The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-06-29

ages and under oil forms OF poyernmant
the legal profession has more influence
aud attairs more power and Importance
under Democratic form Of government
such as ours. Necessarily from our ranks
are chosen all the mem Oers OF the iudiri
ary. Our profession has furnished ma
Jnrity OF the Presidents of this country. a
very large number OF the Senat"rs and
members OF Congress and State l.oyisla-
tures; and large proportion ofthe leaders
ot public opinion have been members OF
the Bar
How important, therefore, i; ~ that the
standard Of our profession should pe
Kept high AZ to learning, high as to honor
anu integrity and high as to courtesy
rests largely with the Bar Of Coun-
blessing or burden. A Court House
sb uld represent law and O. der. It
sNould be place for the punishment of
w breakers and for the peaceful settle-
ment OF disputes between man and man
The Court should be- the refuge OF the
oppressed. the shield and buckier OF the
innocent, tho champion OF the poor and
MIN who hath no helper, the defender of
the widow and the guardian OF tho father.
ie. 1Sss. IL should be In truth and in fact
Temple of Justice. IL will be 40 II the
members of the Bar are men of honor
and integrity. ns they should be. in whose
hands are placed in large measure the
tnost important interests Of their fellow
citizens, affecting their life liberty and
property. With such Il bar q Court
House Ii centre Of beneiicent influence
making itself felt to the utmoat borders
Of the County--a centre of light and
learning. culture and courtesy. honor
and integrity.
Much depends also upon the purity of
the jury.box and the impartiality OF
Jurles. We frequently hear charges
made against the sys,a,si of trial NV ;,:1y
tn
abolish IT. In spite Of all that have
heard and read on this subject and after
many years Of observation and experi-
ence, trust l may 5e permitted 70 say
that trial by jury in South Carolina is by
no means failure, hut that on the con
trary the vast majority of cases sue
ceed In reaching the right verdict.
Cases occur, no doubt, in which there
seems tn be miscarriage ofjustice. Rut
bu0h cases are OF rare occurrences.
To secure good juries. let the Jury com
missioners exercise the discretion the law
allows them and place on the jury llat
only men of good character and inteli-
gsnce, discardinE the vicious aud in
competent and Ignorant. Then, with only
good mems names in the jury box, no
tad jurors will be drawn out.
trust that It is not improper that I
should refer t0 the presence OF ladies in
the Court Room at the opening ceremony.
To me 1t In very gratifying. aud eminent
ly right that they should he here The
Curt Room Ia II public place; trials must
be had in public, according to the man
date Of our Constitution. And woman
has an equal right with man To come 70 the
Court Room and attend trials of causes.
Besides. her presence there, az every.
where else, has Il very beneficial effect,
compelling even the rudest men to q gent
Ter course Of conduct, sOfteuing the as
perities OF the Bar, and causing all TO oh.
a n ri ofo 6up of
decorum and courtesy. I trust that wo-
mans presence here to-day is q happy
augury OF the future Of this Court-tbat
woman's refining and elevating and sof-
tening Influence will frequently be ex-
erted In This b.autiful Court Room.
It was meet and right to mark the
opening Of this Court with simple but
becoming ceremony. 1t was meet and
right to invoke the blessing OF the AL
mighty, the Judge OF all the earth. It 10
meet and right that music's inspiring
sound should be heard on this joyous oo-
casion. It is meet and right that in look
Ing forward to the future OF Anderson
County, with which future history thie
Court House will be closely associated,
wo should alec look back and forget not
the memories and examples of our lore.
fathers. Is II not also meet and right,
while we are gathered here this morning,
TO remember two young members Of thiG
Bar, whose accustomed seats are vacant,
because they have, at their country's call
to arms. left these peaceful scenes, and
now, at the Camp OF Chickameuga. await
orders TO nc owe to the seat OF war? MAY
the gallant Watkins and Grant return to
their home iu honor and In safety. to re-.
sumo their plaC at the Bar, worthy
successors OF those Anderson lawyers OF
former days, who added the honora Of
the soldier TO the reputation Of the law
yer-some OF whom see before me now,
In mo nof nd vie 20,
az we have done this morning. to tledi-
cate this new Court House TO the high
and important purpOBes for which IL Ia
intended. Long may 1t stand the pride
and ornament of this town aud County,
the embodiment OF Justice, law aud or
DER, amid happy. prosperous and law
abiding people.
In short but eloquent and impressive
speech g. L. Prince, Esq, presented the
Criminal Code to Solicitor Ansel, who re-
sponded 30 follows:
Mr.. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen: ex-
press but a faint impression Of my feelings on
u1s and satisfaction to take part in these csc t tded
Jnsse to for Il ba
May justice ever. and always, be meted out with
accept with pleasure the Criminal Code which
has been hhnded me by my distinguished friend
and brother IN the lay and shall endeaxor, ~
man and To let no guilty one escape.
Tho welfare Of every country. anu its progress,
depends In q largo measure upon the duo and
etrict observance Of the laws OF the land; one
important branch OF the law is tho criminal law.
Tho general nature OF crimes and their punish
ment forms In every country the Code OF Grim
inal Law. says Mr.. Blackstone. more usually
denominated In England the doctrine OF the
Pleas OF the Grown SO called, because the King,
In whom centres the majesty Of the law Ia sup
posed by the law to be the person injured by
every fnfraction OF the public rights belonging
to that community, and is therefore In all cases
the proper prosecutor for every public offence.
In this country where we live under republ-
can form Of government, we have no King and
hence the State. who is the mother OF us all,
takes the place OF the King and she becomes the
prosecutor in every case.
The Importance OF a full knowledge of this
branch Of the law Ia or the utmost Importance
To every one. for, as was said by 5ir Michael
Foster. .DO rank or elevation IN II Q, no upright
ness of heart, no prudence OF circumspectOn OF
conduct should tempt a man to conclude that he
may not at some time or other he deeply inter-
ested In the~e researches"
The first violation Of the law that we have any
record of was the eating OF the forbidden fruit
v Mother Eva n the CyarfIan Of Efien AMI 4 he