The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-08-22
Judge Reeds Idea of Justice.

Judge Reed of Charleston, has n strange
idea of Justice, as may he seen from the
following extract from q recent decision
of his in q mandamus case. We believe
the decision unconstitutional and have
no doubt that the Supreme Court of
the State wonld so decide if the
case was carried up. We cannot do
otherwise than characterize such med
ding with private contracts by a Judge
on the bench of this State as unworthy of
the crminc Of reconstructed South Caro-
lima. 1t might have done for the thieving
Radicals, who ran riot over law, order and
Justice for so long a time, hut for recon-
structcd, Democratic South Carolina,
never!
We have been disposed to entertain
somo respect for Judge Reed. In mat
tors heretofore before him he hasacted we'll
and has met with our appreciation,
and tho Judge being a former citizen of
our ncighbor town of Anderson, made us
feel rather anxious that he should &C.
quit himself we'll as Judge Of the most i'm
portant circuit in the State. We can con
ccivc of no object in making so unjust
and unconstitutional a decision except to
gain favor with the popular clamor of the
low rabblc of repudiationists. The State
employs teachers, refuses to pay them
promptly, and when these poor people
get advances from others on their claims.
"this upright judge, this learned judge
intcrfcrcs with private contracts, in viola
ton Of tho explicit words Of the consti-
tuition, and would, in the face of law and
Justice, rob the party so advancing, Of tho
interest on his money. IF such de-
cisions arc good law, people had bet
their contracts for them. We have not
words to dcnounco in sufficiently strong
terms such illegal meddling with con-
tracts. The following shows the gist OF
tho whole matter.
"Thc return is entirely sufficient to
purge tho contempt, hut there is nothing
in it to show, MOI have I. upon n review
of tho facts, boon able to discover any
reason why the claims of petitioners
shall not lie allowed and paid, if retained
and presented by them personally in
good faith for services rendered the pub
lie. But if they have hcen transferred to
other parties who may have been engage
ed in spcculating in county papcrs for
any sum loss than their face value, and
are presented by or for such parties, the
same obligation to allow tr"m for any
sum beyond the amount paio for them by
the holders is not recognized. and the
Court regards it as an imperative duty,
being called to pass upon the matter, to
put its seal of Misrepresentation upon a
practice so ~dcmoralizing and injurious.
1t is, therefore, ordered that the rule be
made absolute, and that tho county COM
~missioncrs. upon being satisfied by the
oath or affirmation of tho parties re-
spectivolv that the said certificates are
presented by the payecs in their own
right, do proceed to audit and allow tho
same; but, if presented by an assignee
or purchaser, that they audit and allow
the same for such sum, and no moro. rs
was paid for them, to be ascertained by
the oath of tho party.
The order is designed to apply to all
similar cases. will be filed by the clerk
and n copy Of the same served on the
county commissioners, who are required
to pay the costs of the rule"