Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-07-28
FREE PRESS.
cHARiEsTowN, JULY "a. 1850.

The special t..ssa of ,l.e ssp~~so~ Coass al Lev
ir Jchcrson Coanty, held b, tho Hon. R,ru,.p
u. PARkkn, which commenced oa TUESDAY tn.
sVh instust. terminated on SATURDAY the Glib
Only ono criminal case occurred, that of Ebcne-
Ler Cox Tor the m"rler of Mr.. Dunn. Several
important civil eases were disposed Of; one of
which, a, least. may be deemed worthy Of spc-
ci.l notice HEREAFTER.
The following excellent Charge 10 the Grand
Jury. ~.s furai.hsd for publication in compliance
with the wishes Of The jury and request OF the bar:
chSrirsKS ~ rwk Guam Jrar:
B,forr entering upon the prrticu-
lar nature ri your duties, may be excused Tor
embr.ring thiS-probaaly the la>,--opportunitv
Afforded me, to r'mind yui of their high inter,rst
and very great importance. In n government of
laws every thing connected with their regular adj
ADMINISTRATION assumes q CONSEQUENCE which o,,gL,
never to be overlooked az forruti.n. Osl,~r ,c-
psrtncnts of tic government may do wrpnc--,,.,r
i"re,gn affairs be neglected, our domestic arr,nvr
mrnts disrlcasing q, the pcopIc, our Law, th.,n-
sNcs he ,mpolit'c unjust-and not half the
mischid ~ Tn BE- apprrhcndcd 10 the community
~ ~hcn Justice bstwc. N man and man. or h., -
The eiuZ'n and the commonwealth 4, d,.I,x.d
hindered, denied. faiihicssly and partially adj
s'ini.'ercd IL Is the Judicial system, with is
"a
clerks, its sherif. and ifs Other officers ~hi,b l.
dali, and almost hourly corning in contact with
sii classes and conditions # men, the poor and
the rich, the weak and the powerful the humble
anal tho exalted, the innocent and the criminal
and iniluenfinS in some wav their conduct their
property. their character, their liberty, or their
lives Hence the system itself in the abstract
and every person and thing connected With il
ought not only 10 be tho objects Of anxious utter
eS WIN the people az large, but the manner in
ssff1r@ IL
uons onght 70 BE- the subject of unccasinr .oiici-
tusic 60 themselves. They should strive 4, en,.r
Che Temple of Justice Ms conscientios,. nio;s,,,-
sntcrs t'e Temple Of The Living Gol-,li~car,i-
ing, u possible, all selfish misunderstanding
aside enmitics and Observation-Disclosures tl,cm
ssires-wiii'ng to receive the inspirations cf
run from whatever quarter they may come au,i
rnxious To pronounce her sacred drctxcs whor,s,e-
vcr they may Affect This believe TO be- the duty of
r7eTy officer connected with the administration If
justice, even OF sucl rs in the orinion nj ,oro,.
arr alio;'ed 90 impede or pervcrt ms course b,,,
II - cmphatieally The duty OF thos. Who stand in
the rcia'ico TO Z YOU now hold You arr the ac-
'uSi"g tribunal Without the concurrence and
approves OF brand jury, no citizen OF tIiis COM
nlonweaith can be- placed upon his trial for n f.io
ny. lou may also protect innocence from falls.
1T frivolous charges, well as denounce the gull
y. 10 The inicrmatisn Of others. the Court lis
U" s"" as'rna' but tn yours with confidence
ana therefore even misdcmcanors would g,ncr.lIy
escape punishment, unless by your int,.r,ro,;ot
ne conduct OF no individual, whether he holds y
private station or the highest Office ia the GOVERN
ment, IS exempted from Your scrutiny se~hilst
To this most extensive power Of pr,.s,.n,,,sn, a.,
snpcradded means Of inquiry equally cxtens;x,.
on have right On thu process of the Court .,
forcc the attendance Of unwilling witnesse. am,
YOU may question them i'm the most general form,
As To their knowledge Of breaches Of the penaI
laws known or suspected by yo,i These power.
subject 70 a few unmportant Limitation. h,.,,..fs
o. oc ihshuoaed, when properly exercised enable.
t'rS"d Jur1es To give tone to the moral scn,e NJ
the community, aud to exert An influence over n,
sy"uSs,, WHICH y rarely duly estimated by those
Who have not seriously reflected on ,h.. subject
he truth Of the observation will be,ons,. xc,-x
suktnS, ~hrn II - recolicctesl that rnor,. thai,
sax hundred OF these tribunals are convened evry
,S'r VA virginia, composed, il may be calculated
OF upwards OF Goo siifervnt individuals s.Icr,si
oa account OF their experience, respcctability
properly and other qualifications. whose ,~orr,,
uuty u s q make diIigent INJURY into ali
breaches Of the penal laws, written or INV ritter
from the highest crimes to the lowest off,necs-
n'ppS"nie uiat such vast machinery can I,e
P"t into operation without having sensible. ef,c,
upon the fnorsl condition of society ~hiIs, IT, ,,
'su'e advantages Al each county must ,s<cu,;,ltx
degs;nd upon Inc public spirit the Intelligence,
ann the Imlartiality Of IT. respective grand iri,s
Fully Impressed with the truth Of this las, oh...
Walton. from having with, sscd tn. oppo.,. efI,.
oi proper and conscientious, and OF a Ioo-.. and
csreicss disehsrgc, tc part Of grand i,,r,,. az
'he obligations imposed upon them by law Co.
tcem /" part OF my duty, 90 remind them of \,
ose'"naliy, as an appropriate introduction Co t!,.
ct'"r SUBJECTS arm bouni to notice. u so,ne-
u,"s hAppc''s, that NC not sufficiently awnr,.
oa ute great responsibility under which we a.t
from n'er' " not rejecting on IL and therefor.
upon every serious occasion, 20 have il br,rgh, TO
, -. minds, - neither unnecessary or improper
ha''"e done 80, ] proceed 10 comply with The
'no.G special i'Iunctions of the Iaw--in doing
Nneh : siHdi be the more concise, from rrlyjns
With confidence your familiarity with its go,
ral provisions.
he remainder Of the charge relates % the mar
ue"'ar subjects usually brought beforc grand ju-
rieL]