The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-12-23
PoR TIE E.NQUIRERs

ron THE EMO UIRER,
Copy of Charge Delivered on Elorday
the 27th of September, TO the Grand Jnry
{held for the Superior Court of Rocking
ham) by TIE Honorable VIM. A. G.. Dade
land Published at the Unanimous Re
CUES. Of the jury.
Gentlemen Of thc Grand jury
The social intercourse of man, while il has
contributed to his highest happiness. has been
the source Of these restraints of his natural
liberty, denominated Laws.-'fhat those re-
straints are abstract Evils. will not be deni-
ed but that relatively they are of The la
importance.to Society, is equally incohtro-
vertiblc. In no condition Of the human race
have they been entirely dispensed with and
in those, in which they have been the most
rare or the most feeble, the state of man has
ever been found the least digniGed and the
icasthappy. Equally remo.e from the sta
zion which ne claims to hold in creation, are
the wild and solitary habits of the Savage
and the AFFECT submission of the Slave cniv
inferior in misery to the condition, in which
the will of each man is his o7vn law, is that
in which the will OF one man is the only Law !;
whilst aDder the influence Of Csrtain & well
defined institutes framed by those on whom
they are to operate, & administered by those
70 whom the governed have delegated the
power, tie most digniied state of human
society hourishes, What F! though in such
government we are not dazzletl by the
aplendour of wealth and power. nor eievat-
ed into fancied national Importance hy the
romp and pride and page:Ntry Of courts -
Shall these be compared with the solid bles-
sings OF feeling, each man, his own i'm port
an2e in the scale ne civil association of
feeling that while Heaven has bestowed on
hin the form Of man, the laws secure to
him the privileges Of man that his
property is his own his home safe--his
tire-side inviola te.--Few are there who
would eH chanse these goods for the wouds
and wilds of the Savage, freezer, though
rheY may be-: rior for the maeniiioence and
luxury which depend on : monarch's smiles.
though gildsti the slavery which thew have
purchased. We are happy TO b"ast tn at these
iayoured Attributes distinguish our govern
ment 30 We All others cf the Ea,fh 1ut IF
what avail are forms OF government Of ~ hat
account are iatys without the virtue which
teaches TO guard snG chez them Where is
che sanction of paper ccnsti ution, if
these, who have formed ard are ohe gov.
erned by it, snail set it at naught?-,Ihe
placemen and pensioners, the Acts and ar.
mics of despot. may enforce obedience 70
his government, however degenerate & re-
be liious his subjects but the moment witch
beholds the coTrUpti ct = nation CT free
m'n, witnesses the Conyusiops Of It's gvern-
inent, 9nd the last struggles cf its liberties.
/ shall have wasted these remarks ,Yl you
Gentlemen of the Grand Jury, If thew do
not stimulate you to an active exercise of
yorr duties. Depend on it, our Country re.
qures each man to perform his duty. and Il
ianguishe5 without it. Those which are
row devolved on you, hold an high rank in
the ADMINISTRATION of the laws. lie who is
constituted A censor on the morals and man
ners OF his feiloW CITIZENSHIP who is the H.
climate accuser Of offenders against the
laws, and the legitimate protector Of tine
uDjustly prosecuted, austains a responsible
ty to individuals aud the public with which
he should never dare to sport. Such is the
Character with which yoc are cio' he'd. From
the intarcv 1t the common law il has been
wisely judged, that these scored trusts could
he no where 50 sa}ely deposited A. with men
selected rs Grand Jurors are-neo wbo.e
separation from the body Of the people is Of
tor short drTetion to divest them IF an iden-
tty Of interest With the peopie-nen whose
situation VI their Country opens an easy ave
me 20 a kno Sledee of all its grievances: who
are most Immediately Interested in the oord
order and harmony of their county-and
whose property and character are deemed
a sure pledge against all undue Influence.
unworthy tenderness, or impure motives
O'N-ii ~ z VIC " llOi}lCS WbINU gave Dlrt1 TO
and have fOstered the venerable ms itution
It Grand Juries~--whose very antiquity
gives 1t claim to respsct-~whcse great uti-
tty can never be forfeited bit by the mos
sulpable neglig nee or the most abandoned
eorrnpticn--wnose strength hath grown
with liberty decline would be 4 sig
sal Of her downfall.
Il is not pe'hans necessary that I should
inform YOU that IL is your duty to present al
ofsnces sg.inst The peoce, the order and
safety OF the community, and all bsea he's ~
PENAL Laws where the penalty exceeds rs.
or 2oOlbs of Iobaccg, which may nave nc
0rped within your county. Amongst the
penal law are some. which the courts are
garuculsf'Y i1joneH to give Won 10 CD arye
o9ch IS to- ohence q unlawful gaming One
~hich had '1rmerly spread i;s 5alefnl ;rs,.
snce far and vide hrough our 8 ate. lea,firci
III us trsin-- Dissipation Of Time o,
property Of fsmilies--S de,,r.