Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-01-05
THE REY AFFAIR.
From THE MOBILE REGISTER OF DECEMBER. |

From THE MOBILE REGISTER DEcEMBEa:ls.
The New Orleans abdsetion papers-the Picay-
une, Delta, &c.-express unqualified dissatisfaction
with the finding of the Grand Jury ID this case.
They believed last summer that very proper abb
ductior had taken place they proved ii to their en-
tire satisfaction, they astonished that right
minded should by any possibility think otherwise now
The refusal Of the Grand Jay find true bill does nosais
fly them They have accordingly entered the Strand Jury
room, notwithstanding the ssafefsecrecy By a, accord
ing TO eery rule Of ard ropriety, their proceedings
should be protected from pabc pirate scrutiny, and,
having eviscerated its dong they parade the su in their
columns to prove that, as the Jury equay divided in
opinion, oneha in favor and the other opposed finding
bill, its action neuazes ITSELF and leaves the abduction
as it was last summer .'
Thas sound reasoning lead TO such result will be
seen by moments examination Of the duss Of Grand
Jury, which, let be remebeed does not pass upon the
guilt innocence ,, the accused The law from its tender
regard tor life and liberty, and to protect from malicious
prosecutions, provides that charged with crime shall
have the finding Of twelve men, declaring onoah that there's
is probable cause for believing him guilty Of s charge pre-
ferred, before be be called answa The actics
Of TIE Grand Jury not atrial nor has any Of the characu
erissics of trial, for frequently takes oosnzance Of the
dcogs of oga when 10 In bssul ignorance OF Its pro-
cosdngs It's acts e1sparx II hears only the evidence
for the prosecution Batunr the seal of secrecy, to which
10 members ssworn, thaS ample scopeand verge encagh
FOR the examination of achage in ali its bearings Its rGm
bes requed by their paths, to disclose to each other
every thing Aeyknoga the guilt of the accused and
such nforms onhus given with the authority ostest
| mOny on oath. and IS regarded.
grand Juror wbo knows his duty does require
elusive testimony tousy bis putting upon trial as he
expects to found verdict of guilty upon. It NOS une-
quenty happens, everyone knows, that man, tried in
heard against tcsa of the prosecution is acquittea without
the jury retiring from the box Instances Of this will occur
to every snd who prsanded that the verdict Of
jury of twelve men, result Of impartial tria upO
hearing of both SIDES w enttedto osnsdsrshe ton
than the finding d tue bia' by twelve menlstandag in
the Grand JSrE box And yet according to the reasoning
of The Picayuns the one should neutraze tho other The
triumphant aaqua of in open court cannot be pleaded
to eesabsh him in society," because there stands the sndne
Of the Grand Jury pronouacng him guilty Such thing
never wss beard Of .. r.
i Now with these views Of the functions Of Grand Jury
we can form proper estimate OF the hndng In the case
Espaaa surprising that the Pcayune has, by probing III
urv extracted the truth respects the Individual opinions
1t seems that eleven members Of opinionno tho
Espana was guybus that sufficient evidence adducs
to Justify them in saying tina, he shoad be put upon his Trial
Twelve membes were Of contrary opinion that is, tbs
upon hearing Of but side, examination Of al tn
proofs Of guh the Government could bring before them, III
evidence was only insufficient to establish bis ea b,
was not enough justify them in calling upon the man
defend hmse And yet with this decision Of the case, in
community where the excitement tended strongly produc
coarary result the PcayUne and others dissatisfied,
u insist strongly upon the Consuls guilt they d
last But the country will be satisfied with the
y naon Of the afr. Public opinion will give the ablu
on its place among the popular humbugs of the day. Al
nothing that the Pcayune Delta, Sc, say, however
ciferously can aver;i