The New York herald., 1871-02-28
uMTEa STATES CIRCUIT colaT.


Gharge Of Judge Wo5draT 10 tie Grand
JarG. ,-sa il,.-.AAs ssl~ss'ss . @''- =" =
Ihe February term OF the United states Circuit
COURT was opened yesterday morning at eleven
O'Clock, Judge Woodruff presiding. Tie court room
was crowded by members OF the bar and also by
private citizens, who had assembled either for the
purpose OF listening to the trials taking back
y front seat, as chance might have it, and doing
nothing in particular, to the great annoyance OF
those who had some business TO transact In the hall
OF justice.
MIR. r. e. stliwell, deputy clerk of the court
called over the names Of the gentlemen summoned
10 appear as Grand Jurors
Judge Woodruff directed Mr. William Fl. Smith to
be sworn as foreman This was done, and the other
members of the Grand Jury having been also sworn
the learned Judge proceeded to deliver
TIE CHARGE.
He said he had learned from information that
some members OF the Grand Jury. how many he was
not aware were accustomed to the discharge OF
duties appertaining TO such bodies, and. therefore,
did not require from INN any minute or extended
explanation OF the in which they should fuldl
the obligations imposed on them by The oath they
mad taken. Such explanation might be necessary
to those who are Inc experienced in this duty, and If
they required 1t they would receive it from their
fellows and from the District Attorney, who would
be in attendance to give them advice
and II necessary tney would get instruction from the
Court. Tney all men or intelligence and stood
In an important position In regard 70 the adminls-
trauon OF justice The government and people relied
npon them to 10 IL that the laws OF the United
States we're no. violated with lmpun.ty The gov
crnment and people looked TO tneIr scrutiny into
those matters to which their attention might be
Called and to their fidelity in the discharge OF their
duy for the prots ctlon QI person and property and
framed for the support or the government and Its
maintenance IN It's various departments. Those
laws were designed 10 furnish means for carrying on
the government and giving It power for all useful
and necessary purposes. 1t was, therefore, their
duty to scrutinize all and testimony laid before
satisfaction that the law had been violated
they should, in the language of their oath, without
fear or favor, and unueterred by any consideration
other than what just regard Tor the law exacted,
present TO the court the offenders for trial under the
law. On the other hand, they owed to the citizen
most serious and important duty to it that
man was presented without just cause; and. while
they must be careful in scrusinizing every laid
before them, they should discountenance frivolous
charges, ana take care that no man was presented,
malice, but, far as their Judgment went, the scru-
tiny must be sufficient protect the citizen and show
malicious motives. They stood between the govern
ment the one hand In q faithful execution OF the
citizen be presented to the court Without just cause
The cases to pe aid before them would relate
chiefly to three classes. And he would first intro
duce the question affecting the
TREATMENT OF sEAMEN ON THE HIGH SEAS.
THAT was subject to be treated with great dell.
cacY, great care and with careful attention to the
character and position OF the respective parties. so
that on the one hand there shall be just and proper
control and discipline enforced on the part Of tho
officers OF vessels, who, when at sea, were not
always able to call for ordinary assistance when
the ready obedience to orders and the faithful
services OF the subordinates. They would look, at
dition Of sealnen placed IN subordinate position,
where mntny and resistance TO officers were justly
and properly condemned, subjectlng trem to severe
penalties. They would consider their position, and
see to 1t that no abuse OF authority or Ill treatment
10 men placed under the control OF officers he per-
mttted to pass unreDreSenteu.
VIOLATION OF the iNrERNAL REVENUE LAWS.
tention was H te violation Of the revenue laws
those whch related TO Imports and those that ap-
I'd a 70 eher ~ the "
laws or point out how necessary 1t was to have
faithful observance OF them, and punishment by
way OF example, for their violation. The govern
ment must be protected against violation OF that
which necessary to its existence, as also every
II lSe upon him. ~ Such persons Should
be projected against that inequality Of tax which
tho payment Of their just contributions to the public
burden The Just sense OF every man demanded
cutcd, aud that those who sought to evade by false
swearing and fraud and other false detassthe pay
ment OF their jost liabilities should be presented TO
COUNTERFEIT MONEY.
Ine third class related to the forging and altering
There was one feature Of that offence which always
seemed to him, ami No doubt to the Grand Jury, to
give it peculiar gravity, and II was ths-;hat
who were able to bear the loss, were sometimes I'm.
posed ON by counterfeit money obtaining circulation
In the community, they were not the parues who
generally suffered. The Injury done, 1t was true
was dsne TO the whole community when the law
was violated; but the substantial injury fell most
seriously on the poor and unprotected, VINO had not
ths sKill to detect counterleits, ana who suffered
most when counterfeit money was IN circulation.
After few brief remarks on the nature and evil
dcnce sufficient to warrant the Grand Jury IN find
ling bills oil indictment, tho learned Judge concluded
tiis impressive ana valuable charge by directing
Them To Keep record OF their proceedings.
, The Peat Jurors.
Mr.. Stilwell called the panel OF petit jurors.
Several answered.; some Of them asked to be
excused. One was excused on the ground that ho
was not citizen; another, that he had only taken
out MS first papers OF naturali1atlon; a third,
rhat he Was hard OF hearing: fourth that
ipe was IN business, with his partner absent, anu
lceulu not well attend ON the Jury; ana others for
N,l1erent reasons.
Tho Cnse Of tho ship Old Colony.
phe Assistant District Attorney said he would be
%dy on Thursday next 10 try the cas- OF Joe,aa -