The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-06-29
Charge to the Grand Jury.

The following charge to the grand jury OF this District
az delivered by Judge Crawford at the commencement OF
the Iune term of the United States district court has,
The request Of the grand jury been Furnished to us Tor
publication:
Gp,uEuky OF The GRAND JuRYs Trials for crime niue.
bs precedsd by pIeseamenis or indictments of grand
,ury This i'm potant right was wisely deemed worthy oil
protected by constitutional suafas Thus looked 10
as one Of the great OF impartial adminstra
linn of Justice under all circumstances, the grave and
ous nature your duties mus, be perceived by all and
cannot but felt by those in the actual exercise OF the
powers conferred for the rghtiu discharge OF those duties
so far as seng the impulse Of vuous men to do
lastly Habit familiarzss TO the use OF authority and
vents those ntrused with IT, though acting under It's
,n restraint from being scu,ey sensible OF the
bIiy that upon them for It's faithful All lives
long we been accustomed TO see The agents of the
pubic-of hgh and moderate staton--admn STEERING the
government and dispensing law and justice in form
and anoher Indispensable 10 the welfare, indeed the
existence OF society," and hence the power Of the law is put
forth and is submitted 10 without hesitation, but the
echo of the public voice. IL possible for Juror
Judge never have heard Of until he called
pass upon De life or liberty of his frlow-mnn aud
take his under the suppoSltion that the duy
would not be required oil any again, he would embe
every STEP sleep would fly his pillow and he would DO
utterly disqualified for upright aud intelligent decision.
The established order OF things aud relieve him
from this embarrassment, and consequent disqualification
free Just OF the weight of biy
that attaches 10 the possession Of office You and will
ihen hope cater upon the performance OF respective
duties with entire consciousness OF all owe the
public and ourselves and how much it becomes Fac
the obligations that demand from industry, purity o.
purpose the best of minds in doing those
things that incumbent on judge and grand
jurors
Your office is Of short duration and this is Il It's com
mendatops but II Is the lees por,aut cunt
s,fYdf
may be, Of the greatest magnitude well In rela
lion society TO the individuals WHOSE conduct shah b.
reviewed by you The liberty and the characters OF men
oil that ought 10 be most vaued-perhaps hei
uve,-wil, 10 measure, depend upon you. Ii is you
province examine all charges OF criminal nature tina
shall be preferred before YOU IRON the highest lowe,t
from murder to the mos, rng tHsuce Of which the Law
takes notice, You have undertaken diligently to inquire &c
investigate closely TO weigh imparisly, consider DELHI
eutey. and present truly. All this Is due society
whose iuers,. within your sphere your fo
The time being The citizen Is entitled possess md mi y
bis property IN security, to go about at his pleasure pur
his vocation, whatever may be- feeling that
safe from violation rjuy, and lie down in his bee
night without apprehension Of de pedatots and burglars
rhi, protection the law owes him, and 1t is be obtained
only by Furnishing with much severity each case re-
qures all who violate H. il is In perfect consistence iii
this great object and ptonotivc OF lake as certain n
human slbbli;y will allow that you place only those
whom the evidence mark, gui the list OF the persons
10 be tried greater efficacy will thus be given The punish
nsnts inflicted and tits especially doe the nnoeen, who
from mistake malice, may be prosecuted for offences
uuiusy charged upon them. Iisa high duly 10 protec
The latter. It's due to them, under the law il is due le
tier feelings and families and ALL and the best, that car
be done, alter they have been guorsnly wickedy ao
cused, is that you refuse to present them. .r#
Your approach to Of great aocity involving cor
responding consequences, will be necessarily made win
Canuon and your scrutiny OF them be strict You ooulc
not avoid lock narrowly into such charges il you wet,
10 msko The thort The heart Ind mind Of man re coil a
excessive depravy, and inquire II such scou al
We wen oundedl They are established only by ifreirsya
bio eviaence aud convection Of their truth is reluctan,
Yielded. They Of full and anxious investigates
and Of fair decision, unless those very rare
when the public mind Is hurled iron its eqnipose by We
horror Of an suociops deed aud hurried beyond .ob
nent by deesistion of great wickedness and the
necessity to the security OF each by the efforts
eL When this happens, virtue ministers to error Tn,
seauensn before me require no caution on mi. head
ihey know that, bow serny must DO r-bokee
ana crime punished when It is established Innocence
oe presumed until guit IL Proved and that up 10 IN,
moment when IL Is proved, cool, careful, dspassonae
unparisl inquiry Is solemn duty.
Inc arges proportion OF the that will be spbm.t
you WIZ Doubtless, be less magn than those ad veree
To- but nevertheless require all your diligence and ss
ssey in their Interrogation In greai majority of tbe.,
ehsgss your will bc made plain by Inc aucno,
hsy will receive your hands but 10 some Of the m in
uicsey will be encountered In unrsveng H. the eraml
nation Of Witnesses and again, the To
umony sdduc.d one part with another and proper con
Noeraon Of the characters Of the several witnesses. thei
NO Of the motives that you shall bink sctuate thes
hardly fail conduct you right conclusions A. tn
Prosecutor alone hs. yop, II is proper h
heud convince yoo by the evidence for the United State
s In the absenps OF erculpaory testimony, the
appears to be guilty. The Law requires this, and It wou