Year: 1877

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lie consideration than they have been re-


ceiving. His Honor, after calling the


attention OF the jurors to the responsible


positions they occupy, and the gravity Of


the duties imposed on them, proceeded to


discuss at some length the growing dis


respect for Federal law prevailing


throughout the country, and particularly
in this State. There must he thought be
something wrong in the tone of society
itself, when Iniractions of the law occur
red so frequently, and were looked upon
with such apparent apathy.


The point so forcibly impress
cd by Judge JACKSON that many
people think there is no
moral wrong in swindling the govern
ment, is striking and strong. One OF the
unfortunate legscies of the war is q
bluntness of perception on the part OF
many persons with regard to the duties
of the citizen to the government in mat.
ters of money. And in these depressed
and depressing times, many people of
average regulations for honesty actually
persuade themselves that if, in their
dealings with the tax-collecting authorl-
ties, they can save to their own pockets
money that should go into the national
revenues, there is no wrong in the trans.
action; in short, that taxation is robbery,
and the dodglng OF taxation the part OF
shrewdness rather than Of rascalty.
Hence the state of affairs disclosed at
Clsrksburg, where about two hum
dred indictments for revenue in.
fractions were found by the Grand
Jury, where men Of wealth, intel


igence and standing were found to
be involved in illicit distilling, and where
the court set out its whole term, without
being able fully to examine the offences
of this class, that awaited its considera-
tion.


Judge JACKSON advised his Grand
Jury yesterday that they would also have
presented to them some cases of parties
accused of circulating counterfeit money.
Here, too, it is remarkable how many peo
pie are to be found who think any money
good enough as long as it passes. 1t is
as II the government in providing a
SQUAD currency rs the basis OF business,
were guilty OF usurpation, and that any
man is morally justified in thwartng
its purpose if he can. 1t is almost alarm.
ing how the passing OF counter
felt notes, and the making and
passing OF counterfeit coin has
grown into regular business in some of
the mountain counties of this State
And this is all of recent date, for until
within very short time, there was SO
little counterfeit money in circulation
IN West Virginia that almost
everybody took and passed withou.
thought or question, everything that was
offered IN the shape OF money.


The postal service, its Importance 10
social communications and commercial
transactions, and the necessity Of pro-
tecting it by the prompt punishment
of mail robbers, were commented on by
his Honor, who drew pertinent Illus
tration from the recent horrible murder
and mail robbery in the South Branch
valley. Offences against the postal
laws are also increasing very rapidly in
all parts of the country, and it is clear that
the court appreciates the demands Of
tie times, when itcalls upon Its grand
jurles to bring the offenders to speedy
justice.


IT is to be regretted for the sake of
our States good name that the picture
of lawlessness drawn IN the Federal
Court room yesterday, is faithful and
true. There is remedy, and it should
be promptly and unspsringly applied.
AS there are classes of persons within our
borders who teel that they may trangress
with impunity, swift convictions and
sentences exhsusting the limit of the
law, will fulfil the duty of the Courts and
bring those people tot realizing sense of
the dangers they incuv. Let these pros
ecutions be sustained by the power of
public opinion, and evil-doers will either
cease their trsnsgressions or emigrate to
some more congenisl locality.