The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-06-28
CHARLESTON JURIEs.

One of the greatest curses inflicted
upon the people ,of South Carolina by
Radicalism has been the empanelling of
corrupt and ignorant juries to sit upon
the trials of all cases in Court, whether
they involved the persons or the property
of our citizens. Nowhere has this curse
been more sorely felt than in fair Charles
ton, Cardinals City by the Sea, where
the venom of Radicalism, controlled by
the Bowcns, Mackeys and such creatures,
who managed The machinery of govern
ment, has been most destructive to COM
merce and puolic safety. One of the
greatest benefits to our State from Demo
cratic rule is tie demolition of this fear
full evil, and the blessings flowing from
the change have already begun to show
themselves. At the opening of the Court
of General Sessions in Charleston County
last week, Judge Reed, in delivering his
charge to the Grand Jury, commented
upon this subject as follows:
The Judge first congratulated the panel
upon the change in affairs, and in this
connection he said: Gentlemen of the
Grand Jury, from hearing your names
called over, together with the names Of
the persons summoned to appear before
the Court as petty jurors, and from your
appearance in your places, think l have
cause to congratulate the people of the
city and county of Charleston upon the
very rapid advance towards good govern.
ment in the matters ofjuries at least. II
has been patent to every one that during
the past few years the juries in this county
have been made up, in large measure, oi
incompetent men-persons unfit to sit on
jury, and who were violent and vicious
This condition of affairs was not due to
any fault or defect of the law, but rather
to those individuals who were called
upon to administer the law. The law by
its very letter as we'll as its spirit con.
templates that every man summoned 6
sit on jury shall be a select man, dis
tinguished among his fellows for his
peculiar fitness for that position. But
unfortunately the letter and the spirit oi
the law have been alike overlooked, il
not wilfully violated, by the persons
whose duty it was to- prepare the jury
lists and draw the jurors. If therefore
we have obtained at this session good
men, and have substituted intelligence
and virtue for ignorance and vice, it is a
stride towards good government of which
the country may we'll be proud. Your
duty, gentlemen, is an important one to.
wards the courS and the community in
which you live. You are the right arm
of the court, and are in a great measure
the conservators of the public peace Of
the City and County of Charleston. II
you will remember the terms of your
oath, it indicates to you, in great meas.
ure, the duties you are expected to per-
form and the manner for performing
them. You have each of you sworn that
you will diligently inquire and true pre-.
sentiment make of all such matters and
things as shall be given you in charge;
The States counsel, your fellows, and
your own you will we'll and truly keep
secret. You will present no one from
envy, hatred or malice, nor will you leave
any one unpresented for fear, favor, afec.
ton, reward, or hope of reward. But
you will present all things truly as they
may come to your knowledge, according
to the best of your understanding. So
help you God. That is the oath that
each of you have taken. There will be
given you in charge by the Court, through
the Solicitor, sunary bills of indictment
in writing, embracing all the species Of
crime known to our calendar. 1t will be
your duty to inquire into them and pass
upon them. The Court will also give
you in charge orally number of public
matters, which it will be your duty to in
quire into during your term of service.