The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-07-19
Fbom the Phtladsiphia Sun.
JUDGE JoNEss CHARGE TO THE GRAND
IiIRX

JUDGE JONEs's CHARGE TO THE GRAND
JURY.
The following is synopsis OF the extempor ane-
Gus charge Of Judge Jones TO the Grand Jury, delT-
cred yesterday morning
Gentlemen If he Grand Jury
AT the suggestion Of the other members Of the
Court, had Intended 10 postpone charging you for
the present the subject OF the late disturbance
At the request Of the Executive, however, have
been prevailed upon TO 81 INTO an investigation
forth " it'll.
The disturbance IN Southwark arose from tho
fact Of large number OF arms having been put into
the church in Queen street aud II becomes necessa
ry therefore, that the views OF The court on the sub
scts growing out Of the riots should BE- laid before
you in order that you may understand The true IA
ture OF the case. In view Of this, shall give you
the conclusions to which have arrived. The right
Of the citizen soldier 10 bear arms has never been
questioned, and the right Of the authorities TO call
them out in cases Of emergency is beyond dispute
aud il is settled that though citizen may keep
in his house for his own defence, yet he may
not assemble his friends IL no anticipate al
tack but must place himself under the protection OF
The law, must invoke It's aid, and claim It's lnterpos
ton.
In extreme cases, a mans right to assemble his
friends to his assistance will scarcely be questioned
Any assemblage Of persons with arms to protect any
other place than his own dwelling, will not be sus
taned if such asselnbage create Jealousy fear or
excitement In fact, gentlemen, doubt whether any
man hiss right to assemble his friends before ms
own dwelling, il such assembage tend TO provoke
breach of the peace. Wherever persons assemble
TO- the protection Of church or engine house, or
any other such place, such assemblage becomes IN
lawful, aad the place itself becomes nuisance If,
therefore. there appears to have been any combine
ton OF persons with arms, to protect any engine
houso ~iufclI, suciI wvrthy Of yvus present
ment. And If you have any knowledge Of such com
m ptnnnn nj rtnsxsv ~ fhA
you will adopt the proper measures to ascertain their
Names and TO have them brought before the court,
that their cases may undergo proper investigation.
If such things wero permitted in the country,
the arming of engine houses and churches we should
be embroled in religious strfes and bitter
tentions without end. We have before us a mean-
choy precedent in the history OF Italian States, and
let avoid the rock which they struck. lfchurch
es may be armed with the sanction Of authority,
then engine houses may be armed, and any other
building which is menaced with danger. And poll
teal parties will claim the same privilege and arm
their head quarters should they anticipate attack
and thus we should have enacted over and over
again the faction fights which have long disgraced
Europe. When persons apprehend danger to their
churches, or property Of any kind, they must solicit
the protection OF the law. What right has any sect
to arm its churches, to make fertilization in the
heart of the city, when the law is sufficient for the
protection of all and should be invoked in all cases
Who will deny that many Of the fremen fights, may
not have brought about the dreadful riots which
have disgraced our city for SO long time You
will understand that no body of men have right to
assemble with arms for such purposes and it will
be your duty to institute inquiry and obtain the
facts Arms having been found in engine house
will make IT a nuisance. Churches and engine
houses, whenever used depot for arms, will be
proper subjects for your investigation. Go, there
fore, into the subject with proper SPIRIT and elicit
the truth if possible, with a view to bring all the
guilty to condign punishment. The placing of fire.
arms in churches and engine houses and all other
places, must be reformed, SO to speak and to you,
gentlemen, the public will lock for abatement, OF
the nuisance. You have the subject before you
and the court will lend you all their aid to forward
you in your investigation.
II, therefore, you find that any of the churches
armed, or that meetings are he'd in them with that
object you will take the proper to have the
former removed, and to stop the latter.
Our city has long been dsgrsced with fremens
tights, and arms have been placed in the engine
houses with the avowed object Of defending them
this, too will be yoar province to inquire into and
II possible, put an end to il. You will present the
names Of the companies and all persons who in any
way participate in them.