Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-06-18

of every member of Society. As on great
occasions, military chieftains have said to their
soldiers, "Let every man this day think that
the safety of his country hangs on hisown
sword"-so when this picture OF decay and
degeneracy is present to the imagination, we
would saw to our fellow-citizens, Remember
tina. ON the virtue and constancy of each OF
YOU, depends the freedom, the welfare ana
prosperity of this our common inheritance
But we would go farther, we would say to
every one who is entrusted with any portion
of the guardianship Of the laws, "Upon the
faith lerecution Of these trusts, also depends
the ,ceR being of Society,"" We have no laws
which may not, and ought not to be executed
The timid and the wavering shrink from the
performance of painful or rigid duty; the
firm and the resolutc meet it, and they soon
find that the occasion returns no more. We
palter with the diseases OF the body polite,
and they become incurable; we apply strong
and adequate remedies, and health and vigor
are soon restored. will not conceal, gentle
men. that these observations are not merely in
tended for YOU. 1t is the spirit Of our laws,
that almost the whole country should be en-
gagged in their administration. lou SIT here
to present offenders; to drag them to the bar
of Justice Another portion ofyour country
men come hitherin the character of renirenien,
to decide on the guilt or innocence of those
who arc capitally arraigned. Others are
sworn as julymen, to try cases of misdemean'
or: and the whole body of your country are
called on to act petit;jurors in trials of con-
tested rights between their fellow citizens
To all these high trust is confided; and they
are solemnly responsible for the fidelity with
which it shall be discharged. For yourselves,
gentlemen, you are about to engage in the
grave Office of scrutinizing the character and
conduct ofyour ountrymen-ofp passing upon
them high, though silent compliment, ifyou
shall find nothing reprehensible since our
last meeting here; and if you shall not be
thus fortunate, of presenting for prosecu-
ton, without '..fear, .faror or Affection" those
who may have been unmndful of their
duty to their country and its laws. The whole
| penal code is embraced within the scope of
your deliberations. But, in a particular man
ner, you are called upon to inquire of offences
against the act for prohibiting and Furnishing
unlawful gaming-The act to regulate Ordi-
narics and for restraint Of Tipping houses
The act to suppress Duclling, &C. &c. Here
f1llocea other acts required tobe giren in charge
| TO Grand Juries. In presenting these laws for
your consideration, l will beg leave to remind
you, as an additional motive for due attention
to them, of the happy effects which have re-
suited from the enactment and rigid enforce
ment of many CT them. The demoralzing
vice of gaming has withered before the stern
enactments of tho Legislature, diligently en-
forced by our Courts and Juries. The odious
crime of Duelling, claiming false and spuri-
Gus affinity with some of the noblest qualities
of our nature, has shrunk into its true little
ness, before the denuncations of the consti-
tuted authorities, corroborated by the appro-
baton of thinking and humane public
Drunkenness, by which he, who was formed
in the image of his Creator, is degraded into
the condition of the brutcs, whereof he was
appointed the lord and master, has greatly de-
clined with the destruction Of the nests which
hatched and fostered it. Surely when we
look on these things,we arc much encouraged
10 lend our aid and countenance to the laws,
and to hope that the labors We bestow on
them, will be repaid tenfold to US and our
postcrity.