The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-01-24

Supreme Court OF the State ms SOL
emily adjudged that the body presl-
ded over by w. II. Wallace is the
constitutional house of Representa-
tives and that the body presided over
by e. WIN. Mackey is NJ part of u le-
gal legislature: The Grand Jury. pre-
sent that the said pretend
ed act under whlcs l.. H. Rus
sell county autitor is Instructed to act
and il acting with q view to an
other tax is not a law and binding as
such, and recommend that some
proper action be taken by the author
tiles to enjoin the further proceeding
of the auditor under said pretended
law and prevent the further compllca-
tons, which must arise from an ef-
fort to enforce as law that which is
not law.
IMPOSSIBLE TO EXAMINE INTO THE
ELECTIONS.
Within the limited timo allowed the
Grand Jury they found it impossible
to examine as thoroughly as they
wished the matter Of fraud and undue
influence in elections submitted to
them. They regard the purity of the
ballot box rs indispensable to the con-
tinued exercise of free republican i'll
situations. Where the free exercise of
the right to vote is controlled by force,
the form of free institutions Is q mere
mockery, and worse than useless, as
consuming time and leading to vio-
Ience without any compromising re-
suits whatever.
PROTEST AGAINST TILL USE OF SOL
DIERS.
In the interest of tho freedom and
purity of the. ballot box, the Grand
Jury protest in the most solemn man
ner against the interference Of armed
soldiers in elections as anti-republican
and tending to make the civil SUBJ
ordinate to the military authority.
REGISTRATION.
They would also again call attention
to the fact hal the legislature have
persistently refused to pass a law pro-
viding for the registration OF all cleo
tors as required by tho third section
Of tho Sth article Of the constitution,
Our body polite is composed Of such
elements and is SO constituted that all
efforts to prevent repeating and pre-
serve the purity Of the ballot box will
be unavailing until we have ar efficient
registration law and electors are re-
Iquired to vote i'll their own precincts
or townships.
FALSE AND DEFAMAToRY.
It was given in charge to the Grand
Jury TO inquire and presentment make
whether ofnot Dan'l. II Chamberlain
late Governor Of the State, did or not
!. whilst he was Governor make of and
concerning the citizens of the State
certain. false malicious and libelous
publications So far as practicable we
have made inquiry into the matter
and find that Dan. H. Chamberlain
whilst he was Governor viz October
7, 1876 did make a publication over
his own signature in which the fol-
lowing words occur. "Whereas it has
"been made known to me as governor
"that certain organizations and con-
%"binations of men exist in all the
"c0unties Of the State commonly
"known rs rifle clubs and whereas
"such organizations and combinations
"of men are engaged in promoting ille-
''gal objects and in committing open
"ucts Of lawlessness aud violence &C.,
We further find that 80 far as the
county of Abbeville is concerned the
aforesaid statements of Dan. H Cham
berlain that any organizations and
combinations Of men were ut the time
stated or at any time since engaged
in promoting illegal objects, and IN
committing open acts Of lawlcssness
!, and violence, were without foundation
in fact and false and defamatory.
ILLEGAL STATE GOVERNMENT.
The Grand Jury at the present time
are not sufficiently informed OF the
facts to make presentnIentof any par
ticular persons by name for trial and
, criminal punishment !; but Us the rep
r rcsentatives of the people OF AbbeVille
county, who have always been distin-
guishcA for their devotion to. peace
law and order, they cannot refrain
, from again condenlning in the most
solemn manner all efforts to set up all
:, illegal State government in open def
+ ance of the Judgment of the supreme
court, the highest judicial tribunal in
the State; and worthy the denuucia-
, ton of all good peaceable law abiding
.citizens upon the authors aiders and
q abettors OF such reckless and revolu-
tionary proceedings.
:, We return our thanks to Ills Honor
and the Solicitor for certain considera-
tons and kindnesses,
Respectfully Submitted,
ii f. A. MARS, Foreman.