One day prior to the Philadelphia Inquirer publishing this article, the court case indicting Albert D. Boileau, proprietor of the Evening Journal, took place. Boileau was taken into custody for publishing accusations of poor war efforts and choices in Lincoln's administration.

This article summarizes the judge's lengthy statement given to the grand jurors at Boileau's case, which defined their duty and emphasized that it is always safe to govern and preside by the "established hallmarks of the law." This case is an example of a publisher exercising his First Amendment rights, namely freedom of the press. The judge presiding articulates that Boileau is justifiably brought into custody however, and the grand jury's main job is to investigate these "matters of general public import, which, from their nature and operation in the entire community, justify such intervention."