Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-06-20


the jurv: y"
eentIemen of the Grand Jury We are ono.
more IN the hall OF justice, charged with the DIN.
ties attached to our respective positions Asw
shall meet the obligations Incumbent nm N. M
shall we answer, OF fail to answer, the object of
our assemoisge. II orr official service In rendered
faithfully and honestly, with ints,Iioerce - ~
dusfry, we shah have quiet conscIenres and AZ.
serve the public appreciation. II, on the contrary,
oU,,n ar nSgnscnt; and from want Of proper In
SuLy anu fhVesHgoton act In ignorance but
more, we act from personal considerations either
eohCSis ourselves those who prosecute and
IssSA ~ rs In the order Of Providencs that wa
snoe -. reel we are unworthy Of the places we all
&he mat we ougf d to receive even liz we do not
-, Teheure OF 1ose around US
Hs NV hg In period Of great excitement
a ne mlhoss nd passions OF men are inf med and
.ne page D. our country's history which shall ne.
voc existing state OF things win be noted with
Iaiep .ations by the wise and the good God
ssnS that II may end In our renewed prosperity
a. the restoration OF Feace and happiness Until
GENTLY every blessing that could distinguish
people was showeTed apon es n a profu.io1 with
oat a parallel; May He nom whom they flowed
return them tn their long accustomed channel,
refer 70 this subject for the simple purpose Of
saving tia! whatever feeling and turbulence NAV
exist elsewhere. they must be excluded from this
nall Its doors must be clcs d against the intru-
sion CT all agitation Of every kind. Even.hspaed
Justice and law ust control all actions within
these walls No man must be Influenced In any
degree In the performance OF bis duty here by any
motive except by the anxious desire to discharge
tnat duty eonscieRuously, according to the laws
OF the VI ited States trust that no grand juror
will take these remarks amiss Tkey are ad-
dressed to my own mind as well as to YOU /
know human nature Is weak, and we are often
even unconscious Of the errors we commit from
prejudice or ali things except want of integrity
" works the greatest polIutio on and Sometimes
misdirects the best intentions Let other, hose
functions are different follow the impulses Of the
Tine as Il 10 the duty Of many to do in obedience
10 what they owe 10 our Government We as
judge and jurors should act tranQ ully as IL the
atmosphere without was undisturbed and quiet
Inls must be our endeavor, and making 1t earn
The investigations which Il belongs To your
body 10 make are confined to crimes Committed
within the limits Of the District Of Columbia.
Iney are Ofien OneroUs sometimes difscult Of
being conducted TO satisfactory conclusions and
always Of great importance to re cornmunitv and
the parties concerned. But these considerations
can In no other wise acct your official action
than as they enjoin perseverng industry that youT
Inquiries may ne thorough, the exercise Of vony
best intellig that your findings nay be lust,
ana cool and dispassiOnate consideration III III
evidence aaduced before Won that tn n,hiio -
the individuals specially Interested NAV knoy,,
that the matters confded to your hand, have 70
.s,yed as ~ tns they required and de-
ground SO long, with so little change and ,1Ith
su.n uhiorh, ana ma say universal epproba-
.~i.,sd NJ ala raverse juries. They have
~ LonI Ine ca. hest date Of which we have
any history wita J. o substantial variation and bat
AIuo oI any KID 4, and that caused by advancing
rnsnLtad I'D the improved circumstances Of
nEihu' '-aat institution which everybody
PrlIeo M kht be made more affective 10 the ac-
eIP T >nment of the ends for which IL was es-
- bed IL Is not perfect, what that Is the work
Va nan is' But IL has fewer defects thin IL we
'>oulc look back to It's origin N ust have been an
NciPeted: Although wisely devised and much
commended by The judicious provisions attached
10 u, sun lis working excellence must depend I'm
great degree upon the manner In which its
powers are exercised and duties discharged as
lhoeso II Is with all authority conferred for the
benefit OF those who bestow II.
