The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-08-05
A PROTEST..

A PROTEST.. .
From the many editorials is the Press
and Banner Of last week, relating to
lawlessness, especially in this and [.an-
rens county, one would think that til"
people Of these tw" G,nnties :eirrc z set:
of c%ut-throats and dessiss'sdocs, S-h" de;
lighted only in Llood-sLcd end br"ils.
Against such sentiments. rs pusl;r jour;
%nalists, devoted TO s.ll,e interests OF the
State and especially Of Ahbeyille Cour-
ty, we desire TO. aatcr ,aaI mu!t eatdlcst
protest.
! We believe the editor Of the Press
and Banne9' TO zoe n sincere journalist.
but also believe that he has either al
lowed his prcjudices, or his extreme
dove for law and order to get the better
of him. when he utterS such sentiments
as are contained in the last issue Of his
paper.
The people Of AihcxiHc County are
rs Inv abiding and AZ peaceablc rs any
people on the face Of tho globe. Be-
cause, forsooth, one of it's citizens, in
defense either Of his life or his property,
is occasionally placed in such a posi-
ton that the taking Of n human life,
Aeven if the individual be colorcd,) is
necessary, VT are to be branded as .des-
peradoes, utterly regardless of the
rights and privileges Of others.
We protest too, against the general
,arraignlnent on sc serious a charge OF
tn, juries Of our County. If one or
Awo juries have, III the infalliblc cpin-
ion Of Of the editor Of the Press und
.Banne';, failed 10 do their duty, is it
right to arraign all Of the citizens Of Alb
.beville County on a similar Charge L?
The sarcasm and ridicule Of the Press
and Banner may be perfect, but it does
not carry that conviction which the
statement Of facts and particular in
stances would. Does the editor Of the
Press und Banner, mean to say the law
is never enforced in Abbeville County ?
Outsiders, who knows nc. tho history
of our County would infer such was
the case, after reading his article. The
instances Of capital punishment even
inflicted by Abheyille courts and Able
vile juries are too numerous and too
recent to warrant any such assertion.
The Press and Banner sur"ly cannot
think it is sustained in this njustitable
attack on the best citizens Of our Coun-
ty, for they compose the %jurics, 10y their
general yerdicts on questions Sub,pittcd
for their determination. IIayc whitc
men Of our County been convicted of
no crime? The records Of tbe courts
will not bear out this assertion.
We are afraid our friend Of the Press
and Banner wrote his editorials, with
out thinking seriously Of them. md the
effect they would produce outside the
County. He certainly did not mean for
the citizens of Abbeville County to be-
licve them, for he must have known
that they know the facts do not bear
out his wholesale charges.
We protest, too, against the Press
and Banner arraigning our Judges and
Supreme Judges. on the charge of as
sisting in this lawlcssncss When in the
discharge Of their solemn and swor
duty. A man commits no capital Of
fence when he defends his own life,
even to the death OF his nssailant.
Hard indeed would that law be, which
compelled a man to lie in Jail fur
months. it mny be, when. perchance lie
had been forced into the. csm mission OF
tho act, for which he is confined, soiv,y
in defence of his own life. This right
of bail is guaranteed to US by the con-
stitution !; it has been passed npon by
the highest ooHrts of orr land, and is
everywhere regarded AZ boulden right,
Notwithstanding the opinion of the
learned editor Of the P.sss und Bonuc,
on the law.
Now in conclusion, The Press and
Banner intimates, if it does not assert.
that guilty men have gone unwhip,
of justice for offences computed in our
County. Grant that such is the case,
has the great harm followed it which
he would have those, who do not know,
believe Has he never learned the
maxim quoted thousands of times, at
is better that nincty-nine guilty men
escape, than one INNOCENT nan be pun
'shed.' Justice tempered With mercy is
the kcsytone of orr liberties, and when
not recognized, farewell tn peace and
order, and prepare for rule by might.