Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-06-01
] u r I \, s.

There IS no branch ofthe Administrations
o. justice more important or difficult than
an impartial selection of jurors. In civil
y cases our property. and in criminal cases.
our lives, reputation and liberty are plac.
cd in their hands, In the trial Of suits he.
tween man and man, entirely unconnect.
led with public considerations, there is no
great danger of Partially in the officers
ordinarily vested with the power of desir.
nation. It's principally in cases Of 20
l'ticai nature, where the reiening admin
stratlon feel an interest in crushing an e.
nemy, that juries are packed. This is a
danger which strikes Immediately at
the liberty ct the press by exposing the
conductors Of pubic prints 10 fne aud i'm
prisonmeEt' and which, in cases of trea.
son, leonardses even life itself. For in
stance :-under the federal judiciary the
Ina.shals Of the respective districts are
appointed by the President Of the United
. States, and Invested with the power OF re.
turning Jurors. If then a President shall
be aetuated by improper views, how easy
will it be for him to Eli these Offices with
men who will be the ready instruments OF
his views. But without ascribing corrupt
motives to rulers, it may be laid down al
a general principle that a CORES pondeRce
of sentiment, and object will exist between
those who appoint and those who are APP
pointed, and that consequently the actions
OF the latter will be the same with those
which would characterize the former un-
der similar circumstances and that If
z rulers should entertain a spirit of perse-
culion or Intolerance. those appointed by
them will not be exempt from it. Such,
in fact, is the influence of prejudice end
party, that II too often prostrales the in
telleeiual powers OF The wisest men, and
makes them ,heiunconscious tools of prn.
ciplcs which their dispassionate judgments
would condemn. Party may be compar-
ed to war. Each side enlsts its forces
and takes the field. Army meets army.
HostiIities ensue; and it is then too late
for the soldier on one side TO discriminate
between the characters of his adversaries.
His murderous instrument is aimed alike
at all without respect of persons. Every
good man. every true republican ought
to be on his guard against the ascendan-
cy Of feelings which are the more apt to
steal inscnsbIv upon us from their con
nection, in he first stages of their exist
ence, with yirtuous sentiments. Hence
the patriot citizen desires TO possess pow
er, that he may use it for The good OF his
country; and in the glow OF virtue never
isnagines that he will become the victim
of feelings which he reprobates in others.
He never dreams That he, in his turn, may
abuse that very power which he has sue
cessfuIly wrested from another tor no o.
fber reason but because he had abused IT..
Still such is human nature, that the best
men may fall into an abuse o! power.
The very essence OF republcanlsT con-
siss in the creation of energetic restraints
against its abuse. This then is the pro-
pitons season, when the power Of the ma
ticn IS welded by our best citizens, whose
ruling motives are the public good--thls
is The season for securing the great rights
which distinguish US from other commu-
mites.
An unexceptionabIe mode of designat-
ing jurors has long been great desidera-
tom. Such a mode, perhaps, cannot be
devised, Bot it may certainly be APP
preached. Different experiments may
be tried, and their results may furnish Us
with tic materials Tor future Judgment
IN this point of view we cannot avoid
expressing our satisfaction at the expert
Incnt about to be made in Pennsylvania
1t was naturally to be expected that
great state, If not unriyslled, at leasl
unsurpassed. for the morals, industry and
enterprize Of her citizens, state which
from the first dawn Of her Independent
existence, had, under the auspices oil The
venerable FrsnkIin, laid the foundations
Of her prosperity on the basis OF equal
rights, and which, through her progress
60 wealth and responsibility, had found nc
reason to change them it was naturally
10 be expelled tha, such state would not
long remain inai;eniive to devising pro
p,r motive FOR selecting Jurors. Accord
;ngIy we find, that at the last session o.
nee legislature an aG passed, which d.
reas hiatt future, in every year, prcvlou:
10 tie meeting Of the courts, the sber'li'
and county commissioners, all chosen by
the people, the f,rmer trienniaIly and the
latter annually, shall select from the list 0
0nE