Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1866-06-15
OPENING OF COURT IN RICHMOND,
Judge UndeFwcod's Charge TO the Grand
.Jury-Dayis' Counsel want TO know
what is to be done in his Case.

Judge UndeTwcod;s Charge TO the Grand
Jury-Dayis' Counsel want TO know
what is to be done in his Case.
RICHMOND, Va, June ).
Judge Underwood, after consultation with
General Terry, opened the United States
District Court this morning Messrs. Reed,
Brady Brown, Van Sickle and Edsall, la
vis's counsel, were present Some delay
occurred before the panel was completed.
Judge Underwood delivered his charge, OF
which the following are the principal points
Gentlemen Of the Grand jury am happy
to meet you again, aud to know that you are
still living, notwithstanding the assaults that
have been made upon you. Little need be
said in addition 10 the Instructions given at
Norfolk. Your last scesion has made you
historical, and | trust the efforts which have
been made to iDtnuidate you and to impede
the course Of Justice, will not make you less
lmthful and earnest IN the discharge of your
public duties The Judge then referred in
the seyercst terms to the press of Virginia
and the city of Richmond for It's share in
the odious slave trade; complaints OF threat
ened violence and Intimidation, which have
been forwarded to me By several Of your
number, for your late heroic and patriotic
actions, have been subanitted to the highest
legal and military authorities of the Govern
ment, and / can assure yOu of the earnest
sympathy and firm support OF all the officers
OF the law. not excepting the President,
whom the reasonable now hatter and fawn
upon, but whom they wih probably soon
curse as heartily as they did two years ago.
The Judge then recited the act Furnishing
ebstructors Of Justice. He charges them
that they viii have to exercise some restraint
upon the press which has done so much TO
promote duels, assassinations, murders, aud
SO forth, and concludes without any hint
touching the famous treason trial as follows
But, gentlemen, let us act with modera-
tion and discrimination, for though prostI
tuted press - one OF the greatest calamities,
free and vlssnous press is one OF the great
est public blesalDgs, the greatest ornament
and support of public virtue.
The Grand jury retired, when VIM. b.
Reed Of Philadelphia, then addressed the
Court as follows: May it please your Hon
or, beg to present myself in conjunction
with my colleagues, as the counsel of Jeffer-
son Davis, prisoner of State at Fortress
Monroe, and under Indictment for high trea-
son in your Honor Court We find in the
records Of your Honor's Court an indict-
ment charging Mr.. Davis with this high of
fense, and it is due to the cause of justice,
due to this tribunal, due to the feelings
of one sort or another which may be desert
bed as chrystalizing around the unfortunate
man, that we should come at the very earli-
est day to this tribunal, and ask Of your
Honor, or, more properly, the gentleman
who represents the United States, the sim
pie question, what is proposed to be done
with this Indictment Is it to be tried2 Is
it-and this is question, perhaps, that |
have no right to asks ii to be withdrawn,
or is it to be suspended? If it is to be tried,
may it please your Honor, speaking for my