Year: 1860

the reliance we should place in the good
ness of that God, who will guide US in the
right way should be, our confidence in our
State, and our obedience to its laws We
are about to sever our relations with others,
because they have broken their covenant
with U.s. Let us not break the covenant we
have made with each other. Let US not
forget that what the laws of our State re.
quire, become our duties. And that he
who acts against the wish, or without the
command Of his State, usurps that sovereign
authority which we must maintain inviolate.


To you, gentlemen of the jury, | may
speak as the representative of the juries
with whom have been connected and to
you 1 now give expression to that couvic.
ton I have always had, Of the fidelity with
which the responsible duties of jurors have
been here discharged To my brethren of
the Bar, whose uniform courtesy and aid
have made my official intercourse and duties
the sources of pleasure and instruction, l
tender the assurances of kind and grateful
recollection.


To the officers of this Court, with whom
I have been so long and pleasantly con.
nected; to the Attorney of the United
States for this State, whose ability and f.
delity in the discharge of his duties merit
the highest com mendation to the Marshal,
whose zeal has ever kept pace with the OBJ
legations of his Office to the Clerk, whose
experience has ever been generously exer-
cised in the business of the Court; to all
other officers, who have invariably been ex'
act in all they were required to do; with
all of whom my official relations have been
productive of the highest qualification; I
now tender, as the last official act which |
shall here discharge, my kindest wishes for
their happiness and prosperity.


At the conclusion of these remarks, His
Honor laid aside his gown and retired.


A committee of the Bar having been ap.
pointed to wait upon the Judge, Mr.. Will
kinsou, as Chairman, requested His Honor
to resume his seat for a few moments. Mr..
James Conner, District, Attorney, rose and
said:


May 1t please your Honor: The officers
of the Court, in parting with you, desire
me to express to you their deep sense of
the kindness and courtesy which has so
uniformly characterized your intercourse
with them, and to return to you their thanks.
The feelings which prompt your retirement,
are shared by them. To some of them
there are considerations of overruing im-
portance, the force and propriety of which
no one can dispute, which must prevent
their action at present. No such cousidera
tions affect myself, and have now to an
nouuce to your Honor my retirement from
the official position which l have occupied
in the Court during your Honor's admin
istration. My position has been one in
volving much labor, and, at some periods,
no inconsiderable responsibility. have
endeavored fully to discharge its duties to
the best of my ability. For all that has
been done have neither apology to make
nor explanation to offer. The record is
clear and speaks for itself. What the fu.
ture will bring forth, none can tell. The
reasons which have governed me in the
present step, are satisfactory to my own
judgement. 1t is neither necessary nor
appropriate further to allude to them with
in the walls of Court of Justice. To
your Honor l am indebted for confidence
which has lightened my labors, and for
kindness which has rendered agreeable even
the most arduous duties. For myself and
the officers of the Court whose organ | am,
I beg leave to tender to you our warmest
wishes for your success, and that your fu-
ture may he as fruitful of honor to yourself,
and useful to the State, as has been your
past judicial career.


LETTER FROM JOHN LAURENs, ESQ.,
To the Editor Of the Charleston Mercury :
The crisis in our affairs requiring public