Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-09-27

ton oil the statutes, the Grand Jurors
have learned that 1t is specially made the
duty OF the presiding Judge of the Cir
cult Court, TO give in charge to the
Grand Jury, the "Act to suppress duel
ing. And having observed The custom
IN other states lnvariable, SO far as the
members of the Grand Jury are acquain,-
ed, they have supposed il The duty of the
presiding Judge, or some person depu-
tied by HIM, TO charge the Grand Jury
with their duties specifically. They are
convinced that much benefit must be de-
rived to the public from the ample in
Formation given TO Grand Juries, IN such
luminous addresses as have been pro-
noonced from the bench in other states
The Grand Jurors, however, feel bound
to say, that they are aware Of the indlspo-
sition of The Judge presiding at the pre-
sent term, AM do not, therefore intend
in tbs particular case.
The Grand. Jurors further present
that III the disc barge of their duties, they
have examined the Jail of the county of
Madison, and find it, in its present con-
dltlon, Insufficient for the safe keeping
| prisoners-lhe doors aud windows he
ing slightly made, or in udlclously ias.
tened; IN addition 10 which an aperture
ID Que OF the inner doors, made by
prisoner who lately escaped from con-
iinement, is sui open and renders the
@el! useless.-WRh these facts before
them, and anxious 10 find remedy, the
Grand Jury proceeded to inquire into
the conduct OF those officers 10 whom the
erection and securing of the public pri-
son are by law entrusted, and they find
| hat the funds OF the county are INSULT
! .,lent to procure the necessary locks,
| bars and bolts and further that the coGn-
| " commissioners have laid tax on the
| inhabltants OF the county to the extent
| allowed the'o by law. Ii this situation
the Grand Jury can discover no imme-
| didte remedy. but such a. may be afford.
| ed by the voluntary contributions Of pub
| lie spirited citizens, and none hernia
nenf, but legislative provision fer an
increase of the county tax.
The Grand Jurors further present that
'HANaN Al 'Siy ESbS' anu
na,,entlon. as well among the supervi-
sors oil roads, as among the citiz Ems al
large, on the subjec, OF bridges and high.
ways. Many of the former are in such
a condition as TO render The passage q!
cams and carriages extremely haz ard
Gus; and the latter are Generally IN such
want oi repair, as greatly to impede ,hr
-
absence OF guide posts at the ia,crscc-
ton OF roads, may perhaps be accounted
tor by the Circ unstance that each road
Is committed to the care Of a ditferen,
| supervisor, and therefore it is not made
The exclusive duty OF any one supervisor
to cause the erection Of a guide post. Il
may reasonably be doubted whesher the
layinf, off of road districts OF precincts. il
such torT as to cause the same ind-
viduais 10 reside at one tim e in TWO, ihCee,
or iour, road districts, aud to be subject
to the control ct several supervisors, is
reconcllable either TO the spirit and let.
ter OF The law, or to sound policy. BY
this measure all the labor owed by the in
babitants may be exhausted upon par
,icular roads, while others equally i'm
portant, and more in need frepairs, may
remain entirely neglected. Il is hoped
that the importance of keeping roads and
bridges in good repair, viii impress it.
self on every mind; and that the deGcien-
cy of the laws in this particular, will, in
some degree, be supplied by the public
spirit and patriotism of the citizens.
The Grand Jurors further present
that they consider the great number of
]uppling shops and taverns, licensed and
unlicensed, as a fruitful source of tho.
crimes which have SO frequently dis
turbed the public peace. These houses
become the resort of the gambler, the
drunkard, and the spendthrft, and, in
too many instances destroy the morals
OF youth, and tend to the decentralization
Of society. A rigid execution of their
duties on the part OF ali officers oil the
peace, and the jealous cooperation of
the citizens, appear to be the only means
OF preventing or counteractiDg the evils
arising from tins cause.
The Grand Jurors further present, as
grievance of no ,ri.ling character, tina,
divers persons, in amin adverting on the
conduct Of the Grand Jury, from par
tial knowledge of their proceedings, and
the circumstances producing them, do
not hesitate TO pronounce censure, ard
even 20 deoounce threats on the members
of the Grand Jury for the discharge of
their duy. In endeavoring to correct