The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-03-31
Judge Kershaw OH Lynch Law.

Last year the Governor Issued o circular 10
the Judges and Solicitors requesting tuem 70
report upon the condition OF the criminal
calenda, y OF their respective Circuits.
With considerable unanimlty, IL Is shlu,
they reported that crime was generally great
Is decreased from former years: buS In rela-
ton to crimes OF violence and blood there
was a marked Increase. attributable to two
| ~causes-chictiy the growing huolt OF lhteh,'
perance and the custom Of carrying conceal
ed deadly weapons. These, no doubt, are the
fruitful causes OF crimes OF this nature, IN,
temperance Is a subject which experience
teaches cannot be successfully dealt Win by
| legislation. Laws may be passed rendering
II more or less difficult to indulge the haolt,
but none have been found adequate 10 sup
press 1t. The remedy must be found IN the
creation OF q sound public opinion. When'
! ever 1t shall become sufficiently disreputa6le
to drink TO excess then drunkenness Will Ue-
come loss rare. But there would De no oil.
fculty In suppressing, by law, thu habit OF
carrying concealed deadly weapons, now so
prevalent. Such n measure was considered
by the Legislature at the recent session, but
is greatly to he regretted. 1t would be dill
cult. II not impossible, TO say how mucn the
state is injured by this custom. In an eco.
uoinicnl point OF view, which Is tne loWcst
that can be taken, 1t Is the cause OF heavy pc.
cuniary loss to the people, on account OF the
number of prosecutions In the courts, Of
Which 1t Is the prolific source.
Aside from this, the reputation OF the STATE
Is made to suffer all over the world ny, the
frequency OF crimes OF blood. The tide OF
Immigration which would Naturally turn to-
wards this most favored region OF our coun-
try is diverted to other and more orderly sec
tions not naturally So attractive. Men OF suo.
stance and character will avoid o country
where human life Is cheaply held. But Inc
moral injury done to the STATE Is OF Infinitely
more consequence. great as THESE evlls may
be, There is always All inqusition Tor olood
and the very land Is cursed t ior ohIo fhs Iear u.
ful reckoning be beyond human recognition
Excuses are made for this habit to the enecl
that the condition Of society here renders II
necessary for the people 70 bear ssa arms; tha'
Ing here, and the peculiar aggrayations al
lending ali differences liable to arise between
the races, divided rs they are, not only In
politics. but also In social ondlti9pLtn 4nt
mostly labordrs. between whom, as IN al
countries. there are antagonisms, likely, tt
disturb society. All these are urgeo Us q JUS
tilcation. Certainly none OF these causes nre
snficIent to Justify the custom. Observation
teaches us thu arms are seldom used on &C
clsions OF great public disturbances; usually
they are employed In private quarrels, anc
often between people OF the same socia
who suddenly quarrel, generally, over theil
CUBS. II all are disarmed 1t Will pc admittet
that the supposed necessity would cease u
exist. In times OF great excitement ana VIC
Il 1PnCG VnaU UllkIlG Jlolily Az
people, they could carry arms openly, IN view
| Of ali men, The constitution OF the Unitec
States guarantees this right, and IL would moi
when demanded by circumstances, be o1Jec
tNnabie. The appearance pea IN er o. arms t tnaS n Spea
an all would be put upon their guard. ltlst u
be hoped hi the Legislature Will yet act up
on this subject. I have invited your atten
ton TO It because We are al II r re1ds}nS to tb LII
Important matter. II 1t should please you U
make any representation 10 the Legislator
in regard to 1t, 1t Is In your province TO do &
In your general presentment; dr,v ~ "a,
your attention TO the growing dispositlor
manifested Of late TO iset aside the admins
tratIon OF the laws and to execute summar
veng canoe upon eyil-doers, unaer tne pre-
of a certain character, whose atroclty Is sup
posed TO place the accused without the paleo
, legal projection. However well-meant by the
actors in these deeds OF violence, they ar
nevertheless trampling upon the sovereign
attributes OF the State, bringing justice inte
contempt, abdicating Christian civilization
and d~isorganizing society. SUCH acts are no.
tolerated In any other clviilzed country IheJ
bring shame and reproach upor the STATE
which condones them. Our constitutions ano
laws entitle the vilest wretch accused OF the
most abhorrent crimes to q fair and impartial
trial in the courts OF justice, In order TO insure
as we'll the protection OF the innocent as the
punishment OF the guilty. With oil the safe
guards afforded persons charged with crime
the history of criminal jurisprudence every.
where abOunds with instances OF innocent
men who have fallen victims s, to Ale a accusa.
stances. With M Infatuated crowd to accuse
Is to condemn. When an autocrat |n e
knows no law save his own VIII drags mn &C,
cused subject to the scatfOld without formal
trial, the world thrills with horror at the act
of barbarity and tyranny. Why should the
similar act of an excited populace which VIC,
lates all law he regarded with more faVor7
How many in number must be the ministers
to s%ane,lfy the net of f. ruthless naH s1.s ye M srI,ne'
chiefly, who shall say how long IT shall stop
there" Vindicators now Of public justice,
who can say that they shall not become In
time exetutioners of private malice? Above
oil. where now, in relation to crimes IKE
these. is there ground to distrust the faithful!
admlnistration OF the laws which al1ne could
furnish m excuse for such acts?, These are
matters which should engage the attention
and solemn consideration Of every good GU,
the law in one particular, they VIII Violate u
in Others. Crime cannot be half licensed.
Let us hope that we have seen the last OF mob
law in South Carolina.