Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1836-11-24

scene, perhaps, the fathers freside. But the
succeeding acts tell Of stronger rotations and
midnight reveIs, and the succeeding scenes
are the tipping or the gambling houses
Step by step, and unperccived and unsus-
pected, these habits steal ON, gathering fresh
energy from every indulgence, and weaken
ing the power of resistance by every gratifi-
cation, until they acquire n SWAY and p,ten>
cy Of spell over the victim that nothing short
OF miracle can break. The policy OF these
laws is to apply timely corrective by visit
ing the offender with gentle sanctions in the
hrst stages OF his career, IN The first small
beginnings Of his delinquency, when refor =
nation is easy, ere habit have given 10 the
wees an inveteracy and mali nifty that deiies
all laws human and divine.-lIow wise, how
humane, how parental is such policy, which
dealing with the juvenile and cnial offender,
has for its object the reformation and eradi.
cation of his vices-compared with that
which toleraes vice hut dcnuunces the mt q,
sanguinary sanctions agains, the criminal
Whether the benehcent results " hicb these
enactmenis are calculated to produce in the
suppression al these dcmoralising practices,
shall be realised, depends upon your fidelity
10 the trust repnsed in you.
AS TO the manner of discharging your du-
lies, little need he said.-You shall diligent-
ly enquire into and true prcsentment make
OF all infraCiions of the penal laws-is the
injunction, and in substance, the language
of your oalh.-Think not that you will have
done your duty, if on your retirement YOU
1oid your arms in passive Incidence and list
less inactivity, waiting for informers. The
requirements of your oath can he satisfied Ivy
no such empty form.-lf they could, Of what
advantage lisa Grand Jury? 1, world dcgcn-
crate into an idle ceremony to do that " Inch
could and would be as well done by single
magistrate upon complaint Of an Injured par
~, or an infui mer.-No, Gentlemen YOU
will not have performed your duty, in the
spirit OF your oath, Until you use your hest
endeavors 10 exc out (, TO ferret out, offenders
III is natural that the vices and the crimes
should seek Ia CO, or themselves with secrecy
and concealmcnt.-lt is your province 10
drag them from their hiding places To the
light OF day, and 10 arraisn them before the
tribunals of justice-noi only are YOU TO lis
Zen TO the complaints OF voluntary witnesses,
informcrs, or prosecutors but you are dill
gently Ia enquire OF one an"ther.-if two of
your body know of an offence you can pre-
sent upon the oathS you have taken; il one
only, he must be sword to depose as a wit
ness.-lf none o! you know of an offence,
but have reason To suspect or believe from
common rumor, that the penal laws have
been violated in any portion of you5 county,
you should canvass and cast about for sumo
person bo can give you Information on the
subject, and il il be probable that any person
as CogniZant OF the matter, you should have
him subpGaed. This, Gentlemen, is the
manner and the spirit in which YOU must
conduct your Inquiries, il you expect TO ac>
Coinplish any valuable, practicable results
IL requires II OF your body 10 concur in
making presentmcni-aDd you are reQlkr-
Ell 10 note al the foot Of each, whether made
ri The instance OF a voluntary prosecutor, or
~ neither al the instance of The Grand Jury.
Conference.-The great importance OF a
proper discharge of your duties TO the wei
fare Of society, is surely too obvious to re.
quire argument 10 prove.-I! is indispensable
TO the execution of the laws, and laws we'll
executed a:e Indispensable to morals, and
good morals are the only sure and stable
foundation Of the social ediiice, and of human
happiness. Let moi q beseech) your famil-
iarity with this service, beget in your minds
the least Indifference 10 lis importance. Let
not any opinion OF yours as 10 the inexpedi-
ency OF any OF the penal laws swetve you
from their energetic execution. They must
all be executed, until repealed by the proper
authority A more pernicious heresy could
scarcely be conceived, nor more mischiev-
Gus example set, than for a Grand Jury, the
sworn ministers 81 justice, 10 assume dis
PehsinS power over the laws, 10y failing to
present offences because they may differ with
the Legislature as 10 the expediency OF the
laws declaring them.-Gentlemen, TO omit
the performance of your duties from mad
verience or negligence is greatly to be de-
precated.-BuI il you knowingly and wiIiul-
ly shut your eyes 10 violations OF Inc laws
situated as you are, with the solemn sane.
tons OF an oath, superadded TO the obliga>
,ions of social and official duty, you incur
heavy responsibility 10 society and have an
awful reckoning TO make with your own
consciences. you are clothed
with the power of accusing, and thereby
causing the punishment o. offenders. Pun.
ishnient will Aeck, il il does not wholly pre-
ven! offences. So indirectly and 10 some ex-
tent you have the power of preventing of
fences. If you will not exert il you incur
IN degree the guilt of participation and con-
nIvance, according TO The maxim of law:
maj what we can prevent and will Motive
command. There is no situation in which
the maxim could be more properly applied.
trust you will perform your duties in such
manner as TO make il inapplicable to you.-
go then, ard do your duty, fearless of con
sequences, and by so doing you will render
a most important service TO society. con-
ciliate The good opinion OF the wise and the
vIrtUous, and gain what is still more manure
cIabie the appreciation of your own con
sciences.