The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1883-12-13
THE UNITED srATKs CIRCUIT counr.

The United States Circuit Court COM
menced its session in Columbia last Mon
day n week ago, and promptly entered
upon its accustomed duties i'm tho year
preceding general election-that of
trying alleged political offences. Thus
far Mr.. Melton and his coadjutor, one
Speer of Georgia, although by rulings Of
Judge Bond against tho deliberate dis
sent of Judge Bryan, have been enabled
to pack the juries by excluding every
Democrat ard selecting only Republi.
cans and their allies -Greenbackers-
yet they have been unable to convict n
single person, except Republican
United States Marshal. who plead guilty
Of drunkenness and disorderly behavior.
In the case Of Mitchell mistrinl was
had. There were upon tho jury three
men, not Democrats, who could not per-
jure themselves by believing the testi-
mony of the false witnesses. The coun.
try is more indebted to these men for
justice and sustaining the integrity Of
the Courts in the administration Of the
laws than the officers of the law, who, by
packing juries, seek to convict the accus.
ed without affording them fair and
impartial trial. We have no hesitation
in saying that Judge who permits
United States District Attorney, assisted
by hireling from another State, to select
jury composed of his political party
and sympathizers, and rejecting from it
every one not political ally, does not
afford to the accused fair and impartial
trial, and that such an organization Of
the jury is designed and intended to in.
sure conviction. The intent Of the pros
ecutions are not misunderstood they are
designed to invoke the strong arm of the
Federal government to overawe the good
people of South Carolina, and reinstate
fn power the Republican party, party
more. corrupt and degraded than ever
governed the people of free and intelli.
gent State. There is a future before
those engaged in making the Courts Of
j ustice partisan tribunals to uphold par.
t'ssn supremacy ut the expense of fair
impartial justice. Let the dark
...ad which shrouds the English Star
Chamber" and the infamy which is ever
associated with tho name Of Arnold"
warns those who now are striking at the
integrity and virtue of the temple ofjus.
ticc, of the future before them when the
passions of the day have subsided and
reason and Justice, uninAuenced by large
counsel fees, shall have reasserted their
supremacy.
The fair and intelligent of the United
States now condemn this packing of
juries. A few years ago this perversion
of Justice was so great and undeniable in
South Carolina, and perhaps other States,
that it called for the Intervention of
Congress, and that body passed an Act
the sole object of which was to prevent
the Courts and juries from becoming
partisan bodies and psrTsr.ing iuries,
by enabling each of the great political
parties to be represented on every jury
in the United States Courts. Congress
recognized the enormity Of the wrong
and the. gross ipjussice of selecting
Republican jury, and selecting them be.
cause they ara Republicans, to try their
political adversaries for a political of.
fense and yet Judge Bond has permit.
ted Melton and speer to override the
spirit and intention of Congress az ex.
pressed III the, Act, and to pack jury af.
ter jury, rejecting every Democrat and
selecting only Republicans and their
Allies. Every instinct Of common JUS
Ice between man and man revolts at
,uch partisan trials. tits the duty Of
he Judge 10 ses that every man accused
II nm offsass against tho laws Las q
air and impartial trial. This he cannot
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