The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-02-24
THREATENED INVESTIGATIONS.

AhhHh1hNhD 1NI IESA1VhAAONOs
Senator Corwin, of Newberry, intro
duced the following preamble and reso-
luton in the Senate on Saturday, which
were ordered to lie over until the follow
ing Wednesday:
3 Whereas, the election of Hons. F. J.
Moses, jr., and w. J. Whipper to the
Circuit Bench of the State, by delibe-
rate and well considered vote of this
General Assembly, has been construed
by the Governor of South Carolina and
others in such manner as to awaken q
strong public sentiment, both in the State
and nation, to mean an endorsement of
certain alleged frauds and corruptions in
the past management of our State affairs |;
and whereas, it becomes this General
Assembly, while repudiating such a con.
struction. of its motives, to take cogni-
zance of criticism from such q source,
and to place the true intent and meaning
of its acts above suspicion in the minds
of all just men and whereas, charges Of
fraud and corruption have been made, of
a grave and serious nature, against j. P.
Reed, Judge of the First Judicial Cir
cult of this State; and whereas, the Cen
eral Assembly recognizes the necessity of
high honor and unblemished integrity as
qualification for the Office of a Circuit
Judge, and that an investigation of such
charges is solemn duty to the people,
the Office, and to itself; be it, therefore,
Resotyed, By the Senate, the House of
Representatives concurring, that COM
mittee of five on the part of the Senate,
and - on the part of the House of
Representatives, be appointed to examine
into the charges made against the said
F. j. Moses, Jr., w. ]. Whipper and
J. P. Reed, Judge of the First Circuit,
and that such committee shall invite all
specific testimony thereto relating, and
report to this General Assembly such re-
commendation for its action therein as
they may deem necessary: Provided,
however, That such committee shall cease
its action without prejudice in the case
of any or all such persons herein named,
if they shall resign the Office they hold
or to which they have been elected as
Circuit Judges.
This resolution is more unjust and un-
fair to Judge Reed than the villainous
proceeding to which we alluded last
week. Why the effort should be made
by these would-be reformers toAlink him
with Whipper and Moses we cannot qn-
derstand, except on the ground that they
are endeavoring to injure him by vague
charges, which are not expected by their
authors to be established. We do not
imagine that Whipper will resign, though
Moses may, if subjected to an investiga-
ting comp,ittee. One thing, however, is
sure, Senator Corwin has mistaken his
man if he expects to scare Judge Reed
into resignation. He is bold and in
dependent man, and will not be craven
enough to resign under these circumstan-
ces. In defending Judge Reed in this
matter, we do not wish to be misunder-
stood. We differ from him in toto upon
political matters, but when we see any
citizen attacked and maligned in such a
base and malicious manner, it is but just
that the course of his accusers should be
condemned. We do not know whether
Judge Reed is guilty of official miscon-
duct or not, and do not pretend to say;
but we do say that these vague charges
are 70 evidence of any misconduct, but
rather tend in themselves to show that
they are false, for if there was any truth
in them it would have been sure either
to have been expressed in the charges, or
at least made known to the public. We
shall not believe there is any truth in
them until they are preferred in tangi-
BILE shape, or until We can obtain some
evidence to establish them. There is
very little prospect that--this resolution
will pass, and it is in all probability not
intended for any other purpose than to
injure Judge Reed in this ignoble man
nor