Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1866-05-25
Miafgllanepns,
THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT
COURT COMMENCES IT'S SESSION
AT NORFOLK.
Judge Underwood to the Grand Jurl

Judge Underwood to the Grand Jury.
The United States District Court met on
Tuesday last at Norfolk, Virginia, Judge
Underwood presiding. The following gen
tlemen were sworn in as Grand Jurors J.
r. Bigelow, Alexandria Isaac Snowden,
Fairfax John T. Taylor, Alexandria; J.
Gillingham, Fairfax George G. Harris, R.
Hodgkin, J.. D. Harmon, G. W. Nowland,
Alexandria f. Daeordy, George W. Sin
gleton, John T. Daniels, John H. Borum,
William G. Weber, c. L. Cole, w T.
Harrison. Norfolk William n. Tinsley, Jr
William Froy Burnham Wardell, T. Eud-
ley, Jr., Burnham Davis, Richmond G.
H. Whitehurst, Norfolk
After the Grand Jury was sworn in Judge
Underwood delivered the following charge ::
Gentlemen Of the Grand Jiuy:
The absence of the Chief Justice impo-
ses upon me the duty of submitting to you
some considerations for your direction. To
the last Grand Jury assembled IN this city
my views in relation to the great crime of
treason against the Government of the Uni
ted States were fully presented, and were
also SO extensively published as not to re-
quire repetition
But the liability of persons who were then
subject to the parole agreed upon by the
commanders Of the armies which had been
contending in daily conflict was at that time
an unadjudicated and embarrassed question
Happily, however, the universal concur
renee Of judicial and legal authorities with
the opinion given by the court on that oc-
casioh, has relieved us Of all doubt upon the
subject
We are also, from the changed condition
of the country, as the smoke Of battle is
clearing away, more free to act in the ad-
ministration Of civil justice Except in spe-
cial cases the writ of habeas corpus is re-
stored and the restraints Of the parole hay
ing been removed by the proclamation of
peace, it becomes our duty to proceed in the
investigation and punishment of some of the
crimes which have been committed against
our laws.
The omission of the last Grand Jury to
find indictments against those who may be
considered the principal crimiBalsand great
est offend ers against the national sovereign
ty, who were, fact, the most prominent in
position at the time they deserted their pla-
CSo III Tic A1ChdbC " INT OullSU CtdtGS; anu
became leaders of the rebellion, has been
misunderstood and the President has IN
formed the court that he is unwilling to adj
wise proceedings against subordinates as
Wirtz, while their superiors and more gull
ty leaders are not brought to Justice This
court entirely agrees with the President in
his often repeated declarations, that treason
is the greatest Of crimes and ought to be
signally punished, and that it is cowardly to
punish the subordinate and comparatively
and allow the principals to es-
cape. We also concur in the opinion that
the leaders in the late rebellion may be treat
ed as traitors or public enemies, as they
we're undoubtedly both by the laws of na
tiens.
1t is due, however, to the late Grand Ju-
ry t. say that their omission TO find indict-
ments against the greater criminals, when
those of inferior position and
was caused by the knowledge
that the leaders had been previously indict
ed in Washington, and the Jury was unwill-
ing to seem yindictive, or to do any act not
demanded by the sternest and clearest duty
Since that time the Attorney General has
his opinion that Washington is
lot the proper place of trial. but that the
rial should be in Virginia, where the actu
i offenses had been committed. We there
ore submit the matter to your coDsidera-
ion.
Much complaint has been made by our
ellow-citizens of the North of the tardiness
# our criminal prosecutions. We think It