Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-06-14
THE FEDERAL GnI1RT.

AT the iate Term OF the Federal Court held IN this
City, the United States Attorney, Mr.. Dick, after
looking into the matter announced his purpose not
to prosecute Mr.. John B. Woodin any further, and
on the trial of James Johnson for forgery he called
Mr.. Woodfn to the stand as witness. We hear
from every that he acquitted himself in the most
creditable and praiseworthy manner. His account
| was clear, minute and candid.
Mr.. Woodfn having claimed it, jury empan-
elled in his case before he was called to the stand
witness above stated; and the District Attorney
! declared that he was satiied of his innocence and
should offer no evidence against him. The jury re-
turned a verdict accordingly. On this the Counsel
of Mr.. Woodfin stated that with the permission of
the District Attorney they would say, that Mr..
Wood6n was man of most excellent character, and
| that they were satisfied that every who had
witnessed the trial convinced of his innocence
of any offence legal moral in the transaction;
which the jury, who were men of high character
and excellent sense, responded that they were so
satisfied.
The case of johnson was argued at considerable
length, and the jury returned the verdict of not
guilty in about ten minutes.
We give the presentment by the Grand Jury of
the Federal Court of the late resistance to the law
in Boston:
The Grand Jurors of the U. S. District Court for
the District of North Carolina, having concluded
the business before them think it proper not to adj
journ without calling public attention to the fact,
that without single exception the laws and treaties
of the United States within this District have been
so faithfully observed and executed since the last
term of the Court, thst they have not found any vi
olation of the same the part of any of the citi
Zens of this District. No citizen of the State of
Massachusetts, in particular, of any other State
has been insulted, delayed, defeated, in the
assertion of his rights, the recovery of his pro-
perty; nor have they found any combination
lawful asscmblage to defeat the supreme law of the
land. The peace and dignity of the Union have
been secure, and obedience to law, so universal
and spontaneous that, never for an instant has
recourse to any other power than the calm decision
of the proper Court, been found necessary
In melancholy contrast with this happy condition
of affairs, they present the recent outragcs within
the jurisdiction of the Federal Court of the District
of Massachusetts,. Within the last few weeks, cit
izcn of Virginia named Suite, having invoked at
Boston, the aid of the U. S. Cont for the recovery
of his property, using only such means as are pro-
vded by the Constitution, and law made in pur-
suance thereof has been subjected to runous delays
and expenditure, while for the purpose of constrain
ing him to abandon the constitutional rights involved
therein, and at the time the territory of the
District Of massachusetts, agroundlcss and malicious
prosecution has been instituted against him. Nor
is this all. For, obtaining at last by the judgement
of the proper officer, possession of his property,
and attempting to return with the same to his own
State, an armed mob, in open day, have INSTRUCTED
his return and attempted forciby to it from
his possession. In this gross and reasonable viola
ton of the laws of the United States, many persons
reputed and believed by us, to be of standing and
in that community PAL t'cpated, and
a gross murder perpetrated, upon the body of
one James Batchelder, assistant Marshall of the
United States, while in the discharge of his sworn
duties, and executing order of the said Court.
Circumstances like these frequently occurring
there have seriously impaired the confidence of the
people of this District in the administration of JUS
tice in the District of Massachusetts, and while they
admire the promptness and energy with which
Franklin Pierce the Chief Magistrate of the Union
has the occasion, they cannot but regret that III
the District of Massachusetts, the laws ofth country
have to be upheld by the exhibition of military pow
er. And the Grand Jurors aforesaid, take leave to
return the President their thanks and the thanks
of the people of this District, for this important
service to the whole country in maintaining Law |
and Order within the District Cf Massachusetts,, and
congratulate him and the country that while from |
the indications the present condition things in this
District afford, military force will scarcely
be needed here, to sustain the law-among the pco- |
pie of North Carolina, without any aid Of o. S. SOL
lers there will always be found standing power,
sufficient vindcate the majesty of the laws, and
to punish treason to the Constitution whether COM
mitted by Individuals or by bodies of men, however
numerous, powerful or fanatic.
n. u. RAND, FOREMAN.
ELI YATES JOHN H. CLARKE,
NJ WILLIAMS E. H. MORGAN,
EVAN H. MORGAN Jos. B. STONE,
Jos. Fl. Cook, j. II. YARBoRoUGu,
G. NJ LEWIS. G. MONROE,
ALFRED B,YkIN, W. NJ. BLACKwooD,
G. w. FoosHEE, JAMES FULLER,
T. McCRACkEN, WIN. B. MASON,
WILLIS WHITAKER.