The Placer herald., 1855-11-03
with whom it grew into form and favor as

with whom it grew into form and favor as a
shield against the corruptions of the Stal
Chamber Court, and the insoent assump
tons of the Crown. Corrupted power ac-
cused and seized upon the unsuspecting cti-
zens, placed them in loathsome dungeons
where they remained during the pleasure Of
the minions of the Throne, or until malice
had invented charge sufficiently potent to
carry them through the inquisitional Stal
Chamber to the executioner's block. The
friends of the Victims We're regaled by the
sight of the head and hands of the dead body
upon the city gates, and the estate was for
teited to the Grown, whilst the family were
sent forth to beg or steal a support. No
wonder the people sought for some conscr-
vative body, to stand between them and such
terrible evils, and .ney found relief in the act
of Habeas Corpus Grand Jury and kindred
laws.
An individual before he could be held in
such jeopardy must be accused by his peers,
and the substantial citizens of the times,
passed in Grand Jurics, upon the question OF
accusation or no accusation before the courts
were allowed to try.
Two centuries ago it was an institution in
dispensable to the English people-it shield
ed the innocent, and barred the back for the
lash, of the guilty. it is a monument to the
honor of the stout-hearted commons. Even
now it may be so interviewer with the habits
of that people and of the people of many
of the older States of this Union as to rem
der the abolishing of it impotic, on that
account. But with the necessities that
brought it into use, the existence of the grand
jury should have passed away. Transplant
ing it to California was impotic, in our esti-
nation, and has loaded the people with an
irksome duty and 4 burthensome expense. 1t
is not known to the laws of the State of
Louisiana, and yet justice is meted out to
the satisfaction of her pcople,-perhaps as
equitable as in any of the States of the Union
If a citizen wishes information upon mat
ters of law he applies to an intelligent law
yer, instead of asking the advice of his fell
low citizens unlearned in that profession
why not the State do the same! her counsel
ors are responsible to the peope-instead of
leaving it to an irresponsible grand jury.
Abolish this and YOU relieve the county of a
tremendous burthen, brought directly and in
directly by this body Each grand jury is
attended with a cost Of six or eight hundred
dollars in this county, leaving out Of sight
the costs Of prosecuting untenabe indict-
ments. We regret that we have not the sta
tistics at hand to illustrate more forcibly the
positions we have taken in this article The
County Treasurer informs us that an exhibit
will shortly be furnished the public, after the
appearance of which we may have something
further to say upon this fruitful theme
1t must not be thought that we overlook
the fact, that in order to carry out our
scheme of (as we think reform, it is neces-
sary to make extensive inroads upon our
Constitution. Experience, we believe, has
taught the people that even that sacred in
strument could be remodeled advantageously.
We do not think a convention is needed for
this-let it be done as the present amend
ments to it, are now proposed to be effected
economically, quietly, and without convul-
sion Of any sort.