The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-12-03

IHn COURT OF GENfRAn SH8s1ONs AND
THE GRAND JuBx m NHw YoRK: Judge
Bedford made the following charge, on
the subject of che New York municipal
fraudseaud corruptions. Z We commend
it IS eninently applicable to our attitude:
GsSThHMHS: I have co onvened Won this
morning for most important and solemn
purpose. The day before the election. 7
charged you upon the election laws. and
aaked your cooperation to maintain the
purity OF the ballot-box by the prompt
Indictment of all persons chargedibefore
your body with any manner Of election
frauds; and am glad to know that the
decisive position this court and your
body took deferred many from tho per.
petration of Contemplated frauds upon
the ballot-box, and that those who were
80 utterly reckless and would take no
warming will meet with the speedy JUS
over. and the same reason that compelled
me, in behalf OF the public good. to-
charge you in relation to the election,
laws, now demands my conveninp Won
this morning. We are in the midst Of q
most vital municipal crisis We all know
that for months certain persons have
been publicly charged with committing
the most stupendous frauds against the
CITY treasury; and, from official sources.
we learn that this great financial and
commercial metropolis, this CITY, the
pride OF the. whole Union, has been
brought to the very verge Of bankruptcy.
she has been not only nearly ruined
financially, but her fair fame has been so
tsrn1shed that che stands only as q
by-word OF soorn and contempt among
all good people. This state of affairs
cannot and must notlcnSer exist. Many
OF our foremost" and honored citizens
have combined Ito investigate these
frauds and to bring the guilty to punish
ment, and have no doubt there is suf.
ficient evidence 10 bring abont this con.
summation Your body is omnipotent;
you are responsible to- nobody; you can
send Tor witnesses and for papers, and
can command the strong arm OF the law
TO compel obedience to your summons.
l would suggest that you send for such |
men as Charles O'Oonor, whose great
and fearless honesty and abilities have
been brought to bear in the investigation
OF these frauds and the prosecution of
the perpetrators. This is an important
DUTY, gentlemen. and one which should
be fearlessly performed. Many of the
alleged criminals, it is said, have fed
from the country, while yet many re-
main. But this matters not. When the
power OF the law is put forth it will
reach them, wherever they may be. I,
therefore, urge you, both as citizens and
as sworn grand jurors, to Immediately
institute q rigid investigation into all |
these notorious frauds, and to present all |
whom may be believed to be guilty,
never mind who they may be. for the law |
Is 4o respecter Of either political parties
or private or public persons. In this
great duty know the learned District
Attorney will aid you to the best of his
ability. Personally and officially I have
always been opposed to corruption. both
In high places and low places, either
among private or public persons, and I |
desire. at this imminent crisis, to place
myself upon the record as one who will
do all in his power to punish the perpe-
traitors of these frauds, and to lend his
aid ip restoring public confidence and
position.