The southerner., 1866-05-26

ready done. But better a thousand
times better to fall by the hand of the
assassin as Lincoln and Dixon have fall
len, or die under the mocksry of the
pretended forms of law as our Savior
did, in the cause of freedom and hu-
manity, than to shrink like towards
from our public trusts, in order to drag
out few more years of ignoble life be-
fore filling unh onored graves.
The law of Congress, which will
guide your action, are instinct With
equity, and are ample if fearlessly ad-
ministered to check and humble the
most defiant differing essentially in this
respect from the laws of our State Leg
stature, which like those of an ancient
heathern nation, seems "like cobwebs
mads to catch the weak, but to permit
the strong to break through them."-
Yours is the rough pioneer work of re-
moving the great distractions of crime
and violence from our midst, so that
education, intellectual moral and reli.
gious education very different in kind
and degree from the past, may come to
curse the evils under which we suffer.
Where there is so much vice to be re-
claimed, ignorance to be enlightened
and misery to be alleviated, we may
hope the teacher and the missionary
will come, and that culture and refine
. ment will yet be seen approaching that
which now classes Massachusetts and
New England, and that the time may
be hastening when our people shall feel
and act like brethren cf the same blood,
children of the same Almighty Bene.
factor, who permits all alike to range
the same earth, breathe the same air,
bask in the same sunshine, and dwell
under the same celestial canopy, thus
} teaching our duty, and inviting our imi-
) tation. When joining in efforts for mu-
tual aid, we shall forget the terrible
!, past and gloomy present. The bitter
} fruits of ages of violence and oppres-
sion on our side, and of misery, igno-
: rance and degradation on the other,
, since the adjournment of the last Grand
Jury, the attention Of the Court has
been particularly called to our disloyal
, press, by the highest military authority
of the country, with view to the pun
-. ishment of its treason aud excitement
} to rebellion.
While c"ncurring entirely with the
Lieut. General and the distinguished
: soldier aud accomplished lawyer who
) commands the Department of Vlrgiuia
f in the propriety Of abating by military
0 power, such papers, during The suprc'
9 macy of martial law, and recognizing
= the distinction between liberty and H.
e centousness, after mature reflection We
e doubt the policy Of suppressing by the
9 Courts papers treasonable as any ever
s in this State. Aside from an unwil.
e lingness to limit the Freedom of tht
press, it is submitted that the cause o
e good government may gain more by the
F. exposure of reasonable designs through
e the most disloyal press, than it would
by punishment and suppression. By
$ restraint the disease would not be cured
s but would only become concealed an'
IS more dangerous by concealment. Th
5. vanity, egotism aud heartlessness of ou
" disloyal editors, can with their limite
a circulation, do little harm, except t.
It themselves and their friends. Thei
n attack upon good men only display thei
g own malignity, and greatly eDdear tbos
If they assail to the hearts and sympathie
d of the true friends of freedom and th
It country. It is not intended to urg
If these views, and they are submitted
with great difidence since they seem t
'e conflict with such eminent patriotism
IT and high authority.
j. Your attention is also called to tn
is laws against counterfeting and passln;
h the counterfeit currency of the Unite'
le States; and also to violations of the re
D. venue and postal laws of the Unite
d States, with the hope that you will b
E. troubled with but few cases under them
D. and after short session be permittc
or to return to your homes conscious OF
es faithful discharge Of your importan
t. duties.
n- After the Judge concluded the charge
H. J. Gillingham, the Foreman of tn
~ Jury, arose, and after making a few r
ly marks explanatory of bis calling, "as
k, man of peace and good will to all meD,
ne be respectfully requested the Judge
be excuse him from serving upon the jury
a. as he felt himself totally incompetent
handle the tools, spoken of in tt
n charge. "He did not know how to =
gu them." The Judge held the rrqnv
ls- under advisement. At 5 o'cl'ch t
i'll Court sdi,nrned until 10 O'Clock til