Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-09-05
CIRCUIT COURT.

by speaker selected BY the ladies for the oc'
casion.
CIRCUIT COURT.
September term of the Court of General
Sessions and Common Pleas for York county,
bis Honor Judge A. P. Aldrich presiding,
convened at 10 o'clock, A. M, last Monday.
The grand jurors, who have served in that
capacity since last January term, answered to
their names as follows, only one being absent {:
E. R. Mills, foreman; W. S. Adams, Mil
ton Allison, Daniel Burris, James NJ. Bar
nett, Allen Bratton, NJ. l.. Dickson, M. F.
Duncan, w. G. Dowdle, J. T. Ferguson, B.
F. Garrison, A. S. Hopper, Green Hunt, w.
Y. JONES' W. S. Love, Samuel McFadden, D..
J. Smith.
Upon taking their seats, bis Honor ad.
dressed the grand jury as follows:
On former occasion I presided at the
Court in York county under circumstances
far different from those by which we are now
surrounded; at time when the people and
the officers of the law were hampered in the
discharge of their duties by petty military
commandants, who usurped their power by
arresting sentences and otherwise impeding
the action of the Courts. At that time the
track of devastation of an invading army was
well marked by the lone chimneys of ancient
residences and dwellings erected by our faith
ers, and gloom and dependency had well
nigh possessed all our people. But still there
was faint hope III our once fair State. Our
people had gone to work with the energy of
which they had ever been characteristic, and
with the determination to redeem their broken
fortunes. But the tyrannical military inter
ference was so continued thatbut little progress
could be made and at last, as if to show
their contempt of the law, these military sa-
traps issued an order to the Judges, requiring
them to compose juries in a way not contem-
plated by the law. Remonstrance to this Or
der was made by the Judges, but it met only
the silent contempt of those who issued it.
NV first Court, after the issuing of the order,
was at Edgefeld. had received no am ;:yer
from Candy but said that could not and
would not obey the order, and was removed
from office, when resumed the duties of my
profession, feeling that the time would again
come when would be permitted to wear the
robes of office; and now am here in the same
role under new form of government, thank
God and trust that the benign influence Of
live, will again, more vividly than ever, illus
trate the bright history Of South Carolina.
But bad as was the rule of Candy and his
satraps, to which have alluded, his rule was
succeeded by what surpassed every thing else
by state of affairs darker than the blackest
page in the history of civilization. Foreign
interlopers- neither Democrats nor Republi-
cans-but bummers and thieves, occupied our
public places, not with the view Of beneftting
the people or promoting the welfare the State;
but stealing and plundering, educating the
newly franchised negroes to plunder, and con-
verting the negroes into mere voting chattels.
Had any one previously told us that such a
condition of public affairs could have ensued,
or existed for any length of time, it would
have filled us with amazement. We could not
have believed it Yet these thieves have
robbed us of at least fifty millions enough to
make our State blossom as a garden, to place
every citizen on the road to prosperity, and to
have given the negroes handsome start in
their new condition. But now there is moth
ing. Nopublic improvements have been made
Nothing was done for the advancement of edu-
cation. Our University was neglected and
closed, even the unfinished State House allowed
to remain in the condition in which it was
left at the close of the war. =
But two years ago the people rose in their
might to correct these evils, and / am proud to
say that now we are under a government OF
our own. Home Rule has been restored to
South Carolina, and justice is administered
with an equal hand alike to every citizen,
whether rich or poor, exalted OF humble.
1t is due to US, however, to guard the victo-
ry that has been won. There is still necessity
for organization, unity of action and a resolu-
tion to continue the redemption Of the State,
and unless we keep up this spirit we will lose
all. In this connection, would remark that
regret to see in other sections of the State
though 1 do not know how it is in York coun-
ty-a feeling of prejudice against the members
of the bar. I shall always defend the integri-
ty and manhood Of the profession, and point
with pride to the fact that the lawyers, though
least in numbers Of all other professions, have
contributed more to the honor Of our country
than all the others together. Rutledge and
men of that stamp, framed the constitution
of the United States and the State of South
Carolina. And John c. Calhoun, Rutledge,
Preston, Cheves, McDufie, Hayne and a host
of Others-all lawyers-have contributed more
to the lustre Of South Carolina than all those
Of other professions identified with her history.
Hence regret to see the crusade against law
yers, which is springing up in several counties
of tile State. To the glory of the country, law
yers have contributed at least their full share.
In the Florida war. the Mexican war, and the
last war; who suffered more than the members
of the legal profession? Lawyers are gener-
ally supposed to live well but they die poor.
bring this subject to your attention, not be-
cause think lawyers are grasping for office,
but because do not think they should be ex-
cluded from the halls of legislation simply on
account of an ill-founded prejudice against
~ ~, ho,r ovtaf
against no honorable profession, surely as a
member of our legislative body there should
be none against lawyers. A man should be
selected as legislator because of his honesty
and fitness, and not because he may be of any
particular profession. I trust this unreasona-
BILE prejudice does not exist in this county, and
will not contribute to dissensions among your
people. # ...... .
AS to your duties, Gentlemen of the Grand
Jury, all public officers of the county are sub
ject to your supervision. 1t is your duty to
examine every office and to see that the incum-
bents properly discharge their duties. Byneg-
lect to do this, counties throughout the State
have suffered immeasurable pecuniary loss.
Taxes have been levied and collected, not to
be appropriated to the public use, but, to en-
rich a miserable set Of thieves. 1t is your
right and duty to see that the taxes are faith
fully and properly expended.
From my observation of the working of the
trial Justice system, regard it as cumbrous
and unsatisfactory. The administration of
the laws under the system, in many parts
of the State, seems not so much to mete out
justice as to collect fees, and too many of the
trial justices decisions are rendered mainly
with the view of throwing the cost upon the one
most able to pay. 1t is your duty to examine
into the trial Justices mode of administering
justice in this county, and if they are guilty
of any legal impropriety, report them to the
Court, so that they may be made to answer.
While you have the supervision of all the