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

liberal ana an non Or9Dl0 prOf06SlOD, and
he who would be worthy member of it
should be man of flearning and man of
honor. Influential and important in all
ages and under all forms of governme
the legal profession has more influence
and attains more power and importance
under a Democratic form Of government
such as ours. Necessarily from our ranks
are chosen all the members OF the iudci-
ary. Our profession has furnished ma
iority of the Presidents of this country, a
very large number of the Senators and
mem bers of Congress and State Legisla-
lures; and large proportion ofthe leaders
of public opinion have been members Of
the Bar.
How important, therefore, it is that the
stan dard of our profession should be
kept high as to learning, high az to honor
and Integrity and high as to courtesy
It rests largely with the Bar Of a Conn
ty whether the County Court House be a
blessing or burden. A Court House
should represent law and oder. 1t
should be place for the punishment Of
law-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 buckler OF the
innocent, the champion of the poor and
him who hath no helper, the defender of
the widow and the guardian Of the father.
less. It should be in truth and in fact
Temple of Justice. 1t will be 30 if the
members of the Bar are men of bonor
and integrity. as they should be, in whose
most important interests of their fellow
citizens, affecting their life. liberty and
property. With such a Bar Court
House is centre Of bene6cent influence
making itself felt to the utmost 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
juries. We frequently hear charges
made against the system of trial by jury.
and propositions made to amend it or
abolish it. In spite of all that I have
heard and read on this subject and after
many years Of observation and expert
ence, I trust 1 may be permitted to say
that trial by jury in South Carolina is by
no means failure, but that on the con-
trary the vast majority of cases sue
ceed in reaching tho right verdict.
Cases occur. no doubt, in which there
seems to be miscarriage ofjustice. But
such cases are of rare occurrence.
TO secure good juries. let the jury COM
missioners exercise the discretion the law
allows them and place on the jury list
only men of good character and intelli-
gence, discarding the vicious and in
com petent and ignorant. Then, with only
good mems names in the jury-box, no
lad Jurors will be drawn out.
J. trust that it is not improper that
should refer to the presence of ladies in
the Court Room at the opening ceremony.
To me it is very gratifying. and eminent
ly right that they should be here. The
Curt Room is 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 20 the
Court Room and attend trials Of causes.
Besides, her presence there, as every
where else, has very beneficial effect,
compelling even the rudest men to gent
Ier course of conduct, softening the as
perities of the Bar, and causing all to OBJ
serve higher standard of dignity and
decorum and courtesy. trust that wo-
mans presence here to-day is happy
aueury of the future of this Court-that
woman's refining and elevating and sof-
tening influence will frequently be ex-
erted in This beautiful Court Room.
1t 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. 1t is
meet and right that music's inspiring
sound should be heard on this joyous oc-
casion. 1t is meet and right that in look
ing forward to the future OF Anderson
County, with which future history this
Court House will be closely associated,
we should also look back and forget not
the memories and examples of our fore-
fathers. Is 1t not also meet and right,
while we are gathered here this morning,
to remem ber two young members OF this
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 Chickamsuga. await
orders to move to the seat OF war? May
the gallant Watkins and Grant return to
their home in honor aud in safety, to re-
sumo their place at the Bar. worthy
successors Of those Anderson lawyers of
former days, who added the honors OF
the soldier to the reputation OF the law
yer-some of whom see before me now.
1t is meet and right to gather together,
as we have done this morning. to dedl-
cate this new Court House to the high
and important purposes for which it is
intended. Long may it stand the pride
and ornament of this town aOd County,
the embodiment of justice, law and or
der, amid happy, prosperous and law
abiding people.
In short but eloquent and impressive
speech g. E Prince, Esq, presented the
Criminal Code to Solicitor Ansel, who re-
sponded ss follows:
Mr.. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen: ex-
press but n faint impression OF my feelings on
this occasion when say that it gives me pleas
ure and satisfaction to take part in these dedl,
catory ceremonies, setting apart TINS Iempie OF
Justice to the purposes for which 1t was DuilC.
May Justice ever, and always, be neted OUT Win
an even hand.
has been handed me by my distinguished friend
and brother in the law and shall endeavor, as
have ALWAYS tried to do, to convict no innocent
man and to let no guilty one escape; t., ,,ross
The welfare Of every country, anu It's progress,
tiepends in large measure upon the duc anu
strict observance Of the laws OF the land one
Important branch of the law is the criminal law.
The general nature OF crimes anu tnell P1;sn nr;,
ment forms in every country the Code OF Grim
inal Law, says Mr.. Blackstone. more usuaiiy
denominated in England the doctrine OF the
Pleas of the Grown; so called, because the hlns,
in whom centres the miilesty VI Inc "a" 1 - Sup r.
Dosed by the law to be the person injured ny
every infractiOn of the public rights belonging
to that community. and Is therefore IN All cases
the proper prosecutor for every puDilc onence.
In In this Country, where we live under repabll,,
can ca l.f form Of government we have no King and
hence the State, who is the mother OF us an,
takes the place of the King, and she becomes the
The Importance of Gull knowledge of this
branch of the law is of che utmost importance
to every one, for, as was said by Sir Michael
ness nf heart no prudence or circumspection of
conduct CONF should tempt man to conclude that he