Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-09-18
Misfellaneuns &eadina.
GREENYILLE FEDERAL COURT.

GREENYILLE FEDERAL COURT.
The following is the presentment of the
grand jury for the August term Of the United
States Court for the Western District South
Carolina, the Hon. George S. Bryan, District
Judge, presiding:
The grand jury, after discharging the va
rious duties which have devolved upon them
during the present term of the court, beg
leave to submit: ........... ,-.-.. ....
We congratulate your Honor and the coun-
try upon the great reduction in the number
and degree of offences against the laws of the
United States,s now committed within the
jurisdiction of this Court, and of which it has
cognizance, which can eventuate in an in
crease of peace and prosperity to the citizens
and timely reduction of the expenses of this
department of the General Government.
We would record our appreciation of the
recent act of Congress, the benefcent opera
ton of which has been witnessed for the first
time in this Court during the present term,
viz: of the defendants being allowed to testi-
fy in their own behalf, thus afording juries
all the light which can be attained upon
every case while allowing them discretion
to attach such weight as they deem proper to
the evidence. In this connection we deem it
our duty to give expression of approval to
the liberal spirit of influencing the govern.
ment in granting amnesty to violators of the
revenue laws within the borders of this State,
and are happy to add, so far as this grand
jury has information, that it has been met IN
spirit of good faith and appreciation by
those ofour fellow-citizens to whom its bene-
fcient provisions were extended, as evidenced
in this class of our population, no longer
cumbering the dockets of United States Courts
with repetition of former infractions Of the
law, and acting on the dictates of a broad hu
manity, of which this act of the government
is felt to be the embodiment. This grand
Jury indulges the hope that the wisdom and
patriotism of the National Congress may sue
ceed in devising such notifications of exist
ing revenue laws as will subserve the best
interests of the government, without work
ing undue hardships to any class of our fel
low.citizens and the United States commits
sioners shall be especially careful, while vigi.
liant to uphold'the supremacy of law without
injury to the rights Of the citizen, not to
withdraw from the productive industries OF
the country or subject to the inconvenience
of constant attendance, and at times protrac,
ted and expensive litigation before United
States Courts, those of our fellow citizens, only
trenching in matters trivial on the letter, not
the spirit, of the statute, especially where ig-
norant of the provisions of the revenue laws
of the country. 80 E..~
We are deeply impressed with the convic.
. ton that the peace and prosperity Of this sec
ton of our common country would be greatly
promoted, violations of the law less frequent,
the revenue of the government increased and
the expenses of this country greatly reduced,
were the laws for the collection of taxes on
spirits and tobacco simpli6ed.
In our opinion the present system is both
complicated and expensive, requiring as it
does large detective force, which can never
accomplish results commensurate with the
great outlay imposed upon the government.
A simple law, imposing license tax in pro:
portion to its capacity on every still used
in manufacturing spirits, would, we believe,
bring larger revenue to the government
and greatly reduce the cost Of collection.
The present law, preventing the smallest
farmers from selling their tobacco to any one
except a tobacco manufacturer, imposes a
hardship upon them, Of which we think they
should be relieved by appropriate legislation.
In view of the fact that this Court, repre-
senting as it does more conspicuously than
any other agency in our midst the National
government, has no building at its command
in which to hold its sessions; in view also of
the growing Importance of the city Of Green
vile, and the whole section of country com.
prising the jurisdiction of this Court, and the
obvious need of a suitable building at this
point, not only for courthouse, but for a
postofice and other government offices, for
which are now paid heavy rents, with insufi-
cient accommodations, as the present juries
have severely experienced, we earnestly re-
new and repeat the recommendations of for.
mer grand juries, that our senators and rep
resentatives in Congress be requested to urge
the Importance of an appropriation for that
purpose upon the General Government at the
earliest practicable period.
This grand jury cannot close without re-
turning their thanks to the presiding Judge
for his able and instructive charge and expo.
sition of the relative duties of citizen and
government at the opening of the present ses.
sion of Court.
Our thanks are also due to the other officers
of the Court for uniform official courtesies
extended this grand jury in the discharge Of
duties imposed on them by law. All of which
is respectfully submitted.
C. T. HAMMOND, Foreman.
August 80, 1879.