The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-12-28


he action oi mi guided aud fanatic who, in pursuit
harmony u s blessed ioa. and involve 81 i s a al the
horrors Of civil dsccrd aad strife,
William Fry, George Schaher.
Isaac Brelng, John Smith,
George Desb, Joshua Slahler,
Charles ii Ky, Stephen Schmidt,
Jos. Hanslcker, BENJAMIN jarrett,
Christian Hrlenef, Jacob KEEPER,
ID Nunnefiachcf, David Bafner,
Christian kistler Joshua ScLneor,
Berj. 8. Levan, Jonathan TrexleI,
Phi1p Person, loci Wsrz,
Michael kcicheri, Psicr Wnt
Charge Of Judge j. Pringis Jones 10 he grand inquest
ofLshgt couatg erpiaiaing e fugitipesiape ba, the
small mote law, gc. tl
day, The % instant The grand inquest were called, and
the Judge proceeded 10 charge them az follows:
BY section 40 Of an act regulating banks passed at the
session oil 1850, and to be found on page 494 OF the
pamphlet laws OF this year. i is made the duty Of the
court Of quarter sessions to call the attention Of The grand
jury TO the provisions OF that act prohibiting the cifcua
on OF foreign notes Of less denomination than five dol
lars within this State. The sections OF the act in which
these provisions contained the ortyeghth and
forty ninth. Though the discussion OF the policy OF this
legislation, by the press and among the people, has
doubtless made every in your body familiar with the
principles, and indeed with the very letter. OF the law.
still will beg your indulgence Tor few moments while
read 10 you those two sections.
In section 4s it is enacted that from and after August
81 1880 shall not be lawful for any person Or persons,
corporation or body corporate, directly or indirectly to
issue, pay out pass exchange, put in circuaon trans
fer or cause to be issued, paid out passed, exchanged,
circulated or transferred any bank note note, BILL GER
hcate or any acknowledgment OF Indebtedness whatso-
ever, purp0rng to be bank note, OF the nature char
acer appearance OF bank note calculated for cir
cuaton bank note, Issued puportng TO bo issued
by any bank, or incorporated company or association OF
persons not located in Pennsylvania, OF less denom-
paon than five dollars Every violation OF the provis.
ION Of this section BY any corporation or body corporate
shall subject such corporation body corporate 10 the
payment Of five hundred dollars and any violation of
the provisions Of this section by any public officer, hold
ing any office or appointment Of honor oro profit under
the constitution and laws OF this State, shall subject such
officer to the payment Of hundred dollars any viola
ton of this section by any other person. not being public
officer shall subject such person TO the payment OF twen
five dollarsone half OF which, in each case above
mentioned, shall 60 to the nformer, and the other half TO
the county in which suit is brought and be sued for and
recovered debts OF like amount are by law recoy
cred in any action of debt, the of the Common
wealth Of as well as Tor the use OF the
person suing.
Section 40 provides that in addition TO the civil email
ties imposed for violation Of the provisions OF section
As, every person who shall violate the provisions of that
section shall be taken and deemed to have committed
msdemeanor, and shall upon conviction thereof in any
criminal court of this Commonwealth, be fined in any
sum not less than one dollar, and not than one
hundred dollars; and the several courts of quarter
sons SHALL ia their charges 10 The grand jury, call their
attention to this subject and shall be the duty of the
several grand ues to make OF any persons
within their respective counties, who may be guilty OF
violation OF the provisions OF section 4S and il shall be
the duty OF the several conslabes and other peace officers
within this Commonwealth, to make information against
any person guilty OF such violation, and they shall be
in any civil suit criminal prosecution under these
tons 4s and 4q 10 produce In evidence the chatter OF
any bank, or articles OF association Of any company not
You will observe that the legislature imposes upon
you under the sanction OF your oaths the duty OF ma
king presentmen Of any person within this county who
may be guilty, directly indirectly, oil issuing, paying
oot passing exchanging. putting ia circulation or trans
eng or causing so 10 be done, any bank note note,
bill, certificate any acknowledgment OF indebledness
whatsoever, purpong 10 be bank ncte or OF the ma
a
lated for circulation bank note, issued purporng
TO be issued by any bank or Incorporated company or
socaton oil persons, not located in Pennsylvania, OF
less denomination than fve dollars.
The making OF presenfnent, strictly speaking, 70 the
orgnatcn OF criminal proceeding BY the grand jury
upon their direct personal knowledge obserya
uon without any bill OF indictment being laid before
them. You have no power to Institute prosecution by
way OF preseDtment 10 any Other. way than upon your
own knowledge you cannot call witnesses before you
from beyond the limits OF your body TO aid your own in.
formation Any facts constituting any offence, as well
within TN: aci or any Other as a. common law being
OF such facts TO the court in writing, upon which IL
would be duty TO direct bill 10 be framed by the
district attorney That is what meant BY present.
ment, and that IL the course OF proceeding upon IT,
Drawn however, you from the body OF the
~, living from each other, il s most improbable
that you win be called upon to make pesennent OF an
Should any bill OF indictment be laid before you charg
ing the commission OF any offence under this ACT regu
aung banks you will proceed with j as with any oths,
OF course fad the bill a true bill Whatever may be
your private individual notion OF the policy mpolicy
oil the law, you will not, good and lege citizens.
are absolutely confident, permit these noons TO inter-
fefe with The discharge pf your duty You cannot do
so without taking upon yourselves responsibility from
which, honest and lovers OF your country, you
would recoi in horror upon giving the subjects moments
reflection II that grand jury al liberty 10 set at naught
thslaw, each traverse jury may find Il agreeable TO
prejudice passion TO disregard oher law. Courts
may take the infection Examples Of this kind once set,
operate with fearful potency striking every direction.
Disregard OF law, publicly proclaimed by body like
grand inquest weakens the regard Of men for all laws
Society not like the tabled hero, whom death could
only reach by striking him upon the heel II is vulnerable
over all It's body, and wherever Il may be wounded death
may enter.
know gentlemen. that In this part OF the State this
law regulating banks-at least far regards these
two sectons--meets with little popular favor. The
business relations Of the larger towns with New Jersey
and New York In which the paper currency is, for the
most part of denominations smaller than five dollars,
and IN which. consequently By an ireversble law OF
cuneHcy, the precious metals banishcd from crcula
ton TO any extent greater than the demand for
chsngehe business relations OF these towns with these
States, have doubt are seriously affected. The de.
rangement OF these relations. however will be but tenn
porary. The elastic buoyant spirit OF trade and COM
inerce may sometimes receive check IN country like
this. but Il to gather only new strength from an
occasional restraint II one oil its accustomed channels
s obsructed the genius Of the American merchant and
trader will forthwith hnd or make new one; he will
not set the example OF disobeynga law merely because
it conflicts with bis private interest," when he reflects
that obedence 70 the law IL the single absolute condition
ofgcvernment IN this country. ls !. Al Il !. t.a
While addressing you upon this subiect-requlred 80 70
dn bv