Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-09-19

S aninlosities or tho qualification OF IN
| diyidual malice. The moment tia
these and less seductive influences {
fear, favor or affection are permitte
to invade the sanctity OF the jury
room, grand juries cease to answe
the purpose of their institution, ant
become instruments of oppression am
wrong. II these sage suggestions ar
necessary in peace, how potent the!
become in times like these, when" t.
use the language of the court, "th'
whole country has become the victim
of "A delirium which strikes at tht
foundation of our political organiza
ton. Grand jurors are but men liable
to err, as other mortals. Can they
when the country is deluged with
blood, when father is arrayed against
son. brother against brother, when the
whole country is siezed with delirium
calmly, philosophically and wisely lift
themselves above the surging passions
of the hour, and rightfuily discharge
these duties to themselves, their God
and their countrynen ?"
FOURTH cannot believe we shall
promote the highest aim of our duties
the end of public justice, by holding
courts and instituting charges against
those who differ with us in opinion. II
we commence wholesale charges and
indictments for treason against all
those who are opposed TO us, In reIali-
| alton they will commence the. same
against those who think as We do
throughout the South. These many
| thousand wise and good Union-loving
men, who deeply deplore and strenu-
/ ously opposed the course which the
Southern States have thought proper
to pursue, and with uplifted hands are
imploring to God Almighty for re-
turn to union and peace, shall wecom-
mence here system which will cer-
talnlv involve these noble patriots in
! speedy and certain destruction ? The
war is not ended. The man don't live
who can see through it, or when or
how it is to end We ara told the race
is not always to the swift nor the bat
tie to the strong. The slightest incl
dents in life control the destlnies of
states, empires and individuals. No
man living can tell what tomorrow
will bring forth. The incidents of
War may drive the Federal authorities
out of Tennessee. If we sit here
Matching charges against our fellow
men what becomes of US in turn?
Fifth-In view of all things, while
the land is raging with dellrium,
cannot believe We shall subServe the
ends of public justice by ;nstituting
terrible inquisitions and indictments
against our fellow-citizens. Especially
is. it important that we desist at this
time. A presidential election will
come Oh before the people of the Uni
ted States in less than sixty days. The
war is working to points beyond
which, in the opinion OF many, 1T cam
not much farther go. Out OF these
may come peace, union, liberty, frater
nifty. Is it wise to stir up strife when
all good lovers of mankind hope that
strife shall cease If these things
must be done, if the guilty must be
punised, in the name of all the that is
holy let us wait until the angry pass
ions and delirum OF the hour shall
cease, and men selected from all parts |
of the judicial circuit come together
and, unmoyed by prejudice, passion,
fear, hatred or revenge, calmly weigh |
these matters of high import and act
rightly.
Sixth-We have recognized Maj |
Gen. Forrest, the Confederates, even |
men on the high seas termed pirates, |
as belligerents and then institute these |
proceedings against them? Had Gen.
Forrest been captured would we have |
held him and tried him for treason, or
would we have held him for prisoner /
OF war, finally exchanged him and
f.,r I.ts To
against us
Seyenth-May l now ask that you,
Mr.. Foreman, make known to the
Court my position, and let my posi-
ton be filled by another more worthy
and competent | since sitting iii your
body, hive suffered much bodily pain,
as l am much afflicted. If | may be
permitted to retire by leave of the
court, ] shall carry with me no unkind
feelings toward any member OF this
jury, but ON the other hand | believe
you To be gentlemen who have high
regard and desire to promote what
you think the best interest oil the State
and our common country. For the
officers composing this grand jury,
from my limited acquaintance in the
discharge of your duties, | entertain
the most profound respect; and |
must say a word IN behalf of my
worthy friend and old countyman
from Hardeman county. | have known
him well for the last twenty years.
A nobler or more honorable heart God
never put into man he than possesses.
A friend TO the widow and orphan;
the poor man in aflliction or in prison
or an outcast, has ever found Pitser
Miller IL friend, to the friendless, al
ways desirous to relieve and comfort
in distress. May all such noblemen
live to Il ripe old age, as the benef,c-
tors of our country. Gentleman, [
am now in your hands. | hope that
you will have charity enough in your
souls, although you may think | am
in error; if SO, that am honestly SO, Il
SO help me God. Nj. w. GUY.
This wish TO be published at my
death in the Memphis Appeal, to show
to my fellow-cltizenS my course as one
Of the body of the first United States
grand juries ever organized in Mem j
phis. NJ. w. GUY.
In 1876 the Republican vote of
Tennessee was 1886. In 1884 it was .
1900. If these figures do not con- ;
vey warning to the Democratic party
it must be deaf and blind to all danger.
L: it has learned nothing from the ex
perience of the past four years there is ,
little prospect of ft ever learning any
thing, for there is no hope for the pu- !
pill that fails to learn in the school of
With united front the
Democratic party in Tennessee is in
Divided into factions and
narassed by factional prejudices and {
it is in danger of defeat. ,
While there is not such great divis- {
ION of the ranks as the columns of /
some of the factional newspapers !
seem to indicate yet there is not that {