ither of the Federal Courts of the District. There being no
Grand Jury in attendance at this time in the Circuit Court, to
pass upon the accusations I have referred to in the first
instance, it has fallen to my lot to assume the responsible
office of expounding to you the law in regard to them. I have
the satisfaction of knowing, that if the views I have expressed
are in any respect erroneous, they must undergo the revision of
my learned brother of the Supreme Court, who presides in this
Circuit, before they can operate to the serious prejudice of any
one; and that if they are doubtful even, provision exists for
their re-examination in the highest tribunal of the country."

On the strength of Judge Kane's carefully-drawn up charge the Grand Jury
found true bills of indictment against forty of the Christiana
offenders, charged with treason. James Jackson, an aged member of the
Society of Friends (a Quaker), and a well-known non-resistant
abolitionist, was of this number. With his name the blanks were filled
up; the same form (with regard to these bills) was employed in the case
of each one of the accused. The following is a

COPY OF THE INDICTMENT.

Eastern District of Pennsylvania, ss.:

The Grand Inquest of the United States of America, inquiring for
the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, on their oaths and
affirmations, respectfully do present, that James Jackson,
yeoman of the District aforesaid, owing allegiance to the United
States of America, wickedly devising and intending the peace and
tranquility of said United States, to disturb, and prevent the
execution of the laws thereof within the same, to wit, a law of
the United States, entitled "An act respecting fugitives from
justice and persons escaping from the service of their masters,"
approved February twelfth, one thousand seven hundred and
ninety-three, and also a law of the United States, entitled "An
act to amend, and supplementary to, the act entitled, An act
respecting fugitives from justice and persons escaping from the
service of their masters, approved February the twelfth, one
thousand seven hundred and ninety-three," which latter
supplementary act was approved September eighteenth, one
thousand eight hundred and fifty, on the eleventh day of
September, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred
and fifty-one, i