The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1883-06-07
MACKEY on MELTON.
The Eccentric Ex-Judge Gives the Inside
History OF the Political Prosecutions In
South Cnrolina.

Ex-Judge Mackey, who is now living
in Washington, has been in Columbia
for several days. He was interviewed
BY a reporter for the Register on Monda7.
and gave his views at length abou. the
political prosecutions in South Carolina.
He said:
"It is true that l haze stated that
counsel from the North have been ap.
pointed to assist in the prosecution of the
election cases in this State upon the
written request of District Attorney
Melton. l have understood that the dis
trict attorney has denied this, and I
therefore state the facts. In converse.
ton that had with Attorney General
Brewster in December last expressed
the opinion that the appointment of such
counsel was in the highest degree impo.
litic, as calculated to repel every native
white Democratic juror from an impair.
tial consideration of the evidence, in a
State which had suffered grieviously
from the rule of the stranger, and where
such counsel, whatever their individual
or professional merits, would be stamped
at once by public opinion as the Hes
slams of the bar.
"Mr. Brewster then informed me that
upon the personal and written request of
District Attorney Melton he had assign.
ell Northern counsel, gentlemen learned
in the law, to assist him in the prosecu.
tion of the election cases. That Judge
Melton stated that he deemed it essen.
tial that he should be assisted by add.
tional counsel in the prosecution. and
that such was the deep.seated prejudice
and bitter hostility of the community at
largo against any effort on the part of
the Government to punish these election
frauds, that no member of the bar of any
eminence in his profession in this State
would accept retainer from the Govern.
ment in such cases, as to do 80 would
doom him to social ostracism. Hence
the appointment of Mr.. Saunders. of
Philadelphia, and Others. gentlemen of
great personal worth and of high stand.
ing in the profession. He stated that he
appointed Mr.. Saunders, a Democrat,
upon. the suggestion Of Judge Melton
that Democratic lawyer should be 90.
lected 10 assist him, rs more likely to
impress faYorably the Democrats on the
jury. ! remarked that, in my opinion,
it would have just the opposite effect
just as If during the war q flag of truce
had been sent into Confederate camp
in the hands of deserter from the Con.
federate army.
"In a subsequent conversation with
the attorney.general in the early part OF
last month informed him that r had
repeated to many persons in South Caro-.
lima what he had slated to me formerly
upon this subject, and he expressed bis
qualification that I had done 80, and
stated that Judge Melton had recently
written to him requesting that he would
assign an eloquent advocate from the
North 20 assist him--an able LAWYER who
would be strong before jury.
THE attorney. y.general, who know ia
worthy to be compared with Eldon or
Erskine in his profession, and disdains
the character aud arts of the politician.
disclaimed all political feeling in the
exercise of any Of his official powers In
reference to these election cases.
"As instancipg bis freedom Il ON polit.
ical prejudice, he atRted thai last year he
had urged the appointment of Gen. Jsmea
O5esnut, eouth Carolina Democrat. aa
o member of the Tariff Commission. and
that President Arthur, and Secretarv
Folger supported him earnestly for ouch
appointment In Cabinet meeting, but the
majority Of the Cabinet decided in favor
of a gentleman from Georgia Who was
urged by the Georgia delegation in Con.