Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-05-11
rs7-Tnr ClRcuIr CoURT-JuDoB THoNP-


G-THP CrRcuIr THoMP-
goy.s CHARGE TO THE JuRY.-The Circuit
Cour, convened yesterday morning at 10
o'clock, Judge @. W. Thompson presiding.
Some time was consumed in empanueling
q Grand jury, AFTER which the Judge pro-,
ceeded to charge them with reference TO,
the duties wbreh they were called upon to
discharge The main points of the Judg-
Is charge were rs follows:
He stated the Court wuS again convened
in accordance with the Constitution and
laws Of this Uommouwealth; and that
they, in accordance with those laws, rs
members Of the Grand Jury and citizens,
Of VirgiAia, were called upon 10 discharge
the duties deyolytug upon them, Ia faith.
Jul and impartial manner. Under the pecu-
liar circumstances in whichswe were now
placed, il would be proper for him to state
the relations which, In his opinion, we
held both to the General Government and
to the State Of Virginia. And 6rst he
would remark that the Constitution Of the
United States, having been ratified by the
people of the several States, thereby be-
came the supreme law of the laud-any-
thing in the Constitution or laws of any
State to the contrary notwithstanding
That Constitution, by one Of ita clauses, Il
was made his duty, as well as the duty OF
other officers, Federal and State, by oath, !.
to support, And not only was 1t the duty
of those who had taken the oath to sup.
port that Constitution, but that every man,
from the mere fact of his being a citizen
was under obligations to support and
maintain It, and that the obligation was
just as great upon them as upon him. But
at the samerttme our allegiance was due to
the State of Virginia, and that while Le
did not believe that We were bound by any
act or Law which might be puSsed by the
State Convention or State Legislature
which cOntravened any part of the oon-
Situation Of the United States; yet, in all
other respects, we. should maintain our
loyalty 10 the State OF Virginia, and
though he was free to say that ho did not
think the ordinance of secession was bind
ing, yet the passage OF that act did not
release US in any manner whatever from
our obligation to the State in all its Con-
s,itutiOnal acts,
lietook mp the subject of Treason to tho
State, and read tue definition from the
code. he alluded particularly to the es-
tablishment of any government without
the authority of the Legislature within the
State limits, separate from the existing
government. Hothought the clause WINS
not intended in the least degree to take
away the freedom of speech which right
belonged to every man. That if the peo-
pie of one portion of the State thought
that their rights were incompatible with
or distinct from, sny other portion of tho
State they had perfect right to avow it,
and to use nil just, lawful and cOnstitu-
tiOnal means to obtain peaceful separa-
tiOnr aud he had no doubt that if the
Western part of the State thought, and
'Ould show to the Eastern part that our
welfare and interests conld be advanced by
separation, they would be IA glad to get
rid of us as VIC would be to get rid osthem.
But if any person or persons should at.
tempt BY force or By any other manner
than is Coustitutionally aud lawfully pro-
vided for to separate the State or establish
different government from the existing
one, it would not only he treason against
the State but would be contrary to the
Constitution of the United States, for it
expressly declares that no new State shall
be formed or erected within the jurisdic-
ton Of any other State; nor any State be
formed by the junction. of two or more
States or parts of States, without the con-
sent of tho Legislatures of the States con-
eesned as well as Congress- and that it
would therefore be the duty of the Federal
Government itself to aid the State Govern
msnt in supervising any such reasonable
acts. And he would say that to show. the
sincerity of his sentiments in this respect
II he should hear OF any such design or
attempt to snbvert the State Government
in this Jpdicial district, be would convene
Court in every county, and it. there was
virtue enough aud manltpess enough in
the community to assist him, would hiring
all such offenders 70 the bar of justioe and
70 punishment for their crime. Aud he
thought it would be well for all such per-
sons to stop and consider the consequences.
1t were far better Cor those really wishing
separation to act advisedly in this mat
teF, to consider whether with few coun-
ues they will transfer themselves to Penn
rylvania, aud thus change their manner
Of carrying on business, their laws, even
'nelF manner Ofltrausterrtng their title to
real estate They should consider wheth-
er sufficient number Of conn,is, s,.o,,Ia