Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1866-06-20
The Trial of Hon. Jefferson Davis.
Tb. following obarpe of Judge UNDERWOOD

| 1AS IOilomibS ouoAS S~6S HDSis " wa
i(the Monster of Judicial iniquity who it il
proposed shall conduct the triaIof Ex-Presi
dent DAvIs),to the Grand Jui.s,at the ses
sion of his Court in Richmond, on the 5th
will be read with unexpressiblesco contempt fol
the personal p;qre which it displays;
CHARGE OF JUDGE UNDERWOOD.
Gentlemen Of tho Grand Jury:AI am hap
py to meet you again, and to know that you
still live, Notwithstanding the assaults that
have been made upon you.& Little need be
said in addition to the instructions given at
Norfolk. Your last session mas made you
historical, and trust the effo;ts. which have
been made 70 intmidate you, ,aSnd to impede
the course of Justice, will not render you less
faithful and earnest in the discharge Of your
public duties. we ought not toTbe surprised
that the reasonable and licentious press of
this State aaascity should wines, and rage,
and become furious, when treason and licen-
tiousness are exposed and arraign d for trial
and punishment; nor should wesbe surprise
at the enmity and desperation exhibited, when
we remember that this city haslong been tho
centre aud seat of the greatest tgstfc in hui
man beings that has ever disgraced the world
"a traffic which has annually employed many
hundreds of moral monsters, and many mil
lions Of capital, aubsidizing the press, pulpit
and politics of the State, rendering Richmond
more infamous among men for its participa-
ton in this great crime than allthe cities along
the coasts Of Senegambia, Upper and Lower
Glinea, Coagc, Lo MO, Angelo;and Beuguela
Combined. The wonder rather is that so many
traces of kindness, humanity and christian
civilization should have survived such debas-
ing and brutalizing influences, .andlet us thank
God and take courage that, more fortunate
than the devoted cities of antiquity, we can
count more than ten men who have stood
faithful among the faithless. s $50;
"he complaints of threatened violence and
intimidation which have been forwarded to me
by several of your numbers for youralate he.
roic and patriotic action have been submitted
to the highest legal and military authority OF
the government, and can assure you of the
earnest sympathy and firm support Of all the
officers OF the law, not excepting the Presi-
dent, whom the reasonable now hatter and
fawn, but whom they will probably soon curse
as heartily as they did TWO years ago. But,
gentlemen, am glad to call your attention
to q law of Congress which putsYour vpdica
ton, as we'll rs that Of the county, into your
own hands. In 1881 Congress enacted, as
you will find on page 4oS, " volume of the
statutes at large, as follows:
Section Q And be it further enacted, That
if any person or persons shall corruptedly, or
by threats or fore, endeavour to influence,
intimidate or impede any jurory witness or
officer in any court of the United States in
the discharge Of his duty, or shall corruptedly,
or by threats or force, obstruct or impede, or
endeavour to obstruct or impede the uue ad
ministration of justice therein, every person
or persons so off ndng shall be liable to pros
saatt be
ing FIVE hundred dollars, or by irlprisonment
not exceeding three months, or 10th, accord
ing to the nature and aggravation of the Of
fence. [Appro7ed March 2, 1881
You will thus have it in your power to ex-
ercise wholesome restraint upon licentious
tongues and pens, and upon the PRESS which,
as o blind leader of the blind. has been and
still is one ofthe chief causes of.past, present.
and prospective calamity and misfortune. The
murders, lusts, assassinations. violent and
uugoverned passions, ending in sell. conaasra-
tion and selfimmolation unparaHed in any
heather country the poverty, suffering, ago
ny and degradation which have given this
city-of almost unequaled natura capabilities
Its bad eminence, are the legitimate fruit
Of the teachings of its public pres, and any
thing YOU can be able to conribte towards
its reformation will, in the highst degree, be
serviceable to the cause of the cpntry and OF
humanity. But, gentlemen, letus act with
moderation and discrimination, for though a
prostitr;ed press is one of the g tatest calam-
tiles. free and virtuous press ) one of the
greatest public blessings-tho Featest orna-
ment and support of public virtf.
Concluding, the Judge said dat in the ab
scnce of the regular foreman ffhe body, MIR.
Harrison would act in that opacity. The
Grand Jury then rose and eFed to their
room. ~
RFuARKs OF MIR, REb,