Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1859-12-17
The 6tasaata.
For che StandaFd.
CHARGE OF JUDGE SAUNDERS 10 THE
GRAND JURY or WILSON COUNTY.

(dr1nd jury y the provisions OF our sAtSse s3.s
the circulztisa of seditiou and incend:ry Puo.c.-
tons aHeng slaves and free negroes. Inc ststose
provides that if any person shall wiliuiiy onnS
into Tie State with an intent to circulate, or shan
xilfuily circulate or publish within the State, or
shah aid or abet the bringing into or the circulation
Or publication within the State Of any written or
printed pamphlet paper. whether written or PRINT
ed in or out Of the State, the tendency OF wn'cn
to cause slaves to become discontinued with the con-
dton, or to excite them to insurrecon or IestInGs
against their owners such persons 50 Offending snail
be deemed guilty Of felony, and on conviction shall
be imprisoned, put in tho pillory, and whipped At
the discretion Of the Court; and for the second Of
fence shall suffer DEATH" And the statute further
provides that IF any person by words shall eDdeav-
or to excite in any slave spirit OF instruction
conspiracy or rebellion, shall receive thrty-nine
lashes and be imprisoned for the first oience, and
for the second offence shall suffer DEATH"
Il thus appears that the act is sufficiently broad
to embrace every possible case of the publication OF
these incendary documents for the purpose OF being
brought into the State for circulation; and every
person who shall aid abet the circulation or pub
iication of such documents, is equally guilty.
have been induced to call your attention to the sub
ject from having seen in the newspapers Of the DAY
that such pamphlet has been printed and is ready
if it has not already been distributed in this State
and further, that fund to large amount has been
raised by subscriptions for the purpose Of having
this vile seditious and incendiary pamphlet dstrb-
uted in the Southern States It is also stated that
the Governor of the great State of New York, with
number of members Of Congress- are contributors
to this fund charge you that if sufficient evil
dence shall be laid before you As to the fact Of publ
cation and distribution in this State it will be your
duty to present the offenders. These contributors
are already morally guilty so far As they are con-
cerned, as aiders and abettors; and whenever the
circulation of the pamphlet shall be proved, they
will be legally guilty. And we have the singular
and extraordinary spectacle Of the Governor OF
State, with members Of Congress- making themselves
parties to the preparation of act violating the
statute law of sister State passed for the security
and protection of the lives and property Of its ct'-
zens, thereby making themselves felons for which,
on conviction, they would be liable to the pillory,
the whipping post and imprisonment I doubt not
that individuals who could contribute to such an Oh
ject would not hesitate to apply the torch Of cona
grafton to dwellings, and the assassns knife to
our Threats and rejoice to see the whole of these
Southern States reduced to ruin and desolation and
to become another St Domingo.
I repeat therefore, that it is not only your duty
to present the offenders should any case be brought
to your knowledge but that it will be the duty Of
all magistrates and other officers in the State to see
that all such offenders shall be apprehended and
brought to justice. So consider it the duty Of all
Postmasters to see that such pamphlets are given
out for cculation, lest they subject themselves to
the penalty of the law.
But the author of this vile production. thus en-
dorsed by persons Of distinction does not stop here
He not only seeks to excite the slave to the murder
of his MASTER but appeals to the nonslavehoders to
ward for existing in the savage warfare to confis-
cate and enjoy the property Of the master. This
miscreant with his aiders and abettors greatly de-
ceive themselves if they suppose any portion Of
population can be induced to engage in such bloody
and savage contest And yet these conspirators
against our lives and property have the eontery to
say they do not desire to interfere with the condi
ton of master and slave, and ask Southern men to
unite in their elevation to political station Save us
from such politicians can thus debase and dis
honor themselves by such act Of humiliation and
disgrace
PRESENTNEyf OF THE GRAND JURY.
We, the undersigned. the Foreman and Grand
Jurors for the County Of Wilson, sworn at this term
deem the occasion fit to respond to the charge
of your Honor, with reference to the events now
transporting throughout the country, touching the
institution of slavery.
with anxiety and apprehension, the cultivation and
growth of a sectional hostility. on the part of the
Northern States, against US and our institutions.
Again and again have we been called upon to deplore
acts of aggression and wrong done towards us nu.
merous and aggravated until at last under the in.
stigation Of wicked leaders, band of armed men in
vaded our sister State Of Virginia to excite nsurrec-
ton. to confscate private property and to take the
lives Of the citizens; and robbery, treason and MUIR
der have been committed by them. Their convic.
ton has ensued and their punishment is being de-
nounced by their coadutors and the public mind Of
the North is infamed tc sympathy with these wick.
ed criminals
Political parties and Christian associations have
adopted these acts Of crime as justiabe and openly
proclaim the right Of the slave to rise against his
MASTER and the duty Of Northern men to aid him in
this instruction.
The press. through its columns, and by means o.
pamphlet and book publications is heralding incen
diary and setitious treachery through our section
and the Post Office Department department o
the government alike the agent of all-is become tn
channel of communication for the transmission O
these nefarious and criminal documents
Travelling emssaries, disguised under various AZ
ocatlons, are among our people, endeavoring to in
still the poison Of sedon into the heart of the com
munity. AS body representing the "peace of tn
State" we earnestly invoke the attention of tn
public to this dangerous aspect of affairs 1t call
tor vigilance and preparation vigilance to detec
al vlolators Of the law, especially the yolators
those police and municipal regulations which bea
upon our negro population. We exhort our fellow
citizens themselves. scrupulously to observe tn
laws which our Legislature has enacted to guard tn
rights Of the STAKEHOLDER and the condition of tn
negro.
That they win unite to bring to Justice that mas
ter who disaffects the slave population by permit
ting his own negroes to act as free, and enjoy thei
own time, by which great wrong is done to III
white laborer, in that these quasi free negroes n
brought into direct competition with him.
That they will diligently undertake to put dow
the unlawful traffic with slaves by bringing IS We
those that sell TO- as those who buy or receive from
the slave articles Of merchandise to the ba: Of TN
t'ce; and that the free negro, while protected in b
privileges, may be held to strict Observance of n
laws and accountability for their violation.
We present to your Honor that the circulation
any Whiting or printing, calculated to diaaffect an
excite the slave to characterization, whether B
originality or copying from others writings, and
wh,tever purpose, Is against the public policy an
ought to DO prevented; and to this end post msste
ought to BE- held to rigid responsibility that ths
suffer no incendi.ry publication. in newspaper
pamphlets or books, to b distributed from The
Offices. o'-' '-''
We recommend suitable leSisl.t;on e. n. ,.e,-