The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-11-19

lowing pfesehlIheht
The Grand Jury Of the United States for the East.
ern District of Pennsylvania, having brought
their labors to conclusion, respectfully present:
That they proceeded in the earlier part of the
present term to discharge the duties which ordina-
| rily deVOlve upon those charged with the obsery-
ance of the laws Of the United States and had
nearly concluded their duties, when the outrages
recently perpetrated within the eastern district of
Pennsylvania, and i'll the county OF Lancaster, was
officially brought TO their notice in a charge de-
vered by the district judge the 29th day OF Sep
TENDER last Up TO this period their attention had
| been directed 10 cases in which offences were
charged against the post office laws; cases OF mu-
tiny; counterfeitng the coins of the United States;
cruel and unusual punishments inflicted by the
officers OF vessels upon mariners upon the high
seas; and such cases as are ordinarily submitted
to the action OF the grand jury in the courts of the
| United States. The investigation of the charges
made in the cases of persons alleged TO have EN-
bezzed moneys and letters from the post office, in
duced the grand jury to visit the building used by
the General Government for post office purposes in
this city. They regret to remark that, in their
judgment, 1t is not at all adapted TO the purposes for
which il is used, and utterly inadequate to the ne
cessities of the community. In fact, the Post Of
| flee Department could not well have had allotted
To 1t worse accommodations in the city of Philade
| phia. The rooms in use arc small, and the en-
| ployees crowded together in such a manner
rousy TO interfere with the transaction of the bu-
| siness of the office. The mail pouches must be
| thrown promiscuously in the passage ways, and
not unfrequently into the street itself. The rooms
without ventilation and the confined nature of
the accommodations is such TO leopard the health
of those who are compelled TO remain in them night
and day. IL is beyond the power Of any individual,
| however energetic he may be, properly to watch
over and guard the public interests when the
necessary for doing 80 are denied him.
When compared with the accommodations af-
forded by the post offices of the other great cities
OF the Union, those Of Philadelphia, second only
| in population and wealth, really humiliating.
Besides being actually inadequate to the mere
manipuations of the Office they do not afford the
4
! important branch of the public service. On ex-
aiming this office, ii ceases to be matter of sur
| prise that it should be the occasional theatre of
| spoliaton and plumber. The wonder really is,
| how so few have occurred under circumstances
| apparently inviting them, by affording every fa-
ciliy and convenience for their preparation. The
interest of the community, and the character of the
| Government, alike demand that prompt remedy
should be appointed to this great public evil; and
| that public building should either be erected or
| leased possessing adequate and comfortable &C
| commodations for the officers, and conveniences
ard facilities for the citizens, such the necessities
OF great commercial city imperatively demand.
An enlightened economy indicates this as the APP
! propriate time for erecting such building. At
present, indeed, the rent of building for post Of
flee purposes may be small, but in the city of Phil
adelphia this cannot be Of long duration. In
| few years, from obvious and natural causes, the
value Of real estate must increase, and with the
rental Of such real estate. AT present the Govern
ment of the United States might purchase for a
moderate sum lot upon which suitable edifce
constructed as also TO accommodate the courts of
the United States, and furnish rooms for the clerks
marshal and other officers In a short time the
sum paid by the Government in rent alone will be
such as to equal the amount now necessary to pur-
chase the ground and erect the building. Enter
| tanning these views, the grand jury feel it to be
duty which they owe to the community, and the
public interests, to recommend that an application
be made to Congress for such an appropriation as
may be adequate for this purpose; and they would
respectfully invite the attention of the Postmaster
To fIao ,Iar. NFth ,oo
The grand jury would further present, that in
accordance with the practice of grand juries
paneled in the State courts, they visited the pri-
soners confined in the Eastern penitentiary for
crimes committed against the laws of the United
States and in every instance they found the pri-
soners to be in excellent condition, receiving the
attention and discipline necessary TO their physi-
cal and moral we'll being.
About the period when the grand jury were ter
minating their labors, great public outrage oc-
Cured in the neighboring county, involving in its
consequences the grave crimes OF murder and trea
Their attention being drawn to the subject
by the very able and interesting charge OF the dis
trict judge, the Hon. John X. Kane, they entered
into It's careful and dispassionate investigation.
Their labors have resulted in the finding of indot
ments against thirty persons for the crime of high
treason against the Government of the United
States, and other indictments for minor offences
arising out OF the same transaction.
Although the grand jury have felt no hesitation |
in performing the duty imposed on them by the |
law of the United States, in presenting these seri
foundy regret the necessity which has led to it, At
period like the present in the history of the Re-
public, when under the mild influence of a Ma
tiona Constitution, prcdicated on the principles OF
recognising, respecting, and indicating the rights
and institutions OF every member OF the Coincide
racy, our country has gone on increasing in great
ness prosperity, and happiness it is painful TO the
heart OF the patriot that such outrage upon the
dignity of the nation and its laws should have been
perpetrated that which has led to the indict-
ments found by us. 1t is to be feared that the inn
mediate actors in this drama of blood have, if not
directly stimulated, been encouraged by those
from whose social and public position, and intelec
tual culture, better things might have been anti
cpated.
that obedience to the laws of the United States,
acted by the constitutional authorities, was the
first OF obligations imposed on an American citi-
zen; any that any other resistance to them than the
constitutional resistance, by change of law Civ
crs, was among the political hercsies most TO be re-
pudiated by an American patriot. Itis however,
to be .ardently hoped that the bloody tragedy of
Christiana may have wholesome and abiding in
fluencc on our future national career; that it may
impart moderation to political zealots; impress
lasting lesson of the necessity of obedience to the
public laws while they remain unrepealcd on the
statute book and manifest ;hat there ia but
true remedy for grievances real or supposed, UNI
der which the nation may sufer-the remedy pre-
seribcd by the Constitution.
The grand jury cannot bring TO close this pre-
sentiment without testifyng their high apprecia
ton of the professional efforts Of the United States
District Attorney, John w. A5bmead, esq, VINO,
by hs great energy and ability in the discharge of
the duties Of aborious term, has materially ia
cilitated the labors of the grand jury, and
dcred most important services to the Government.
Thomas Is. FLORENCE, Foreman.
Samuel Castor, Adam Mntzer,
Walter Devices, Simon Nudge,
John II. Dchl, Isaac Myer,
John Dolby, George c. Richards,
A. l.. Gerhart, c. Stockton,
N l.. Keyser, Andrew Scott,
], Lampugh Ambrose J. White,
Charles r. Long, q. b. Wilstach,
William G.. Mcnz, Alan Wood
Benjamin Mffn
Attest: John ii. Dlehl, Secretary.
Judge Kane said that the public undor in
creased obligations TO the gentlemen of the grand
jury for the signal assduty with which their iabors
had been prosecuted and brought to final tcrm
nation. The court fully and entirely concurred in
that portion of the prcsentmtnt in which increased
accommodations recommended for the post
office in this city. They could not come at time
more exceedingly welcome to the court. Under
the present statc of accommodations, no degree of
vigilance could prevent peculation in the office.
The judge said that he also concurred in that por-
ton of the presenment in which the United States
District Attorney is commended for his ability and
fiptr IN, tha ,tia cl,or., Ait.