The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1873-05-17
The Grand Jury question.



New Sork, Ito modify our juridical
syssenrby yabolishing Grand Juries. The
evils Sand total prostitution of this part
of the criminal procedure have become
50 marked and So apparent that its utter
abrogation is demanded by men whose
d6ticsiRaud iasocation place them in a
position to realize its baleful features
Instead Of being as was intended by the
English Common Law, a subordinate
part in in that admirable system of crimin-
al jurisprudence, in this country, this
bcdy seems TO lave constituted itself a
special Vigilance Committee for the fer
reiing ont and punishment of offenders
1t has become an M9uisition, indeed,
in the; Spanish sense, piM uengcance
Like the famous "Regulators" of the
early days of this province, it has as
sunod supreme and awful functions and
attempts to fright all wrongs" in and of
itself. The rest Of the Court are but
appendagcs to! this secret and fearful
tribunal. Now when it is remembered,
that all trials and condemnatious of thi
Auto da .fe are entirely crparte, that is
on hearing but one side of every qucs-
tiops, or case, and that. its operations are
yeaed in mysterious and masonk
secresy, it is appAllingly evident that
there is not much chance for Justice
but a fearful margin for oppression. An
injury that no subsequent vindic tion
can heal may be done to an innocent
sensitive and defenceless man.
a. What q mighty and fearful engine TO
crafty personal, political, or religious
spleen aud malice! Especially has this
Inquisition become the last weapon in
the hands of Il. defeated and maddened
political party, which concentrates here
all the poison of its malice to strike in.
sidious blows at its opponents. This
prostitution of a par. of fhe criminal
system has rendered the Grand Jury as
II Z.
it. now is, blot and defect in the
administration Of justice.
sf In Charleston this very week the
Grand Jury in attendance upon the
United States Court undertook to rebuke
and browbcnt the entire practise of The
Court and even fatty told the Judge
that if he showed more energy and at.
tention to his duties that things would
be much better. So fagrant was this
proposed prcscntment that Judge
Bryan. refused to receive it as being
irrelevant and ont of the scope of Grand |
iJuries. The offended Inqaisitors after
wards declined to bring in any report.
~ 1t is time that this question should be
investigated. 1t is becoming a serious
matter. Either we must accept the
proposition of our New York friends
and: abolish the thing altogether or
such restrictions and definitions must. BIZ
placed around this boly in the perform
ance Of its functions that will end its
career as an engine of oppression and
malice and reduce it back to its pro-
vince as an harmonious and subordinate
part Of the criminal system.
=" The remarkable non prcsentment of
the Charleston Grand Jurors has caused
deal of excitement and some amuse- |
ment, from the fact that these "good
men' and true so far over did the thip,
and carried their litslo game of spite to
a ridiculous extent. Judge Bryan read
TO the inquisitors the charge of Mr.. |
Justice Field delivered to a gaud jury
in California. We extract from Judge
Fields charge:
Eve therefore instruct you that your
investigations are to be limited:
1st, To such matters as may be called
to Jour attention hy the Court