The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1876-04-06
[From the sqrtenuiita lNtwsl
Letter from Mt p r. Bradley on the
Mackey Investigation.

COLUMBIA, March 20, 1876.
tGAfR.S ed ftof-AI1h&Go read with some
surprise the letter of Col. ,Crittopdon
pabI@6ed In theaNews Of tho 10th
instant, relative to the Mackey em-
broglioa ThsAwrilor's alleged purpose
is to place both sides of tho Mackey
impeachment matter boforo your
readers I submit whether, to q re-
fccting and unprojudiced reador there
is but one side to the matter, to wit:
Ebe side of justice and right2 In a
WORD, if Mackoy bo innocent and the
victim of villains and traducers, is it
not Q matter of right and Justice to
him that he, have the opportunity of
proving bis, innocence to tho world?
1t need not DO, replied that packed
committee would present articles OF
impeachment, against him whether
guilty or not, for no man, or set of
men, in trials Of this character, where
tho evidence is q matter of public re-
cord, seon and road of all mon, can
be found so utterly Indifferent to pub.
lie opinion as to appear before the
world as prosecutors Of a man against
whom mo proof has boon adduced.-
Again; IF he be guilty, who can deny
but it is matter Of right and justice
to the State, thathe be convicted and
deprived ofan office WHICH bas ever
been, the safoguafd Of the lives, ito
critics and property of her citizons.-
Viewing tho matter abstraoted from
the character of tho charges, and the
reputation of many of those who mako
and declare themselves ready to sub
stsnIato them, it is passing strange
to me that the Judge himself, much
moro the Conservative mcmbcrs,
shopd seek to stavo off investigation.
In no view could it do harm, and in
every. point of view, it is matter OF
jnsticesto the Judge and tho people
In matters involving the purity and
integrity of this important Office, no
one should, be controllcd'in forming
hisidPjpiop of duty and propriety, BY
the class of men who may array
themselves for or against thorough
investigation, but should look solely
to tho question, whether there are
reasonable grounds for such invcsti--.
CATION. | am not willing To admit
"that the worst clements of the I,a-
dical party, including ovcry noted
corrupt politician or official arc ar
rayed," as Col. z. says against MaclIl
ey, while the best elcmcnt Of the Rad>
iool party are supporting him. Among
those Of the Republicans voting with
Coh O., the name of Leslie, Of Land
Commission notoriety, is found, and
II he be the best clements of the party,
6od save tho country. There are
number lcsser Republican lights vot-
ing with him, and on tho whole, the
division of the Republicans on the
question, is about equal in point Of
honesty, while thcre is vast pre-,
ponderance of tho bcttor informed
members OF tho party recording thcm-
selves for the investigation. | have
great'fospcct for the opinion of Chan.
cellor johnson and othor opposing
Conservatives, but have creator roN
specttor mon who dare to form their
own opinions on facts, and fearIessly
carry them out; especially in all efforts
to probe corruption in high places
and bring to punishment, those who
commit wrong, and those who protect
wrong doers. No thinking mind can
doubt but that every we'll founded
Suspicion, even against a judicial Off
cor, should be trascd up for The honor
OF tho bench, not TO say in justice of
tho oflicor. This is always tho safe
course, never making injury, often
producing good results. If Moses,
Bowen, Buttz, and Whippor favor the
investigation, this should not drive
any one from Che right, but It shohld
rather encourage us, in seeing such
mon show a returning sense of pro-
prioty and integrity. 1t used to be
said that if a Conservative favored a
measure of Legislation, or voted and