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

One OF the greatest curses inflicted
upon the people of South Carolina by
Radicalism has been the empaneling of
corrupt and ignorant jurics to sit uron
the trials Of all cases in Court, whether
they involved the persons or the property
of orr citizens. Nowhere has this curse
been more sOrely felt than in fair Charles
ton, "arolina's City by the Sca, w' ,rc
the venom of Radicalism, controlled by
the Bowcns, Mackeys and such creatures.
who nianagcd tic machinery Of govern
ncnt, has been most destructive to com
mcrcc and public safety. One of the
greatest benefits to our State from Demo
cratic rule is the 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 rs follows:
The Judge first congratulated the panel
upon the change in affairs, and i'm this
connection he said Gentlemen of the
Grand Jury, from hearing your names
called over, together with ,ne names Of
the persons summoned TO appear before
the Court ~ petty jurors, and from your
appearance in your places, think have
cause to congratulate the people of the
city and county of Charleston upon the
very rapid advance towards good govern
Incnt in the matters Uf fjuries ut least 1t
n mi fn tl,,t Il
the past few years the jurics in this county
have been made up, in large measure, of
incompetent men-pcrsOns unfit to sit ON
n jury, and who wUTe 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 rs we'll as its spirit con-
templates that every man summoned to
sit on jury shall be select man, dis
tinga;shed among his fellows for his
peculiar fitness for that position. But
unfortunately the letter and the spirit OF
the law have been alike overlooked, if
not wilfully violated, by the persons
whose duty it was to prepare the jp.y
lists and draw the jurors. ,s therefore,
we have obtained Mt 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 m important one to.
wards the court and the community in
which you live. You arc the rig'.c arm
OF tho court, and are in great measure
the conservators Of the public, peace of
the City and County Of Charleston. If
you will remember the terms of your
oath, II 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 anu true pre-
sentiment make of all such matters and
things as shall be given you in charge.
The States counsel, your fellows, and
youf own you will we'll and truly keep
secret. Ven vii! present nc ciie from
envy, hatred or malice, nor will you leave
any one unpresented for fear, favor, affec-
toa. reward, or hope of reward. 3nt
you will present all things truly us they
may come to your knG,,ledge, 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
si.e Solir' tor, sundry bills Of Indictment
in writiL embracing oil the species of
crime known to our calendar. It will be
your duty to inquire into them and pass
upon them. The Court will also give
yon il charge orally number of public
matters, which it will bo your duty 10 in
quire into during your term of service.