Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-05-17
"a Daniel Come to Judgment"

himself, II possible more infamous IN the eyes OF
| his fellow-citizens, by his recent charge to the
Grand Jury of his Court, which opened its session
in Norfolk Tuesday last.~>4he jurors who ap-
peared and qualified, were evidently selected be-
cause of political sentiments which made them
aliens to the great body of the people of Virginia
He congratulates them that if any doubt existed
as to the liability of persons who were then sub
iect to the parole agreed upon by the commanders
of the armies which had been contending in daily
conflict, and which had been an unajudicated and
embarrassing question, the universal concurrence
of judicial and legal authorities has entirely
lieved the Court upon the subject.
From the changed condition of the country, as
the smoke of battle is clearing away, the Courts
are free to act in the administration of civil
Justice The restraints of the parole having been
removed by the proclamation of peace, 1t becomes
the duty of the Courts to proceed in the investi-
cation and punishment of the crimes which have
been committed against the laws
The leaders in the late rebellion liable to be
treated either traitors or public enemies, as
they were undoubtedly both by the laws of nations.
He then defends the Grand jury for the omission
to find indictments against the greater criminals,
as it caused by the knowledge that the leaders
had been previously indicted i'll Washington
Since that time, however the Attorney General
has published his opinion, that Washington is not
the proper place for the trial, but it should take
place in Virginia. where the actual offence had
been committed.
The astute Judge then apologies to the blood
thirsty appetite of the Radicals for the painful
delay in insttuting proceedings against the guilty
rebels. This delay is attributable to his delbe
ration, discrimination, caution and clemency,'
Heaven save the markD g SO that unnecessary
blood should be added to the torrents that have
already soaked the soil of .sur devoted State, i'll
humble g imitation of the great and good mar
tyred Lincoln and in imitation of the great Ruler
of the Universe (the great and good martyred
first of course,l "whose judgments slow but
sure
The noble Scion then launches off in a bitter,
malignant and blasphemus TRADE against his de
voted State" whose ignorance is SO great he says
that the masses of the people "are not morally
responsible for their pal Anticipation in the late rebel
lion, which account he thinks the rich, pros
porous enlightened. happy, liberty and equality
loving people of the North, should make due
allowance for their crime and wickedness, and the
greater needed in ascertaining guilt and in
ficting punishment Ignorance may be no ex-
is, Virginia has never had really free govern
ment. Slavery is the cause of all this, the great
curse of the South, and God has Scared the South
ern section all over with the decorations of war,
" determined to write, with his own hand his alb
horrence of slavery" Then adds this immaculate
specimen of judicial honor with all the gravity of
q veritable Jack Bunsby in '<an opinion as IS an
opinion.
To our shame and disgrace, be admitted, that
far advised OF the numerous conflicts
of which have occurred in this State during the past
has been the wanton and unproyoked work of wick
ed white poor quiet, unoHen1ng and IN most
cases, unarmed and unresisting colored people
This is spoken, be it remembered, under the
credness of his judicial oath, to also acting
under obligations of great dignity, in the very
city where but few weeks since, of the most
unprovoked and sanguinary outrages of blacks
upon whites occurred as ever diSgraced human
ity.
After thus relieving himself, he pays tribute
to "the ever friendly North and its generous peo-
ple" and our treatment of them which will make
us the "by-word and scorn of the whole civilized
world; : & barbarians and justly excluded from
the sympathies of all christian men," True and
loyal men must be protected against the persecu-
hons of those fresh from scenes of treason and re-
bellion, who are pursuing their victims with most
Internal hate for apparent reason, except their
fidelity and devotion to the country.
He then breaks out in brutal pot-house TRADE
against slavery and shareholders, closing as fol-
lows
'And worst of all and to be depored" was the
prostitution OF houses the heart and seat of do
nestle purity the poisoning of which is fatal to all moral
vitality and death to public and private happiness The
subsection of the woman of one complexion to the wild flu
OF unridlcd Righteousness and consequence deny
marriage making in thousands of those rites
much mockery conscious traitors OATH are pro-
children of the slave woman beached by the blood of the
first families until hardly half births of lawful
weilock and until it would that masculine virtue
must be nearly extinct in the proud circles of the chivalrc
arstocracy OF the State.
This picture, dark as it is, is not black but
that skful artists may relieve it with the delicate
touch of brighter colors, if they will only apply
themselves vigorously to the work The Yankee
missionaries, those moral excresceces of fanatcal
generosity and intelligence have III inviting fold
Says the Judge:
Where there much vice be reclaimed ignorance
to be enlightened and misery to be aevisted. may
hope the teacher and the missionary will and that
culture and refinement will be approaching that
which now classes Massachusetts and New England:
Having placed the welfare of the State in the
tender hands of these missionaries, this mighty
and wise Judge turns his attention to the press
of the State, and feel assured when the editors
of the Virginia papers read the following extract,
they breathed more freely
Since the adjournment of the last Grand Jury, the
tenton OF the Court has been particularly called to
dsloys press BY the highest military authority OF the
excitement to rebellion -. , ...:..a.f
While concurrng entirely with the Lieutenant General
and the distinguished soldier and accomplished lawyer
who commands the department of Virginia. the propr
ETY. OF abatns, by military power such papers during
Rf mar and