Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-11-12

sors have been in Virginia and England, fo
centuries past, diligently to inquire into, anc
true presentment make of all treasons, felones
and other high crimes and misdemeanors com
mltted in your county.
i 1t may be that crimes you bring to light woult
otherwise be detected and brought TO the bar o
justice it may be that your body seldom avert.
unjust prosecutions Nevertheless the fact tha
some, scrutiny is to be encountered, your free
and untrammelled veto to be hazarded, may de
ter the malignant and evil-disposed from ma
king charges Of crime; and especially may the
safe guards of the Grand Jury be found in oul
dubious. future, buwarks of defence to the citi
zen, as well as OF security to the community =
| And, if there were nothing else, | would fol
the present, at least, hold on to the Grand Ju.
ry as consecrated link between a disturbed
and unsettled present and law loving and law
| reverenclng past.
You have been chosen for your intelligence,
your Integrity and your interest in the common
welfare, to discharge most sacred and important
duties. You can have no motive to peryert the
law to the oppression of the weak or the protec-
tlon Of the strong. You are freeholders and
freemen, sworn to perform the high duties of
your office fearessly and impartially No man
can censure you for your acts; all must applaud
you tor them, IT, as L am sure will be the case,
they be rightly done trust | may say in ad
vance that nothing could induce you to present
any one through malice or ill-will, or to leave
any unpresented through fear, favor, or affec-
ton and that in all your presentments you will
present the truth, the whole truth, aud nothing
but the truth. The range of your inquiries, as
you are aware, is as wide as that of the penal
code, the only restriction being that you will
present no offence where the only punishment
Is tine aud that fine is less than So.
Here the Judge commented on the statutes
usually given in charge to Grand Juries, then
proceeded as follows:
And now, gentleman, before closing this
charge allow me to remind you Of some things
which grand jurors, and you especially, in this
crisis OF our affairs, should carefully consider:
lst. DO not encourage yeXatious prosecu-
tons to crafty private spleen or malice, and in
which the pubic good is not involved ei-t
2nd Do not fail, for any cause, and at what
ever expense of time and labor, to bring to JUS
tlce rea. offenders against the law.
3rd. w hen the poor man crleth-when the
humble negro complains before you, give heed
TO his complaint, and tax all the powers of the
law to give him redress. m
4th. Do not pass over a grave charge of
crime because you think you could not as petit
Jurors, convict the suspected person. You hay e
nothing to do with conviction; all you have 10
inquire into, Is this: Is there probable ground
to suspect and charge the party with the com
mission OF the offence If so. it is your duty
TO ind the Indictment "a true bil,' If not,
then you may ignore it.
And now, gentlemen, may we not, as the ad-
mlnlstrators OF public justice, justly claim that
In no portion OF our broad lands, are the rights
OF person and property more secure than in this
Circuit. aud especially than in this County of
Bath, III which grave offences against the laws
are almost unknoWn-that nowhere may the
stranger travel or settle, with more safety than
IN our midst, even though that stranger were
once counted as among our enemies; that no.
wher5 nave the monster crimes, that walked
abroad like horrld spectres after the war closed,
been met more resolutely and suppressed, by
the strong arm Of the law, more effectually than
here! May we not congratulate ourselves upon
the results Of the fearless and impartial admin
lstratlon of justice In our midst, and upon the
happy results of order, peace and quiet, sui
ing around Us? And may we not trust that
eye long we shall be enabled, with full and crate
ful hearts to rest under our own vine aud fig
tree, with none to moiest or make US afraid !
God grant US a speedy return Of the good old
era Of passions perfectly subdued and restrain
ed, of rights respected, Of life, liberty and prop
erty secured against all assaults, and Of law so
Upheld aud reverenced, that Its gentlest whis-
pefS Will De terrible to crime; when Its silent
monitions shall stay the hand of the wrong do
err when the cottage Of the humblest person,
without lock or latch, shall be his sacred and
impregnabe castle; and when all can look with
just pride and admiration upon Virginia, peace
tIul aud prosperous, self governed, law-abiding
and free; and rejoice to call her Mother as she
advances in the bright career, which | cannot
doubt God will yet open for her, of future hon
or and power!
To secure, as far as in you lies these glorious
results, gentlemen, let all your efforts be ad
dressed. And, now, retire to your room, and
remembering the oath you have taken and the
responsibility of your office, discharge the du-
ties the law imposes upon you'll