Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1851-07-17

Jury, VI Tic ". o. SHcuN SoUs, w WIS
town -
JUDGE wOODBURY'S CHARGE.
Gentlemen ef the Grand Jury
In the regular administration Of The
laws exig.ncirs sometimes arise, when
il becomes the duty ot the Court To in
vie your attentlon par icularly 10 II
class or classrs oi those laws. II any oi
them have had the misfortune To be for
cih:y assail' a. though by IA small por-
tun "i the cominuniy-iiiliep public OIL
tIccrs white enforcing them. have been
rcsisied with violence, and this at nGon-
day, and in the very temple ot Justice
il is breach Of the public peace highly
hagrdnt ~ chararter-Ihe prostr,tiOn OF
everything derorous and orderly, and IL
furnishes urgent reasons 10 examine the
subject with care proport oIate to the
aygravation Of the outrage.
Il Is d part of our Constitutional obi.
CATIONS lo secure an undisturbed admin
istration oi .he laws, and shield the
community al large from IA repetition Of
rioious disorders, by prom pr and exen-
due To tie peaceaIle portion ol the peO-
as not 10 let all remain under one indis-
criuinate ban OF condemnation.
The circumstances auveiied to, are
supposed to I ave recently taken place
IN this circuit, and being Ol very evil
tendency, and exposed 10 occur again,
and in each district Of il, il not duly no-
tmed, ] shall invite the attention Oi the
Grand Jury IN each TO the subJcct-at
the same time congratula ing those,
who may reside where norhing OF this
Kind has happened, oil their good tor
tune III far The law-abiding princi Plies
which their population have eyinced -
That the active participatOrs III the vlo-
lcice referred IL, and those who eoun-
tnancc them, nre very few, in so moral
and intelligent community. ought GER
E,nly Ia he believed, unless the latter
tal ~ make warning example OF the
guilty. ln IN king such an example, II
l. true, we can All should be both char
table and JusI. hut AT the same time
without being negligent AZ 10 the rights
OF HE government oi the whole Union,
d, vok cd o.i our protection in some res
poets within thus region Of our common
country.
So far, therefore. as the subject of
thus excitement Is connected with res
tralnIs OH ',uinan iiheriv.ii il 10 certainly
calculated To cause sympathy and iD
snne respects 10 excuse error OF opin-
lou. But while tolerant as we must he,
to all differences OF mere opinion and 10
irer discussion yet II they end in bad
conduct, all must rcrfbhafc. and Courts
oflaw must punish, that conduct, or be-
come themselves implicated. Indeed,
opin'"ns in Il country like this, will be
unclaimed should rove free as air
Freedom uf SPEECH, TOO. while discon-
nected With the disturbance OF public
bodies ard the public tranquility, or
with personal SANDER. or blasphemy, or
rxl rtations 10 violence may be wild
as the waves. Much Of the steam in
society here is 'ct off by TINT Mt. MS n
safrty-va've, harmlessly, or without
dangerous explosions--but proceed TO
deeds--to torce-to invocalions to tie
actual commission vi crincs-to the
plbhc Dissertation of the laws, and the
DIS ruction Of order-and the whole as
pcct of the case is changed. and punish
ment must he Inflicted, or ruinous anar-
cay is Inevitable.
These last have always constituted n
penal offence by the laws of the land,
and not by the Fugitive Slave laws
merely though the enforcement Of these
last seems 10 have heen the immediate
occasion for most Of the recent excite
mcDt and outbreaks.
Rnt ~ n matter Of fact. whether
the laws be detective in form, or CEN
surabl- in operation be liked or dis
liked 10y many 1T the \orth-is not the
great inquiry Tor you or this Court on
the present occasion. That would be
very material for VS. il legislators. and
convened To discuss change OF those
laws. On tn, co oitrary, met to enforce
tnem in Judicial capacity, your duty
is to ascertain whether in roint of fact
the execution Of them by the duly ap-
pointed officers, has MOI been resisted
hS force, and this still advised to be re-
p'ated, aud therefore should not by our
o,tils, our duties, and the safety Of So
cIrty, he condlgnIy punished
Nor ~ the question a matter OF opin-
ion. whether slavery is not generally
wrong-s.nce on that IoInt, in New
EngIaud. there is probably only one
opinIon. But il is, wi ether. where this
institution is .olrmny recognized to ex-
ist il sone otaies by TIE Constitution
aud acts Of Congress, and must continue
Ia he recognized, by the res Grafton OF
the fugitive. I'LL those States choose to
abolish II, or Till the Constitution anL
acts oi Congress on this point are alter
.d, any individual lie justified and is TO
be lett unpuni,hcd, Tor attacking vio-
j"nrly The public iuncrionaries in order
tprevent the due performance, OH this
matter, ot their official oblig atoms
! would lain b.lievc, that many have
erred on this from want OF due exam
inaiion and discrimination, rather than
misciIievous designs Aud | do not,
therefore, ueen Il miss Oh this occasion.
auiung other remarks To attempt to sot-
tn any undue preju,lices which might
leid Ia further br, aches OF these laws,
or render Grand JurI"s reluctant to
punish attacks Oh them, when commit
ted with brute force.
Looking at the history Of slavery in
the country, dIspass onately, there will
he found less excuse tor error, even OF
opinloI, as to the necessity vi some pro-
VISION un this delicate topIr. II the North
Is 10 continue at all united with the
South (; aud looking AZ this and our inn
perative obligations at every hazard &
sustain the laws tll directly repeal, d,
there liz ill less excuse iur co of
cOnduct-iUr mena' ing denunciatlols---
and indeed such violence as 10 uvci-
throw "a der nnd by pollutinp the very