Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1872-12-20

impannelled, and to charge the jury TO inquire
whether he is an habitual drunkard, incapable
of taking care of himself, and the proceedings
shall belize those in cases Of persons alleged
TO be lunatic or insane.
If the person charged shall be found an ha-
bilual drunkard, &c, it is made the duty Of
the Court TO appoint Committee of such per-
son, and such Committee shall, with the writ
ten assent of the Court, have the power of
combining such person in the Asylum for such
length Of time az the Court may approve.
The Grand Jury are not required 10 inter-
fere in such cases. but the power is vested in
the Court upon petition and ex parte proof.
This law, in its tenderness, regards inebrety
MS disease aud places the unhappy victim in
the class Of those who are stricken Of God
with loss Of mind 'lunatics, idiots, and per-
sons not of sound mind.'' Its legal effect is to
subject habitual drunkards to confinement un-
til they are reformed to oblige them 10 labor
and to dedicate the proceeds Of their labor
(after defrayiDg expenses) to their families;
and, MS necessary consequence, to take their
property out of their hands and place it in
those ola Committee: all this, not as punish
ment, but for the reformation of the drunk
ard, and, incidentally for the protection
of society. 1t furnishes parents, guard
ians, husbands and wives, friends, and
strangers with a means of rescuing fellow
creature from destructon; and society from
innumerabe and incalculable ills. Although
the law has not denounced drunkenness as a
crime, yet it is regarded as the fruitful mother
Of crimes and g habitual intoxication in pub
lie" is unqDestionably misdemeanor, liable
to indictment and punishment by fine, &c.
Not only individual crimes and ofienses, but
nine-tenths Of the ARRAYS riots, conspiraces,
and mobs originate in and are consummated
under the influence of intoxicating drinks.
The only mode of preventing these extraor-
H., e
the instrumentalties provided to prevent
crime.
II is a source of inst pride and congratula-
ton, that at period when violence has stalk
ed abroad with brazen front and bloody
hands, in other communities, assumed the
form of organized assassination, executing
without hearing, citizens suspected of crime,
no such stigma has yet stained the character Of
this Judicial Circuit
This ineffablc disgrace upon the Cons;itu-
ton of Republican States, can only be cor
rected by constant watchfulness Of the peo-
pie over thei: passions and prejudces, and
their cordial support of the Magistrates and
Officers of the law, in the discharge of their
official duties.
A prisoner in the custody of the law is I'M
der the sacred shield of the State. Every cit
zen is sworn to protect him, until he is legally
convicted or discharged.
The Constitution, and Declaration of Rights
guarantee every man protection, until con-
ycted by due process of law. They emphati
cally declare ''no man ought 10 be tahen or I'M
prisoaea or in any manner destroyed or deprio-
ed Of lis life, hberty, or property, bnt by tie
judgment Of hts peers or the laws Of the land"
The frequent violation of this cardinal p:in-
ciple of civilized society, even in the oldest and
best organized States, is bringing popular gov
ernmenis into disrcpute and if not arrested,
will result in anarchy or dcsDotiSm
Men have no motive TO support or obey gov
ernments which are too feeble to protect the
weak from the strong; or, III which, suspicion
is equivalent to proof
The crimes and misdemeanors prohibited
and punished by the Code IF any, will be the
just objects of your special attention.
Happily, as far as the Court can Judge from
the list Of persons, committed or bailed, the
public peace has been free from any signal vi
oation, since our last Jury Term.
As the Grand'lnquest of the County, it is
your province and duty TO inquire into the
economy of the public service; whether or not
the charges against the county, have increased
unduly beyond the necessary allowances for its
growth in wealth and population, and its in
cidental and ordinary expenses; and ought to
be diminished.
The condition of the public highways, roads
and bridges, is especially commended TO your
consideration.
In this connection, it may be important to
inquire, whether due precaution has been la
ken for the safety of the public, in all places
where the public roads run parallel with the
Rail Road now being constructed from Wash
ington TO the Point Of Rocks, and where the
same intersects or crosses the public roads.
Proper representations TO the constituted au-
thoriies, emanalng from your body, may
prevent irreparable injury.
The System Of Public Education, embodied
in the Code, Title Public Education, is
a subject of absorbing interest both on
account of its lying at the basis of pri-
vale and public morality, the futurs welfare
OF the State and the prosperity ard intelligence
of the people, This system commits the SUI
pervision of educational matters affecting the
State, and the general care and supervision of
public education TO a Board of State School
Commissioners; educational matters affecting
county, to the control Of a Board of COUNTY
Commissioners, who are required to report
annually to the Board OF State Commissioners
and educational matters affecting a school
district, TO the supervision ola Board of Dis
rtet Commissioners. Under this system, dur
ing the last year, from | 900 to 400 children
were educated at an expense Of about $50, 900
by sixty teachers
There are from seventy-hve to one hundred
persons employed at the public expense in con
nection with educational purposes; and all
though special boards of supervision are pro-
yidcd for some of them, the operations of the
whole within the county are not beyond the
supervisory action of the Grand Inquest if any
wiful violation of duty has occurred
The Poor and the Prisoners must not be for
gotten at this inelement season Of the year.
1t will be your duty to inquire whether the
provisions made by law for the support of the
former and the comfort of the latter during
their confinement are faithfully executed.
The Alms-House and the Jail should be in
spected with special regard to the sufIiciency
of their supplies for food, clothing, and bed
ding of their inmates during the rigors OF
winter, and the preservation of health and
cleanliness
When the Court met on the first day of the
Term the Chief Justice was absent by reason
Of sudden ill-health, and it became my duty
to deliver the charge of the Court 10 the Grand
Jury. That charge was unwritten, and it
would be difficult for me now TO write it out
But the carefully prepared, and able charge of
the Chief Justice, was delivered to the Grand
Jury, on subsequent day of the Term, at my
request so fully covers the ground taken by
me in my oral charge, that it seems TO me ]
sufficiently comply with the request of the
Grand Jury, and my own sense of public duty,
by saying, | fully concur in that charge of the
Chief Justice of this Court.
W. VEIRS B0UIC.
The Baltimore jury in the Uppcrcue murder
trial could not agree. They stood II for ac-
quittal and for conviction The Jury was