odations for
their school.
a public exhibition of the school, is is
said, will take place some time towards
the end OF this month. G.
COLUMBIA. s. O., June 6. 1873.
GRAND JURIEs AND JUDGES Daddy
Cain, in his Missionary Record, thus
speaks Of the recent prescntment Of the
Charleston grand jury:
One OF the most remarkable occur
rences of the day in this State was the
transactions in the United States Court
last week. It is suggestive of the i'm.
portance OF the people studying the
genius Of our Government and institn.
tions, and becoming thoroughly nc
quainted with the principles and laws es
now understood and applied to the rights
of citizens. We have always regarded
the rights OF the people far above any
Interpretation of the laws which any le.
gislator or Judge could give. In fact,
all laws originate from those great funda-
mental principles OF human rights; they
are but the creatures Of that sublime
conception OF the rights of man; and
those who are ordained by the people,
through the paraphernalia of govern
ment, are but the e1ponents of those
principles through their Judicial posi-
tions. But however elevated ttIeir posi-
tions. it does not allow them to arrogate
to themselves the power to deprive any
Citizen OF an open and free expression of
his opinion Of facts, which he may deem
proper to express, while in the discharge
Of his functions, under oath, in his 30
vereignty as q grand juryman, empanel-
ed to pass his Judgment upon facts ns
presented to him, by evidence and in
formation. On the 18th of May, 1873,
the grand jury did make presentation
to the United States District Court. It
was remarkable document for these de-
generate times. When it is remembered
that in the lower courts there seems to
be little else but persecution OF the
poor and fleeing of honest people in
order to fatten aud feast set of hungry
of1ice-holders and would-be lawyers;
when it is known that juries are being
bribed and bullied; when it is remem-
bered that those into whose bands have
been committed the important duty of
protecting the rights of the citizens, are
the most dangerous class whom the peo-
pie have to fear; when it is remembered
that to go to the officers of the law to
secu:e your rights, you are robbed Of the
last dollar which yon have of honest toll,
to pay set Of hungry, avaricious men,
it ia no marvel that sixteen honest men
made the presentation which they did.
There is point where forbearance
ceases to be virtue. The foul oorrup-
tions which are being practiced in this
State in some of the prosecutions in our
courts, would not be submitted to by
any other people. Some OF the outrages
Committed i'll the name of law in this
State would, in O community of enlight.
ened and free citizens, subject the
perpetrators to the swift punishment OF
hempen necktie. We believe that
there hos not been more truthful pre-
sentation made to any court in this State
than that presented by that jury. We
entirely exonerate the District Attorney
and Judge from any completely in any
Of these allegations; yet it is question
whether the Judge has right to object
to the presentations made by the jury.
They ere as much The judge os Tho facts
presented by them as the Judge is OF the
law. And it does appear that, although
their presentation Implicated some OF the
officers of the court, and those who have
made charges against others, it is clearly
their duty to find all facts Of wrong
doing in any citizen, whether he bo an
officer of the court or those in humber
walks of life, inasmuch as every citizen
is amenable to law, and subject to the
scrutiny Of g. grand jury. Why not tho
conduct Of law officers be subject to the
same rules, when they violate the princi-
pies Of law and justioe?. If the hypo-
thesis obtains that the conduct of law
officers, or those who are connected
with the execution OF the laws, are above
scrutiny by grand jury, then there is
an end OF the liberties OF the people,
and our great "Magna CAa,'ta" has va.
nished, and We are at sea, without
chart or compass-we are left at the
mercy OF every pirate whose rakish craft
may board our vessel, and rob and pill
lage at pleasure. It will be we'll for this
people to keep an eye open to their Judi
ciary, and hold fast to the great safe
guards Of their liberties. The jury-box
and the ballot are the balances, by which
they can keep the ship of human rights
in deep waters, with sails we'll spread to