The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-05-11

RESOLVED That this meeting, Tor Itself ana I'D De-
half of vast majority of the good people of this
civ doth declare It's d. cided and unmidgated con-
domination of all who copcurred in the disorderly
and riotous conduct above alluded to- and they en-.
terrain the confident hope and expectation that the
civil authorities OF our city, heretofore so rearka
BILE for its good order and respect for the laws Of
our country, will adopt efficient measures for pre-.
venting the recurrence of such scenes.
Mr.. s. was of opinion that this preamble and re-
solution expressed the general opinion Of our citi.
gems.
Mr.. Mayo did not wish that even implied eensure
should be cast upon the regular and peaceabe meet
ing Friday night, and would offer the following
amendment to Mr.. SCOTS propositions;
But this meeting does not mean to declare that
| the meeting assembled here on Friday last
was mob, or that that meeting assembled for any
purpose of creating row or an uproar; but to ex-
ercise their undoubted right of expressing their
opinions freely upon the public acts OF puohc
| fur ctionary. Mr. Scott accepted the amendment.
Mr.. Powhatan Roberts in a few earnest remarks
offered the following substitute for the pending
| propositions.
Resotued By this meeting, that while we CON
| denim the riotous or tumultuous assembage at the
Executives house on Friday night the It'll inst, yel
we see nothing in the meeting OF the peopIe at 'his
| Hall on that night, to dsapprove or condemn.
long debate ensued which we are obliged to
| omit
| Mr. Lyons declared that he had heard OF nothing
| to indicate that there had been mob on FIJI
day night-would not cast an unnecessary stigma
on Richmond, and trusted as they had endorsed the
action Of the council, which all that was neces
sary at present that the meeting would adjourn
There was some opposition manifested to this
| prouosition and m otion to adjourn was put and
| lost
1 81 Hoov Init II
the right of the people pubicay to assemble and
discuss the conduct of their ficers-and condemn
atory of mob action. He endeavored to support
| his resolutions in speech, which was summary
closed by the voice of the people.
| DRIP c. Gooch then moved to lay all the resoiu-
tons on the table and read substitute resolutions
which he would offer if his motion prevailed.
The motion to lay on the table was carried
| Dr. Gooch then offered the following resolu'
| tons
RESOLVED LIST, That the citizens of Richmond de-
precate and denounce all riots, MODS and disorder
" assemblages, and they feel confident that no act
| will be or has been committed which can stamp
upon the city the stigma of mob.
| Res0lred End, That this people, or any portion OF
them have the right at all times to meet and to ex-
press their opinions on any subject but that the
citizens, those participating In such meeting,
ought not to be held responsible for any riotious
proceedings which may be committed by seperate
or distinct crowd
Adopted by large majority.
On motion of DIR. G the meeting then adjourned
ats o'clock, after most exciting and fatguing ses-
| sion.
The HUsTINGs CoCRT.- CANINE ncemeat OF
the Quarterly Session.-1he Common.
soealth's attorneys Charge to the Grand In
quest concerning Violations Of Law, Riots,
&c.-The quarterly term of this Court COM
menced on yesterday. Present,-Recorder
Puliam and Aldermen Bray, Wingfeld,
CowIes, Inloes and Evans. The Grand Jury
were first called and sworn Mr.. Joseph Mayo,
Attorney for the Commonwealth, then rose
and delivered TO the Grand Jury the following
impressive charge:
,Ifthe Court please, gentlemen of the Grand Jury,
| you know that | am not in the habit of unne-
| cessarly OBTAINING you-but have allowed you
to retire from this bar taking such indictments as
| have prepared for you withou! scarcely any COM
| Inept whatever apon the law. | have done this,
| gentlemen because ] believed from your former
practise in this cour; and attendance upon it as
grand inquest o. the State, that you as fam-
lar with the ordinary duties OF your Office es
| myself. | beg pardon, then, gentlemen, for not
permitting you 70 retire Of old from this court
without taking some little trouble upon myself in
giving you the charge Of the penal laws of the
Stste.
There are matters Of ofence, gentlemen, com.
mitted in this city, have reason to believe-al-
though there is evidence directly here-that
ought TO call the attention Of this Grand Jury to
ard if you think there is any TO believe that
| such matters Of offence have been committed-the
law has vested in you the due exercise of certain
extraordinary powers, and their proper use imposes
| upon you the duty diligently to enquire into the
| moral condition Of this town. mean the moral
condition 60 far as violation of public law is con-
| cerEed-aud bring the offenders whomsoever he or
they may be, 10 the bar of public justice. There
| have been offences committed in this city of the
highest character, yet somehow OF other the often
ders have escaped justice. 1t mus. be within the
| recollection and knowledge of us all that in the
noon-tide of day almost, murder was committed
IN one O. oUr most paLlic streets, and ye; aotwitn-
standing the vigIlaDt eXeTtions OF the police the
murderer or murderers have not been brought to
justice. think i IS proper that yop should take
notice of this matter, tor wheresoever the offender
may be he is amenable 10 lew AMI may be demand.
ed by our State government and set to this bar.
| If there is any one feature of the criminal law
of this Commonwealth that ought to be Observed
that is worthy of preserving-it is that beautiful
| feature in il that makes nc distinction between
persons and puts every one who oAends against the
law upon the same platform making no compro.
mise with crime but demanding that the offender
shall be brought here for trial il the offence was
committed within the jurisdiction Of this court
| You have no authority and certainly have none,
| because the law viii not authorise ito PALATE
compromit or compromise any violation of the
law. You are, gentlemen, emphatically the grand
conservators OF the morals of this community from
the highest crime known TO your penal law down
to the lowest-and being selected from the body of
the people OF this city because supposed to hear OF
these transactions out Of docrs, you are assem
| bled in this court room this morning TO examine