The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1873-05-17
The Grand Jury question.
III TI9i-4

New Sork,coto modify our juridical
hystenr'by abolishing Grand Juries. The
evils qand total prostitution of this part
of the criminal procedure have become
SO marked and SO apparent that its utter
abrogation is demanded by men whose
dhticsiGapdI avocaton place them in
position to realize its baleful features
Instead OF being as was intended by the
English Common Law, a subordinate
part in that admirable system of Grimm
al jurisprudence, in this country, this
bcdy seems TO have constituted itself
specIal Vigilance Committee for the fer
reitng oM and punishment Of offenders
1t has become an hquisition, indeed,
ip the Spanish sense, mhh yengconc5
Like the famous "Regulators" of the
early days of this province, it has as
sumod 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 condemuations of this
Auto da .fe are entirely crpa,t., that is
on hearing but one side of every qucs.
items, or case, and that. its operations are
yeled in mysterious and masonik
secresy, it is appallingly evident that
there is not much chance for justice
but a fearful margin for oppression. An
injury that no subsequent vindica.ion
can heal may be done to an innocent
sensitive and defenceless man.
81 What q mighty and fearful engine to
crafty personal. political, or religious
spleen aud malice Especially has this
IHiaisitieE become the last weapon in
the hands of a. defeated and maddened
political party, which concentrates here
all the poison of it's malice to strike in.
sidious blows at its opponents. This
prostitution of pagt of the criminal
system has rendered the Grand jury as
it, now is, blot and defect in the
administration Of justice.
% In Charleston this very week the
Grand jury in attendance upon the
United Suites Court undertook to rebuke
and browbcat the entire practise of The
Court and even fatty told the Judge
that if he showed more energy and ut,
tention to his duties that things would
be much better. So fragrant was this
proposed prcscntment that Judge
Bryan. refused to receive it as being
irrelevant and out Of the scope ofGrAnd
Juries. 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.bu
placed around this boly in the perform
ance Of its functions that will end it's
career as an engine Of oppression and
malice and reuuce it back to its pro-
vince rs 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.
mcnt, from the fact that these "sood
men" and true so far over did the thug
and carried their little game of spite to
a ridiculous extent. Judge Bryan read
to the inquistors the charge of Mr..
Justice Field delivered to gand Jury
in California. We extract from Judge
Fields charge:
eve therefore instruct you that your
investigations are to be limited:
Let, To such matters as may be called
to Jour attention ky the Court.