Ia prosecuting the exam nat ons that wi deyolye
upon YOU, many hzrges will be presented that
Will Probably strike you as having but little con-
necton with the public good. Their cOns.dera-
'ioE may be urged from a variety Of motives that
belong rather to the individual than society A
sense OF personal indignity, a feeling II resent
ment, 10 sometimes more than any injury inflicted
ehd naturally too, the incentive 10 a complaint:
Other accusations may not have even this founda-
ton, and for some 1t may be difficult to discern
any reasonable ground. IL, upon the investigation
OF such Cases, You should think they, or any OF
them, are not worthy Of further notice by hi !,
tribunal. respectfully advise their dismissal
The great body Of your inquiries, Judging BY
tie past, will consist Of two classes with which
YOU are familiar Injuries to person and property
larcenes and acts of violence TO individuals YOU
know how to deal with. To say who ought 10 be
nleo oy Pent jury, twill only be necessary TO
use your in'eiligenc diligently, obeying without
bias and without partiality the dictates OF an
honest judgment The leading object with you
WIZ be to make true estimate OF the evidence
you shall hear AscertaDng It's due weight by
sfhng II closely and contrasting the testimony OF
one witness with that given by another, by look
Ing 10 Inc probabilities and the cireumstances
aud by considering the surroundings of the
parties and the Witnesses summoned before YOU to
support charge, you Will have guides In the
discharge Of your official duty that can hardly
Iai 10 point Won 10 decisions even In matters
that are complicated. The mass Of this branch Of
grand jury inquiry will lie Of easy solution for
only one aide Of the case will he laid before you
and this leads me to remark that you should he
1ullV satisfied, such an eYhibiff0n NJ h. 90
respecting each particular charge as 10 made to
you, That the party accused 10 guilty, there being
reserved 70 him the right to explain his conduct
and contradict the witnesses on the part Of the
United states before petit Jury, or Otherwise to
show according to law that he has not committed
the crime imputed to him.
or the grave and more serious accusatioBs
which L regret the calendar shows me are not
wanting, and there may be others, I need saw
Iitue. All could suggest Of the greater delibe-
ration That II due to them, OF the close and calm
consideration through which You shall approac b
and ultimately arrive at the disposal Of them
Will OF necessity occur to your minds when they
are taken up, and particularly while they are In a
course Of examination. You will feel md cannot
escape the sense Of heavy responsi bility under
watch you shall act IN relation to them They
VIII, therefore, Of a moral certainty, receive as
hey ought, your most anxious scrutiny nj coolest
circumspection, In order to well advised decisions
These adopted, what Is further incumbent on you
IL the same as in other cases
take leave, gentlemen Of the grand jury re-
specfully to recommend dispatch, and that YOU
bring your service TO end soon as may be
conveniently practicable and consistent with the
performance Of our appropriate duties.
WIZ. II. CRAVEN, who was arrested last Sunday
morning az spy, has been released by order Of
Gen. Aansheld. The test mony was Ia ken before
Justice Dom The evidence Of the gentleman
who caused his arrest was In effect that Craven
resided near Leesburg, Va, and had made re-
marks within six or seven weeks In favor Of seces-
sion. Evidence from Alexandria county shows
that Mr. Cr4ven's ousne ss here not 70 aid the
reoels, but was Of legiti mate character. He Was
concerned with gentleman named johnson,
living within the picket lines OF the United States
forces In Fairfax county, In grazing cattle. He
was In Alexandria upon that business, and OBJ
tained pass from the provost marshal there 10
proceed 60 Leesburg and back, intending to bring
down some sheep from Virginia TO Mr. Johnson,
aRd get his clothing. Not being able TO bring
them down for fear Of their falling Into the hands
Of the Virginia forces he deferred IL for . time,
and was returning to MIR Johnson's farm, when
he was arrested by the troops. Upon the evidence
being reported to Gen. Mansfield, Re ordered that
he be released upon bis taking IN. oath Of ale
glance Sir. Craven returned 10 Virginia yestcr-
day.