The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1893-02-23

with this property"
Mr. barnwcll then said that there
was one thing which should be decided
quickly, viz: the rights of States to in
terfere with property in the hands of
receivers appointed by the United
States Courts. lie then SAID to the
Judges that if the county officers would
agrC to submit themselves to the or.
der of the court, and release the seized
property, and if thei" counsel would so
; tyise them, that he would urge that
offenders be not harshly dc alt with
g further expressed the hope that
they would he discharged with COSTS
All that he desired was to remedy
the present evil, he said, and to prevent
It's recurrence, or the establishment OF
Il pr" cedent that would encourage such
actions. He did not expect damage
from the county officers for the rail
roads, but sai;' that parties who had
suffered loss or incOn venience from TIE
seizures might at future time bring
such suits. Mr.. Barnwell's spn IN was
quite lengthy, and hy many pronounce
ed an able argument. His Bit ,rncss
IN referring to the State government
was not. however, approved by Il great
many of his hearers.
IhlS line Of argument was follow |
by the next speaker, and the tinge #
bitterness that showed itself in Mr..
Barnwell's uttprancPs was more fully
emphasized by Mr.. Henry Crawford, of
New 0rk. Mr.. Crawford is counsel
Tor the Richmond and West Point Ter
mlnal Company, which corporation has
Il big finger in the Richmond and Dan-
vile pie. From his speech it seems
as If Mr.. Crawlords little slice Of pie
disagreed with him, or that he was bent
upot arralen'ng and condemning some
OF south Carclinas most exemplary
and efficient CltlZe IS and officials.
lie spoke IN terms Of unmeaSured
contempt and animosity against the
Sherills and treasurers, and begged
hard for their punishment to Severest
limits OF the law. His speech has crc.
ated something or a sensation, and its
leroclty and vehemence is generally
regretted and condemned. Ir. CraW-
iOrd said he wished to have the power
and jurisdiction Of receivers clearly eS-
tabllShed. He also wished to present
some facts FOR the consideration of the
court. He said the trains seized in
transit ut Aiken contained other than
Richmond and Danvillc property, and
that consequently the seizures were H.
legal In more senses than one.
The officers and employees ofthe rail.
road are officers of this court, he con-
tended, because Of the receiVprShip of
their road established by this tribunal,
ANA therefore any interference with
them and the property in their custody
was interference with this courts af-
lars, and consequently a contempt, for
which the OileL ders should be punish
ed to the extent of the law. lie utter.
| a II n Il ~ trin NI :,
State having the right to act towards
property in the hands of Il receiver ap.
pointed by the United States Court in
che same manner us it would toward
private property. lie maintained that
the State must take its chances against
such property Just rs any private cred
ltOr Of the receivers road must do,
Crawford further claimed that the
county officers must obey the orders of
this court above any mandates Of their
State. lie then applied himself vigor-
ouSly and VenomouSly to the establish
ing Of criminallty on the part of the
ShcriIIS and treaSurcrS: and tried to
show that they were IiabI" to prospcu-
tOn and trial by jury for such criminal
action. He dwcit on the legal aspect
OF contempt, and expressed an earnest
desire that the maximum punishment
therefor ($JOD fine ANA three months
be inflicted upon the
ShcrlilS and trraSurerS in question, Gin
order" as he expressed il, "that the
contaglon Of laWleSSneS should not
spread further through South Carroll.
nd.
But this New y ork lawyer did not
stop here in his Outspoken animosity
OF South Cardinals law abiding and
eace-preserving officials. His next sen.
tence was an attack upon that mystic
rlouS advice that impelled these sherilrS
to their outrageous deeds of laWleSs-
ness, and encouraged and bolstered
them up in their stubborn disobcdience
OF the orders OF this court. 1t is not
the fault Of those in authority in South
Carolina that DlOOdShed did not result
from II & illegal Seizures of railroad
property. y grim responsibility rests
upon those men in authority, for had
the receivers OF the seized property so
elected they could with every legal
right have resisted to the death the
invasion of their domain. Then the
men in power in South Carolina, and
who inspired and are backing up this
laWleSSnesS, would have had the blood
OF their citizens upon their own hands,"
MIR. CrawfOrd'S speech, while pune
lhrcu mere ana there with citations of
law, was notable chiefly for its unco n .
promising bitterness and abuse. In
deed, it. was II regular "blOody shirt" IT,
rade against the sherilIs and treasurers
who have dared to perform the duties
imposed upon them by the laws OF their
state. lie spared no opportunity to
escape when he had II chance of ringing
in his favorte phrases Of "lawlessne"S
IN South ChrOlina,' "narrowly avert !.
bloodShcd,' and similar words, whir l.,
when used by 4 speaker upon the hust-
lngS, are usually denomlnated "incen.
diary language"
Mr., Crawford attacked the Brewer
and lilatchford decisions fearleSsly,
said they didn't apply in this case, and
even went so far aS to challenge their
SOundne.s. Then he hit lick at Mr.
James Norton. Chief Clerk in Comp.
trO!lcr General Ellerbe's Office, whom
he pronounced (without naming him)
as nSurprr Of the C0mptrOler's au-
th0fity. lle then spoke of the advpr-
tsing for sale bya sheriff some Of the
seized properly. This he wanted pun
tshed especially. An affidavit was
submitted by the railroads that such
advertisement had baen made by the
Sheriff Of Anderson Comfy.
MIR. CraW ford closed by making a