The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-03-06
cnlosion-Loss of Life.
Local Matters.

JUDGE CnAwroRD's CHARoE.-In placing before
our readers this able and patriotic paper, we en-
brace the occasion to commend il to the perusal of
every reader; for il brenthes forth sentiments that
should find their way to the bosoms Of the people
throughout the length and breadth Of our land:
Charge 10 the Grand Jury Of Washington county,
ID. G. March term, 1851.
GENTLEMEN OF THE GRAND JUaY: After short re.
this court is again open for the discharge Of its
appropriate duties. In meeting the grand jury, II
affords me great pleasure to congratulate them on
the general condition of our public affairs. The
country, in every part Of it, is prosperous, and yet
discordant notes from one or two quarters reach
US. 1t has been said ofindividuas. and truly that
those who are in the most favored situations in life
requiring scarcely exertion, the slightest, to
place before them all the appliances of personal
and social enjoyment, become often moody and
discontinued, not only without cause, but with
many reasons for thankfulness and gratitude; that
superabundance of means is frequently an an
noyancc instead of blessing, and worldly pros
perty fountain Of bitter waters. Is it 30 with
nations? How ia it with the United States of Ameri
ca? Exceedingly abundant and OVERLOOKING has
been measure ofnatonalan and individual advance
ment; and yet somo of us dissatisfied with what
to all the rest of the world, would be flood of per-
sonal social and national happiness 1t is in the ma
ture of human arrangements, for the attainment Of
desired end, that thoy should not be free from OBJ
lection. Where they operate over large surface
upon interests and persons of diversified character,
they must bind more closely than is acceptable at
certain points-now at one and then at another.
What is the remedy? To bear and forbcar. To
feel that as the sunshine and the shade are sent by
God in the natural world, and winter and storm
are succeeded by the productions of the earth in
r, ;,,t vbapt h,
of the laws to oppose abstract views of right,
and when real interests are apparently endangered
or injured, if we will wait reasonable time
will find that the seeming local hardness Of their
application will soften and gradually diffuse itself
through the entire mass (; that fraternal kind
and the performance Of reciprocal duty will be
substituted for the impulsive sense of wrong,
and the single idea that would fire the temple
rather than worship in peace and felicity with
in its walls Nothing but this disposition to do
what is just and due to all fellow ctizens-all
that we each to the other by the bond-can pre-
| serve we arc, and make US all we will be,
| less in the very madness Of the moon, we throw
| away the advantages 80 lavishly set before
| Little is in your power or mine, shut up we
! in small space, and bound to submission rather
than action; but we still do something by an
| example of obedience TO the laws, and by the de-
country shall be obeycd, and obedience to them
| forced at every personal hazard; this can do,
and this muet do 40 many rilis mako the
great stream, and the last drop fills the vessel,
| may our mite of obedience to and enforcement of
the laws be the blessed means of leading those Of
our fellow citizens who have power and influence
to abide by the laws, and enjoy the blessings they
| have and we have under them, rather than resort
| TO speculative measures and than doubtful
political cxpedients.
| The range Of your inquiries embraces crimes Of
| every degree Accusations may be preferred by
men Of every moral complexion, and against inno-
cent well guilty men. Between the grades,
and even the shades of offence, it is your duty to
dsting uish, and your office cannot be rightly per-
formed unless you discriminate between the virtu-
GUS and the vicious. looking closely into their con-
duct and motives, whether they be accusers ac
cused, and deciding with what and how much of
guilt, if any, the party defendant is chargeablc
and whether or how far you can rely on the prose-
| cutors statement. A wide field of investigation is
thus opened, which obligation ito yourselves and
the parties concerned requires should be thoroughly
explored and this is not the less essential because
all the light that will be shed on your official path
| must come from the side of the United States. Or
dnarily the conesting parties, by their respective
statements and proofs. direct the investigation to
the truth of case but grand jurors must search
for it Themselves if there is to suppose it has
| not been candidly declared. Industry and Close
| ness of scrutiny therefore incumbent on you !;
your presence being only accessible to the prose-
cutor, he ought to make out, far as the evidence
goes clear case of apparent guilt, and having, at
this stage of the inquiry, exclusive hearing, he
should give satisfactory support to his allegation
If he does not impress your minds, he fails to
make good his charge. If, on the other hand, he
shall convince your understandings that the &C
cused should be put upon his trial, it only remains
for you so to report to this court.
There will probably be many applications to you
concerning trivial prosecutions. Sometimes these
originate in malevolence and thirst for revenge;
and other motives discreditable supposed &C.
casionally to lie at the bottom of prosecutions for
minor offences. If you cannot connect them with
| the public interest, should think they do not
| longer require your attention. would not, how
| ever, be misunderstood. No matter how small the
injury, if it be real it is fairly entitled to redress,
and if the peace has been actually broken, the ag-
grcssor should be punished and this although the
prosecution instituted more from feeling than
regard for the public good. Still there may be,
and in all human probability there will be, com
plants in which you discover neither private
injury Government Interest," and thcsc, it is
uOt OescINc w oS iu wv
heard.
Accusations Of magnitude and serious import
will, from the constitution of the human mind, be
certain to engross your attention By the i'm
portance Of their conscqucnces-in possible de-
grading conference.-the loss of character and
castein the still greater deprivation OF self respect
and in the deeply affective sympathics of the rela-
tives of the accused, they demand and will re-
ceiye from you all the patient and rigid cxamina-
ton and anxious consideration they merit. While
ON the side there should be no want OF that
moral courage which will not shrink from the up
right discharge of plain duty, unpleasant how
ever it may be; the other, there should be nc
leaning against man charged with crime; but .
cool and deliberate weighing of the testimony, in
total Disregard of all other considerations, should
determine which scale ought to descend.
Let us, gentlemen Of the grand jury, in our re-
spectve positions, endcavor justify the trust re-
posed in us, by an energetic, an upright, and in.