The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-06-10
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Chargs ~ JUa4s UnAsrwsee'
The following is the charge Of Judge 20
derwood TO the Grand jury 1t the recent
opening Of the United States Court q hlcn-
monds III
Genlemen Of tie Grand Jury I am happy !
IN meet Won again, and to know that Jon are
stiIl liyins, notwithstanding assants thas hass
been made upon you. Little need 70 ne Saio
| in addition TO the instructions gwen =. Nor-
folk. : Yoar last session has made you histor-
;c.i and, ! trust, efforts which have been
made to intimidats you and to impede the
conrse Of Justice, will not make you less
fs;thf1l and earnest in the discharge of your
nnblic duties. We ought not to be surprised
TINT the treasonable and licentious press Of
| this State and ityshould vince and rage ana
become furious when treason and licentious
meas Are exposed and arraigned for trial and
nunishment; nor should We be surprised at
the enormity and desperation exhibited
when we remember that this city has long
Been the center and seat Of the greatest 1rsnc
in human beings that has ever disgraceu Ins
world-a traffic which has annually emPloyeu
many hundreds Of moral monsters anu many
millions of capitaa, substituting the press. pull
nit. and politics Of the State, rendering kich-
mond more infamous among men tor pts par
t;c;n.tion in this great crime than ali the
cites along the coasts Of Senegambia, Upper
} and Lover Guinea, Congo, Loango, Angola,
and Rensuela combined. The wonder rather
Is that 40 many traces Of kindness, humanity
and Christian civilization, should have sur
yiyed such debasing and brutalizing influences,
7 and let us thank God and take courage that,
E more fortunate than the devoted cities nf an
, tiouity, we can count more than ten men
who have stood faithful among the falthiess:
The complaints OF threatened violence ano
intimidation which have been forwarded "a
me by several of your number for your late
4. heroic and patriotic actions have been sub
mittad to the highest legal and militar,
e authorities Of the Government, and ! car
: assure YOU of the easaest sympathy and hrn
J sunnort Of all the officers OF the law, not ex
ceptine the President, whom the treasonab
now aatter and fawn upon, but whom the.
Q will probably soon curse As heartily ~ the
% did two wears ago, But, gentlemen, | All
~ clad to call your attedtion TO q law OF Con
press which puts your own vindication as vel
as that Of the country into your own hands
70 In 1881 Congress enacted, as you will find o
> page 4ss ofths fourth volume Of the statute
pf at large as follows: "secnoa 2. And oe
further enacted, That If any person Or person
l. shall corruptly or by threats Of force endeavo
re 10 influence, intimidate or impede any juror
Is witness or officer in any court OF the Unite
" States in the discharge Of his duty, or sha
corruptIy or by threats OF force obstruct {
:. impede the due administration OF justie
's therein, every person or persons SO offendin
he shall be liable to prosecution therefor by II
6. dic.ment, and shalt, on conviction thereto
be punished BY fine not exceeding i've hur
ared dollars, or by imprisonment not excee'
ing three months, or bott, according 10 u
= nature and aggravation of the oteuse, q
~ proved March 2, 1851.
- ~ You will thus have it In your own power
of exercise wholesome restraint upon lice
III tious tongues and pens, and upon a pre-
- - which, as blind leader Of the blind, h
=. been and still is one Of the chief causes
~ tuasi, present. and prospective calumny al
misfortune Ihc murders, duels, assassin
Lea tons. violent and upgoverne5 Aaes,ons, eni
oh ing in self condagraton and self immediate
-. unpara,.ad in any heather country, the 20
nc erty, suffering. agony and degradation whi'
nd have gwen this city, of almost unequal,
h. natural capabilities, its bad eminence. are Il
ed legitimate fruit of the teachings of the publ
ras press: and anything you can be aiJie to c.,
tribute toward reformation will IN the highe
be degree be sersiceable to the cause of human
in to. But, gentlemen. let US ACT with moder
or ton and discrimination, for, though rros'
or. tuted press is one of the greatest calami'ie
M a free and virtuous press is one OF the grea
to est public blesslngs-,he greatest orname
nd and the support of public virtue.