The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-10
From he (Indianal STATE Sentinel.

From the (TndiGna) Stale Sentinel
RESPONSE OF THE GRAsD. JuRr OF THE U, s,
CoURr, FOR THE DIsTRIcT OF INDIANA, TO THE
CHARGE OF JUDGE HUETMGTos.
The Grand Jurors of the United States Dis
trict Court, having had their attention called to
violations of the Fugitive slave law, by a charge
from the Judge at the opening OF the present
term of the court presented the following re-
port, which was read and ordered to be published.
1t is proper to say that the report was un-
animously made, and that almost every sect and
section of the State were represented in that
body
The undersigned Grand Jurors of the United
States Court for the District of Indiana feel it
to be their duty to respond the elaborate charge
given to them by the court, upon the subject
OF the Fugitive slave law, and to say, that they
fully endorse the sentiments and views therein
expressed. No overt act has been brought to
the notice of the jury upon which to frame an
indictment for violations of this law, but acts Of
public notoriety breathing strong disatfection
and opposition to this law have been committed
by small bodies of persons in some several in
stances within this district. 1t is, however, well
ascertained, that the number of those expressing
their opposition to the enforcement Of the law,
amount to very small portion of our popula-
ton, and it is Believed that no serious resistance
to this, or any other law Of Congress is to be
apprchendcd within this State. Ii any viola
tons of this provision of Congrcss--or any
other that it was competent for US to notice
had been brought to the attention Of this body
in a p oper form, they wond have been promptly
reported to the court in the form Of an ndct-
ment, and we doubt not, that subsequent juries
will feel a like obligation and act with prompt
ness and fidelity in taking the initiative towards
furnishing offenders Of every character against
81 eGt kx
Every prudent effort, and digent enquiry,
has been made to ascertain whether any viola.
tons of the Fugitive slave law have been COM
nlitted within this State, and none were found
sufficiently unequivocal in their language to war
rant the finding OF a bill that could, with real
sonable certainty, be sustained but it has, new
ertheless, been the ardent desire Of the jury TO
vindicatc the law, and procure the proper pun.
ishment Of all those who violate its cnactments
We feel assured that the courts of this portion
OF the country are sound in all the principles Of
integrity and justice, and that the rights Of tie
citizens of every portion of the United States
may with prOpriety and safety be committed to
their investigation and decision. We feel also
every section, and every party are an order
loving and aw-abiding people, strongly attached
to the Constitution, the Union, and to the laws,
and will by all moral rs well as by all legal
means, sustain the compromises of the first, the
permanence of the second, and the enactments
of the third. And we feel further assured that
every act whether Of quasi-trcason or of open
resistance to the laws, Gf unhappy there should
be any within the jurisdiction Of this court,) will
be promptly rebuked by'public opinion, and as
promptly and strngenty punished by this tribu-
nal as the laws Of the land will permit.
The rights of every State and territory in this
rnl, ..x.l,I, &c N,
their citizens ought to be, and are, as we'll secu-
red in all the departments of justice in Indiana
rs the rights of the inhabitants of our own
State.
No vitiated condition Of public opinion as
by few, who have mistaken higotry
for philanthropy, can in the least corrupt tho
fountains Of justice or disturb the well settled
purpose Of our citizens to preserve inviolate all
their obligations to their brethren Of every Sec
ton Of the Union.
1t is no part Of the object Of the undersigned
to infringe upon, or restrict, the right Of the
citizen to express in peaceable and becoming
manner his opposition to any public measure
wherein he may feel argrieved, even admitting
that such expression of opinion may be the re-
suit Of misconceptions distempercd inlagin-
alton but, under all the circumstances, we feel
it to be our duty to incucate submission 10 the
Constitutional powers of Congress- and to warn
those who would wilfully trample under foot
the laws of the Government, and condemn its
authority, that such course cannot be pursued
with impunity, and we invoke all good citizens
of the State to join in condemning the rong,
by all moral means, and to assist in unfolding
he supremacy of the laws at all hazards.
(Signed) .
John w. Davis Fore G. Norwood
man, VIM. S. II. Morten,
VIM Watt, Benjamin McCarty,
John Dixon, George Davclin,
J.. s. Harvey, Robert w. Sill,
VIM. NJ. Albin, Jacob Hubbard,
c. s. Ramsay, Hiram Towsley,
VIM. Davis, w. M. Reyburn,
INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 80, 1850.