Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-04-13
From ne Petersburg Iaf:Hise,,ecr.
GRAND JInY pRFcE N,ra,E1-;r


GRAND JURY PRESENTMENT.
The following paper, which VIC have received Et
publication from the adj Dining county of Dnwidic
present. strong and original views Of several subjects
at the present moment of deep ineres, to the pcopl
. III this Commonwealth; and although its novel cha
racter and pquant style may be compliance. of bv
some, still 1T undoubtedly possesses the retcemin-
qualities of honest frankness to recommend it. A,
the strongest proof OF our respect for the estimnblc
! body OF citizens ftom whom this Memo. i;,l ema-
mated, we hasten to give it promp, insertion.
! Ill Superior Court IF LaAhedE for tn, County of
| pi"~icdie on the 9Th doy Of .4priL 1874
The following Memorial and prcsrn,ment was hand
Cd into Court by the Grand Jury, and by that bo-
oy requested TO bc published.
! VIRGINIA:
April 9th. 1894.
Superior Co,t tenn for Dinsr;1a;e Covu;.
| The Grand Jury. regarding themselves ne tho
''rand Inquest oil the Natioi and consider inr ne le
s7iized public crnSors. they have the rirl and ase
III duty bound To present for consideration and crn.,
sure as we'll as punishment, whatever in this COM.
lnonweailh comes within their notice dctinental to
the public good; whether ii consists in the direct in
fraction OF any of its penal laws or in.thc gradual
destruction OF the responsibility of our political III
situations, and thereby the silent, though not thu.
less certain subversion of the great and glorious pis-
poses Tor which OR government as instituted
Among the most excellent of these institutions
'e StaEd jury have been taught To re,.a rd orr
representative system. 1t is designed to retain for
The highest service of the State hc formation of lis
awSl Its best talents, IL noblest virtue, its mo dis.
interested patriotism. 1t is designed to lie n, iii
times the faithful mirror of public sentiment aud
the jealous watchul, independent guardian of lin.
pubic veal. Ii is more especially designed To be-,
iand 1t undoubtedly was in its pristine puritv) so
completely identified both in feeling and interest
with the community ut large, that the inIiyiau,J
viii anu the individual interest each representa-
tive, should be completely merged in the national
vii! and the national interest. Such being the high
C0d-lihc destiny which this department of their
government is called, the Grand Jury cannot be-.
hold without incApressible regret and alarm a svs
TEN so Sublime, so beautiful in theory, Promising
the contamination OF political perfection. gradually
becoming not only the theme of Criticism and deri-
sion TO Its enemies, but burdensome to the nronle
Persuaded that this cannot be accidental and fear
ing that this is temporary believing that the e-
hcent remedy for this of things which is So
much and deeply TO d. deporcd, exists onlv witt,
the great body oi tie Fcoplc; the Grand Jury cah-
not refrain To avail themselves Of this o., or,,ni,v
10 call the serious attention of their fellow citizens
at large And surely, if any department of
their government b, more eminently entitled to this
serious attention and consideration. IT is certaipIv
the Legislative. In its origin and in the number Of
us members IL personu!cs more neaIly the Sovereign
of the land than either Of the others. Hence the
implicit, the almost unlimited confidence, rcposet i'm
1t by the great body Oh the peope-Hence lis ability
TO elude that feeling of responsibility which qua
rantees in proportion to its intensity, propiety OF
cohouct, III every department of public iife--and
hence the Grand jury would dcduce the truth Of H.:
important and alarming tecara that if this form
of government is brought into contempt; if ever il
becomes rcvolu:ionZed in practice, whilst remains
the saTe Ill theory, the origin of that contempt and
OF the capkering principles of that revolution will
be traced TO the doimgs Of this department. For tie
purpose OF censure, and i'll illustration of this posi-
ton, the Grand Jury will adducc single example
Il ohty from the proceedings Of the Legislature of V-
ni;t, IN the close Of their late session, in relation 10
tie Farmers Bank Here, they regret to say, wo
behold stratagcnl outreachins, and what in dersor
has been apply called log-tolling," substituted by
that honorable bodv for the dignity of fair opeu
and independent legislation. Here we beheld law
passed proiesscdy to promote the public good; and
yet 1t is undeuIab.y fact, that its enactment did
not meet the APPRECIATION of the Legislature whic,,
passed IT, and which, fosted upon the people, as the
tue ana legitimate expression of the will of their
Representatives, in reality the offspring Of artifcc
and iorcible mana cement, and not of genuine leg -
lative voli'ion-But II is the manner o'onc dis
played by their Representatives III the passage of
tie law i'll question, Of which the Grand Jury would
complain. The convulsyc throes Of the body 70
lite, III bringing forth this law arc perhaps porten-
tons OF Its character and of Its consequences thy
are arxic"5 tatit is an ''crror loci, in po.:-
ca! system; that its matter is as repuenant tho
principles and the policy indicated by TIE Federal
Constitution, as the conduct disclosed in It's passage
By ot representatives. dcrogatorv the true dig
!
= however little disposed to nfallibilty TO
themselves as to ascibe it to their government, viii
ioibcar to diat. upcn this important and alarming
subject. They ncve: tlIccsj 10 believe that
troll of the Metallic Cons!asi0aGl currency of the
country IS given to COpgcss by the FEDERAL Consti-
tion-Ihey have seen this lcgimatc control, usurp-
: ed and divided by one bundled State Banks under
the patronage and authority Of the State Govern
'mcnts-T!iey have these State Corporations
: without concert in tcir movements. responsibility
in their character, control III their administration,
dcluge the circulation from Maine to New Orleans,
y with motley mass Of discredted paper. They
have seen, Is consequences Of this Mid and lawcss
policy, stock jobbng aud fraud, swindrg and luxu-
~, depreciation and appreciation of currency,
PARALLEL revolution iii Tic value of private Torture,
and transfers OF private property country,
and Try mems souls, They have seen growing
out of this wreck Of pirate fortune and private no.
nor, slender laws, expost facio laws" laws sus-
- pending the execution IF contracts, under the
sive denomination of stop laws non-e.ecution
laws, and ieplevin lave, disgrace the legislature
: OF almost every state III the Union. They have
moreover seen TIE e0nsel OF state usurpatiol
drive of the most thodox OF our statesmen To
abandon their long cherished political principles, in
, cbartering the National Bank restore To the u
nion National currency, which the National Gr-
: vcInncnt could contfol yes, to regain this lcgii
,f mate coutseto restore soundncss and uu;ty
ting ineAiuu aud cxpsl the appalling spec
;, tacle OF National Bankruptcy. They have sce0
thc uiihleini;hed Patriarch Of tho Revolution, COM
PEELED to his long established determine ton
y and become willing to play of ono u7urpaton d.
6 gainSt another, that by It's means ne might co.,
" rect by policy that which he drsparcd Of being -
y bic to cot,cct by argument or rcnontrace. All