The Kingwood chronicle. [volume] (Kingwood, Va. [W. Va.]) 1861-1861, 1861-05-11

HlIlng Out or VlcLuallng vessels 10 ala the
hostilities Of our enemies sending provisions
arms or other supplies to them; raising
funds or obtaining credit for their service
indeed, every traitorous purpose manifested
by acts committed in this district BY persons
owing allegiance to the country, will be acts
OF treason. 1t is not necessary that the ac
cused should have raised or created war by
his own acts; he levies war by acting with
those who have set it on foot, or BY seizing
or holding forts, or like acts Of hostile aggres-
sion
The kindred crime Of misprision Of treason
is this If any person owing allegiance to the
Government has knowledge ofacts of treason
committed by others within the jurisdiction
Of the court, and does not make it known to
the President of the United States, or one of
the Judges the United States, or the Gov
ernor Of the State, or judge or magistrate
thereof he becomes guilty of misprision Of
treason: and subject to seven years imprison-
ment and fine Of 5 900 for the offence
and it is the duty Of the grand jury to pres
ent for trial therefor such offender, whatever
may be his individual connexion or relation
I ship with the offence The belief Of indiyid
uals III the right Of resisting Government. eli
ther individually or BY States, On the claim
of secession or otherwise from the authority
Of the Government, affords no justification
or palliation Of the crime Secession, how
ever effected Or sanctioned, is under our Con
! stitution and laws, nothing other than rebel
/ lion
| You perceive in this slight sketch, gentle
men Of the jury, what vigorous provisions
your laws have adopted for the protection
of tie Government and people from the per
petration Of crimes Of such magnitude, and
how important to the well being Of society il
is that your high functions in discovering
and thwarting them should be sfcarlcssly and
vigorously exercised The Courtwil supply
you with every aid the7law affords to further
and facilitate the performance Of your great
trust and will you may be assured, not fail,
on its part, to enforce vigorously the law a
ganst those you may present as having VIC
lated it.
You are, however, aware, gentlemen, that
lively distrusts and apprehensions agtate the
public mind and YOU will be cautious to dis
criminate, in the charges laid before YOU, be-
tween those resting on a solid foundation Of
facts and those which may be colorcd through
ovcrzeal Of accusers, or rest essentially on sus-
picions and asprehensions only; what the
community is highly cxasperated and excited
men are prone to exaggerate statements and
surmises against persons suspected OF crime.
Whilst the citizen, whatever his personal
consideration or worth may be, should be
held strictly responsible for every act done
III violation of the law, it is Il right which
should be sacredly preserved to him that he
should not be exposed in life or character to
the hazards Of d criminal accusation and trial
unless the grand jury are clearly satisfied there
is reasonable proof Of his guilt.
FERTILE IN REsoU When the New
York and Massachusetts, troops first took pos
ession of the depot at Annapolis they found
that the steam engine which plies between
that city and the junction with the Baltimore
and Washington railroad had been taken to
pieces 4 number Of them accordingly set to
work under the direction Of a comradc (who
recognised the locomotive as part Of his own
work J, and soon put it in running order The
railroad from Annapolis to the junction hay
ing been greatly injured, III order to obstruct
the passage OF the volunteers, these same
Massachusetts, troops Immediately set about
relaying the track, and in less than day re-
stored it to good condition Three compa-
nies from the same Massachusetts regiment,
consisting Of sailors from Marblehead, were
left behind at Annapolis, in order to man the
United States ship Constitution. We doubt
whether any other single regiment in the coun-
try could furnish such a ready contingent to
reconstruct a steam engine, lay 4 railroad
track and bend the sails Of a man-of-war
1t will be remembered also that these Massa-
chusetts troops restored to their masters ii
MARYLAND some slaves who had fed to them
for protection.
NORTHWESTERN VIRGINIA THE Rich
mond Whig, while discrediting the reports
that there is any wide spread dissatisfaction
with the secession Of Virginia in the north
western part Of the State, avows its opposi-
ton to any attempt at enforcing obedience to
the State against the will Of single county
which prefers to remain under the Constitu-
ton Of the United States. 1t says:
I'VE are so entirely devoted to the grea,
American principle that government should
be by consent Of the governed, ifthe Panhan-
die, or even any one county in the State,
should feel able and desiroQs toset up as 81
| ndo,,ondnnt oommnnifu n shnnld have ON