Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1875-10-19
For the Spirit OF Jeitsrson.l
THE GRAND JURY.

The Grand Jury is one of the most im>
portant faetors of the many that make up
Court of Justice. Its business is 10 find out
lawlessness and put the persons offending 10
the way TO receive just punishment; for the
protection of society and the maintenance of
the laws. In one particular, It is above the
judge, for he can't proceed TO the work be-
longing to the criminal side until he hears
from the grand jury. Its members should be
citizens of the very 6rst character in principle
morals and habits Hence, the sheriff whose
province is to summon 10 its duties, should
thoroughly study his men aud select only
those who measure up to the high standard
fixed. Men. who recognize the sanctity of an
oath, whose habits are not likely to bias their
judgments or 10 any wise cause them to swervs
from their sworn duty, for the escape of the
guilty. The power of this func,ionary Of the
law is almost sbsolute For the period of its
sitting the court. sheriff. posse comatafUs, and
every appliance of the Law are at it's disposal
for the executioB of its solemn duties In
fact, its metes aud bounds in the use oil means
to detect the guilty and predicate an sccusa>
ton, embrace very wide latitude, subject
only to limitations Of magma oharta or bill of
rights.
With these predatory sentences, il is per-
tinent to ask, Will the grand jury at it's pres
emit inquest do its whole duty and use all
available means within it's power TO find out
infractors of the law, and present true bills to
the Court against them? The above guess
ton indicates pretty strong that the law is
broken or evaded, also, that if all instrumen-
talities within the reach Of grand jury were
called into requisition the offending parties
would be brought to justice. All offences
-SKI,S 1t,
purview of this body of sworn inquisitors, and
the suspicion that the law is transgressed in
any way obligates the most thorough invests
CATION to discover the guilty parties. Take
for an example the one matter oe selling
liquor. Suppose = party, who has not got,
nor can get, . county license, but obtains
U, 8. one to SELF Why7 Because he dare
not sell without it though he has the animus
to do so,) inasmuch, rs the thorough detec
tive system of the government would find him
out aud render punishment either by iue or
imprisonment doubly certain. But he defes
the State, county and municipal laws for
sooth, they are wanting in their system of de
lection aud exposure, aud he can evAde them
Could not grand jury stick . peg here and
predicate upon it \ searching into the ntoaWs
operandi? Reasoningin this way: Why go
to the trouble and expense to get U. s..
license of itself, if not to sell liquor7 Surely
there is . cat in this meal tub, and it must
come out. And then, suppose that, at diff
ferent periods. barrels and hali>barrels of
.whiskey are dumped out before a store or
restaurant. safely deposited within the en-
closure. where the smell. rank and foul, won't
down, but is snufFed by the nostriIs of the
passers-by; and the contents of these barrels
are mysteriously spirited away, for they get
empty somehow and require replanishin2, I'M
less the ''stock is watered" for lasting pro-
cess and at such place the lovers of the ar
dent do resort as flies to a molasses or sugar
barrel. Now. suppose such a state of facts
does actually exist in town where q grand
jury holds its session and can perform it's
proper aud sworn functions! Could not this
grand detective force, invested with go much
plenary, power, pry into the jungle and
"scotch the snake" Would it be too great
a departure from it's custom to visit in body
all such suspected places and institute close
rigid examination and see for themselves how
the law is defied Mons rerrons.
Charlestown. Oct IL, 1875 LEX.