Vermont-born Judge David Allen Smalley, presiding over the U.S. District Court charged his Grand Jury to investigate all possible acts of treason under their jurisdiction. His charge was studied and direct. While certain states probably had grievances against other states in the crisis, this did not excuse the overt acts of treason against the United States of the past weeks. Treason, he reminded them, included "giving aid and comfort", and provided a clear definition. This action caused excitement since many New York businesses were trading with the South at the time. (By John Osborne)
Source Citation
Hiram Carleton, ed., Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont ... (New York: The Lewis Publishing Committee, 1903), II: 470.
"High Treason; Important Charge to the Grand Jury by Judge, Smalley," New York Times, January 15, 1860.
Record Data
Date Certainty
Exact
Type
Lawmaking/Litigating