The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-09-04
Court of General Sessions.

Court oil SencTai ScsSiouS'
Monday, End Sept. Judge J. II. Iiud-
son was promptly in his place on the
bench on Monday morning attcn O'Clock.
The Court room was crowded. Tho
grand Jury were in attendance. Under
the system of rotation of circuit judges,
this is the first occasion in which Judge
Hudson has presided vcr the circuit at
Abbeville Court House. He comes hith-
or highly commended by the bar and the
press wherever he has heretofore held
court, and we doubt not lie will add to
his high reputation as q Judge. His firm
and decisive manner bctokcns a practical
mind and entities us to expect that the
business of this September term Will be
transacted with CELEBRITY.
The Judges charge to the grand jury
was too long for publication m c~rtcnso,
which We greatly regret, for 1t contained
a mass of information of great value to
u citizens, and also was full of advice
much Of which is needed. Judge Hud-
son began by referring to the restored
system Of rotation of Circuit Judges,
which he strongly advocated rs much SUI
perior to the innovation introduced by
the reconstruction laws by which each
circuit Judge was required to confine his
work to his own circuit. He considered
that under the election system, it was
eminently advisable that the judges
should not be confined to the fixed orbit
OF their own circuits where they might
be rendered unable to administer justice
impartially because of the inevitable bias
of personal knowledge of parties, likes
and dislikcs. He therefore gave lis un-
qualified appreciation to the rotation plan
now in force, which is simply q revival
of the practice before reconstruction.
Before proceeding to charge the grand
jury, Judge Hudson paid a high and
graceful compliment to Abbeville Coun-
ty. He said that in doing so it was with
out the slightest desire to f%atter-and
therein most he flattered-for he simply
gave voice to the sentiment Of the inhab-
itants of sister counties and of the whole
State when he called Abbeville County
the Athens of upper Carolina, the home
Of refinement, culture, and popular in
telligence, the banner County Of South
Carolina.
He referred in eloquent language to the
illustrious sons of this favourcd county
who have made her name great, to Cal
houn, the Wardlaws, and McDufie. To
each Of these he paid a worthy tribute OF
respect and veneration ; and he assured
the grand jury that no did SOTO excite
their ardour and his own zeal in ~discharg-
ing their several duties in a county so
distinguished.
He then adverted briefly to the history
of the recent past, the reign of opprcs-
sion, tyranny and lawlessness, now hap
PLY, and he hoped ~irrevocably epded.
We still have, he said, the difficult prob
lem to solve, the most difficult political
problem ever offered for solution to any
people by which a lately enslaved and
newly e%nfranchised race are made co-ele-
mepts with us in the body polite.
He admonished the grand iuryto think
of the great solemnity Of the response
bility which rested on them well and
faithfully to discharge the duties Of their
office in the face Of many purplexing diff
ficulties.
After ~pronorncing an encomium on
the system Of trial by jury, Judge Hud-
son proceeded to give the grand jury the
usual instructions.