The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-05-17

a rule which required infallibility, few
would escape conviction,
our law wisely judges mon now by
the intentionwhich induces their action;
If that be corrupt the act Is corrupt. II
the intention be right, but the act upon
examination appears to be wrong, an
error or a mistake, it Is fair to presume
that instead of a precedent to follow it,
would stand as lesson to warn against
q repetition.
In the administration of criminal
laws you will have observed that you
have an important part to act through
you alone can cases be heard In this
court. The several members of the
court, as well as the jury and the Sheriff
have their several and separate duties
to perform. Each is responsible for
himself in the discharge of his duty.
The jury for the facts, the court for the
law, and the Sheriff for the manner in
which the duties enjolned upon him are
performed.
But it is needless to discourse to you
of the duties ofsothers; do your duty
with all due diligence. You will find
your work much facilitated by holding
your sessions during the same hours
the court Is in session, from half.past
eight in the forenoon till after twelve
m. and from two p. m. to six p. m.
You are to keep secret all that takes
place before you except the results en-
dorsed and presented on your bills. For
your own convenience, for the advance
ment of public justice and out of regard
for your oaths you will heed this in.
junction.
The cases to come before you are of
the ordinary kind, but whether they
are causes of great or small magnitude
you will alike give to them due consid-
Grafton. "The greatest evils" quote
from Judge Lowrie, "start from small
causes. A spark may make an appall-
ing contlagration, unless you put your
foot on it in time. The small faults of
children became the greatest vices Cf
men, unless decidedly and watchfully
corrected by parental authority, and
many parents have lived to repent of
their cultivation of such vices by over
looking small faults, and substituting
Kindness and indulgence for authority
and repression. We may fall into the
same error by an improper discourage
ment of small cases. We may thus
misplace our censures, by laying them
on persons who are simply desirous of
correcting public wrongs in an orderly
way,Or waste our kindness by bestowipg
it on persons who can have no proper
appreciation of it. Children do not
recognize any indulgence of their faults
rs Kindness, until they have learned
by experience that disobedience
is vice that calls for punishments as
ITS remedy;without this they may logic
ally infer from their only means of in
ference, their own experience, that dis
obedience and indulgences are part of
their rights, and that there is no merit
or self denial in parental kindness call
ing for gratitude and repentance.
And 50 it is with ignorant and un-
trained persons in regard to the law of
the land. If they had properly felt the
force of parental authority, they would
not be ignorant and unframed. But
society receives them as they are, and
has no remedy for their disorder, but
the penalties of its law. These do not
suppl y the place of proper training or
cure the vice of ill disposed affections,
put the fear of them may prevent much
actual disorder; we are to administer
TINS remedy, but we do il with sincere
respect for the law, turning away no
complaint because the offence is small,ifl
IL really be a legal offence; treating no
case with censcrious harshness or with
~ ~ gnu lIldl
the good order of the county depends
In a great degree on the fidelity with
which you perform your part in admin.
lnstering crimin inal law.
In hearing other matters besides bills
OF Indictment, such as applications for
county bridges and interpretations of
boroughs, should any come before you,
witnesses are to be heard on both sides.
In such matters you are local Legislators
and will give to them your best consid-
Grafton and Judgment, and you will de-
clde them by a majority of your num-
Der even though it be less than twelve.
When any case shall come up for con-
'ideration in which a grand Juror or
any near relative of his is interested.
'uch Jurors should take no part in such
case, but should withdraw while it is
under hearing. And now, gentleman,
with the request that you will report to
Us from time to time your action, in
order that the business of the session
may be disposed of as early as practica-
Die, we dismiss you hence to your room
and the discharge of your duties.