The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-12-20
Tie Patterson Habeas Corpus Case.
WASHINGTON. D. c., Dec. g..

w WA0aINU1ON3 ~. w., |CS' V'
When Gen. Conner made his argument
here on the oath of November, in.the
Patterson case, it was universally ex-
pressed opinion, both by the lawyers and
the audience, that it was unanswerable,
and that it had; real "bull-dozing" effect
upon old Judge Humphreys, who twice
during the Generals speech asked him
to let up little till be 1.-THE Judge) could
go out aud (drink) refresh himself. Iu-S
deed, Shellabarger himself became so ex-
cited that he forgot himself far enough,
during the Generals brilliant effort, to
leave his seat, pace up and down the
courtroom, and in his passage by the
General stopped, and quietly taking Up
the Generals handkerchief, rammed it
into his own pocket and walked off with
it, only, however, to be gently and pleas
antly hailed by the General in his return
trip, and asked respectfully to unload.
A better speech, to no purpose, was
never made before drunken Judge and
an. intelligent audience than Gen. Conner
made on that occasion. But the old
creature withheld his decision until yes
terday, aud consumed an hour and half
in reading to the conclusion, that he
would not allow the State of South Caro-.
lima to take Patterson away from his seat
in the Senate, because Hampton was
only obeying the behests of a faction
when he made the demand for him, and
that it was not the State speaking in her
sovereign capacity. While never saw
Judge Humphreys drink drop, it is the
common credited opinion here that ne
has not drawn sober breath in many,
many years. 1t is generally believed
that Shellabarger, Patterson's leading
counsel, wrote the decision in this case.
With such.a lawyer TO write the dec's-
ions in his cases, and Judge Mckay. to
write the speeches he made in defense Of
himself, Patterson may after awhile, if
he: can avoid showing the cloven-ioot,
make some men believe he is a prosecuted
man.
Il may not be amiss to quote the fol.
lowing from the judges decision: "The
most cruel tyranny would be the applica
tion of civil forms of law to the domi-
nance and triumph Of the passions OF a
faction. I cannot reconcile it tu my
sense of duty to give aid in placing man
acles and handouts around and about
the individual citizen for the purpose Of
surrendering him, bound, into the hands
of those who may not be dispassionate
enough to vindicate the true rights of,
the individual, or those who might be
led by impassioned appeals toa condition
of mind they could not resist"
What does this mean, but that the State
could not calmly aud dispaasionately try
this man according to law fer the acts
alleged against him?
This drunken judge further said, it was
the duty OF. the court to sit still and de-
lliberate, aud in its decision throw its
protection where sit would curb and con-
troll wayward action" A direct insult to
the State.
How will all this end? I fear by Pat
terson remaining where he is, and doing
penance by occaSi, nally voting with the
Democrats, as he did in seating Gen.
Butler. Will this satisfy the demands
of Justice? Will the State be conteDti
with this? Will the people say to this
son of Belial, go and sin no more? /
CEuSG Iuo plSt VIII AOt St aoOu uO JV'Slo
ten, nor the present be made so shame
full.
It is telegraphed to the papers here,
via New York, that Governor Hampton
has determined upon the policy of uni
versal amnesty towards the harpies that
plundered South Carolina 80 ferociously
during the ten years of Radical regime;
and it is further stated that Patterson
has been telegrsphed to by Mackey, that
the decision of Judge Humphreys in his
case meets with approval from both par
ties in South Carolina, and that public
sentiment sustains the authorities in their
disposition to extend clemency to him
and all the other thieves that so plum
dered the State.
Can these things be SO? Before the
investigation has ceased, and whilst every
day develops more and more the system
atized rascality of that carpet-bag crew,
are our people tiring of their efforts to
bring them and all to justice, and,
with: unheard OF magnanimity, ready to
forget and forgive? / trust not. Turn
Smalls loose, for he deserves some pity;
but bring Corbin, and Chamberlain, and
Patterson, andNDunn, and Bowen, ct i'd,
&C., to share Carpenters straw mattress,
or, in my juIgmen5, the people will not
be satisfed.-C6r. News and Courier.