The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-09-12


in the Circuit. This condition of things
has disappeared. With the present in
telligence and fitness Of incumbents dis
charging the various duties of county
officers, every satisfaction is given, nc
complaints are made, and the machinery
of local government moves along smooth
ly.
5th. In this Circuit the pledges made
by the administration rs to the protec'
ton of persons, their rights and property
have been rigidly adhered to, and any
one seeking to encroach upon these sol.
emn promises and to violate the law have
been held to strict accountability.
In conclusion I respectfully state Gov
ernor Hampton's administration has
been success in every particular, and
am prepared to say so far as my knowl-
edge extends, the people are more pros:
porous and there exists feeling of good
will and harmony amongst all classes.
SOLICITOR SELLERS, OF THE FOURTH
CIRCUIT. 49,
w. W. Sellers, ESQ.,, Solicitor of The
Fourth Circuit, writing from Marion on
August 9, says:
Crime on my Circuit is greatly on the
decrease. Since my official term as pros
ecuting officer for the State on this the
Fourth Circuit commenced, at least
three -fourths of the cases prosecuted in
the Court of Sessions were for crimes
committed anterior to the evacuation OF
the State House by Governor Chamber
lain in April, 1877, very great number
of which land most diabolical in degree)
we're perpetrated during the contest for
the State Government in the winter of
1876 and 1877, and spring Of the latter
year.
My Circuit (perhaps the heaviest in
the State) was, during the time indicated,
visited and infested by all sorts of crimi-
nails. Crime was prevalent, as the re-
cords of the courts will show, and SIS Col.
Parmele's books will attest. But am
glad to see marked diminution, both in
number and degree.
During the same time / have but few
cases in which white men had violated
the rights of the colored man, and such
cases now are very rare. When such
cases occur feel it even. more than a
duty, if possible, to prosecute with vigor.
7 attribute the decrease in crime to
several causes combined; the chief one,
however, is the fair aud impartial ad-
ministrstior of the law and the certainty
of punishment that follows its violation.
Wherever there is confidence, awe and
respect are inspired.
SOLICITOR ABNEY, OF THE FIFTH CIR
CUT.
J. r. Abney, Esq, Solicitor of the
Fifth Circuit, writing from Saratoga, on
August %, says:
. In the Fifth Judicial Circuit, to which
nv personal knowledge is confined, !
think there has been decided diminu-
ton in both the number and degree Of
crimes. 1t may not, however, so appear
to every one, as there have been tried in
the courts annually since Governor
Hampton's installation more criminals
than before but this may be explained
by remembering the inefficient and cor
rupt trial justices and officials, who were
then charged with the duty of enforcing
the law, and how they failed 70 prose
cute. Now it is otherwise, and the law
is enforced in every case where the cir
cumstances require an investigation.
Yet, it cannot be denied that in some
counties of this Circuit the law is not
revereuced as it should he, but in those
there has been diminution. In one o!
two of them it might properly be said
that there was scarcely any administra'
ton of the law for eight years previous
to the installation of Governor Hampton
and the people had but little confidence
in its certainty; and this caused passion
ate and bad men to take the law into
their own hands, and sometimes quiet
and good men were erasperated to it
Confidence in the administration Of the
law is now restored, and the habit &C
quired by some of taking the law int
their own hands, or rather of disregard
| ing all law, must be given up, IS ever!
good man condemns it, and every county
will cease to tolerate it.
As to your special inquiry / am pleased
to reply that there are now comparative
| " few crimes committed by whites il
said Circuit against. colored persons
The sentiments expressed by the Gov
ernor as to the colored mans rights
believe to be entertained by the people
| in all sincerity; aud l believe the whit,
jurors generally are scrupulous to aware
Justice to the colored people. Since tn
colored race have been rescued from
their pretended friends, their real friend
find in their breasts the sympathy ant
kindly feeling of old fully restored, ant
that race, too, seem to appreciate tn,
truths told them by the whites during
the last campaign and before.
It should be matter OF pride to ever.
| white man in the State that the pledge
| made by the Governor and the Demo
cratic party have all been kept, and tn
iustness of our position demonstrated ant
every allegation against the other part.
sustained, and every colored man in tn
State should rejoice.
SOLICITOR GAsToN, OF THE SIXTH CIR
CUT.
T. C. Castor, ESQ.,, Solicitor of tn
Sixth Circuit, writing from Chester Of
August 10, says:
Within the limits of the Sixth Circui
of this State there has been, since the in
stallation of Governor Hampton, grea
diminution in the number and degree @
crimes committed, especially of crime
committed by whites against colofe
persons. -
SOLICITOR BALL, OF THE SEVENTH CIR
CUT.
B. W. Ball, Esq, Solicitor of the Sew
enth Circuit, writing from Laurens Cour
House, August 20, says:
Generally in this Circuit crime ha
largely decreased since the inauguratio
of Democratic jurisdiction, say eight
per centum. There were 8 large numbe
of convictions in 1877 for offences com
mitted previously, chiefly for larceny
burglary and arson.
These crimes, more particularly, hav
diminished, and the criminal calenda
now consists mostly of assaults of minc
character, and not as between whites an