ct of obstructing or resisting the service of legal
process,--the act of the 2d of March, 1831, Chap. 99, Sec. 2,
which secures the jurors, witnesses, and officers of our Courts
in the fearless, free, and impartial administration of their
respective functions,--and the act of the 18th of September,
1850, Ch. 60, which relates more particularly to the rescue, or
attempted rescue of a fugitive from labor. These Acts were made
the subject of a charge to the Grand Jury of this Court in
November last, of which I shall direct a copy to be laid before
you; and I do not deem it necessary to repeat their provisions
at this time.

Gentlemen of the Grand Jury: You are about to enter upon a most
grave and momentous duty. You will be careful in performing it,
not to permit your indignation against crime, or your just
appreciation of its perilous consequences, to influence your
judgment of the guilt of those who may be charged before you
with its commission. But you will be careful, also, that no
misguided charity shall persuade you to withhold the guilty from
the retributions of justice. You will inquire whether an offence
has been committed, what was its legal character, and who were
the offenders,--and this done, and this only, you will make your
presentments according to the evidence and the law. Your
inquiries will not be restricted to the conduct of the people
belonging to our own State. If in the progress of them, you
shall find, that men have been among us, who, under whatever
mask of conscience or of peace, have labored to incite others to
treasonable violence, and who, after arranging the elements of
the mischief, have withdrawn themselves to await the explosion
they had contrived, you will feel yourselves bound to present
the fact to the Court,--and however distant may be the place in
which the offenders may have sought refuge, we give you the
pledge of the law, that its far-reaching energies shall be
exerted to bring them up for trial,--if guilty, to punishment.
The offence of treason is not triable in this Court; but by an
act of Congress, passed on the 8th of August, 1845, Chap. 98, it
is made lawful for the Grand Jury, empanelled and sworn in the
District Court, to take cognizance of all the indictments for
crimes against the United States within the jurisdiction of
e