Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1850-12-05
Response of the Grand Jury of the U. s. Court,
for the District of Indiana, TO the Charge of
Judge Huntington.


Response of the Grand Jury of the U. S. Court,
for the District of Indiana, to the Charge of
Judge Huntington.
u The Grand Jurors of the United States Distric;
Court having had their attention called to violations of
the Fugitive Slave Law, by charge from the Judge
the opening of the present Of the Court, pre-
scented the following report which read and order
ed to be published.
1t is proper to say that the report unanimously
made, and that almost every sect and section of the
State were represented in that body.
The undersigned Grand Jurors of the United States
Courtior the District of Indiana feel IL TO e their duty
respond the elaborate charge given TO them by the
Court, upon the subject Of the fugitive slave law and
say that they fully endorse the sentiments and views
therein expressed No overt act has been brought
the notice oil the jury upon which to frame indictment
for violations of this law but acts of public notoriev
breathing strong dsaectiou and opposition to this
law have been committed by small bodies of persons in
some several instances within this district. II is
however, well ascertaned, that the number of those
expressing their opposition to the enforcement of the
law, amount to very small portion of our popula-
ton and is believed that serious resistance to this
or any other law Of Congress to be apprehendcd with
IN this State. If any violations of this provision of
Congressor any other that it competent for us TO
noce-lad been brought to the attention Of this body
in proper form, they would have been promptly repor
ted to the Court in the form of Indictment, and
ton and act with pronptness and fidelity in taking the
initiative towards furnishing offenders Of every character
against the laws of the General Government
Every prudent effort, and diigent inquiry, has been
made to ascertain whether any violations of the Fugi
tive Slave Law have been committed within this State,
and found sufficiently unequvocal in their lam
guage to warrant the finding OF bill that could with
reasonable certainty be sustained lint II has
less been the ardent desire of the jury indicate the
law and procure the proper punishment OF all those who
violate its enactments We feel assured that the of
tins portion OF the country sound in all the principles
oil integrity and justice and that the rights OF the ct
Of portion of the United States may with pro-
prety and safety be committed their investigation and
decision We feel also assured that the great body of
citizens oil every Section and every party order
loving and lawabding people, strongly attached to the
Constitution TO the Union and to the laws, and will by
all moral well by all legal means sustain the
promises OF the first the permanence Of the second and
the enacnents of the third And feel further as
sured that every act whether of quasi-treason or of
open resistance the laws (f unhappiy there should
be any within the jurisdiction of this court will be
promptly rebuked by public opinions and promptly and
strngenty punished by this tribunal the laws of the
land will permit
The rights of every State and terrtery this coned-
eracy and the rights of each and all of their citizens
ought TO be- and are well secured in all the depart
ments of justice in Indiana the rights of the nhabi-
tants of State.
No vtated condition of public opinion as expressed
by few, who have mistaken bigotry for philanthropy,
in the least corrupt the fountains of Justice dis
furb the well settled purpose of citizens preserve
nvioate all their obligations to their brethren of every
section Of the Union.
1t part of the object of the undersigned to in
fringe upon, restrict the right of the citizen to
press in peaceabe and becoming his opposition
TO any public measure wherein he may feel aggrieved
admitting that snch expression Of opinion may be
the result of misconception; dstempered magma
tom but under all the circumstances feel it be
duty ncucate submission the Constitutional powers
| of Congress, and 10 those who would wilfully
trample under foot tie laws of the Government and
contemn its authority, that such be pur
sued with mpunity, and invoke all good citizens o
the State join in condemning the wrong by all
means and to assist in upholdng tue supremacy of the
laws at all hazards.
(Signed) JOHN w. DAVIS, Foreman,
WM WATT,
| JOHN DIXON,
J. S. HARVEY,
| --- VIM. NJ. ALBIN,
| c. S. RAMSAY.
VIM. DAVIS
| G. NORWOOD,
VIM. S. T. NORTEN,
BENJAMIN MCCARTHY,
GEORGE DAVELIN,
ROBERT w. SILL,
JACOB HUBBARD,
HIRAM TOWSLEY,
| w. M. REYBURN.
INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 80, 1850.