Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-11-07
nnties of Grand Juries.

Duties OF
The importance of grand juries to the
country as a whole, as-well as the various
communities. cannot be Overestimated.
They should consist, Of the most upright
intelligent. and experienced citizens OF
the several counties, because to them
must we look not only for the institution
Of proceedings for the punishment oil
crime. but for a supervision OF our gov
ernmental affairs and the general welfare
Of the people. The grand juror Is some
thing more than a person IN authority
having the privilege OF presenting OF sup
nrassing such things as he may think
nroper-he is an officer Of the law, sworn
u perform a special, though often haz-
zsrdous and unpleasant duty, and TO per-
form It without fear, favor, or affection,
reward or the hope thereof" as we'll as
without envy. hatred or malice
The character OF the grand jury IN any
particular county may be accurately
gagged By its moral condition, the fire.
Guency Of crime, and the degree of ell
cheney Of its officials. Go into a cOmmu-
nifty where there Is a grog-shop at every
cross road. where the county seat ana
villages are made disgusting and danger
GUS bv the presence of drunken men on
the streets. where the sabbath Is set
apart for ball-playing and gambling, ana
where the public officers are incompetent
and powerless. and there you Will find
county that does not have true and
faithful grand jury at each term Of its
court.
r-h-. .,-. ,,,or,,- such counties in the
country. but they are growing fewer every
year. In every case it is the tried and
true grand juror that begins the reforma-
ton BY fearless and faithful discharge
ofhis duty. The better elements Of society
gradually. perhaps timidly at first. gather
ID his support, and at length the corrupt
aud degrading classes are either driven
out or suppressed. Threats. insults, and
often actual assaults are ndignities he Is
often called upon 10 submit to or resent
sometimes his very life is in danger-but
a steadfast adherence to duty and right
prevails. the latent good in the cOmmu-
nifty crystallizes around him, and adds to
his influence and strength until the VIC
tory Is won.
Every grand juror is sworn to keep
| secret his own counsel and that Of his
! fellows. This. when the oath is observed.
is his greatest protection; but. shame
upon humanity, in very many cases i'm
p0rtant secrets leak out from the body
! even before it has time TO pass upon the
questions involved. This not only fire.
quently embarrasses the free action and
expression of opinion 10y the juror, but
submits him to the annoyance OF the
attentions Of the almost omnipotent lobby
| lists who infest every village, especially
| during the sessions Of court.
Sometimes men are worked on or off the
| the jury by the connivance of officials to
attain certain end. and very often two
| or three shrewd men can carry whole
| jury Of good but tImid men, even against
| their own convictions. These two points,
| the secrecy and inyiolability OF the grand
| jury. are of the greatest Importance; and
| Judges should ALWAYS specially charge
| them 20 search out the parties involved
| and present them for false swearing, or
| contempt Of the body. Were this done the
| public would soon hold a grand jurors
| oath in the highest respect. and assaults
1 NI tlitli luAc-iAtA NUuAtA tCttot w DO maui
| The moral effect Of score of cOnscien-
| tious. intelligent men, as the grand in
| quest of a community, earnestly and
| secretly searching out the evidences Of
| crime and official corruption is great, and
the limits to their power can scarcely be
| fixed. No officer is too high for their CEN
sure OF accusations to reach, and no Grim
inal 80 insignificant and low as to escape
| the scrutiny Of their Investigations.
Their powers of a general nature are
| almost unlimited. They may advise,
commend, censure or condemn the actions
! Of public officials, from the President
down to the humblest bailiff, or the COM
munity at large, in their general present
| ments; or they may make special pre-
sentiments in certain cases, emphasizing
their opinion with the penalties Of the
law. as well as indict for crime.
Every county should put its best and
most fearless men on the grand jury lists,
| and public opinion should uphold and sus-
| tain them. Then faithful discharge of
the grave and important duties devolying
| on them may be looked for, and a speedy
improvement in the Official, moral and
material interests of the community ac-
! complished.