, 1883-03-08
Charge To The Grand Jury.

Upon impanneling the Grand Jury on
Monday, Judge Greene delivered the
following charge:
"GENTLEMEN:-
never approach a new term of Court
without profound and deepening sense
OF the goodness of God. Such political
blessings such opportunities and helps
to individual and social growth and es-
tablishment, were never offered to any
people as are lavishly showered upon us.
Above all sections of our common coun-
try the glass of the future seems to mag
nifty this region of Puget Sound and to
show her sunny with tine light of a
most abundant promise. In view Of so
plain disposition in God to do us good
it is no cant or meaningless platitude,
but sort of thankful satisfaction for
us to say, "God rules 7"
We draw near this gracious Cover
nor of the Universe, when we take a hand
in government ourselves. Especially
high and solemn is our Office when we
undertake with the forms and sanctions
of law TO discipline the heart and life of
society. Moral discipline of society is
what faithful enforcement of the law
means Its true end is to startle and
arouse men to yield to the voice of con-
science; to make men see that wrong is
evil and its consequences fearful; to
convince men of the terrible nature Of
wrong-doing, that they m y shun it and
choose the right.
Purity of life and conduct is the
greatest benefit possible Here, then,
as grand jurors, you have occasion to
exercise the golden rule. That blame
lessness, which you would desire others
to use every endeavor to perfect in
your own lives, you should use the ut
most fidelity to produce in theirs. Gen
tlemen, am not putting myself forward
as your teacher of morality; am simply
selves know. What is the occasion of all
impurity and corruption in society
that impurity which all minds disap-
prove of, even when some wink at and
find pleasure in it; and through what
channels flow the heartburnings, strifes
and miseres ensuing? Simply the fail
ure of individual citizens to do their full
duty to one another in public and priv
ate, as God gives them to know it and
helps them to do it. You are each to-
day charged with individual responsible
ity You are not driven to duty; you are
invited to it. You are not grudgingly
invested with it; you are fully and free
ly entrusted with it. No man or body OF
men in this territory or anywhere on earth
proposes to or can call you to account.
You are irresponsible except to con-
science and to God. Yet the welfare of
the community in which you live, and in
which you hope your children will live
afteryou is indissolubly dependent on
your action. There could not be high
err trust. There could not be a situation
more stimulating to faithful conduct.
Principally your duty will consist of
passing upon accusations of crimes fall
ing within the jurisdiction of this court"
The jury were then further instructed as
to-Classes of offenses of which they
should enquire.
Formal procedure.
Privacy they should observe
Amount and kind of evidence neces-
sary rs basis OF indictment.
Their constituted legal advisors.
They then retired.
The people of the ounties represented
at this court are to be congratulated on
the fact that there seems little business
for. the grand jury to.do 0t this term.