The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-08-01
JUDGE KERSHAW AND THE NORTH.
ERN PAPERS.

Come OF tue leauln8 Northern news
papers take pleasure in raising the
"bloody Shirt" and in making an unjust
and unwarrantod' attack upon Judge
Kershaw for his decision in the -e-enue
cases. The questions involved were
purely legal, and the decision, which is
an elaborate one, is rendered in q digni-
fed and legal strain. To review the do
cision would be work of supereroga-
ton. There is bu. one tribunal to re-
view 1t, and it is presumed that in the
due course of time the Supreme Court
will review it, and either set it aside or
confirm it. The conflict of Jurisdiction
between State and Federal Courts is not
an uncommon occurrence, and such is
likely to be the case rs long as the gov
ernment lasts. The New York Evening
Post seems disposed to look at the whole
matter from q common sense standpoint,
and its criticisms and structures on the
other papers for their TRADES is pointed
and pertinent. There are facts connec-
ted with the revenue troubles in the
mountain regiol.. of South Carolina,
these papers seem to. ignore. A few
years ago one Alexander Mattison, a
revenue officer, captured one Davis, who
had been or was engaged in the illicit
traffic OF whiskey, and after disarming
him, brutally shot him down as though
he bad been "A hog. Mattison was ar
rested, and was in the hands of the State
authorities and held for trial, but the
Circuit Court of the United States issued
Q. writ Of ha5eas corpus, and Arattison,
instead of being tried, was thought by
the best government under the sun to be
worthy of higher honors, being promoted
to higher and more lucrative position
in the civil service. Whether govern
ment or its Judiciary can be accessory
after the fact ia question yet to be de-
cided; but it does seem that it has re-
ceived, relieved, comforted and assisted
at least one felon, which if an individual
were to do, he would be treated as an
accessory after tho fact. No doubt the
Ladd murderers thought the Court would
follow the same precedent in their case,
and hence their great anxiety &c be trans
ferred to the United States Court.
AS our readers know, when these four
revenue officers had accomplished their
bloody work, they fed to Greenyille,
and with the facility which characterize
many Republican officials, they had in
vented beautiful story entirely exone.
rating themselves, and wnich they spread
over the country with electric speed, and
al ignorant public was almost ready to
exclaim, "Well done, good and faithful
servants.' But for the timely and gen.
erous action of the Me,os and Courier in.
sonding faithful correspondent to slit
the whole nastter of these revenue .rou-
bles, juBticc would still have been slum-
bering on while .he blood Of poor Ladd
would have been crying in ysic for ven
geance. In Greenyille these ofiic,rs were
arrested, and afterwards appeared Sefore
Judge Kershaw, and moved to change
the venue to Anderson County. TGe
action was granted. gT'hhen gThhen L tho plot 10
escape justice began to thicken. Again
appearing before Judge Kershaw, with
the United Statos T;,trict Attorney, and
an ex-District Attorney for counsel, they
moved to transfer the case TO the United
Statea Conrt. Judge Kerahaw refused
the motion. He realized the Importance
of the deciaion and tina crave nnestinna
made. and after patient and calm inves-
tigatioi:5 with lew aud argument of ccun.
sci before him, he filed, es before stated,
an elaborate opinion, and upon an hypo-
theticai cage that if the United States
Court iE Issuing writ Of habees corpus
tfanacended ito authority no would diare-
gard the writs. This hos set the Outrage
tnilp, to grinding for the next campaign,
and with pans dipped Ia infaEly biaeker.
Shan inks they Islander Judge Kershaw
when thoy state that no openly sides with
the Illicit distillers, and does all he can
70 prevent their punishment. ANOTHER
l1arer with equal haseness with an 'sin-
aolssnt. nserbearlre5 tytani ical insubordi.
sassa desire 10 mlsrepgesens tradnce and
9ilisg peg Peopsss aed With 4 cheek g
81 lie siiashGr ~ lisa