The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-02-08
Gen,lemen of the Grand Jnrv il

Gentlemen of the Grand Jury, it is
proper that l should direct your attention
to the liquor license law of the State.
The tendency of our people to indulge in
the use of intoxicating liquors is well CAL
culated to cause just alarm to those who
have the good of society at heart in this
respect. The entire fabric of society is
endangered by this growing evil. The
combined efforts of the temperance re-
former, the watchman of Col upon the
walls of Zion, and the wisdom of our Leg
islature, have most sadly failed so far to
bring any relief to US against the tri-
umphial march of this great destroyer of
the human family, and, without design
ing to reflect upon the Legislature, l am
firmly impressed with the idea that moth
ing short of absolute prohibition of the
sale of spirituous liquors will ever crush
the monster intemperance. But what
ever may be the defect in the law as it
stands, it is nevertheless the duty of the
Courts to enforce it.
By the Act of March 19, 1874, chapter
80, of Title IA, part /, of the general
statutes, relating to the granting of retail
and tavern licenses, are declared to be
applicable solely to the granting of
licenses within the limits of incorporated
cities, towns and villages. A party de-
sirous of retailing spirituous liquors in
side of corporate cities, towns and viii
lagos by the Act of March 10, 1874, is re-
quired to make application for license to
the corporate authorities thereof. The
law requires that the applicant shall be
recommended by six respectable tax
payers of his neig ghborhood; that he shall
enter into bond in the sum of one thou
sand dollars. with three good securities,
for the keeping of an orderly house. The
bond must be filed in the Office of the
clerk Of the city or town council, and a
copy thereof be filed with the Clerk of
the Court of General Sessions in the
County where the bond is given. When
you come to examine the County Clerks
office you will ascertain whether the
corporate authorities throughout your
County have complied with this require
ment Of the law. AS a general thing,
persons who engage in the traffic can by
no means be considered very respectable,
and the corporate authorities of cities and
towns would do we'll to reject all applica-
tions recommended by persons engaged
in the traffic. Ifyou should find that any
of these irregularities do exist you will
report it to the Court.
If any person has filed his petition
with the Clerk for license to retail out
side of incorporated cities, towns, &C., it
will be your duty to pass upon the same,
and recommend whether or not the peti-
toner should receive license, and the
price at which the same shall be uniform
for all applicants. BY this act it is pro-
vided that if any person shall wilfully
furnish any Intoxicating drink, by sale,
gift or otherwise to any person of known
Incorporate habits, or to any person
when drunk or intoxicated, or to minor,
or to any insane person, for use as bev
erage, shall be held and deemed misde-
meanor, and, upon conviction thereof,
the offender shall be fined not less than
ten or more than one thousand dollars
and imprisoned not less than ten nor
more than thirty days. Some one or
more of your body may know of persons
engaged in this traffic, having violated the
law in this respect. If so you will pre-
sent them.
The Court also desires to direct your
attention to the practice of selling, tra-
ding or bartering spirituous liquors OH
Sunday. Such practice is in violation Of
the law, and you will present all whom
you may know to have offended against
the law in this particular. This general
direction of your attention to the liquor
license law Of the State l trust may be
sufficient to put you in possession of your
duty, but as the Act is long it may be
we'll for you to read it at your leisure.
Gentlemen of the Grand Jury, our peo-
pie have just passed through a general
election, characterized by an unusual
amount of enthusiasm and excitement.
and the neglect of the General Assembly
of this State, to provide for the registra-
ton of all persons entitled to vote, has
perhaps opened wide the door for the
perpetration of fraud in said election.
The purity of the ballot box ought by all
means to be protected against fraud, and,
although we are without registration
law, if your body should address itself as
siduously to the task of investigating
whether there was fraud practiced in the
late election, such investigation would
have most wholesome effect, and tend
greatly to secure US against much Of
fraud in all future elections. trust,
therefore, you will give this matter your
most earnest consideration.
Gentlemen OF the Grand jury, you will
remember that on the 7th of October,
1876, the then Governor of the State, Mr..
D. II. Chamberlain, issued a proclama-
ton to the effect that there existed GER
tain organizations and combinations of
men in all the counties of the State, en-
gagged in promoting illegal objects, and
committing actual deeds of violence.
Now, this is either true or false rs to the
people of Anderson County-a people
whom you represent as the grand inquest.
1t is eminently proper in justice to your
selves, as we'll as the people of your
County, to faithfully and diligently in
ouire into affairs. and true presentment
make to the Court, whether or not, "cer-
tain organizations of men did exist in the
County of Anderson for the purpose of
promoting illegal objects and in commit
ting open acts ofawlessnes and violence"
If you should find, upon full and fair in
vestigation of the subject given you in
charge by the Court, that the said proc
lamation of His then Excellency was
true as to yourselves and the people of
your County, you will so say; and upon
such investigation you should find that
the charges contained in said proclama-
ton do not apply to the people of your
County, and that as to them it is false,
defamatory and libelous, you will so
say.
Gentlemen of the Grand Jury, also
desire to direct your attention to the
crime of treason against State. 1t has
been suggested by some that by the Con-
stitution and its amendments, the exis-
tence of the States as separate and indie
pendent sovereignties has been merged