The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1876-10-12
THE CHARGE

THE CHARGE
GENTLEMAN OF THE GRAND JURY: You
h We been summoned and have b IN en-
panneed and sworn To prefurn the respon-
,ibie duties Of Grand Jurors at this term
vi The United states Court.
You have been callei together from all
parts OF The district: and have been selected
fur thi- duty as citizen. of intelligence and
charscIer err, and, "a such, fit persons 10 make
inquiry o. offenses Committed against the
laws OF the United States.
81 far as my know ledge exterds, your
duties at this lire will not be very aIdu,u-
and your session, az also this term of the
court, will be quite short
Ii is a case Of congratulation that the
violation of the laws under one juri-dic
ton have bee me q matter Of such seldom
occurrence, and that the laws OF the general
gosernm ut are so universally respected
ard obey.d
Constant vigilance is not only necessary
10 defect crime, but il al.o acts As a pre-.
ve' tive, and often deters the Commission
OF ofenses Therefore, Courts and juries
-houid be vigi.an in the discharge oil their
duri.s in this b. halt
They shou d take good care that the
guilty are brought to punishment, and the
innocent acquitted.
The CONSTR utinn of the United States pro-
vides that no erson shall be held 10 answer
for Il capital or otherwise infamous crime,
unless ON presen;ment or indictment of
grand jury, except ia cas-S arising in the
land or naval forc~s, &c Aud - until the
Constitution is amended, all Infamous
1 A
prosecuted on the indie ment of a grand
jIry. There may be strung arguments pre-
.eaIed sgsinst the necessity Of the grand
jury system that 1t Is expensive and cum
b-r-uIn-, We must admit, and many Of the
States, Including our own, have advantage
ou-iy dispensed with il Yet, with this
question, we need not cor Germ our-elve-.
We have only TO operate and enforce the
law as We find it, seeking faithfully 10 ad
just il to The ends Of justice.
Your oath requires YOU diligently To en-
guire into, and true pre-entment make, Of
all public ofi-nses committed against the
laws Of the L. 5. in The district OF Kansas
To this end you will summon before you
any witness whom you have reason to De-
lieve has kno~ledse Of any such off.nse
having been commit d, and the clerk of
the curt will issu- the necessary procees
to compel his attendance. There are vari-
ou- provisions Of the U. S. statutes defining
different ofens,s, and under which
you may he required TO make inquiry and
presentment-
Ii is unnecessary for me 10 sci forth, in
detail, the provisions of the-e several enact
msnt-. They have been compiled in con-
v.nient form in the revived statutes, and
with the aid and counsel Of the L. S Auor-
ney, your line of duty will not be difficult
TO follow
Oae Of the most important subjects re.
curing your wstchIui care, is the detection
Of crimes az aims: the postal laws: Such A.
secr-ting. smbs zzling, opening or rih,ng
letters and package, passing through the
U. S. mails. This branch of the govern
ment service has become the medium
through which money drafts, papers and
other valuable things are constantly trans
mirted, and a stric.ly honest and carful
admin -tration OF Its aff.ir. is matter of
the highest importance.
lts public usefulness rests greatly upon
the fidelity of its agents and officers, and
they are intru-ted with affairs of vast con-
sequence 10 the people.
l. paper envelope. sealed, stamped and
mailed, is sacred to all hands but the own
e, 4, and that frail cover must be as potent
to pro'ect its Contents from theft, az the
massive iron. burglar proof safe 1t il a
matter of trust and confidence Let him
Who betrays it, and violates bis oath, feel
the power Of the strong hand of the la~
There is . statute against counrerfeiting
the coin, currency and obligations Of the
Goveernmen' and against uttering or pass-
ing counterfeite coin and currency
The purity of the money of the country
the medium and representative Of all val
urs, is subject of great public concern to
all classes of the community, snd especial
ly to the poor and the ignorant. II de-
serves your CAREFUL attention.
In this connection We ind . Law sgsin.t
making or presenting false or fraudulent
claims agsi ct the Government, or to any
department or officer thereof Observation
has led me to believe that individuals in
presenting claims against the Government
are often pos.esrd Of very plisble con
sciences, and il is, with them, not 20 much
. matter Of shat in good faith il their lost
dues, ~ it is how much the Government
can be induced to pay. In other word
claim enough and get all you can; get it
honestly il po@ible, bnt get il
The revenue Laws ID . matter which has
given, and vill coo,inus TO give the Federal
courts large amount OF care to see that
they are not disregarded. So far - any
question under these laws 10 likely TO come
before you is will probably be limi,ed 10 q
lee subjecta The lac requires . special
tax to Be paid By manufacturers OF div
titled and malt liquonL II also requires
. special tax or iicesse 70 be paid BY whole
sale and retail dealers in those liquors. II
also rrquirss . tax or licenee from manu-
facturen and dealers in tobacco and cigars
The Law requires these licenses to be posted
up in q conspicuous place when the bust
ness Is carried on.
The revenue Of the government is its vi
tality. It's very life, and without it no gov
esnnent can exit Besides, The national
oblis alton and scored debts and every princi-
pie Of justice and honor demands . compli-
ance With the terms Of each and every one
OF them. The Revenue laws should be en-
forced according TO their terms and their
sParit, and At the came time you should
avoid Presenting merely frivolous cases,
where the interest and purpose of the Law
has not been violated.
Your attention ID called to the Law of the
last session Of Congress in rersrd tn tr.ns-
hitting through the United States mails
any letter or circular coocernine Io,teries
OF 20 called gift concerts This Law pro-
hibits sending and Carrying. and such
letters or circuian By the toi,ed Ssste.
nsii and pr.scrihss penalty therefor.
Thee i aio . lay against cutting or
destroying timber On lands and reservaiioas
Of the United Stasrs.
Nov have hreify called your alteration
N 49, nf IL unoat anmsnon o&E...-.