The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1865-05-10
Judge pierson's Charge.
GENTLEMEN OF THE GRAND JURY:

{
marked By an almost total disregard for
! law. a rebellion, The most stupendous
of any known In modern history, has
shaken our Government 10 its very foun.
dalion, and has only been partially sup
pressed after .immense military efforts
The war has led TO great sacrifice Of hu-
man life aud vast loss OF rational treas.
ure. Il has been marked, on the part OF
our enemies, by bIood;hirsty cruelty
and disregard tor the usages CT warfare
scarcely heard Of in the most barbarous
ages. Soldiers in great nunbers have
/ been butcheIed in cold blood after they
had surrendered, or been cruelty starved
to death, or, after being robbed of their
clothing, left TO perish from cold and ex-
posure in rebel pens and prisons. The
whole has eliminated In the cowardly
and 6endish assassination Of the head OF
Government, the President ofthe United
States, to crafty the evil spirit of public
and private reyeuge Thus has been
stricken down, 10 the pride Of his strength
and IN the hour Of his greatest useful.
ness, one Of the best men of the age and
country, a man of the most kindly heart
and feelings, whose greatest efforts were
directed to the ameliorallon Of the con
dilion of the whole humau family, and to
securing liberty and equal rights under
the law TO all men "a man whose only
faiiings arose from his unwillingness to
inhic, proper and necessary punishment
on crime-one of whom it may be truly
said that "even his failngs leaned to
virtues side" The whole nation, and,
we believe, even large portion of our
enemies, mourn his uutimely end. But
the cruel hand of the assassin did not
only shed the blood of good man, It
struck at the life of the patton. through
its executive bead The evidence taken
shows pretty clearly that there was
conspiracy Of no iuconsiderable magni,
tude, aiming to destroy not only the
President Of the United States, but nearly
/ all of his principal secretaries aod con
stitutional advisers. The life of the
Secretary Of State was attempted, and
/ tie attempt was only proyideutially
frustrated That of the Secretary ut
War was sought; and i; is more than
probable that our chief military com.
mander was only saved by his accidental
absence, This leDdIsh spirit of violence
and bIoodshc1 is but in keeping with the
general docFlne and practice of the South {.
eminates from their advocacy of the pistol
and the bowie kuife 1t is our duty, Il
wo would preserve the purity of our own
State and people, to frown upon every
threat of violence, and punish with Sc
verify every violation of the law.
This blow was not only struck at the
head of the nation, bu: at the principles
of our Government, and at liberty itself
Hitherto our public fuuetionaries, FROM
the highest TO the lowest, were looked
upon a. perfectly secure in their persons,
SO that every citizen could approach them
freely and without restraint Hereafter
their safety will require them to be sur.
rounded with guards aud ushers; and the
people, however urgent their business,
if unknown, Will be kept at distance.
Although patriotic and intelligent men
throughout our country generally agreed
in the national necessity Of preserving
the United States as it originally existed,
and undivided, yet after the rebellion
broke. out they greatly differed as to :he
best means Of efecting the reunion We
believe that most Of those who formerly
differed with our late lamcnted President
have now come 10 the conclusion that his
plan was the wisest and best that could |
be proposed, and, had he lived, few
short mouths would have seen US again
one undivided people. Yet there are
some few among US of such bitter parti. |
san feeling, or SO silly and depraved, as
to express their appreciation Of this most
diaboical murder, and their Joy at the |.
destruction Of the head of the nation. |
We wish all such to understand that bv /.
utteriug such sentiments they are giving
countenance aud encouragement to the
worst Of crimes against the laws Of God |
aud tie laws Of the land aud it is the
duty Of all peace officers to cause such
persons to be Immediately arrested and
bound over for their good behavior, and,
in default of bail, to commit them to /
prison.
It has been but too common within
the last few weeks, and especially since
the assassination of the President, for the /
loyal citizens to resort 10 violence against
those who use language InimicaI to the
Government or approbatory of this cruel
murder. Such persons should remem
Der that they are themselves setting an
example Of lawless violence. The law
is strong enough to vindicate itself, aud
therefore their interference is without
justification or excuse. Whilst we dep.
reca'e any intermeddllng BY tho military
authorities with the citizens for offences