Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1856-05-22

last, appointed a committee, consisting of thei
/ foreman and Messrs Moore and Huriock, to wal
on the Chief Jusdes, and request copy Of q
/ charge for publiossion On this Application th
1 Jaage placed the follewing chargs at their dia
asn.lemen Of the Grand Jnry;-I shall not d,
tain you with any extended remarks by way
charge on the present occasion. II Ia not require
by any prospect Of BUSINESS to come before you a
this time, The prison caisndar shows some oigh
cases Of petty larceny, and one attempt TO comm
crime Of higher grade the recognisancesiet nrne
add very little to this catalogue, and excepting on
case of reported 60 for which the accused ha
not been arrested there has nothing come 10 GU
knowledge TO show that even during the long nm
| severe winter, with Its attendant temptations gu
people have not enjoyed their usual security Of pei
sen and property, aud society its usual peace n
tranquility. Indeed the criminal statistics for th
spring terms thus far show that the average, both
charges and convictions for crime Ia lew eompaie
| with our own generally moderate oalendar, l
SUSSEX county We found no prisoners IN jail 70
trial and during the session there We. only two in
dictments for felony. neither Of which wassustain
4 cd on trial before the traverse Jury. In Kentco
besides one case standing over from previous term
the calendar showed only one prisoner charged wit
felony, and two for violations Of the prohibition
| liquor law There was but one Indictment and lw
convictions for crimes above misdcmeanors. In thi
county so far as We can YET see, tho prospect is tina
| though your session may be prolonged, as was th
cnse in tho other counties by the Investigation
charges of violating the prohibtory liquor law 20,
will not have much occasion to investigate offence,
81 higher grade against the public peace and SO
To detnin you, therefore, by an examination and
definition OF crimes that have not been committed
In your county, were to perform useless task -
useless Tor any purpose Of application in your pres
ent sorycei and, If useful at all matter OF gen.
eral Information; such definitions are we'll supplied
by the revised code Of laws which is ought bo
In the hszsis Of every Grand Juror, and, indeed Of
every citizen Of the State.
Vhaf aat 4 A.
OF crime, for period Of six months in population
Oh some hundred thousand PERSONS furnishes 50 few
prisoners, and almost bonds, or even suggestions
OF suspected crime IL indeed matter OF just State
pride. Contrasted with other states where crime
seems to be alarmngly the increase, it suggests
most favorable comparison Of the operation and
euect Of our system OF punishments with other sys.
TENS having for their sanctions long confinement,
anu Ior their policy attempted reformation rather
than the speedy punishment of offenders II we
nnd no increase Of crime among us In our rapidly
increasing population; If, the contrary, we find
crimes reduced to the extremely low per eentage of
telonies OF one to ton thousand, and misdemeanors
one 70 three or four thousand persons we have a
rlght to conclude that our criminal code operates
well, atleast, fer our peace and security.
But as no system Of punishmens will make a VII
oious community virtuous, or absolutely prevent the
occurrence Of crime, are justified from The state
OF things now presented to draw the most favorable
differences, ase as to the moral condition OF these
eounties, and we from this led to inquire wheth-
er tnere Is any special operating conducting to
the general prosperity of the state. Individuals
may form their own como asions on this subject and
VIII be likely to form very different conclusions
mentien 1t only as fact and forbesr to adopt or
Iepudiate any theory of causes which may be adj
Vanced or opposed by any one on the subject But
among the eauseswhich all will agree have eontr5-
eteu 70 this result are habitual respect for religious
Institutions and assent to their teachings 10 oonfor-
NIFTY with gospel truth; easy access aud resort to
common school edusaiion furnished by our FREQ
SnO0l SYBtcm pAnaral pfna 10 tba Ca
class, which is the principal class of our oiti-
zensi ready and willing obedience to the laws
prompt, speedy and certain punishment of all who
disregard their authority aud the cautionarv in.
nuehee OF this tribunal assembling at stated periods
inquire into and detect offences against the peaoe
and good order Of society.
