Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-05-14
United States Circuit Court.

OuAtC0 0IdICS S1ACulG VOuIt.
Judge Underwood, of the United States Cir
cult Court for Virginia, arrived in Richmond
on last Monday week, the 9th inst, at half past
l o'clock. He was escorted from the depot to
the hotel by Collector James, who walked on
his right hand, and the Assistant District At
torney, who walked on the other He was fol-
lowed by large and very black negro man,
who bore his travelling bag and ponderous law
book, nearly as big as Webster's Dictionary.
Three negroes, supposed to be the African
quota of the Grand Jury, followed behind, and
on arriving at the Spotswood corner were in
formed by the Clerk of the Court that Judge
Hbpderwood would open his Court at o'clock
fpreclsely. Not being invited to accompany the
NJudge into the hotel they proceeded up Eighth
street. The distinguished arrival produced no
excitement.
THE COURT ROOM.
| AS the hour Of three clock approached a
number of reporters and some dozen or more
lawyers of the city, the latter prompted by Gu
rlosity to see the Grand Jury and hear the
Judges charge, repaired to the United States
| Court room, on the Second floor of the Custom
House. Among the lawyers we noticed Messrs.
Neeson, Maury, Raymond, Nance the two Gil
mers, Guigon, Jones, Green, Grattan, Fitzhugh,
Johnston, Ould and others.
| Later, thirty or forty citizens, also attracted
| by curiosity, dropped in. A few minutes after
three o'cock the Grand Jury came in by twos
and threes and took their seats, MIR. Bolts ia
king the position of foreman.
| At quarter past three Judge Underwood
came in and took his seat, and ordered the call
ing of the following list of Grand Jurors
LIST OF THE GRAND JURoRs-BoTTs:
John Minor Bolts. Joseph Segar, Lewis Nc
| kenzie, j. T. Baldwin, Rozier Dulaney Beck
ley, colored, David Lu pton, Cornelius Liggon
Harris, colored, John Hawxhurt, Thomas Da-
w, L. s. Tennis, William Bartlett, George W.
Simms, colored, Fields Cook, colored, John
Oliver colored Gillett T. Watson. Michael
| Umbarger, Jacob n Troth, John w. Gregg,
Joseph T. Janney, John Wissler, H. g. Bond,
William Q. Mansfield
The list being called, all responded except
Lewis Mckenzie, William Bartlett, Fields
Cook and j. I. Baldwin.
| The Judge ordered that Mr.. Bolts be sworn
| as foreman. and he was sworn, taking number
of oaths. The rest were then called up by fours
and sworn, negroes and whites together. There
was nothing remarkable in this ceremony ex-
cept the avldty of the negroes to kiss the book,
(they could scarcely be restrained till the clerk
got through repeating the oaths), and the unc-
tion with which they smacked their lips oyer
the sacred volume when permitted to get at it.
UNDERWOOD CHARGE-A GROSS AND ABOMI
NABLE LIBEL ON THE PEOPLE OF RICHMOND.
The Grand Jurors having been duly sworn
and having resumed their seats, the Judge
turned in his seat, and, facing them, proceeded
| to read in harsh and rather indistinct voice,
tumbling the sheets of his manuscript nervous
| ly the while, the following infamous diatribe-
the most abominable, without doubt that ever
| Ilsgraced court of justice. During the read
ing, which was Interrupted only by an OCCASION
al haf-suppressed snort from an Ethiopian
Grand Juryman Bolts shut his eyes, and com
pressing the lids violently, looked as if attempt
ing to imagine himself somewhere else.
''Geatzenaen of the Grand Jury:
''The circumstances surrounding us demand
devout thanksgiving to Almighty God that we,
| the friends and representatives OF the Govern
ment of the United States, who, last year were
threatened with destruction and hunted by as
sasslns IN this city for attempting to execute
the laws OF our country, can now meet in con-
scious security under the wings of the starry
banner which our patriot Congress has raised
for our protection. That we are permitted to
meet in this building OF everlasting granite, so
emblematic Of the power and strength of our
Government, standing alone and unharmed
amid the great confiagration that swept as with
besom of destruction all around it,
"And what solemn associations are suggested
by rejecting that in the very rooms we now oc-
cupy dwelt the fiery soul Of treason, rebellion
and civil war--hence issued that fell spirit
which starved, by wholesale, prisoners for the
crime of defending the flag of our common
country assassinated colored soldiers for their
noble and trusting abors in behalf Of govern
mert that had as yet only promised them pro
| lection; burned towns and cities with bar
barity unknown to Christian countries; scat
tered yellow fever and small pox among the
poor and helpless, and finally struck down one
Of earth's noblest martyrs to freedom and hu.
manity.
Another subject of, thanksgiving is pre-
sented in the very constitution of your body,
furnishing ocular evidence 1hat the age of caste
and class cruelty has departN, and the new era
of Justice and equality break1ng through the
clouds of persecution and prejudice is now