The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-06-18
Local Matters.

sign for stoves.
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Local Matters.
CHANGE TO THE GRAND JURY.-The following
is the charge to the Grand Jury of Washington
county, which Judge Crawford delivered, on Mon
day, al the opening Of the June term of the crimi
inal court, viz
GENTLEMEN OF THE GRAND jury: The progress
Of time has brought to another term of this
court. 1t is painful and humiliating to reflect that
such an occasion never fails to present wide field
inquiry, the proper exploration ofwhch requires
the full exercise OF all tho energy. industry, pa
tience and intelligence that belong to those upon
whom the law casts the duty of its examination.
Legal tribunals Of the class to which this court be-
longs have various great objects for the end of their
institution. Among these the correction of
offences in the immediate persons and conduct of
those who commit them, and the repression Of the
preparation Of crime by others. These purposes
you and are bound to accomplish, SO far as they
depend upon US, by all the means appointed by
law, and by judicious and wise, an impartial,
firm and faithful use Of the powers conferred upon
u.s. to do what in lies to advance the interests of
the society whose agents are, that security may
be given to property and safety to person. This
is our obligation. We must, no account, nor
for any reason omit its entire discharge. We shall
thence derive, in any event, the blessing Of easy
condolences, and the that If vice will not
be rebuked into obedience by punishment, nor be
confined within narrower limits by legal prohibit
tons, the fault cannot be laid at our door, To a
different branch Of Government power belongs the
duty Of defining crimes, of prescribing the mode
of trying those charged with their commission,
and Of annexing to each an appropriate penalty.
It is our province to ascertain and fix guilt in the
manner authorized, and to visit it with the or
dained punishment This done in a spirit of firm
ness. tempered by mercy. with vigilant intell-
gence, nothing remains but to leave the restrain
ing and amending effect with the Great Ruler who
is over all.
Your office, though one Of its recommendations
is its brevity, is of the utmost Importance TO the
successful operation of the laws of the land, and
to the individuals upon whose actions your judg
mcnt shall pass. Whatever wish for. or
ought to desire in this world. as essential to COM
fort and happiness, will. so far accuracy of de-
cision is concerned, depend upon your official acts
for crimes of every grade, from murder to the
lowest offence cognizable by law, you must inves-
tgate, hey shall be presented for your consider
alton. This examination you have undertaken to
make-diligently, closely, impartially, deliber-
Ately, and to present the result truly. This and
nothing lcss is due to the community, each mem
Der Of which il entitled to have made sure to him
and his the rights that pertain to every other
member, to feel that he breathes an atmosphere of
law. The claim TO this security belongs as fully
and justly to those whom misconduct msfor-
tune brings before you to others 1t is the high
est commentator Of any system of laws that they
are fixed and known, and that the same rules are
applied to the actions of all men. Ifaccused per-
sons do not come within the lines which experience
l..s-~ Al. ...l.l
not to be, and cannot be- disgraced and punished.
Any coming short of this uniformity is tyranny, in
its worst form, wearing the garb of law. No
greater befall any country than vacillat
ing administration of justice-not very superior to,
nor in its effect very different from, the exercise of
a benevolent despot's will.
Invite your attention, gentlemen of the Grand
Jury. to n description of cases that at each term
of this court present themselves in larger smaller
number. Prosecutions are frequently frivolous
to be unworthy of notice, having their origin in
\ mistaken, or no regard for the public good, or
desire to advance it, but sometimes more, it is to be
feared, in sordid motives or thirst for revenge
Their real character you cannot know without in
vostigating them; it, however, you discover that the
breach of the peace is slight that it is difficult to
see it, and that the public is in no degree
cerncd that complaint should be further pursued.
would respectfully advise you to dismiss it.
Ifyour attention shall be directed to accusations
of the gravest nature and most heinous character,
carrying with them the most serious consequences,
you will necessarily devote to them the best pow
Of your minds l say necessarily, because the
full weight of the great responsibility which in
such rests upon you as Grand Jurors must be
acknowledged. Discarding every prejudice that
might arise from the atrocity of the crime charged.
or from supposed necessity of guarding society
against its repetition, as well any unwarranta-
bic leaning in favor of the accused l respectfully
suggest that you ascertain in the first place all the
circumstances attending the fact charged, and,
with minds open to conviction from the dictates Of
sound reason and cool judgment, weigh every cir
cumstancc, great and small, and, shutting out all
inclination to find for or against the accused. draw
the conclusion that dispassionate and xious con-
alteration of the evidence lead you to- II has been
truly said, that if man can bring himself to re-
gard great occasions he does those Of ordinary
occurrence, he will be capable Of his best efforts,
and whys Simply because he will be able to use
all his faculties in their full vigor, unclogged by
| anxiety about results, which do not enter into
or disturb his thoughts, that are intent only on
discovering and declaring the truth. This l take
to be the proper condition Of jurors mind and
tho frame into which, if were juror, would en-.
dcavor TO bring minc--ncver forgetting that every
man is under the most unfavorablc circumstances,
to be presumed innocent until he is proved to be
guilty.
| The mass of the subjects that will be submitted
TO you will be of a middle grade. The questions
involved in them will probably be generally Of easy
solution, but many Of them will require the most
deliberate consideration. all will require, with
view to knowledge Of the facts, the closest scru-