The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1876-04-06
PICKENs s. g., THDRsDAY, APRIL 6. l816

tho favor or opposition of particular
web known Radicals? Away with
such hl@sYI e&euses. and pfotexts ltc
protecSa Judicial officer under a clout
OF charges sustained by Conservatives
of high tone and character. Wore il
necessary for us to ignore our own
judgment and shape our course. on
measures to tho mere feeling of Re-
publicans on them, then Leslie and
! the Republicans voting with Col. c.,
can lay claim, to about as much bad
notoriety, as those voting with myself
and other Conservatives. Apart from
these abstract views, what arc the
facts? [, and perhaps mono of the
Conservatives know. anything persons
ally of the guilt or innocence of Mack.
ey, or OF the truth, or falsity of tho
charges made against him. The mat.
ter laid before the House, consist of
various charges set forth in petition
on tho part of tho citizens of Ian.
caster, as to his dismissal of tho Grand
Jury, amounting to an act Of judicial
tyranny, his unprecedented course in
the case of the State VS.. Lydia Mas
sey and Ccphas Rion, in the year
1874, in which he is charged with
Nhavlng threatened certain of the jury,
that he would send them to Jail, if
they did not find verdict as he di-
rcctcd, with other allegations by the
Committee that there are othc., and
moro serious charges Of neglect Of duty,
cOTupt practices, and even Jribcry
freely made agaist Mackey, as occur
ing in Lancaster County, and capable
Of proof. This petition setting forth
these fragrant usurpations of author
ity-and those charges of terribly cor
rupt practices, arc signed by honorcd
and respected Conservatives, and they
have como here asking an opportun>
ty to substantiato them. What ter
rible charges? Those against Moses
are insignificant to somc of them, for
instance oxtorting by threats Of i'm,
prlsonmcnt verdict from jury. In
addition to these charges from Ian
caster, other charges arc made from
Chester, backed by Major Hamilton
and other citizcns of known integrity.
DO not these constitute prima facio
case! Can any ono read them and
Tor n moment hesitate as to tho duty
of the Legislature to test their truth
or falsity? Has the Bench of South
CarolipR 50 fallen that such charges
signed by worthy men against a judi
cial officer can be epasscd unhccded2A-
1t is sad commentary on the times
and people &c, contemplate, in its Of.
fects on good government and judicial
purity in tho future. voted for the
investigation, and am willing for the
people to judge between those voting
for and against IT,, with tho facts be-
fore them. / have no fears of the
verdict OF an honest and intelligent
people on such n question. But Col
Z. and those voting against tho inycs-
tigation, in addition to reasons based
on the typo Of Republicans supporting
them and which / have shown to bo
blind pretencos, without foundation
or reason, alloge that tho invostiga>
ton will lead TO the suspension of
Mackey, and will operate to release
villains and rogues who. are to be tried
before tho Judge this week. How
weak, how silly, such q statement. -
1t is cue of the Governor, given
forth in that famous and unprocodent
cd interview in behalf of Maokey,
whom he rushed fully armed and
equipped to tho dcfonso of his friend
and ally. Is Mackoy the only Judge
who can prosecute criminals to con-
viotion? Is my friend controlled in
this Wow by the old adage, 'It takcs
q thief to catch q thicfW Does he
not know that if Maokoy should be
suspended the Governor would ap-
point his successor, that tho Governor
lis a special friend of Mackey; that a
part if Mackcy's defense would be to
substantiato tho guilt Of Yocum and
others in Chestely that the Governor