The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-07-27
JUDGE UNDERWOOD'S
CHARGE TO THE GRAND JURY.
THE WHISKY CASES.
THE COURSE TO BE PURSUED

70 .SuDlOlu lue CudTSe vi uuRe UnuCT-
wood delivered yesterday morning to the
grand jury of the United States Circuit
Court, now in session in this city:
Gentlemen oftbe Grand Jury,-I have
to inform you upon the occasion of your
reissembling that for your indefatigable
efforts at the last session to ferret out vio-
lations Of the internal revenue laws you
have not only received the applause of
your fellow-c citizens Of Virginia, but the
Commissioner at Washington has desired
me especially to thank you for the course
which you have taken.
"Hitherto great difficulty has been expe-
rienced in the collection of the revenue
arising from whisky. Especially has this
been the case in disloyal portions of the
country, and in New York, a city even
more .disloyal than Richmond, the detec-
tion of fraud has been very unfrequent.
The tax on whisky has been condemned as
extravagant or unreasonably high. But
moments thought must convince reason
able man that the contrary is true. That
imposed by the British Government is
eleven shillings sterling per gallon--a sum
equal to about t1ro dollars and halt In
gold-while in the United States but two
dollars in currency is required to be paid.
The people of England pay the tax with
willingness in every part of the country
where loyalty prevails, and few complaints
Of evasion are made. Patriots and phi
lanthropists, however, believe this high
tax upon distilled poison real blessing
for it certainly prevents the diffusion of
the poison, saving thousands Of lives, pre-
venting crime, and increasing the happiness
of the people. Police records, Jail statis-
tics, and the newspapers of the day, tell
but too plainly the fearful work which
whisky has performed. We cannot, there
fore, compute the blessings which may re-
suit to the community from your efforts in
this direction.
"It is shameful that many in this city
should so far have lost their sense of recti-
tude as to believe that merit exists in
defrauding lawful government of its due
income. With these persons you have
properly dealt.
&C But I learn that at the present session
another and new class Of crimes will be
brought up for your consideration. These
are perjuries arising from the late registra-
ton. To loyal and tried men as you,
gentlemen of the grand jury, are known
to. be, advice from the court upon this
subject may seem almost superhuous. I
feel it my duty, however, to say that a
course tempered by due moderation
should be pursued in your inTesti-
cations. I cannot doubt that many
crimes of this nature have been COM
mitted, that many have perjured them
,,, 10 o1,t toi ha ivi1a IF
franchise, but it would seem that great
caution should be observed before pre-
sentiment is made. Bear in mind that con-
cerniug large number whom you and
believe to have committed perjury there
is o wide difference of opinion among
loyal men, and those high in authority.
Some Of our fellow-citizenS have probably
been guided by the expressed opinion of
the Attorney General, who you will re-
member is the highest legal authority
known to the law. These can urge with
much plausibility that there is much ex-
cuse for them if the Attorney General
agreed in their construction Of the con-
gressonal acts. The commanding General
of this district, also, has expressed some
views with which you may not personally
coincide, and which do not seem to agree
with the legislation Of Congress at the late
session. Here, too, would urge forbear-
ance, as the accused might plead that he
had been guided by the Generals opinion.
"It is scarcely advisable to indict any,
therefore, but those who have been fla
grant perjurers. Do not aim at the mis-
guided, uneducatcd, and ignorant, but
mark the leaders and other wcll-known in
dividuals who have falsely sworn. would
call your attention to postmasters, their
assistants and deputies, all Of whom, am
informed at the Post-office Department,
have always been required to subscribe to
an oath Of allegiance to the United States
Government. If afterward they have en-
gagged in rebellion, and then registered, it
is for you to consider whether they are
perjurers."
In conclusion, the Judge again urged
moderation, and in this connection referred
to his own views on the freedom Of the
press, which he thought should always be
allowed to the fullest extent. Better allow
announcement of treason than exercise q
governmental censorship over newspapers,
for in time the most violent journals will
sting themselves to death. This view he
had advocated two years ago when adj
viscd by the General-in-Chief of the
Armies of the United States to prosecute
secession journalists.
The grand jury then retired to their
room, on the first floor Of the custom-houSe
building.
QUALIFIED TO PRAcT1cE.-The following