Daily national Republican., 1863-04-06
LOCAL AFFAIRS.
O. llart.

.Inle court -" ~ zen c'clock this morning,
fhtn chief yuillce osrtsa b,lIverod tha foIlosl
lnf charge y the rrtnd Jufyf fs,,,-;..-
Genilemon, yon hayo been selected and sum-
moned % appear a this time and place as the
| grand Inquest Of the pIstrictof Columbia Il
"a the province Of the court TO give such In
atructions as may aid you In the discharge OF
your duty. " Nf'-f
You arc aware that by an, act of .Conrrsu,.
approved on the pd Of March, l8os, tho circuit'
district and criminal coufts, heretofore exist
ing have been abolished, and in lieu thereof
I this, sthe Supreme Court of the District of o..
lumbia, !" has been established. Four judgos
constitute the supreme court, one OF whom viii
preside upon trials In this tribunal. $50 y
The ordinary duties Of the grand Jury in or
dinary times arc 80 plainly specified In the oath,
which defines your obligation Of duty, as to
dispense VIII the necessity of comment I
refer you 70 that oath, and The laws declining
and pnnishIng crimes, and to the counsel Of
the District Attorney, TO which you are entitled,
| without further observations upon tho subject.
The present distracted and anarchical state
OF The country has opened facilities for crimes
against ne Government hitherto nnpuniahed.
The rebellion, which brought on the var, has
developed crimes threatening the existence Of
the Government, which crimes have recently
been provided against BY Congress by penal
statutes sanctioned by high penhlties. a
This tribunal derives its eristence from, and
eAerclhcl lta powers undof, the Conettution and
laws OF the United Btatea. Its Judges, oficers,
and attorneys owe allegiance 70 that Governments
which allegiance they have testified BY the
Official oath they have taken. Thereis no higher
exercise Of hdetIty to the country than to see
that the laws for Ia preservation and parity are
respected. H rfldF IIlW 1.F.
In pursuance Of this duty, proceed to cali
your especial attention 70 the various crimes
mentioned In the act entitled can act TO pre-
vent and punish frauds upon the Government
Of tho United Btates, !" approved tho ID day OF
March, 1853. purposely omit all offences
therein forbidden, when committed BY persons
m the military or naval seryleei ne your inyes-
confined TO offences under this statute commit
ted by persons not In that service, that Ia 10
say, by civiliana. According 70 the proylslona
Of thnt statute; all persons NOT military men are
liable 70 Indictment and parliament who shall
commit either ofthe following offences, Wiz
l.. Thoae who shall make or cause 70 be made,
or present or cause 70 be presented for payment
or approval, to OF BY any popon or oficer In
the biyl Or military service OF the United States
any claim upon OF aaAlnst the Government OF
the United States, or any department thereof,
moving such claim 70 bo falHs, fictitious, or
Q. Those who shall (for the purpose Of OBJ.
talning or aiding In obtaining The approval OF
payment Of such claims) mako, use, or cause
70 be made or used, any false bill, receipt,
voucher, entry, roll, account, claim, statement,
certificate, afndavit, or dsposition, knowing
the same 70 contain any false Or fraudulent
o. Those who shah mako, er procure 70 be
made, or knowingly advise the making, OF any
false oath 20 any fact, statement, or certificate,
voucher or entry, for the purpose Of obtaining
or Of aiding 70 obtain any approval or payment
Of any claim against the United States, or any
department OF once thereof 'H Hl1lHf lTa n
Thoaa ,vbo a. fha y,,,rv,,a.. AZ ,ls.t,t,,,,
or enabling any other person 70 obtain from
the Government Of the United Statee, ,lor any
department or officer thereof, any payment or
allowance, or the approval or signature Of any
person In the military, naval or civil service OF
the United States, ofor 70 any false, fraudulent
or fictitious claim, nhall forge or counterfeit,
or eause or procure TO be forged or counterN
feited, any signature upon any bin, receipt,
voucher, claim, roll, statement, aiidavit, or
deposition 'o.fF hHs 'na''aa9 -ffi'Ts
3. Those who shall utter or use the came az
trne or genuine. knowing the same 10 hayo
been forged or counterfsltedl ~ R3yH u Fs71
Q. Thdas who shall have entsred into any
agreement, combination o. conspiracy 70 cheat
or defraud the Governmont of Tho United States.
or any department thereof BY obtaining, on
aidlng and-asslsting 70 obtain, the payment or
OF allowance any false or Ifuudulent claim
~ Those who shall steal, omborEls, OF lnabWl
lnkly and winfully Inlsapproptl tltloof apply 70
his own use and bonsat, and tl.0se who shan
wrAngfnllY and knowingly sell, convex oridisg
pose Of any ordinances, ar1ua, Ammunition
clothing, Buhaistenoe stofeh, money, or other
property Of the United States, harnIahed OF 10
20 used for the military or naval service Of the
g. Those who, being contractors, agents,
paymaStos, quartermAsters, or any other per-
son whhtnoOYer, having charge possession
cuatody or control OF any money or other pub
lie property nsed or TO be used In the military
or naval service ofthe United states, who shali,
with intent 10 doffaud tho United States, or
Millfnlly TO conceal such money or other prop
erty, deliver or cause TO be delivered 20 any
other person having 6uthority to receive tho
same, any amount OF such money or other publ
lie property less than that for which he shall
receive certificate or receipt, I'm other words,
those who take ialso voucher for fraudulenf
purposes or make false delivery upon true
vouchers.) 70 ..f. s4A 'tt sui'.t
0. Those who are Authorized to deliver any
certificate, voucher, receipt or other paper cor
tifying the amount OF arms, ammunition, pro-
yisions, clothing, or other public property so
used or TO be used, who shall make OF deliver
the same to any person without having full
knowledge Of the truth of the facts therein
stated, and with intent 10 cheat, defraud or in 4
lure the United States. '.t'a Dos II
10. Those who shall knowingly purchase or
receive In pledge for any obligation or lndebt-
ednesS nom any soldier, otticcr or other person
NaAAoN lhNo W oAhIAoypd ~ huu bOTNlCu u tMo
United States, any arms, equipments, ammunl-
tionj clothes ormllitary stores, or other public
property such soldier, officer, or other person
not having the lawful right TO pledge OF sell
the same, g Vl41. HaI N.N bJ-.aIf'
Any person who shall commit either of these
crimes within the Dlstrict Of Columbia, Is la
BILE TO be punished by fine or lmpriBonment.
Thus It will be seen that, by the provisions
OF this important act, all persons In and out Of
the military service, including attorneys, claim
agents, and all other persons who transact
business with the Treasury, the War or Navy
Departments, and even with officers and SOL
idlers, are safe only when pure and upright In |
their transactions. II fraudulent OF dishonest,
they are likely TO become liable 70 one or more
of the stringent provisions OF this criminal
statute. In addition 70 the foregoing statutes,
thoro are others which relate 70 a gfAYer class
Of offences. ! refer 10 the statutes against
treason. The United States statute OF April
80th, 1870, provides that "1f any person or
persons owing allegiance 10 the United
States Of America shall levy war against
them, or shall adhere to their enemies, giving
them aid and comfort, within the United States
or elsewhere, and shall be thereof convicted, on
confession In open court, or on the testimony
Of two Witnesses 10 the same overt act OF the