New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-12-26
Grand Jury BO.i,.

Grand Jury Bosh.
Louisiana has become proverba! for tne
sound and measure OF its grand jury reports.
Like the tidal wave, they rise above the
height of things natural, and, with pre-
metitated impartia! volume, surround and
crush with their Dogberry logic everything
that stands in the way of their muddy and
shiny wake.
The sole function of a grand jury Is to
pass upon indictments prepared for them
by the prosecuting officer. When the panel
is completed the oath is administered to the
foreman, who is appointed by the coart,
and ali the rest are sworn to observe the
same oath. The following is the oath in
Louisiana:
You, A b, as foreman of this grand in.
quest, do so,emnly swear that you will
diligently inquire and true presentmen.
make of all such matters and things as
shall be given TO you in charge; the counsel
OF the State, OF your fellows, and your own,
you will keep secret: you will present no
one from envy, hatred or malice. nor leave
any one unpresented for fear, favor. aztec.
ton, reward or the hope thereof, but that
you will present all things truly as they
come 10 your Lowiedge, according to the
best OF your understanding. So help YOU
God
Where is the protection to society when
men take an oath without knowledge OF
its meaning! Aad what shall society DO
when men take an oath with a premeji-
tated purpose to violate it's letter AMI
spirit For the present We shall leave SO.
ciety to answer. But certain it is that the
substance Of some OF Louisianas grand
jury reports have been promulgated before
the grand jarymen were sworn, probably
before they were summoned. And it is CIR
tain that the meaning of the language Of
their oath is too plain to need explanation
or comment. After the jurors are eworn
the presiding Judge delivers charge. in.
structing them IL their duties, and in this
State they are especially charged, and it is
made their duty, to examine the condition
of the public roads AID buildings, the laws
regulating the sale of intoxicating LIQUORS
the state or condition OF the Parish Prison,
trespas;es upon public property, etc. Tha7
are competent witnesses themselves, ami
can examine IN the interest OF the State
and society all crimes and offenses indct-
able under our !aws, but there is no author.
ity for expatiat.ng upon politics and pa-t.-
san prejudice.
The grand Jury are sworn to diligently
inquire This requires them to fairly in
vestigate all otenses properly brought before
them or within their own knowledge. But
it does not require them 20 prowl about 70.
matters of accusation out OF doors. They
are grand inquest but not an "inqu,si.
tion.' They are required TO observe the
- @.r1.t
butes of mercy belongs elsewhere. Ii any
appear to have violated the law, no matter
VINO or what they are, nigh or low, rich u
poor, informed or Ignorant, they are to be
indicted without fear, favor or affection
The one great aim OF grand Jurors should
be to ascertain the truth, and, having done
SO, to act upon It regardless OF coase.
qlenoes.
We Will dgress here for moment. and
refer to the reports or part OF reports lately
published IN the Times and Pc0yuNe l. Is
clear to any impartial mind that the sigper
of his mark had little to do with the com.
position OF what was made known to the
public; and it is equally clear that those
who had to do with the composition of those
reports were ignorant OF their duty and the
law, or that they were actuated by partial
ity TO the guilty and prejudice to the inno.
cent. In TIE report of the grand Jury OF
Eas. Feiiciana, published in the Picog llite
OF the twenty first instant, they say;
I'VE would call your attention to the fact
that in certain road districts the roads are
almost impossible" etc. And again: "Oa
the man Jackson road, near Mrs. James
P. Bowmans, there is no bridge" etc. Now
here are indictable otfenses-Inatters within
their own knowledge, at least their report
says so; and they have failed to do what
their oath OF office and the law required
them to do. LSee Revised Statutes, 1870,
section $751;
The report shows all through it that the
grand jury did not do its duty in regard to
the parties they reported against And for
such non-performance of duty they are
now guilty tcriminals) under the law. [See
section 2li0, Revised Statutes, 1870
If the legal advisers of the Times had re-
ferred to the law before it published the
recent article on the subject, it would have
laughed at the innocence of those who
sought to instruct the people in matters of
duty and law, and thus probably advised |
his friends not to publish his ignorance.
As for other matters therein named,
the jury went out of doors to look |
them up, and when found they had no f,
power over them. But like the East, ,Feliei- |
ana Jury, such as they had power over |
they failed to act upon. And if the cut |
dosr advisors of those jaries were as pune !
tual and perseveriug in their duties, as citi- !
zeus, and as ready to assist The public, as TO |
assist the Jury, they would and Gould have |
through proper legal remedy, |
what they complained of through the jury, |
for partisan effect. 2. 2. c.