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

UENTLEM EN-
Before you withdraw from the bar to enter
upon the discharge of your highly interest
ing duties, il behooves me 10 offer for your
consideration a few suggestions touching
their nature, the manner of their discharge,
and their grea, importance 10 the peace and
welfare of scricty. The institution Of o
Grand Jury is as illuslrious for lie venerable
antiquity, as il is distinguished for its mod.
ern utility. IL is not only coeyal with our
frame of government, but dates lis origin
back for centuries before. Ii was one OF The
corner stones of the fabric of English liber-
ty-the venerable model after which we have
constructed our own more splendid temple OF
republican freedom. Its office is TO prefer
accusations against offenders. Its object is
to ensure speedy, a Gel tain, energetic, uni
form, yet safe and impartial administration
Of criminal justice. In every society COM
posed Of irail and erring man, there must be
criminal laws TO restrain and punish the Of
Tending. These laws have no self.exerting
power-that is an attribute which belongs
only TO the laws of the Most High Human
laws must needs be executed by human a.
gents In the absence OF Grand Jury, no
means suggest, or have suggested themselves,
but TO contide The business of prosecution 10
the injured party, the common iniormer,
some stated officer OF the Government, or
some fixed body of men clothed with the
functions Of accuser and prosecutor.-All
these modes have been tried at different times
and by different nations, and 10 this day some
one or other Of them obtains in every nation
on the globe, except England, The United
States, and perhaps France, where If am
not mistaken the Grand Jury system has
been very recently introduced. Ii would re-
qulre but moderate share of sagacity and
forecast TO foresee, hat experience has fully
demonstrated, the great evils attending all
these provisions for the accusation OF offend
+ers-Tbe injured party would some times do
his duty but would be very unsafe reliance
for all cases-He would in many cases act or
remain passive, as The promp.ings Of passion
and resentment, or the secret traces Of parii-
ality or corruption might predominant. The
common informer, a name proverbialiy odfs
Gus and Infamous in all ages and in all coun-
tries, is subject 10 The influences of venaity
and corruption on the one hand, OF Of malice
and revenge on The otber.-The stated Off
Ger, however conscientious and upright, is
viewed with distrust and jeaIousy-He is
looked on as the tool of power, as The instru-
ment Of tyranny and opprcssion-He cannot
conciliate the public confidence, which is q
most important consideration in q govern
ment like ours, based on public opini on.-It
must be confessed that the tendency of such
an office is TO corrupt the officer: hence per-
haps this universal disrust and Jealousy
The same objections in all their extent exist
to any fixed body Of dCcusers. A Grand Ju.
ry is wholly exempt from ali these DbjeG-
iions.-ll is taken by the summonlpg officer
from The body of The County 10 execute an
occasional and temporary Office, and then 10
return again TO the body Of the people COM
posed OF frechoders who are presumed TO
have the most abiding interest in, and at
tacbmeDt 10, the peace, order and well being
OF society-so constituted and organized as
scarcely 10 admit of access 10 sinister jnflu-
enCe.--1t is in short the great desideraium
and The OILY unexceptionable one ever devils.
ed or devisabIe by the urt OF man for The
faithful administration Of penal justice. Its
complete adaptation 10 this end has been test
ed and approved by the experience Of ages,