Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-05-01
THE SPECTACLE IN SOUTH
CALOLINA.


lesion, South Carolina, the general
public have no adequate conception
of the high-handed proceedings which
the Democratic leaders in that State
have instituted to defeat the ends of
justice. The State authorities have
not only appeared in the court to de-
fend those who are accused of violat-
ing Federal and State election laws,
but, in the most violent manner, they
have assaulted the Federal Govern
ment and it's officers. The Demo-
cratic leaders, including the law Off
GERS of the State and the newspaper
representing them, the Charleston
Meas, daily charge the court of pack
ing juries in order to secure convic-
ton. Men of influence and respecta-
bility have joined the conspiracy to
defy and overawe the Federal Court.
They have raised the cry of Federal
usurpation and have appealed to
South Carolinians to resist an insult
to laws and people of their State.
The prosecuting attorneys, all Dem
ocrats, are openly insulted on the
streets and denounced as traitors to
their party. The windows of the ho-
tel where one of them is living have
been stoned at night and the men,
bers of District Attorney Melton's
family have been insulted on the
streets. All that violent demonstra-
ton, threats and ostracism can do to
defeat the fair trial of men, of whose
guilt there can be no doubt, is being
done. Day after day the columns of
the Charleston Neoos are filled with
insulting remarks about the court,
with vilification of every man who
does his duty, with gross misrepre-
sensations of what is going on, and
with partisan appeals designed to in
terfere with the work of the court.
Jurors who have the frmness to do
their duty are denounced and held up
for public execration. There is
abundant evidence that conspiracy
has been formed to prevent the fair
trial of any guilty party. One Incl
dent, which clearly establishes this
theory, is found in the case of two
election officers, who pleaded guilty
to the charges made against them,
and excused themselves on the ground
of ignorance. The Charleston Meas
in bold readiness, accuses these men
of making bargain, and in bitter
editorial denounces them, and even
their lawyer, Democrat, for per-
hitting his clients to make admis-
sions of their guilt, and praises those
lawyers who retired from the case
because they refused to have any
thing to do with accused parties who
would not take their chances with
others charged with similar offences.
In one case, where the guilt of the
accused was proved beyond doubt,
one juror stood out against convic-
ton because, if he did not perjure
himself, his hotel business would be
ruined. Great cry is made against
the packing of juries; but the fact
that one of these juries promptly ac-
quilted man against whom the evil
uence was not snffieinnt to warrant
conviction goes to prove that this
charge is only a part of the wicked
conspiracy to defeat the ends of jus.
tice. The further fact that one jury
was composed of ten Democrats and
two Republicans proves that the
charge of jury-packing is groundless
1t is further charged that the Gov
ernment's lawyers are determined tt
convict and punish all who are in
dicted. That the two men who
pleaded guilty and prayed for con
sideration because they were igno
) rant of the law were discharged OF
the motion of the prosecution does
not sustain that accusation.
| Such are few of the features ant
incidents attending the trials now il
progress. They may show the EN-
; barassments under which the prose
cution labors, but they can give bu
a faint impression of the lawless an,
vindictive spirit which shields viola
tors of the law and defies the Unite,
States Court and it's authority 1t i
the same lawless spirit which fire,
upon Sumter; the same insolenc
which was exhibited toward the Fed
eral Government in 1860-61.-
. ROef04) TO9t9.3a nj