The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-07-29
Docs Law and G:stcr E'fev:iii ia South


We presume. in no month F,ncr Democrat"
yccorsi"uc:iur, has iilvic IVc:I 80 ii:tl!y :ccfs-
:ngiE mai:cions or !"cmcGii"ted mHid'fS III
-oulh Carolina, as there hes been within 'he
last thirty day, and IL now remains 10 DC seen
whether any inrT can he !";in! IN the SINE
ready and within" tn vinhirntc ~ii:siirr, 10 up
ho!d the law, and to act for the hc.' Interests
of society. There Is but little use OF wrltlhS
on the cnornity Of tho crime OF wllinl MUIR
der. nor Is there much necessity for lecturins
ou the Importance of surrrcssin% law!rsslcss
r. ,ur lu,-vS arc TO continue 10 be exceeding
kind to murders, nnI if jurics arc forever de-
'crmincd To- either pc:iurc themselves or 10
seek for trivial excuses to acQuit the criminal
for the highcS; crime known to the laW-that
nf taking the life OF = fellow man.
If the recent Killings nj Seneca city, M" III
!aurcns county, and in .Abhcrii;c county, are
10 90 ul.punishcd, then we contend That TIE
citizen Of South Carolina has nc protection
to his lie, and tina; law Is 1rhnI:c" under
foot, If sucl. acts of atrOcity are 10 be con.
donrt by Judges OF tic t"ui;S. AID excused
by iarirs OF tho ''p"crs' OF III" perpetrators OF
such crimes. :lcn the solemn promise Wilc.t
the state Of Soutl! Carolina Ul:kcs 10 every
citizen Chat he shall rot !c 'GINrirc! OF his
life, : bat by the Judgment o! his peers
or the laws of the land y is false and the gov
crnmcnt is imrotcnt to enforce It's laws, or 10
fulfill its promises to the citizen.
In the face of tho published statements III
reference to the different killings: ard In face
OF the following words OF tho CONSTRUCTOR
our Sun1cmc and eur Circuit Judges continue
TO grant bail, as far as VIC have noticed, 10
almost every applicant who has Slam ms
ncighhor. The organic law OF South Carolina
provides that:
AN rpr.ols shall, before conviction, he haila'lc by
sufficient sutetirs, crc"If FOR rNIh6' G!f"n!ctS' "h'M
the pyonf is cviisMt or he 1TrSn".p.t'H rs G|r0'.
II "thc proof is evident or the presumption
&c great" tina, q murder has been committed
neither the Supreme IuLI"s nor The Circuit
Judges have n sciatil!a OF lawful authority 10
grant bail, and when these high officers uo
grant bail 20 murIcrc"s. they virtually say 20
the country, the ''rrnct Is no; evident nor j.
the ]rrcsumption great Troy thus pTcj"dSc
n case. ard give the murderer the bcnrtt Oh
that high Official judgment, and The people
arc as competent r. sc arc 20 say whether
that Judgment Il an enforcement o! the law
To M outsider !; woal1 appear that nci'hcr o.
The recon. SiaycTs in .ibbSvii'c. III seneca, CT
IN Laurcns are entitled 70 bai! a. MI, ana Ec'
these slavc.s uEb!uShingly come !n;o INC
presence OF :hc highest peace officer OF INC
state who kindly bail aud set them 4; liberty.
The laws OF no country can he enforced ms
ions as bal! Is granted 70 mur&creis "i every
degree.
Docs rot tic case -!:l whtc:, S!AyHTs gel
bali. ana the consequent cer:":a:y OF nrqnh'
tal by their ~"pcCrj." 10 mucI 70 encourage
crime and 10 destroy tic cG:Hi"a;? OF tlc
people in the powc" OF the Courts 20 give Them
r-o.cc.:on" WEC;. Gici: confidence Is destroy
Cd, tic rue c: the mob arG !hc terror o. inc
.,uu: WI! take .l.c N'Gcr CT law %nh o:Gcr. III
our W opinion, II some OF tho icccit say
ers are not convicted and punished, .sicn "ii
outraged Tfop;c s;.oIi'. tHilc tho iaw :hlo
their own hands, ara !nci2 on; t!at justice
which, those who have been entrusted WITH
the execution OF TIC las hay" ia.'cd toaWaru.
Wholesale murder mu:: stop. S0nth C;roiihH
mus; assert her power, ard command INC P!s-
tol bully and the assassin, 20 keep tie peace
Tho enforcement OF the law against Il few Of
this class of people will do good. i VII! re-
store order. It will purify the air. 1t VIII re-
store tho confidence of our people In the
Courts, and teach them TO rely upon the law
OF the land rs their shield ana thor r:ctac-
ton.