The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-10-14


Fashion is setting all sail for grand winter
carnival Industry Of all kinds is in re-
quest, and the general atmosphere breathes
prosperity. *x*
Judge Hamlim-Iis Charge to the
Wright County Jury.
The following is an extract from Judge
HAML1N's charge to the Wright County
Grand Jury, on the subject of the outrages
recently committed in that locality. 1t will
meet the hearty endorsement of every friend
of law and order in the State
Having thus commented upon the
manner in which you should perform your
duties, will proceed to the discharge of a
duty which this court owes to the communi-
ty, and without the discharge of which 1
would feel that l had violated The dictates
of my own conscience and prove recreant
to the trust committed to the charge of this
court by the laws of the State.
The court may Of its own motion call
the attention OF Grand Juries to and direct
the examination OF matters of general public
import, which, from their nature and opera
ton in the entire community justify such
intention.
In the matters to which l refer, the vio-
lation of law has been so open, the trans
gressors have been so bold, the cause of
public Justice has been so degraded that l
deem it my duty, as l have stated, to call
your attention thereto. In doing thus, l
am aware that we are surrounded with
peculiar trials, and God grant that never
again in the history of this county may
Grand Jury be assembled under similar
circumstances.
Not six months ago one of your fellow
men went from the bar of this court acquitted
by a jury of his peers of the charge of
murder. He had tedious, q fair and i'm
partial trial--tweve men sitting under the
solemn sanction of an oath, under charge
of this court as to the laws with which
the counsel for the prosecution expressed
themselves satisfied, pronounced the evidence
insufficient for conviction. That judgment
was given by them, ignorant so far as sepa-
ration from their fellows could make them,
of the public opinion of the community, and
entirely unbiased as to matters of fact by
any expression of opinion from this bench.
1t was the candid verdict of twelve men,
unprecedented and sitting under all the safe
guards which this court could legally throw
around them, and the prisoner went out of
this court room entitled to all the rights and
protection which the law gives to you or me.
In this county the law was not strong
enough to secure to him his life; for in the
broad sunlight and in defiance of all law and
against every feeling of common humanity,
be was taken by mob and hung. In your
county, law ceased to protect her citizen
and has been boldly and recklessly set at
defiance.
For this there can be no legal excuse
was the prisoner bad mana dangerous
man--the laws were sufficient for your pro-
| lection. Our Statutes give you security
even against those who threaten you with
harm. The passions of a mob give no
citizen any guarantee for life or property.
To-day you may be its leader, and carry all
before you-to-morrow suspicion may blow
its malignant breath upon you, and in an
hour, with no pportunity to prove your in
nocence-no time for porting word with
those you love you are cut off from friends
and life, and it may be the next hour your
innocence is as cleBr and bright as the yell
low sunshine which streams over your life
less body. Is there single man in this
community, whose conscience does not tell
him that such things are wrong-a disgrace
to your county and a foul blot on public
justice-a fostering corruption which if not
cleansed will eventually breed death and
destruction to all law, all justice, and set at
defiance every citizens personal security,
every mans personal liberty, every species
of private property? Is it aught else car
ried out but the law of strength, which
gratiies its hate on its helpless victim,
and seeks justification in vague rumors and
improved gossip, for its lawlessness and its
injustice in the sight of God and man?
1 ask you, Grand Jurors of Wright
County, shall these things 60 UNPUBLISHED =?
1t is boosted that Grand Jury of this
county will never, in regard to this act of
violence and murder, do their duty. You
will bear me witness, that I have done
mine ; and give to you in special charge,
the murder of Oscar F. Jackson, that you
may investigate the same, and I charge you
by all that is dear in your homes and your
lives-by your love of the good order and
good name of the county in which you live
by your duty as citizens and your oath as
Grand Jurors, that you shall diligently en-
quire and true presentment make of the per-
petrators of these crimes and I charge you
that in all this "you shall present no per-
son through malice, hatred, or illwill nor
leave any unpresented through fear, favor,
or affection, or for any reward, or the pro-
mise or hope thereof"
You will remember that the blood of
| Wallace ard Ochstne still cries to you for
justice, and wouldthat you may be able
to place before US these murderers for trial !;
but stepped in guilt and blood as are the
perpetrators of these crimes, they had re-
spect and fear for the law-they acknowl-
edged its power in the secresy of their guilt.
The murderers of jackson have openly set
the laws at defiance, and not satisfied with
his blood, would shake in your midst the
very Law and Government under which
alone our rights can be protected. And