New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-03-28

e March term Of the Court OF General Sessions beg
lave respectfully TO present TO the Court part Of
Rer lsbors the following presentment; The attention
d the Grand Jury having been called TO various state
nents seriously affecting the official integrity of those
yubc officers empowered by law ~ draw the panels Of
Grand and Petit Jurors, and particularly 10 charges
oddly and distinctly made Of corruption and comm
vance in the drawing Of the panel from which the
uesent Grand Jury was selected, have deemed the
pbject Of too great importance to pass over without
uoper notice. II was thought that the ordinary duties
d Grand Inquest were of slight moment compared
10 the enornity Of these abuses II any such existed
Public wrongs Of the character alleged strike deeper
md more egectus blow ut the welfare Of the
Ity than any other abuses known to laws. OF al
Its Of official vlaiDy, in the present low state OF
saical morals none would be far reaching in its
aects or drefu In its consequences. With these
dews the Grand Jury determined the earliest posi-
BE period consistent with their other duties, to nves
bguie the truth Of these statements thus publicly made
and Ddustrously circulated, If the slightest ground
existed for these imputatiOns. If II true that pub
lie officers from any cause, for any purpose, could
thus corrupt the very fountains OF Justice, II was evil
dent that law and legal remedies be replaced
by anarchy and disorder. With corrupt Judiciary,
plant Jury and INSCRIPTIONS ministerial
and Juries the servile instruments of fraud
and oppression. The Jury were relieved from any
personal embarrassment in the matter Of investga-
6on by the frank and impartial course pursued by the
District Attorney By unanimous vote Of the Jury the
District Attorney was requested TO summon such wit
pesses rs he thought proper and conduct in person.
the entire investigate untrammolled in any manner
For this purpose the District Attorney attended aud
no
sheriff. County Clerk, Commissioner OF Jurors, Depu
les Clerks and their officers and others) with the
ats hereinafter sct forth and which he has given bis
hn and entire sanction, viz That the name Of each
nj every member of the present panel were regularly
iered on the list Of Grand Jurors for the current
yesr at smeetng of the Board Of Supervisors in the
month OF July, 1852 That the names of % persons
20 constitute Grand Jury for the March tVm of the
General Sepeons were regularly drawn from the wheel
containing the namea of Grand Jurors for the City and
County in the usual manner, by Richard b. Connolly,
Esq County Clerk in the presence OF Aid Tweed and
Cornell on the 2lst of February 1888, At 10 o'clock,
A. NJ; that said drawing was conducted by Mr.. Con
pely Ia person without any interference directly or
Indirectly ON the part Of any other person with such
drawing. That Aid Tweed aud Cornell were present
Sy request OF Mr. Connolly, without any solicitation or
request from them either OF them, or any person
on their behalf but being 30 invited in accordance
with the law by the County Clerk OF his own volition
Tia, no design intention, ects or acts existed or was
committed by the County Clerk In such drawing, in
consistent or at variance with strict and honest de-
sire faithfully TO perform the duty enIoined upon
him by law That In the serving of the summonses OF
said Jurors, the same conducted In the usual man
per and although great ooseness has existed on the
part of subordnates employed in the serving OF jury
notices hereinafter Get forth, their was no departure
from the usual practice in that respect ia regard to
The present Grand Jury; and finally, that each and
Every charge from any source implying OF importing
any fraud or intentional misconduct on the part any
Of tho otccrs connected with the drawing sunmcning
and return OF said panel utterly false !, will thus be
seen how far the OF portion of the Press
Of the City, impuguing the legality and regularity of
the drawing Of the panel from which the Grand Jury of
ths term was selected is consistent with truth and IL
for the community 10 consider what credit should
., any time be attached to their fulunatioas when
charges Of 90 grave q character recklessly made
wi,hou, the ,hehiest foundation. Among the many
evils existing in midst none require popular con
dempslion more than the freedom with which por
,lsn of the newspaper Press OF this City overs,eps
proper limit and strikes right and eit al any and all
persons and objects which happen 10 tall under its con-
demnAtion IL is no answer TO say that the p1ohc
rood REQUIRES an Unrestricted public Press. In ali
countries aud in all ages tao public good has been
made the prctexs for the darkest crimes Under that
slca hiss been committed the blaokc.i sets Of private
Vengeance and the most Subtle pl,iesl prosecutions
Let us avoid the evil, ami in our reverence Tor
The liberty of the Press, do not tolerate an uahri'
died license often destructive the evil 1t pre-
leads 70 roctify Having thus disposed OF those ur
teEs personal 10 themselves, as well ~ affecting pub
he rights and interests, the attention Of the Grand
bury was directed 70 n thorough and searching
Investigation into the character OF the Grand and
Petit Jury system of this City, and the modes OF Its
administration and they constrained 70 say tbs;
radical detects exist in the sys;cri, aud that gre&
abuse and gross carelcssness persdcs ~ sdmnsira
ton The detects Of the system itself relate to the
manner Of selecting both Grand and Pei, Jurors The
Selection of Gsnd Jurors Tor this City is vested In the
coaId Of Supervisors, consisting Of the Mayor, Re
eOrder ard Aldermen Of the City. The number Of
so being the maximum allowed by law, Is sppor-
toned among the several wSrds, and tie selection
fem each Ward virtually confined to the Aldermen
iAersof This power the Grand Jury think. should
Dot be vested in any one man. Dangerous in itself
and Al AL events liable - abuse, il 3shi no longer
exAt They recommend, therefore, change Of the
existing law vcs,ins the power OF selecting Grasa
sross for This City in Bcsrd 10 consist Of he Judges
If the Supreme Court, Superior Coart, and Court Of
Common Pleas Said lis, be snGsy elected on the
s-s, NondSy OF July for the year In regard 10 fett
hror for this Cy the power OF selecting saeh list BY
tie Ae, Of isS7 is vested in the Commissioners OF Jurors
isr this City
|, has been supposed by the present Commissioner
TIA, under this law be 10 clothed with the exclusive
md unlimited discretion Of excluding from the Us; Tor
any year, individuals fully Qashaed saa legally
tAes 10 the performance Of jury duty aud th power
hes beea In various Instances exercised Tue "'Saa
Jury fully beeve thu, in the exercise OF this su2posed