The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-05-04
The Prosecutions In the Name of tho
State. ~

SIaI9. u
Twelve months ago, we considered
some of the difficulties which had been
purposoly put in the way of the vigorous
prosecution of frauds perpetrnted by the
State officials of South Carolina. We re-
ferred to the constitution "of the ma
chinery of the courts. which made i. next
to impossible to get cases of this kind Of
any magnitude before them. The Jury
Commissioner appeared to have been in
vented and raisod UP expressly to be n
stumbling-block to any honest judicial
proceeding. He had only to miscarry
conveniently in the time or mode of Sc
Letting jury, to leave County without
courts of justice SO long ns it might suit
powerful parties who had reason to dread
their action. The juries themselves, as
constituted, were often in sympathy with
wrong-doers, and averse to convicting.
The judges of the law had been in seve-
mi cases compelled to resort to unusual
steps to get moderately capable and ac-
ceptable juries. 1t had become common
opinion. and only lacked the form of en-
actment TO become law, that those in high
stations. Or s'he hs.<.s fHiiiitd Hiiiitd high stations,
if touched by frauds and crimes, were
sacred objects, not to be inquired into,
and not to be investigated or prosecuted.
It would have been lese-mgesty to have
proceeded against them. Itwould have
been a reflection upon the Government.
Prosecuting officers took the prevailing
tone, and were distinguished for nothing
more than their listlessness and inac-
tivity. Grand juries had marvellously
developed faculty of looking away from
tho evils right under their noses. None,
of course, are 80 blind as those who will
not see. The agencies which tend to
conserve society were paralyzed, and the
people, whose rights were tramplcd
upon, whose property was plundered,
without defenders save such as were self
constituted, like the press, looked on
powerless and almost hopeless.
But twelve months ago, indications of
Il change were discernnble. The one
public opinion which had stood for years
compact as granite wall, resisting all
inquiry into official misconduct, and
shielding it from investigation. showed
signs of weakening before the higher
public opinion which demanded accoun-
liability and protested against the subver-
sion of all the safeguards of society. The
boil had come to a head. The matter
must perforce be discharged. South Ca
rollins, in its government and policy, as
represented by those in the ascendancy,
stood before the country criminal con-
demned and awaiting sentence. AS
Judge Mackey said in the Nominating
Convention, the party in power pleaded
guilty, asked mercy and charity, and
promised better things. The Admins
tration which was chosen under these
penitential confessions has shown the
awakening of new, life, and has moved
on under the inspiration of a higher pur-
pose. It comes now to the discharge of
long7n!eglected but unavoidable duty.
1t has appealed to the courts for satisfac-
ton for wrongs and injuries done the
State; it has invoked the arm of the lnw
to punish evil-doers. Subordinate to
these high objects, it has the special in
centive of redemption of character to
effects and the purgatioRof badelements
of men and measures to complete. We
can but wish it God-speed in these en-
deavors, md we invoke oil proper influ-
ences to come to its assistance. The
strong arms of honest people of every
class will sustain and urge on the Attor-
ney-Genernl and his assistants in the
difficult and thorny path upon which
they have entered. Every man is q power
in the form of his honest, earnest and
fearless convictions, and every man who
can lift himself above the level of party
prejudice, ought to feel it his duty to
give his countenance and commentator
to efforts which promise 30 much for the
public good.
A writer in the Union newspaper in
April, 1874, found fault with the Board
of Trade which had sent on n memorial
to Congress summing mp the evils Of our
condition, that it did not make good its
uordo nv corraaDoDd dino daa,1u II ro,.o