New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-06-05
Important Charge by n Loyal southern
Judge.

We find the following "chaIgc," delivered by
Judge Underwood TO the Grand Jury in the United
States Court for the Eastern District Of Virginia On
Tuesday last, in The Norfolk Old Dominion Of Mey 81
GI-.rITMry OF THE GRAND jury: You have been
to the discharge OF duties most momenous and
responsible.
You will be compelled by your regard for country.
freedom and humanity present for trial the authors
and conductors of the most gigantic bloody and unpro
yokcd crimes that ever cursed our weird. You ale u
pass those who caused MOI only tens Of thousands
of deaths the battlecd of the Rebellion, but the
greater agcnies and tOrtures of starvation IN Libby
Prison. Boc Island. nj Salisbury and Apderspnylle,
in comparison with which the cruetcs of Spanish IN
1uisitions the of -. Bartholomew. and Of
the French revolutions. sink into insgnifcance fou
are review the conduct and motives of men whose
whose thirst for nOtOricty, strangely desired ana
courtcd. and finally acquired the pubic gazr only 10
sink them TO disgrace and iniainy. There LAS Deeh
nothing terrible since tie CrucnNl0n 10 TINS con
spraoy against the mildest and best Government the
human race has ever known-against liberty ana M
manty ana In the interest OF slavery ana uespollc
power-unt 1t has culminated In an assassination
which has shaken all Chrisendom with horror ana ap'
horrencc. .,,c.
Its saddeninc 20 reflect that own beautiful state
Las been the principal theater Of this treason ana car
mace and that many Of our fellow citizens, who have
bren honored by our confidence and suifFages. nave
thu, raised their hands against the life Of our nation
The crime of treason though new ana ltlause 20 our
courts II justice clearly defined in our laws and con-
stitutlOn.
IL consists as described in Article B. Section Of the
United states Constitution In lcvyng war against tue
United States OF in adherinc TO their enemes giving
them aid and comfort and includes conmissarles ana
Qnartermastsrs contractors ara clyll agents VI h'o"
lion who not less guilty than those VINO pore arms.
The Dstrict-Attoncy will furnish you win the acts
OF passed enforce this provision OF the Con
siitutiOn which define also the inferior crime OF ms
prsion Of treason and that OF giving AID and coiOrtto
tie enemy.
In condition Of affairs ike that which now surrounds
u.s. when those who are technically guilty Of treason;
may be counted by hundreds of Thousands, uni'etss
prosecution would be unreasonable anu lplpossio'e'
We know that the Of our people, not only GU
zens but soldiers. conscriptei and driven into the
Rebel service are not morally responsible for the Re
belion Tn Ike the citizens OF the Northern states
where education Is generally diised, and almost every
man reads his Bible and newspaper our poor people nave
been deprived OF these adyantaees by the promo ana
tyranuical arisocracy and have been ccpotcaiy con-
troed BY their wicked leaders. and are, therefore
rather to be- pitiod punished more severely than
they have been already We are now hvlng unqer the
Christian Dlspensaon and would not say like Joshua:
Every one who rebels shall be put ~ death.
But the enforced ignorance Of our poor Peope, "en
alone made tho Rebellion possible and therefore nay
excuse the masses only increases the guilt OF The rrng
lenders WHO before committing the CRIME OF treason
had prepared the way by keeping their poorer neigh
bors m ignorance aud thereby secured to thenseNes
the uudiurbed possession Of all positions OF lnnuence
and authority.
twill be Tor You 20 decide who and how many Of the
most prominent and guilty to answer ~ the viola
laws of the country. Tho eyes OF the nation ana
81 all Clrisiendom upon you. II will be expected
thar hy your action YOU VIII declare that treason IKE
an other crifnes shall he punished In this home Of ILL.,
orty and Justice Civilization dom ans this not In Vei
gcance not as indemnity for the past, but ms some
security tho fture Of republican Institutions
There seems TO have been fatal ignorance forget
fitness on the part Of ari-OoTacy of their duties.
AID We have witnessed the fl ghtfl consequences. IN
land dcsOated by civil war; dronched with the blood Of
onr slaughtered brethren, iurrowed with graves AMI
liled with widows and orphans
We have no other State or people have seen.
that treason the greatest 81 crimes That u i whole
saln murder and embraces IN is comprehensive sweep
al the crimes " the decalO,uc. II has already muir
dorcd tens Of thousands OF the i0wer o. our youth and
manhood by slaughter our battcields. and b! s1r
walton in the most loathsome Dungeons. II has invaded
almost every domestic circle IN the country, scattering
woe and death. breaking the hearts OF wives and
mo'he and sisters. 1T has poisoned tho wells OF truth
ana loyalty teaching terrible insiructosi and yet tie
grand mstgaiors and most responsible and Intelligent
principals Of this great onspracy, with bands dripping
with H. blood OF our slaughtered inuocenls and
t,Ted President are still AT large uuwhpped OF justice.
II il for you to teach them that those who SOW the
wind must reap tho whrlwind that cemency and
mercy 10 them woud be cruelty and murder to tho limo
cent and unborn.
Its your business - 70 administer the laws that orr
chidrens children will not be compelled TO look upon
n rebellion like the one we have seen, tor many genera
tons.
To an inquiry which has been made by m officer of
the Cour whether the terms Of parole agreed upon hy
Gen. Lee any protection 10 those talNs the
parole the answer IT, that mere military arrange.
nent and can have influence upon civil rights or The
status OF the persons Interested.