Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-10-18
WIIOE NO. 317.


But II should not be supposed that any Of
these represent the sentiment of Pennsyvn-
MIA, aud il would he to wrong our people
sorely, TO include them in the same catego-
ry Of personal, social, or political moruIs.
II is declared ia the article Of the Consti-
tuition which have already cited that "no
person shall be convicted of treason, unless
on the testimony of two witnesses to the
saine overt net, or on confession in open
Court" This aud the corresponding Ian
gunge IN the act of Congress of the Both OF
Aprll, lI9O, seem to refer to the proofs or
the trial, aud not the preliminary hearing
before the committing magistrate, or the pro-
ceoding before the Grand Inquest. There
can be 10 conviction until after arraignment
on bill found. The previous action in the
| case IS not trial, aud cannot convict, what
/ ever be the evidence or the number Of wit
nesses. understand this to have been the
opinion entertained 10y Chief Justice Mar.
shall, Burr's Trial, 1906; and though il diff
ters from that expressed by Judge lredeli on
the indictment of Fries, Wharf. Am. St.
/ T'r. 4eO, feel authorized to recommend il TO
| you, as within the terms of the Constitution,
aud involving no injustice to TIE accused.
have only to add, that treason against
the United States may be committed by any
one resident or sojourning within its terrific
/ ry and under the protection of its laws,
whether he be citizen or an alien.-Fost.
G. l.. le3 5.-l Hale So GO, g., Hawk.
ch. IL, 5, Kel. %.
Besides the crime of treason, which have
thus noticed, there are oflenses of minor
| grades, against the Constitution and the,
| Stnte, some or other of which may he ap-
parently established by the evidence that will
come before you. These are embraced in
the Act of Congress, on the Both Sept, 1000,
ch. ., sect. %, on the subject of obstructing
or resisting the service of legal process,-thc
Act of the 2d of March, 1881, cll. 90 sect. 9,
winch secures the jurors, witnesses, and Of
hcers OF our Courts in the fearless, free, and
impartial administration of their respective
liInctions,-and the Act of the 18th of Sep
tember 1850, ch. 60, which relates more par
ticularly TO the rescue or attempted rescue Uf
n fugitive from labor.
, These Acts were made the subject of
charge to the Grand Jury of this Court in
, November last, of which shall direct n co.
py to be laid before YOU; aud do no, deem
II necessary 10 repeat their provisions at this
f time.
: Gentlemen of the Grand Jury: You are
, about 10 enter upon most grave and mo-
mentous duty. You will be careful in per-
forming it, not to permit your Indignation
agnlnsi crime. or your just appreciation of its
perilons consequences, to influence your
Judgment OF the guilt of those who may bs
charged before yOu with its commission
But you will he careful nlso that no mis-
guided charity shall persuade YOU to with
hold the guilty from the reiribuiions of ius.
tee. You will inquire whether an offence
has been committed, what WIS its legal chnr-
acter, and who were the offenders,-and
this done. and this only, you will make your
presentInents according to the evidence and
the law. f.t
Your inquiries will not be restricted TO
the conduct of people belonging to our own
State. in the progress of them, you shall
hnd, that men have been among us, who,
under whatever mask of conscience or OF
peace, have lnbored to incte others to Wea-
sonnble violence, and who, after arranging
the elements of the mischief, have withdrawn
themselves TO await the explosion they had
contrived; you will feel yourselves bound
to present the fact TO the Court land how
ever distant may be the place in which the
offenders may have sought refuge, we give
you the pledge of the Law, It's far reach
ing energies shall be eXerted TO bring them
up for trial, guilty, TO punishment.
The offence of Treason is not trinble in
this Court. But, by an Act of Congress
passed on the Sth of August, 1876, ch. 80, il
is made lawful for the Grand Jury, empan-
nelcd and sworn in the District Court, TO take
+ cognzance of oil indictments for crimes
against the United States within the juris-
diction Of either oithe Federal Courts of the
, District. There being no Grand Jury in at
a tendance at this time in the Circuit Court 10
pass upon the accusations | have referred to
in the first instance, il has fallen TO my lot to
= assume the responsible Office of expounding
n TO you the law in regard TO them. ] have
]. the satisfaction of knowing, that if the views
n have expressed are in any respect errone-
: Gus. they must undergo the revision of my
learned brother of the Supreme Court, who
. presides in this Circuit, before they can OPP
= crate TO the serious prejudice of any one
. and that If they nre doubtful even, provision
: exists for their re-examination in the highest
!. tribunal of the country.