The New York herald., 1862-11-12
The Obvious Duty of the Grand Jury.

The Obvious Duty of the Grand Jury
1t is the current opinion in Europe that the
people Of the loyal States are oppressed by
most infamous despotism. Europeans think
that we arc all subjected to terrible tyranny
and that numbers Of our citizens are arrested
and dragged off to prison at the mere whim Of
our chief officials, without any legal warrant or
legal cause of arrest. OF course we all know
how absurd such ideas are. We are aware that
the number of arbitrary arrests has been very
greatly exaggerated, and that the people here
know nothing and care nothing for the few un-
influential and foolish persons who have rem
dcred themselves liable to these hasty and un-
wise imprisonrnents. But we should remember
that such arrests although laughed at here, are
| very differently regarded in Europe, and that
they do much to prejudice foreigners against
our cause. Consequently it is our duty to do
all we can to remove the Impressions which
these illegal measures have made upon Euro
pean minds
Now, the very best way to correct the opinion
Of Europeans in regard to the state Of despotism
which exists here is to show theni-that the rcgu-
lar, legitimate and usual operations Of our laws
are not at oil hindered or interrupted. Our
, laws are our security. Just as long as the laws
are unchanged and enforced just 50 long des-
potism cannot exist in this country. No argu-
mcnt is stronger than this, and none has greater
weight with Europeans, many Of whom know
by experience what anarchy is and how dread
full are the results which follow the suspension
Of the laws Of the land. Obviously, therefore,
1T is the duty of our grand iuries to be espe-
cially particular, at this time, to vindicate the
majesty Of the law and the character Of the
country by allowing no criminal to go unin-
dicted and unpunished. During ordinary times
only the reputation Of the community suffers il
fragrant criminal is permitted to escape notice;
but now the reputation of the whole nation is
involved. We hope, therefore, that the Grand
Jury now in session in this city will under
stand and appreciate the great national import
ancc of the work in which they are engaged,
and that they will be extraordinarily careful
that no offender against the laws shall, by any
suberfuge, remain unindicted and unrcbuksd.
The duties of the grand jurors are always
onerous; but during crisis like this they de-
mand tenfold attention and will be repaid by
tenfold honors.
In order TO somewhat tighten these labors.
however, we refer the Grand Jury to four iudi-
viduals whose offences demand investigation
and presentation. The Hon. Csssius NJ Clay has
rendered himself amcnable to the law by send
ing challenge to mortal combat to Richard
OGorman, Esq, against the statute Of the State
of New York in such cases made and provided
Count A. Supposed to stand for Adonis) Gu
rowsk has been guilty of like offence in
challenging the Hon. John Van Buren, 10 duel
About the guilt Of these gentlemen there can
be not the slightest question. The law il sx-
plicit upon the subject Of duels and needs no
comment. The challenges sent by CLAY and
Gurswski have obtained the publicity Of print
The Grand Jury cannot avoid taking cognizancc
Of these matters Of public report without neg.
lecting its duty. n our elections are to be dc.
graded into mere personal aud mortal combats
between the respective candidates and their
friends and supporters, then the elective fran
chise is worthless, and the revolver, instead of
the ballot box must decide our political con.
tests. But besides these two criminals there are
two others who have been guilty of using
weapons which sting moro severely and do
much more damage than bullets These per-
sons are the Hon. Horace Greeley, Of tho
Tribune, aud the Hon Henry J. Raymond,
of the Times. Not even the natural and
usual excitement of a political canvas can ex-
cuse the lbellous and slanderous statements
published by these individuals in their daily
papers during the past six weeks. Mr.. Ray
mond has deliberately and repeatedly asserted
in the columns Of the Times that the conserva-
tive people Of this State were traitors. Mr..
Greeley besides endorsing this assertion, has
uttered through his journal nearly one hundred
malicious and uniustifiabls ISLANDERS and libels