Washington telegraph., 1851-10-29
onal, social, or political morals.

sonal, social, or political morals.
1t is declared in the article of the con-
stitution which l have already cited, that
"no person shall be convicted of treason,
unless on the testimony of two witnesses
to the same overt act, or on confession in
open court" This and the cores pond
ing language in the act Of Congress of
the 3Oth April, 1890, seems to refer to
the proofs on the trial, and not to the
preliminary hearing before the committing
magistrate, or the proceedings before the
grand inquest. There can be no conyic-s
ton until af.eI arraigrment Ca Diil found.
Ihe previous action in the case is not
trial, aud cannot convict, whatever be the
evidence or number of witnesses I un-
derstand 6his 10 have been the opinion
entertained 10y Chief Justice Marshall,
l Burr's Trial, 1876; and though it differs
from that expressed by Judge Iredell, on
the indictment of Fries, Wharf, Am
ST. Tr, 4S0 | feel authorized 10 recon-
mend it TO you, as within the terms Of
the constitution, and involving no iujus-
tlce 10 the accused.
have only TO add, that treason against
the United States may be committed by
any one resident or sojournng within its
territory, ami under the protection of its
laws, whether he be citizen or an alien
Fost G.. L. 1873, 5-l Hale 80, GO, o.,
Hawk, CHI. II, sec. s., Kel So.
Besides the crime Of treason, which
have thus noticed, there are offences of
minor grades, against the constitution
and the State, some or other of which
may be apparently established by the
evidence that will come before YOU
These are embraced in the Act of Con-
gress, OF the 10th Sept. 1890. chap g.,
Sec %, on the subject of obs.ructing
or resisting the service of legal process
the Act of the "a of March, 1871, chap
80, sec. 2, which secures the Jurors, wit
nesses, and officers OF the courts in the
fearless, free, and impartial admiuis,ra-
ton Of their respective functioLs-and the
Act OF the l0tn Of Sept. 1850, chap 60,
which relates more particularly to the
rescue or attempted rescue of a fugitive
from labor. These acts We're made the
subject of charge to the Grand Jury
Of this court in November last, of which
shall direct copy to be laid before
you; and | do not deem it necessary TO
repeat their provisions at this time
Geptlemen of the Grand Jary: You
are about to enter upon most grave and
momentous duty. You will he careful,
in performing it. not to permit your i'll
dignatlon against crime, or your Just
appreciation OF its perilous consequences,
to influence your judgment OF the guilt
Of those who may be charged before you
with its commission. But you will be
careful, also, that no misguided charity
shall persuade you to withhold the guilty
from the retributions Of justice. You will
inquire whether an offence has been COM
mltted, what was its legal character, and
who were the otlenders-and this done,
and this only, you will make your pre-
sentiments according to the evidence and
the law.
Your inquiries will not be restricted to
the conduct of people belonging to our
own State. IT, III the progress Of them,
you shall find that men have been among
us, who, under whatever mask of con
science or Of peace, have labored to in
cite others TO reasonable violence, and
who, alter arranging the elements of :he
mischief, have Withdrawn themselves &c
await the explosion they had contrived
you Will feel yourselves bound 20 presen,
) the fact to the Court; and however dis
, tant may be the place, in which the
offenders may have sought refuge, we
give You the pledge Of law, that its far
! reaching energies shall be exerted tc
), bring them ap for trial,-if guilty, tc
punishment.
The offence Of treason is not triable in
| ~,
: passed Oh the Sth of August, 1916, chap
: %, it is made lawful for the Grand jury
emp mpaunelled and sworn in the District
Court, to take cognizanee of all indict
ments for crimes against the United States
, within the jurisdiction of either of the
federal courts Of the district There
; being no Grand Jury in attendance a,
this time in the Circuit Court TO pas.
r upon the accusations / have referred tC
III the first instance, it has fallen 10 my
! lot TO assume the responsible Office o
; expounding 10 you the law in regard t(
: them. | have the satisfaction of know
= ing that if the views | have expressed
4 are in any respect erroneous, they mus
D undergo tlse revision Of my learned bro
ther in the Supreme Court, who preside
, i'll this circuit, before they can operate Il
: the serious prejudice Of any one; and tha
0 if they are doubtful even, provision exist,
4 for their re-examination in the highes
o tribunal of the country
DESTRUCTION OF DEAD LErTERs.-Ye es
r terday morning Mr.. Swartzman, of tn
e Dead Letter Office, destroyed one hun
e dred and sixty-iour fve-bushel bags @
i dead letters, the accumulation of thre
Il months. They were all emptied into