Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1859-11-24

WE UNDERSTAND that several individ-
uals who are not willing to ask permission Of
Us to answer the article in Tuesdays paper on
usury, have expressed desire to do so To
those individuals we will say that our columns
are open for free discussion and answer to
anything we may write. provided the writer
uses language proper for one person to use to,
ward another. This subject of pleading usu-
| ry is becoming very serious affair. and we
are informed will be quite common with those
who may not be prepared to lift encumbrances
on their property, when they fall due. We
can see one effect it is going to have already,
and that is. it will drive away from county
all foreign capital, which has been sent hither
for investment. One gentleman has already
sent back .ix thousand dollars which he had
only received the day before, informing the
parties East that it would not be safe to loan
it here at present. Money brokers in this city
money 60 out Of their hands. unless they re.
ceive definite instructions so to do 1t will
not only have a tendency to keep away capt.
al, but it will send home whatever may be
here now, so soon as it can be collected It s
perhaps ss we'll that this money should 60
home. for it is certainly running those who bors
row it, and pay even ten per cent. interest.
The GRAND JURY.-We wish to pay
all due respect to Courts Of Justice and to those
who are entrusted with the administration of
the laws bat We feel bound to say that the
Grand Jury now in session is entaling vast
expense upon the County without comforting
the slightest benefit on anybody in return
Mr.. OConnor, the District Attorney, has left
Tor the term, and there is no one to draft or
sign an Indictment, even if the Grand Jury
should wish to present one. and SO they can do
no business, were there never so much to be
done. We are assured, however, that Mr..
O'Connor did not leave until he was satisfied
that all the business before the Grand Jury had
been finished 1t seems that there are some
men on the Grand Jury who regard their posi-
tion as q Job to be nursed, and who are deter
mined to hang on to their fee of two dollars
per day as long as they can induce any of their
associates to cit with them Accordingly, these
gentry have been most perseveringly stirring
up all sorts Of cases, and smelling with the
acuteness Of blood hound upon every trail
which promised to lead to lengthy examina.
tions of multtudes Of witnesses They have
succeeded in consuming three days Of the pres
ent week in fruitless inquiry into matter
in which Mr.. OConnor told them on Saturday
it would be a criminal waste Of time and mon-
ey to find bill This was done, we believe,
for the express purpose Of proonging the ses-
sion, and getting the fees. We do not mean to
apply these remarks to all the members of the
Grand Jury, for there are men in that body
who are above such contemplate peculation
but those whom this shoe fits may put
it or. Every day the Grand Jury is in
session it costs the County not les. than seven
ty Or seventy-five dollars, and therefore when
they get through their business they ought, in
decency, to adjourn.