The Trinity journal., 1856-04-12

0ulrcS that Tue NlOldIlouo vi ."C '
be punished; the exalted and the lowly are
ali ke subject to its infexibe mandates, ana
though ruin may cnsue in consequence OF
vour fndings-still your duty and your line
Of conduct is plain The public welfare IS
bioher than all other consideration; those
who are charged with the administration OF
the criminal laws cannot in the performance
Of their duties indulge in practical sympathy;
the pcasure to be derived from such a
source must be denied to public ohcers ana
reserved for persons in social lie VINO are
uutrammellcd by public Obligations. Every
one owes duty to the society in which they
live You, gentlemen, owe Il duty to the peo-
ple of this county and the State at large, and
as grand jurors you have sworn to discharge
that duty to the best of your skill ana uh-
dcrstanding. Any swervng from the stern
mandates of the law innicts wrong and an
injury upon society, and whenever courts or
iuries relax from the strict performance oh
the duties imposed upon them, they violate
the solemn obligation they have taken
This Court hasnow none other than crimi-
nal jurisdiction, and except in appeal cases
from Justices court, it can have no other
business before it except such as you may
furnish in the shape of indictments and pre-
sentiments Almost all of the business which
can come before it must be presented by
grand jury. Thus, gentlemen, you will see
that YOU form an important and lndiSpens-
able branch of this Court, for without your
assistance we could do nothing. 1t will be
impossible for this Court to take cognizance
of offences or punish offenders notwlthstand-
ing we may see the laws broken and tram
pied on each day, without your Intervention
You must take the initatory step There
can be no doubt but that crime is fcarinlly
on the increase in California. Scarcely
day passes that is not rendered memorable
by the death of persons from the hand OF
violence, Each newspaper we see Is teem--
ing with the narratives OF murders and nom
cides, highway robbcrcs and larcenes; and
crimes Of every description from the most re-
voting and outrageous to those OF the most
petty and contemplate character, are OF al
most daily occurrence.
The bad state of society here is becoming
proycrbial not only in our midst, but else
where. Gambling and intemperance have
long been so common that they are looked
upon as an accomplishment rather than
otherwise by large class, especially the
young and thoughtess To these two causes
may he traced much of the crime and pau
perism which is now rendering California
by-word and repro0ch not only abroad but
even among the better class OF her own cltI-
zens And let me assure you, gentlemen.
that our own beautiful county is not an eX--
Ccption to this rule; ON the contrary, 1t Is
said that our county seat is becoming the
headquarters of class OF most dangerous
and abandoned characters Looking at our
social and moral condition at the present
time we find cause for serious reflection
Why does this state of things oXlstl The
reason, gentlemen, is not that we have no
laws for our government, but it is because
those laws are not enforced We have laws
and good ones-Iaws which afford ample
protection and security to the innocent and
lust. while they define accurately what con-
Stitutes crime and fix certain and severe pen
alties as the punishment for ollcndcrS but,
they are not rigidly and properly enforced,
and to this cause must be aScribcd the bad
state of morals and society now existing in
California. How long shall this state Of
things continue? when will it cease? be-
leve that the good time has come already.
Our county Is now rapidly settling with fam
lilies and Citzc2S who have come amongst us
bringing their ali rorthe purpose oi making it
their permanent home aud as the county
nils up with that class of persons so pubic
opinion and sentiment gradually changes Tor
the better. Each days experience tends to
convince me that the time has come for the
enforcement of those laws against vice and
immortality which shall bring about and
speedily great and good change in the
moral and social condition of the people of
this State To you, gentlemen, may belong
the honor and praise of taking the initiatory
step towards a much desired result
The Judge here read portion of the act
against houses of ill-lame; also portions of
the act to suppress gaming; also act against
carrying concealed weapons and commented
upon them,
1t is your duty to enquire into all public
offences committed or trable within the
County oI TRINITY and to present them to-
this Court either by prcscntmcnt or indict
ment If any citizen has committed an of
fence and you have the evidence of it before
you, ndlct him, no matter what may he his
position or standing in the community or
l'hl I''' 'l"ll'l lhl nun. on SHOULD DIlnr
to your Investigations calm and deliberate
minds; present no one through malice, ha-
tired or Ill VIII, nor leave any unpresented
through fear, favor or affection, or for any
y reward or for the hope or promise thereof,
Consider we'll and carefully every charge
brought to your notice, and let your findings
declare the truth of your Investigations
Gentlemen, have endeavorcd to perform
my duty faithfully and conScicntiously, and
have no doubt but that you will discharge
yours in the same manner. II, however,
you should fail to do so; if the law has been
violated and You fail to bring the offenders
to Justice am determined that the respon-
sIbIIIty shall rest with you and not with the
Court