The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-11-30
THE MAJESTY OF THE LAW.
N Circuit Judge EXalts Local Self
Government and Condemns "Highcl
Law known as I.ynching.

|
Law" known as I.ynching.
Judge Aldrich, of Aiken, had the
| honor to be the first to charge Jury in O
| court Of general sessions Tor Green
wood County. The county has been at
tached to the Seventh circuit, and con-
sequently Solicitor Sease and Steno-
grapher Campbell OF that circuit were
In attendance.
When court was called to order
! Judge Aldrich took the occasion as a
proper one Tor some remarks of more
than usually general and extended
nature to be made to the grand jury.
He spoke t. that body in substance
as as follows:
To-day new leaf in the history of
your section has been turned. This is
In keeping with the entire history OF
that mastcrful race to which YOU be-
long-a race which has controlled
largely the thought and action OF the
world and has greatly advanced the
interests OF civilization.
The record of the white race has
been constant aspiration for home
rule. Our forefathcrs, leaving the
oppressive monarchy of England, came
to the wilds to establish home rule.
Various colonies were formed out of
the territory thus secured and these
colonies became States. These bless
ing wore achieved at great sacrifice.
Acting on this vital Anglo Saxon prin.
ciple OF home rule, the people in
various sections Of the States parceled
themselves into districts, the better to
provide for local !fgovcrnment, for
the orderly administration Of law and
the promotion of order generally.
South Carolina, at first divided into
large districts, gradually became sub
divided into counties that the general
welfare might be better promoted.
Mark you those results were not
reached by violence, but through peac-
able and orderly channels.
In pursuance OF these principles,
therefore, the people OF this section
asked the people OF other counties to
helr them obtain this boon OF local self
government. Possessing the requisite
population, the property, the intelli-
gcnce, the advanced civilization to
| entitle them to be made separate
division of this glorious common
wealth, you were granted the county.
Having achieved this happy result By
compliance with law, you are entitled
to all its advantages. The rest of the
people OF the State bid you God speed.
The first leaf in the judicial history
OF Greenwood county has ben turned
Segregated from two great old coun-
ties, counties with illustrious records,
counties that have produced illustrious
men, counties whose sons have made
| glorious records on the field OF battle,
on the forum, at the bar, on the bench
in the halls of legislation. The whole
country reveres the memories of many
sons of Abbevi!le and Edgefeld.
L am satisfied that on the soil now
constituting Greenwood county great
men have been born--men whom it is a
privilege to honor, whom it Is treason
to forget. Remember their glorious
records and maxi Greenwood county
worthy of it.
The future l'Ls before you. | an
satisfied you will develop your great
natural resourc, 8. AS in travelling
through this up.country [ see your
school houses and churches, farms anC
towns, | am sure your future will be
great. | note your faces arc stamped
with the resolution to do your whole
duty wherever God may call you.
Citizenship Is the highest trust mar
is called on to exercise. The corner
stone of society Is law. Without Law
your school houses and churches ar,
vain. Liberty without law is chaos
The most unbearable tyranny Is th'
tyranny Of multitude. One tyran
will rule in some fashion, but the mol
Is composed of numerous tyrants, eacl
one law unto himself.
Mobs mean misrule, misery AM
blood-shed. Society is doomed whei
the mob gains sway; but rs long as w
|. respect and enforce the law We ar
safe.
1t Is adherance to law and love @
order that makes this nation of our
great, makes 1t the giant of the West
! With the integrity of the law presery
ed this giant can live without the res
, Of the world. The durable greatnes
OF England Is due to this love OF Law
Wherever the English tongue Is spoke
l you find the school house, the churc
/, and the court house. The three G
8 together throughout the civilize
+ worAd. While the mobs OF France an
the disorganized armies of German
t hava played havoc with peace an
have destroyed their government, Eng