St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1866-04-19

I. ~, . 81
+ ! ETTERs FROM THE SOUTH.
The Kenavvha Court Day-Judxo stu-
art of thu Cfre.it Indieted by his own
/ orand Jury. =. .5-zts
..z,F.. G1Exv1LLE. G. H. ". W. l. .
M.rch s1st, 1866. ! .
ltow oar Regular 0rreporders
EDITOR DENocAAr.-Cour day is one of
the institutions Of Virginia It is always
the occasion of : GREAT and very misceltaae-
ous gathering Of people. from all parts of
the country. who come in, not 30 much 10
do business in Court, but to see what is
going on. The man who lives on the noun
tain, ten miles Of, and wbore way ont is
only by narrow path travelled on horse
back. invariably ''comes to court" His
horse will always be found hi'cled by the
fence. on ''court-day )" though six monrhs
will probably el"pse before you will see
either him or his handsome bay in town
again. He comes down from his mountain
home 10 see what is going on in the legal,
social and political world aud being a
rebel, especially to hear what his Honor
has to say in lis chnrge to the Grand Jury.
on the very interesting and TO him, very
solemn subject Of .Treason. His neighbor
At the foot Of the same mountain, also turns
EaEls. s-.E -. +
gu: on Court day, impellcd hi,l,er by the
like curiosity. And all the settlers along
the devious windings Of the Little kenaw
hs. from Bulllown to Jane Liew,s the: day
before court. are found vending their way
70 the seat Of justice. .'some in rags. and
SONS in tags, and ssone in velvet gowns !. .
Thus stream from ali points Of the com-
psss steadily is pouring in. till every hitch
ing post in the war SCARED, little city is
occupied from one to three horses each !:
aud row of them, for a mile long, may be
! seen along the pickets that eLcl"se the
grounds about the venerable, weather
beaten, old. brick court house. In fine.
"Court day" is q great day on the Keusw-
ha. - ~ = a.. p ~ ~ ~. "
But apart from the usual interest attend
ing cour, day, this session has been euliv-
ened by = rather unusual occurrence
Judge Stuart, the presiding Judge, is a
6ue Virginia gentleman, about City years
of age, with fair, intellectual forehead,
aud keen black eye. He we:rs his hair
long and flowing, thrown back, exposing
au unusually broad and compact, IA we'll
~ = genial AMI good-bokiug face. He
dons black SUIT, and the frs, day wore
gloves during The day. was present
most Of the day, and heard his charge to
the grand jurv. It swns able, elaborate.
and polished by much learning and a
! graceful delivery. He exponnded tire Law
con ,erning treason fully and dwelt with
emphasis on the scenes Of the war, giving
US, he sail, now a practical knowledge OF
; what treason meant. II was the highest
crime known 10 the law, aud hence must
be punished by the severest penalties. All
loyal men were pleased with his exposition
he enforced the necessity of its execution.
he great hall was full, about equally d.
>iied between rebels. and what are called
loyal men. The latter I'D smiling faces.
and. looked significantly at each other.
while the former exhibited signs Of impa
tience aud dissatisfaction. Their eoua,e-
nances betrayed apprehension. for this was
only the second court held in .he circui,
al. GO LIE, g surrender. 1t should be re.
marked. by the way, that nearly all the
prominent, influential and able men here
went with the South; and so in the south
ern crowl. you recognise those who w",e
the prominent actors AMI business men be-
tore the war. All -.: ~. c,..s 5rz3 ..sy
Judge Stuart passed on, luciily defining
the duties Of grand jurors, touching on all
crimes aud public offences. and then come
the mos, affecting and eloquent peroratio"
There was almost brea hless attention in
that vast crowd ,hronging the court room.
the great hall and aisle leading 10 the room
Both parties listened with death like 81
lence. I crowded my way around the Law
yer's bar, and sat within six feet Of the
bench, and di' ec,ly in II ont of the audience
room, where could both hear oil and see
all. With muci, feeling and signal ability
the Judge enforced the importance Of cal
tivating spiri, Of harmony and concilia-
,ion. Hoping the war Was ended, and The
laws vindicatvd The booming of cannon
Was no longer heard from ulenville Heights;
those heights now looked smi!ingly down
upon the seat of Justice in Gilmer county,
Law bad assumed its just supremacy and
Peace, with its golden wings, aud happy
influences had returned 10 bless our homes
and our lnbors. Let US rejoice together !;
let us shake hands aud be friends lot US
forget the animosities that darkened the
State for four long years Of bloodshed; let
ky.gones be eby.gones; aud thus let US re-
build that, which Was d, stroyed; re-erect
the sacred f.nes Of religion, the temples Of
Justice. and the shrine Of learning. Ad-.
dressing the jury earnestly, he said, "Pre-
sent no man from i'll will. Let no feeling
Of revenge invade the room where you are
s-.EE