The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-03-11
Charge to tho Grand Jury, Washington County,
c., March Term, 1s46.
BY THE HON. T. HARTLEY CRAWFORD.

GENTLEMEN OF THE GRAND JURY: Various are the
systems OF government which different nations of the
world have been constrained, to which, in few in
stances, they have chosen to submit themselves Judicial
trial, in some shape, is maintained in all. Whatever
may be the character of the government that bygone
tmes-not unapty denominated the dark ages-have i'm
posed upon other naiions although education and habit
and love OF country may content those who yield to
rigorous misrue, oneOus burdens, and public prOgacy
allow that they fit than DESTROYS to enjoy
government established by themselves, and administered
by officers OF their own selection, still the trial by Jury
wherever it exists among them has fewer OF the
leading features of our jury trial A liberal government
could not be constituted and maintained without il and
the esteem in which it is held proporioned to the
tent in which freedom prevails In our own land, fol
example, it is engraed upon the constitution OF the coun
try. In despotsms, where the name OF It may be found
is neither priced nor protects, for one individual unites
all Offices in his person, and henors and disgraces
or Furnishes, at his will
Between the citizen who is accused of crime and the
great institution referred to- you stand The law places
you in that honorable Office, not to say that prose
cutons shall proceed, than that they shall While
your duty enjons firm honest, and intelligent deca
ration of opinion against those whom you shall think to
be guilty. it should be remembered that you shield
between the government and the individual, whe has
right look TO you for protection against wrong and OPP
PRESTON if he be guiltess. The great object OF those
who devised grand jury Investigations and OF those who
have adopted and admire them, selecting the jurors Tor
each term and very shortly before they enter upon the
exercise of their important functions, and is, TO in
sure imparhaiy; for, whatever other recommendations
the system may have, if it want entire purity, 1t can
neither accomplish the purposes of its institution de-
serve the reputation it enjoys
You aware, doubtless that at least twelve of your
body must agree before you make presentment or
return indictment true bill. Your duty WILL know,
be performed with intelligence Few positions exact OF
those who hold them more vigilance. Diligence you will
use for you have undertaken do but the witnesses
that shall appear before you will be often dull unaccus
toned 10 the detail of testimony and examination fire.
queny gn99Tan1 and a hp unwilling u
be found in the way of your search after truth Nothing
short of close and patient scrutiny will overcome them
Inquiry that shall reach motive, expose feeling, and de-
malice, if they exist, find candor and uncoored
veracy, will enable you to give to each witness and his
testimony their due weight This is especially incumbent
YOU for there be anxious defendant and acute
counsel before you to explain or excupate. The
requires that you should be fully satisfied of the
guilt of the party charged far as the evidence informs
YOU If you not, he should be relieved from further
inquietude.
Among the numerous prosecutions that will be brought
into this court some will probably be found to be OF
tring it may be of vexatous description: You and
here advance the well being and security of soc
ety. by restraining vice through such the law
has empowered us to and not to indulge those who
feeling 1t that the maintenance and promotion OF
the public interests and outraged private feeling not u
frequently concur to such cases have OF course no al,
fusion, but refer to those accusations which founded
facts that have percepble criminal ain so lit
tie of it not to concern the community Ii your con.
sderation should be directed charges that you shall
think deserve this character would respectfully advise
their dismissal.
Complaints worthy of your attention will unfortunate
Nv De more numerous IMAM OrQery CZenb COulu WISH
The passions of men, their ignorance, nempeance idle
ness, and their inevitable consequences, prolific OF
crime The solemn admonitons which the infection of
punishment addresses to the public intended to dimn
sh and repess it. 1t is of the utmost consequence that
he who really guilty should be subjected to the
demnation of the laws for it cannot be doubted that
Guiding those offences to which the passion OF the
impes the hope of escape dsarms the law of half
its errors Let be known that the examinations OF the
grand jury rigid and the performance OF their duty
thorough that all offenders must feel the just
quence of their conduct and the calendar will be much
curtaled Atrocious crimes not of very frequent
currence and believe may congratulate you and the
But they are committed To them need scarcely advert
very particularly They stare by their enomity, and
by their magnitude invite and patience In their IN
vestgaton which Is required the more because they are
perpetraed with caution and secrecy in proportion to
the severity OF the penalty imposed their commission
1t is usual in this District for the court to define the
offences that will probably engage the attention OF the
jury, to give special instructions in preliminary
charge nor if it were, would be necessary to ad-
see before me d moi nasgenGe and
principal ingredients of the mass OF those accusations
which will be presented for their consideration, and who
will know and do what the law and their cerequire at
their hands, each particular its circumstances
shall be developed.
The court and you, gentlemeno the grand jury are
clothed with certain powers which should be 50 exercised
with the assurance that the arm Of the law around him
his nd S1 he shoua
of the first there can be excuse shall make
proper estimate of what is incumbent us, respective
ly if we cannot lay just claim to industry and compe-
tence We shall acqut ourselves unftly, if
tent to escape censure and do not strive to
mendaonnot for the purpose of receiving it, most highly
appreciated though it isbut for the pleasant conscious
ness of deserving it.
Allow me, in conclusion, gentlemen, to commend to
you whatever despatch may compor with full nvestga-
lion and Just decision.
n- Unitarian LecturcsThe subject OF the lecture on
March H. will be The Church, n