Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-08-10

| JUL tue course you Oughtt 10 pursue IN or
| der to attain Al honorable fulGlment of
your Official pursuits.
But while we are zealousIy endeavour-
! ing to discharge with integrity the duties
we owe TO each other, let US not forget to
bear in grateful remembrance, the many
. sigma, avors which we have received from
Divine Providence; let us ardeniIy strive
4 so to regulate our conduet and actions in
I our obligations TO Cod, as to leave us con-
| scious hopes that the same Providence
! will ever continue to increase and protect
the prosperity ofthe people of Louisiana.
The constitution and laws OF the United
States assign to grand and traverse juries,
very important share IN the admiuistra-
iion OF public justice, and it is or the ut-
most concern TO every member Of the
community, that those duties should be
punctually and faithfully fulfilled. Com
neeted with the duty Of grand juries in al!
tree governments, is the important right
they hare at every court to which they are
called TO give their attendance for that
purpose, TO examine into the acts Of the
Legislators, and especially those of cri-
minal nature, and 10 exhibit to the bar of
public justice, all those who are wicked
and daring enough to act in violation of
any ei the provisions therein contained.
One of the faire.t features ia the Anne.
rican government is that spirit Of equality
which reigns through all its parts, so that
no man is superior TO the laws Of his coun-
try, that the great and the small, the rich
and the poor, all bow alike al the altar Of
Justice, and submit TO those obligations
j from which none are exempt The grand
jury is a body Of men selected for the pur-
pose oil preserving the peace OF the dis.
( ,rict over which they preside, and OF bring
ing 10 light FOR invcstig CATION and punish
ment all violence, outrages, breach of the
peace and every thing that may occasion
danger, disturbance, alarm, or dsnay to
the citizens.
They ave under a solemn obligation to
disclose every offence of which they have
knowledge. and examine every Charge of
which they have Information, and deliver
their jadement with strict and impar-
tiai regard to public justice, and to the pub |
lie peace 1t is the peculiar duty of The
grand jury to take cngnizance of all offen-
ces against the laws but in dischargine |
this trust, so essential TO public freedom,
care must be taken TO do il in such man
ner as to defend aud relieve the oppressed, !
protect The innocent. punish the guilty and
cherish and support the friendless.
Among the many wise and salutary pro-
visions which have been made in orcer.to
secure and pcrpetua,e the blessings of |
freedom TO the American people and their !
posieri,y none occupy higher ground Than
that which secures to them the invalusbIe
right oil the trial by jury. by this ADM
raole mode Of decision, superior to any o.
Their in the world, we End it carefully pro
vided that no man snail bs called to an
swer tor any crime unless upon the pre-
paraiory accusation oftweiye more of his
fellow citizens, the grand jury asting un-
Ger ell the Impressions of duty and the So
Tenn obligation of an oath the best
means that has ever been devised for as.
certairing the cause of justice, for we find
IN every religion the Deity has been in
voked To confirm the truth or punish the
iaisehood CT humane testimony, and that
TIE truth ofevery such accusation whether
! preferred in The SHAPE of indictment, in
formation or Otherwise, shall afterwards
De confirmed by the unan: nous suffrage
81 twelve OF his equals aad neighbours,
chosen in such manner as to remove e.
very idea of suspicion, and discard all ap-
prehensions Of partially or favor here
mere " q monument raised IN favor OF free
dom, tha, viii, as long as ji,ies hold inyio,
liable their duty, remain terrible to the
enemies jos,ice.--J'here Is, gentlemen.
no branch of the government OF the Uni.
ted States more ssusibly eel, By society.
than that OF the judiciary-It is 10 this au.
ihoii,y aided by juries Tia, We must re
sort for settling all questions Of civil pro.
perry, and it's there we must likewise oo.
as 10 the fountain Of justice. FOR support
and protection against every aci Of ,yrsn.
ny and oppression.--Ii is the judiciary
only which can reach the person, the BRO
perry, or the life of an individual.
Here then we readily perceive the re-
cessi'y of every man who participates in
the blessings Of our government, beinVi in
some degree acquainted with this most
valuable method of trial, not only because
we are frequently called upon by the laws
oil our country to determine in ,bis capa-
city The rights Of others, our fellow. Gill;
xcpe L. 4.