Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-03-13

of men 81 intelligent as are the members of the
Lincoln Bar. The paper containing those re-
marks, if they are deemed worthy of further
consideration, is at your disposal.
am, respectfully yours,
r. ID. RICE
Hon. IL. Tallman, and other
members of Lincoln Bar. {
THE CHARGE.
Gentlemen Of the Grand jury The la
has imposed upon you high and important ID
ties, upon the discharge of which you are about
to enter. The oath you have Just taken con-
tains epitome of those duties. Have you
duly considered the magnitude of the obliga-
tion which that oath imposes upon you1 Have
you contemplated the effect which your off
cial action under that oath, may have upon
public interests and individual rights. If you
have not, can assure you it is subject wor
thy of your most serious consideration, and
that its Importance will grow upon your minds
inst in proportion as you contemplate the ex-
tent of its influence, and the minuteness of its
operation.
The Grand Jury is an institution known on
ly to the common law. 1t originated with our
ancestors-from whom we have derived very
many the laws under which now live-at
very remote period of time. From crude be-
ginnings, from being an assemblage of men,
collected from the immediate vicinity, who in
very informal manner were accustomed TO
inquire into and act upon such infractions of
the law as were known to them personally, or
as came to their knowledge from rumor or
common report, the Grand Jury has by sue
cession of enactments and long continued usage,
assumed station well defined, among the
most highly valued institutions of our country,
and has become most essential element in
our judicial system. Without this institution,
crime would, to great extent, go unpunished.
1t is in fact the foundation, the very ground
work on which nearly all criminal proceedings
in our higher courts are based, and the source
to which the peaceful, law abiding citizen looks
for the commencement of those measures which
are to afford him protection against the aggres-
But it is not simply, nor principally as an
adjunct to our courts, or an elementary par,
Of our Judicial system that jurys, both
of inquest and trial, are to be held in
high estimation. 1t is no less in the politi-
cal than in the Judicial influence that their real
value consists. But when say political, do
not understand me as saying party influence,
or as intending to connect SO noble an ins,tu-
tion with the machinery of partizan tactics,
partizan measures, or patty men, but as refer
ring to the great fabric of our political ins,itu-
tions, our government and its laws.
In many of the nations of the world, laws
are either dictated by single despot, to ad-
vance bis own interests. to crafty his caprice,
or saAiate his revenge, or are enacted by few
men and made s4lbsefvient to the interests OF
that few. while the many are reqired to toll
and obey.
Under despetie governments you find no
Grand inquests, composed Of the most intelli-
gent and sjrtaons menbers of the eommunity.
whose duty il is to inquire into the actions of
their fellow men, and to see that justice is meas
ured out equally TO all without "fear, favor.
affection or hope of reward" And even in
those countries where the institution does ex-
ist, the process is SO encumbered-the jury SO
selected, that much of its beneficial influence is
lost. Such results arise from the very nature
of their political institutions. Where laws are
pot framed or designed to advance the Interests
pf the grsat mass of people, why should we
expect those who are destined to be subservi.
eat, to obey without reason, and often against
right, should be placed in positions to inquire
into the character, and learn the operation Of
laws by which they are governed, but not pro-
tectedf
The despQt whose viii is law, to whose ca
price the interests of whole nations must be
made subservient, could hardly desire to So
lect at large, the most wise and discreet men
to be foYnd, to stand between himself and the
yic.ims Of his displeasure: He could hardly
desire to have such men occupying places in
which they could observe the rules by which
multtudes are plundered and oppressed 10