The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-11-10

The Grand Jury has now been in session abou
eight weeks, and its labors will, we presume, be
shortly brought to cosa. When the names of
the very respectable citizens who compose 1t were
first announced, the public was well satisfied that
they would discharge the duties entrusted to them
with fidelity, intelligence and frmness. Nor has
it in the main been Disappointed for the Grand
Jury has, with not less promptitude than impair
tiality investigated and acted upon almost every
case that has been brought before it. kufiians,
whose misdeeds had been concealed or pardoned
by the officials who should have exposed them, have
been called to account for crimes committed months
and wears ago; for the Grand Jury has very
properly held that guilt is not atoned for until
it is punished, and that Juror cannot conscien-
tousy disregard his obligations, because ofthe pre-
vious imbecility corruption of Judge or States
Attorney. But while it has undertaken to redress
or avenge the wrongs that its predecessors had
failed to take coguizance Of the Grand Jury has
been equally mindful of more recent Offences
Since it has been in session we have seldom noticed
the arrest of party that we have not, within a
few days afterwards, been called on to record the
fact of his indictment It's vigilance has been no
turned its attention 10 criminals Of every grade,
and it has presented men for misdemeanors as
well ms for murder. In only one instance has i
apparently shrunk from the performance of plair
duty. 1t has endeavored to purify the stream o
justice, but it has not attempted TO cleanse thu
fountain head. 1t has stricken honest and sturdy
blows at knaves who filed humble stations, but i
l,a- - ~,
with niquty in high places. 1t indicted two ma
gstrates, few days ago. for malfeasance in Office
but it has not uttered so much rs a word of re
proof against the States Attorney. Speaking o
behalf of this community, have repeated
called the attention of this and other Grand JuriC
to the charges which have been preferred againS
that individual. We have reiterated no mere ri
mors, nor have we assailed him by inuendoes nc
even by the
''imputation, and strong circumstances,
Which lead directly to the door of truth
We have stated the facts from which we ha
drawn our conclusions, we have named Il
witnesses who could prove them, and W
have published extracts from public docl
ments and records which sustain our accus;
tons. Not one word has Mr.. WHITNEY said i
defence of his action in the cases of BARRETT an
SoMEgs nor has he undertaken to demonstrat
that he has faithfully accounted for the publ
moneys which, by his own admissions in Januar
last, he appeared to have so grossly misuSed.-
There is no lawyer at the Baltimore Bar who ca
hesitate to pronounce him guilty, if the allegation
we have SO repeatedly made are true, and the
truth we do not believe the Grand Jury itself ca
eainsay Mr. WHITNEY has months an
months been content 10 rest under imputatol
which no honest and honorable man won
nave borne ptue"uy for hour, and still t
Grand Jury seems to suppose that he
innocent and injured. One thing is, howeve
certain, and that is that the community is satsf
of the truth of the accusations referred To-, an
being so satisfied it has ceased to have the sligl
est confidence in the integrity of the tribunal
which it is compelled to rely for the suppressit
and punishment of crime andvice. 1t has no ass
rance now that justice is fairly administered in al
instance, and it naturally believes that Mr.. VIII
NEY would carefully abstain from bringing out t
strength Of his case when he is trying his polite
friends and admirers for murder Under such c
cumstances it is not 10 be wondered at if that pC
ton of society which is not over honest now,
comes rapidly demoralized. When unscrupulo
men see that vast difference exists between
denquencies of an individual in high Office a
those of bankers clerk, and that the officers of j
tice will track them up in the one case, a
hesitate, even with n full knowledge of
facts, to act on them in the other, there W
be no cause for surprise if some future Grand ,
ries have more criminals to deal with than til
can well attend to. Where, then, will the resp
sibility rest, if not upon those who, holding
sword of justice in their hands, looked a gui
public servant in the face and let him p
unscathed?