The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-06-24
CHAR GLE OF HIS HONOR JUDGE MOSES
TO THE GRAND JURY.

We publish below full and corrected copy
Judge MOSES charge to the Grand Jury on Thur
day last:
GENTLEMEN: It affords me peculiar pleasure
meet, for the first time, in my official capacity
Grand Jury of the District Of Charleston.
| naturally brings to my mind associations cor
nected with my early youth, many of them Of
most pleasant character, while some are calculate
you with increased qualification did not ho'
and feel that, in the deranged condition Of tn
State, our cherished and beloved metropolis ha
not been exempted from the common calamity
which, at sudden blow, has deprived us OF ou
wealth, paralyzed our commerce, affected our i'm
provement in science and art, and left us poor il
everything but our honor. That precious bool
we have retained unsulied, and We must cling +
it as solace for all our private as well as publ
woes.
We are suffering, and probably for some tim
may be compelled to endure, the consequences o
the late disastrous war; from which very differen
result was anticipated; but the tide Of battle RAJ
| against US, and as high-minded and honorable
resignation to be expected from those who in I
contest unprecedented for the gallantry, devotion
and self-sacrifce which was exhibited during it,
continuance, were willing to peril their all for tht
principles which that war involved. We shoulo
not yield to the dependency Of gloom but shaking
condition, We should redoubIe our efforts to re-
build the fallen fortunes Of the State, and remem
bering that the bright sun shines for all, every
citizen should snatch new courage even from de-
spair ITSELF and strive to be the architect OF hif
own fortune.
The largest portion of the capital Of the South
has, as it were, in the twinkling Of an eye, been
destroyed. Those born with us-the nurses oi
our infancy, the playmates of our youth, the
friends OF our manhood-have been forced to
o;y,to ,p a olokio yordo iDdr1
trial pursuits, both in agriculture and mechanism
are to be followed and maintained by hired labor,
and all the relations, both civil and POLITICAL 80 far
as our former slaves are concerned, have not only
been materially affected, but directly changed.
Let us not accept the necessity which compels us
by sullen acquiescence but in it's stead let Us
receive it as an experiment which we are willing,
fairly, honestly, and in good faith, to make trust
ing at first and at last to the favor Of that Awise
Providence, without whose gracious aid all the
works Of man will be in vain.
It is predicted by some, well qualified to Judge,
that the profits Of the farmer with hired labor, will
be more compensatng than under the former sys-
tenn, and am inclined myself to the same con-
clusion. At any rate, let us give the experiment
an honest trial, and depending upon our own in
dustry and energy, now more than ever required,
let us enter on our new career with Light hearts,
and strong hands.
The transition to freedom has invested the for
mer slaves with certain rights. Not only has the
ed the sCure Rights Bill" but the Legislature Of
your own State has enacted similar one on its
Statute Book. Is it not our duty as well as our
policy to obey it's mandates, and give it by
our practical observance, all due and legiti-
mate .efect2 Is it not our OWL, law-haye
we ever censured our representatives for
having passed it, or held them to responsibility
for their aotp On the contrary, the people have
endorsed their action by again returning them as
their Legislative delegates. Not only is it proper
for cheerfully to afford these people every right
to which they are entitled, but we are bound by
every principle Of honor, good faith and interest,
to lend them helping hand, and aid them by
counsel and education in the new position to
which they have been elevated. They are to live
among us; It is our duty, therefore to improve
derstandings, and to make them not only good
citizens, but good men,.
They have been faithful 10 us in war as we'll as
in peace, and by our proper conduct we should let
them feel that they are not strangers am ong us.
Brought up together, reciprocal regard has al
ways existed between the master and the slave,
and II, under their sudden change, their unframed
and uneducated minds, in some localities, are
wrought by foreign emissaries and fanatics, II
such, for brief period have yielded to these i'm
with pity and sympathy They will soon ascer-
tain who are their best friends when the day Of
need and trial comes Let us, then, be not only
tolerant, but kind, for do you not hold him the
most obnoxious Of his race who will condescend
to wreak petty malevolence upon his inferior in
intelligence and position.
Obedience to law is the duty OF the citizen,
whether that law emanates from authority de
Juro or de dcto provided it Is the authority which
govern the body polite. II any law is supposed
let it be tested by the forms regularly prescribed
Resistance, or hetful and peevish acquiescence,
can work no remedy, and only increases the bur-
den which may be complained Of. We have re-
newed, under oath, our allegiance to the General
Government. We are OF the United States, and I
trust it may never be said that any citizen OF South
Carolina, when he took the oath, reg ~de1 it only
as lip service. Such an admission expression
will lose, yes certainly l9se for US tn. 'roud pres
tige Of which we go Justly boast It Is ur duty to
whatever is honorable and proper complete
the restoration Of South Carolina an, advance
her to her position with her sister ST. ?. She
will never, trust, be q star Of any le. light
than those which compose the galaxy repr, nted
on the national banner.
Gentlemen Of the Jury, you OCCUPY high place,
sitting as the grand inquest Of your District. It
is your right and your duty TO report, without the
fear Of challenge Or objection, any violation Of :. .Sae
law within your knowledge or intor'".;. .;.t;on Most
speoiaiy is it your dntv 20 supervise your Dis
srea ,os omoefa .s Is not likely that you will find
a.nst those who assist here In the admmStra- SI N
ton OF Justice any just cause OF complsnt. Iney
act with the jealous eye o. tne nSdsr tSe
euise Of the law, you will find it more likely among
the petty officers in remote corners OF your pis-
trict. where law is administered comparatively ~
private, and where the distance prevents tne au ~
your investigation in this particular you wiz
NOT find any necessity for censure. You must
visit the public buildings, and especially the jan;
see the prisoners-inquire Of them il they are pro.
perly cared forascertain any are mere W,Tnoss ~
the Court-see that no oppression is exercised for
a prisoner should not be the subject OF harshness
or iii usage. II is matter OF common rumor that
a prisoner in the jail has been robbed by some
of the inferior officers Of the institution: Exam
inc into the allegation, and Il there is cause,
take measure that the offender be brought to
answer.
In your District as well as in every other OF the
State, there are various Boards with the power OF
taxation. It is an exercise OF one OF the highest
tiously used. Examine into the accounts If you
can Of these several Boards, and see any rate OF
assessment has been directed beyond the necessi-
ty Of the occasion; ascertain the condition OF the
Public Roads, and inquire Of the Boards charged
with the repairs Of them, has done It's duty II.
know you willy, of serious Importance, L call
your especial consideration. The poor of the city
Of Charleston are under the charge OF the City
Council. It is likely, therefore, that, as every
case Of suffering must be known, it is properly
cared for by the city officers. In the judicial dis:
trict Of Charleston are included (besides that OF
st. Phillips and st. Michaepsl several parishes,
in each OF which there exists a Board, with power
to tax for the support Of the poor The population
is sparse, and the opportunity not 80 great on the
part Of the commissioners, to ascertain the wants
that may exist. Before the abolition Of slavery we
had no paupers among the colored people, because
the aged and infrm, and those, on the other hand,
too young to work, were provided for by the boun-
ty Of the master, whose duty it was to support
them. Their condition in this particular is now
changed, and there must be among the blacks
many paupers too old and infrm, or too young to
work, and with none to provide for them, who
must be sustained by the provision made by the
State. In the administration of the funds, there
should be no difference between the whites and
blacks; all may claim the fostering care Of the
same hand and it should not be withheld from
any entitled to be supported by it. 1t is possible
that system Of poorhouses may be better to meet
the proposed object than the allowance Of money
for the pauper.
You have perceived since you took your seats the
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