The Daily Nashville true Whig. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1851-1855, 1855-09-18
From the Athens EAST Tenn.) Post, Sept. IL.
A Novel Proceeding.

At the Monroe Circuit Court, on Monday last, af-
ter Judge Alexander had finished his charge to the
Grand jury a member of that body Ia Mr.. Dickey)
notified his Honor that he wished to call the atten,
ton of the Court certain matter which had been
overlooked. The Court having, with its usual
urbanity, signied its Observation-Disclosures Mr..
Dickey proceeded to ediiy the Court and eectrify
the Bar and outsiders, by reading series OF inter-
rogatories, which had evidently been prepared
with some care, and which read, to the best Of
recollection, substantially as follows:
"What is the law in respect to secret societies of
men, conspiring together for political purposes, with
an intention to control the State Congressional and
Municipal elections of the country?
'If the grand jurors should discover that there
are in this county secret societies Tor political pur
poses who bind their members by an extra judicial
oath that they will not tell that they are member
themselves that any body else, is, that there is
such an order in existence, and that they will in all
things luDtilreguaIly dismissed from the sane) po-
ltical and social whetherit comports with their per
sona preference not, be governed by the majority
of their party when legally and fairly expressed
cording to the rules and usages OF the order will it
be the duty the grand jury to present the officers
aud members Of said societies for trying to accom-
plish legal object by the use Illegal means!
as it lawful OF any judge or magistrate in this
State TO administer 10 any citizen OF the same an
oath (either with uplfted hand or upon the Holy
EvaDgelist) for any purpose other than to be used
as evidence before some court record, or in obedi
ence to the constitution and laws OF the United
States or OF the State of Tennessee?
rs it legal for citizen To administer to another
q solemn OATH with an uplifted hand upon the
Holy Evangelist!
''If man violate an trajudicial oath can he
be indicted for pe1uryy
His Honor, the Judge, replied in substance, as
follows: -r,
do hv tha Gran IA
ly one that did not and could not have anticipated
and, hence, cannot respond to il as much in detail
as may be desired by the juror propoundinS the
questions to the court The terms OF the enquiry
imply that there exists a secret political organization
in this county subversiye Of or prejudea TO public
liberty and the institutions OF the country. Had
supposed or had any reason to believe such state
of things existed, and that criminal combinations
were at work to destroy our government l should
certainly have brought the subject the attention
of the Grand Jury so far as the parties might have
rendered themselves amenabe to the States Laws
But not believing, and having no reason to believe,
there exists any such organization that indicated
in the enquiry Of the Grand Jury, l respectfully
suggest that you would be more proftably employed
in dscharging the ordinary and legitimate duties
appertainiDg to your position. You are the con
aervators OF the public peace, and the guardians Of
the public morals, for the time being and the duties
growing out of these considerations will afford you
abundant employment without running of after
doubtful or imaginary offences. 1t would be deeply
to be regretted il Grand Jurors or Courts should
go far forget their obligations and their duties
be Influenced in their official action by partisan
political considerations 1t is to be hoped that all
good all patriotic, viii set their faces firmly,
determinatey, against precedent fraaght with so
much unmixed evil. II is a matter OF public his
tory and certainty that there now and ever have
been in this country political societies and assoc
atoms, but have no evidence to believe they or
any of them are obnoxious to the public laws of the
country ! know of no statute or principle of COM
mon law which iorbids such organizations any more
than Lodges of Free Masons Odd Fellows or Sons
of Temperance. In conclusion, ! say TO you that,
in nv opinion, the enquiry OF the Grand jury EN-
braces no case calling for or justifyng any examina
ton or action on the pant OF the Jury II you and
/ viii attend TO our own business and let politics
alone we shall find enough to do"
We noticed Mr.. DIekey particularly after bis
Honor bad responded and he looked good deal
like the interesting young man who "iet the bird
60" and that the result very different from what
he had anticipated. We learned on enquiry, that
he was n good enough meaning man, without any
remarkable degree OF astuteness, and Is supposed
20 have been the instrument of some person who,
were it possible, would carry party feeling even
into our courts of justice. The courteous, though
merited rebuke which the Judge gave was sufficient
we think, TO prevent recurrence Of the kind. II
Mr. Dickey viii allow 70 call his attention TO the
following he may derive advantage from it,
The Grand Jury of Buneombc county, last sum
mer, presented several Of the Know Nothing COuh-
ellis Subsequently old Billy Jones, the Fool Killer,
passed through Buncombe, and those Grand Jurors
were among his FIRST victims. In his report to
President Pierce, he says:
'.The twelve Grand Jurors have fallen beneath my
blows, but although blood has flown abundantly,
there i sign OF brains upon the old mans club"
The moral is evident, and the application in
evitable. Mr.. Dickey may consider himself for
tunate that be Is not a citizen Of Buncombe.