10 make and keep this influence saIutary, the
duty which belongs to you must be faithfully dis
charged. You arc diligently to inquire and to AXE
true presentment Of all such aud things us
shall be given ysu in charge, or shall otherwise
come to your knowledge touching this present ser
vice. The counsel of the State, yeur fellows and
your own you are to keep secret. You will presen
no one from envy hatred malice or leave any thing
unpresented from favor, affection, reward or the
nope OF it but in all your presentments you
are to state the truth according to the best of your
understanding.
The things given you in charge are all matters
prohibited enoined by this sode aud tho statutes
since passed prohibiting eny eommnnding any
duty, the doing or neglect Of which Is declared by
law to be crime OF misdemeapar. And when the
Statute commands, or prohibits, any thing, its en-
fercement Is not subject Of DEBATE choice, but
simply duty to be performed without reference TO
the policy or propriety OF the law. Wherever any
administrative body undertakes to decide what laws
il will or will not enforce, venturng to judge of
their wisdom or expedienoy, 1t assumes powers not
granted to 1t and abandons its own legitimate func
tionsto the imminent danger of the whole system.
In any charge, therefore, to be presented to yJir
notice your only inquiry will be whether there is d
law on the subject, and whether that law has been
broken
But tho Importance Of Grand Juries as the great
conservative member Of the body Poiic Is not fully
tsated by mere reference To its action in the Jury.
room. In every well regulated system of govern.
menrthere must DO sOme power TO watch over the
action OF all its paris; power sufficiently ditfased
to observe Irregularities wherever they exist, and
yet sufficiently concentrated to act with unity and
with efficiency whenever 1t does act. Such power
is the Grand Jury. Selected from all parts of the
county Of the best men of these parts; Of men
having the deepest interest In the public pence !;
themselves the best examples of what men ought
to be- whose office obges them to be the censors Of
others; edusated in habits Of obedience to law, and
Difference to its authority Such body is the ttest
possible to rebuke disorderly members of society,
or administer the higher sanctions of the law 10
such as incur its graYer penalties And such a
body, when it speaks. ought always to speak with
authority. If its voice be UNDECIDED; Its recon-
inendaIions dsregarded, or itscommands disobeyed,
the Institution will fall into neglect and contempt
its members will no longer be effective conservalors
m tue peacet anu society Will DC WI mont THIS great
sentinel and guard for It's protection and security
When the Grand Jury makes presentment, there.
fore, there is delinquency and fault somewhere If
that presentmen fals OF it's purpose. Ii the pre-
sentiment be OF q suspected offence, the Attorney
General is bound to take 1t up and put it ito form;
If an indictment be found the whele force of this
Court with its Sheriff, and Bailis and other agents,
is set in active operation. Aud if it present gen.
eIal nuisance, or danger, there always is some ohe
whose duty ii Is t. remove the one avert the 9TH
err; and who, by neglecting to do 1t incurs grave
responsibility If for instance, you should present
bridge as out Of repair, the Road Commissioners
Overseer OF roads woRld be responsible, and the
county liable for negleoting 10 repair it; and If you
| should present this Court House, your predeoes
have done, insecure aud dangerous, the Levy
Court OF the county bound by law TO repair il,
dilapidntioRs, aud make it fit to be used for tina
highest of all purposes-s temple tor the admins
/ tration of justice.
| The public buildings, therefore, of the county
lie Offices, all highways, milldams and ferries, and
SO concerns their welfare, comfort or security as
| your powers aGrand Jury and are subject to you
inspection aud presontment. For this purpose il
is customary at the spring term for the Grand Jury
TO visit at least the Aims House aud Jail and til,
public offices, 10 ii there are any abuses to b,
port If they judge it necessary the close OF thei
sessions TIE court will arrange your adjouruments
so to ALLOW these visits to salt your convenience
and will receive any report You may please Il
make
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