Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1869-03-27

o. JUDGE CHAPLtNE.-We are g'au
to learn tina, the following charge to The
Grand Jury, delivered al the Circuit
Courl Of Morgan County, laa week. and
also 10 the Grand Jury a, the Circuit
Cour, of Berkeley, which convened on
Tuesday last, by his Honor, Judge 'o-
seph A. Chspline, gives entire sa'Isidc'
ton TO all persons. irrespective oil poI!'l'
cal proclivi,ies. The editor Of the Nor.
gan Mercury, to whom We are indebted
for copy Of bis paper containing The
charge, also says: His admirable charge
to the Grand Jury, which We publish be.
| low. needs no comment al our hands. In
laying down the role Of politics his Hon
or has taken up The banner OF impartial
Justice. and, ss he eloqueniy charged,
will "know no man. n the discharge Of
his judicial duty. In this he presents an
example as unusual as il is magnanimous,
and one worthy the emulation OF men in
positions above his, in point Of dlgrily
and responsibilities"
GENTLBMAN OF THE GRAND JvRY {: In
entering upon the discharge Of The duties
incumbent upon me by the appointment
Of the office of Judge Of this CIrculI-an
office assigned 10 me by the unsought
kindness of the late Executive Of the Safe
my fl rst charge to you who compose
the Grand Inquest of tie County will be
brief, and such only as will lead you 10
proper conception Of the duties you have
assumed by virtue of The position you
occupy, relatively 10 yourselves and 10
the laws over which you have cognl-
zance. The statutory law requires me 10
give TO you IN special charge The follow
ing acts of the Legislature
/. Fraud upon the revenue;
2. Running passenger cars with doors
locked;
3. An act providiag for the Regisra.
ton of the qualified voters Of this State,
passed February 25th, 1867.
By the requirements of The law impoS.
ing upon me the duty 10 give 10 you IN
special charge The foregoing acts OF the
Legislature, you will recognize the fact
Of their importance and, IN The invesil-
CATION OF any and all violations Of them,
respectively, you will be dIligent and per-
sererng, and thereby suffer 10 in!ractlon
of Them to pass by UNDECIDED and uhmask'
ed.
BY adveriing TO the laws OF the State
over which your position as Grand Jurors
gives you cOgnizance-to which laws
YOU have access in the retirement Of your
room, there 10 read them for yourselves
you vii al once perceive The nature OF
your duties, their extent, and their limit.
1t would, therefore, be supeTfluous Tor me
10 Iehearse them severally 10 you. Many
of you have doubtless served before in
your present capacity, and will under
stand the nature OF your sworn duty ana
the obligation Of your respective oalhs'
and consequently II would be waste o!
time and an abuse OF your patience TO d.
rect the attention OF an intelligent Grand
Jury more specifically 10 them than |
have already done.
You will observe in all lis details the
oath which you have seVerslIy taken, and
| have an abiding assurance that all the
obligations which it imposes will be ss-
credly needed and obsosve3 by each OF
you.
1t is my first duty, as il will be yours
to administer the laws as they stand, with
out any reference 10 their character, their
bearing. their tendency, or their indlvld-
usl operation.
You have no hight. and il is no part of
your duty, 10 pause for the enquiry
whether The laws as they exist are whole
some or salu!ary, whether lbey be adsp-
ted TO individual taste, or whether they
fulfil the purposes Tor which 'hey were
enacted. They are no less, for any OBJ
lection that a. az be MADE, The laws OF 'he
land, and as such, the Judge on The bench,
The Jury il The BOX, and the Grand jury
in the place assigned to 1t, are alike bound
to regard and enforce them. they are
designed for an cad. That end is inteli-
gible 10 every understanding, and plainly
indicated by The term Of each law as wtIl.
len down, and to fulfil tina, end and man.
ifesl design mus, be my province, my du'
ly, and yours. Your duties embrace an
enquiry into the commission Of all telo-
MES, misdemeannrs, and iniracl:ons OF Pc
Dsl law and if, al any time during your
deliberations any perPlexing or embar.
RAISING questions arise, you can call 10
your aid for their solution the services oil
TIE Prosecuting Attorney, whose duty II
is by law to obey any requisiIon made
upon him for such purposes.
The terms Of the oath which you have
severaly taken characterize the manner
and the spirit in which your duties must
be discharged.
As Grand Jurors, the oath imposed on
you requires ihs, you shall divesl your
selves of all memory of personal feuds
and prejudIceF.
As Grand Jururs, you can have no per.
sonsl preferences to crafty or indulge.
and no passions or prejudIces 10 subserve;
bu, in your deliberations all these must be
consigned TO oblivion, and your controll-
ing desire and determination must be 10
fulfill alike the obligations which the law