The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-05-09
CHARGE OF JUDGE UNDERWOOD.

ment The Grand Jury was then duly sworn,
consisting of the following gentlemen: j.
Gillingham, Fairfax; j. R. Bigelow, Alexan-
dria; Isaac Snowden, Fairfax; John T. Taylor,
Geo. c. Heirs, R. Hodgkin, L. D. Harmon
C. w. Rowland, Alexandra; F. Decordy, Geo.
w. Singleton, John T. Daniels, John H. Be-
rum, VIM G. Weber, c. L. Cole VIM. T.
Harrison, Chas H. Whitehurst, Norfolk; VIM
n Tinsley VIM. Fay, B. Wardwell, T. Dud
ley Jr., B. Davis, Richmond
After the Grand Jury was sworn in, Judge
Underwood delivered his charge. We regret
that our time and space for to-day forbids
the reproduction of this remarkable document;
but it will, no doubt, engage the public atten-
ton tor many days; and as it was contained
in a morning paper, some passages may well
admit of comment in our otherwise crowded
columns
1t is known to all men that Judge Under
wood owes his place, and the unenviable no
toriety he has obtained, to his negro-worship-
ing. Under Mr. Lincoln's administration he
saw that that was safe road out OF the OBJ
security in which he had heretofore lived, and
he worshipped accordingly.
From the time Of raising the first negro
pole in the State of Virginia upon Occaquan,
to the present hour, Judge Underwoods life
and breath has been sustained by pandering
to the abolition faction, and the bad eleva-
ton to which we see him raised he owes to
nothing else. Not character not talents, not
learning in the law, not manners or dignity
of eportment-nothing of this kind-has
put him on the bench; but abolitionism in
language, sentiment, and action.
Accordingly, the staple of this charge
might we'll be looked for--but, we confess,
that here, Underwood has taken leap even
beyond Underwood. The constitution of the
to elevate the hopes of Virginia's citizens;
but we can imagine that even upon MAORI
ty of them, the charge did not fall like music
delightful to the ears.
Inferentially, the Judge blames the last
Grand Jury for omission to find indictments
against those who may be considered the
principal criminals and greatest offenders
against the National sovereignty, who were,
in fact the most prominent III pos1t1ou at me
----y-------- f,ravvo- III the senate
of the United States, and became leaders of
the rebellion; but now he thinks that the
leaders in the late rebellion may be treated
either as traitors or public enemies, as they
were undoubtedly both, by the law of ma
tons. AS the trial should be in Virginia,
where the actual offences have been commit
ted, the Judge therefore submits the matter
to the consideration Of the Grand Jury.
Judge Underwood next descends to the
immediate topics of the day, the relations Of
the white and negro inhabitants of the State,
and here his instinct comes out strong and
unmistakable. The ''trail of the serpent is
over it ALL" the mark of the abolition beast
flames upon its forehead;
''To our shame and disgrace, it must be
admitted that so far as we are advised, eve
ny one of the numerous conflicts of races
which have occurred in this State during the
past year, has been the wanton and unpro-
voked work of wicked white men upon poor,
quiet, unoffending, and in most cases, I'M
armed and unresisting colored people Why
should we MURDER rob or interrupt them,
burn their school-houses and churches, insult
and attack the teachers who in the cause of
improvement and elevation, and Christian
charity have come to us from the ever friend
" North, in the same spirit that brought
them in 1855, to this devoted city, when the
of bor in re
Let us not forget that then as now it was to
the North and its generous people that we
had to look in our want for aid and assist
ance. Unless stop is put to such violence
and outrage upon the freedmen, we can never
expect relief from the presence of Northern
.bayonets, and admission to the rights and
privileges of the Federal Union but we
shall become the by-word and scorn of the
whole civilized world. We shall be consid-
cred barbarians, and be Justly excluded from
the sympathies of all Christian men, 1t is
your duty, gentlemen Of the jury, to see to it,
that people who were loyal and true to the
nations flag in the time Of trial and danger
shall be protected against the persecution of
those who, fresh from SnaneS of treason and
rebellion, are pursuing their victims with
most internal hate, for no apparent reason,
except their fidelity and devotion to the
country"
Such is the ermine that covers the shoulders
of this immaculate judge. He wears the
mantle of Chief Justice Chase trailing in the
dust the purity and independence of the Ju-
dietary bench, to pander to the vile demon of
aboltionism
After the Judge concluded the charge, j.
Gillingham, the Foreman of the Jury, arose,
and after making few remarks explanatory
of his calling, cas- man of peace and good
will to all men" he respectfully requested the