The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1819-07-14
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Wtot NN~bttj NesAS " tuV Hsai VI Soooc III
which much Of the local consequences of Ger.
tain demagogues in the peighborbood were
concerned; II was the case of q landlords $
prosecution againsta poor man, his tenan.,
for assault and battery, committed in defence
Of his own child, an innocent and beautiful
girl, from ravishmoot. Not only the bench,
but the whole bar, dincd with the prosecutors g
father the day before the trial and some of
Ehem praise the venison and the claret to this
day.
When the poor man was brought into court,
end pus TO, the prosecutor appeared and swore
Snantul!y TO every title in the Indictment
Ale was cross examined by the Jurors, who
were composed Of honest tradesmcn and re-
putable farmers. The poor man had no law
yers TO tell his story; he pleaded his own
csnse--aDd he pleaded not to the fancy, but
10 the judgment and the heart. The jury
found him NOT GUILTY.
The court was cnraged but the surround
ing spectators gladdened 10 exutation, utter
ed shoot of applause. The judge told rhe
lory they most go back 10 the jury-room and
reconsider tho mater, adding +" he was as.
'onished they could presume to return SO in-
famous a verdict" The jury bowed, went
back, and IN a quactcr Of an nour returned,
when the foreman, venerable old nGn, thus
addressed the court;
my lord, IN compliance with your desire,
we went baek into our jury toom but as VIC
found then 20 reason TO alter our opinion or
our verdict, we return Il 10 you 10 the same
words ss before--NoT GUILTY.
"Wc heard your Io'dshp's extraordinary
language OF reproof, but we do not accep, it
asproperly or warrantabIy applying to as. 1t
- true, my lord, that we ourselves, individ.
,tnily considered, in our private capacities,
may be poor, insignl6 cant trncn--thercforc, in
tnss light, VIC claim nothing out OF this box,
above the common regards OF our humble
but honest stations but, my lord, assembled
here as Jury, we cannot be insepsibIe to the
great and constitutional! importnncc of the
department VIC now fill; we feel, my lord,
that we are appointed, as you arc, by the law
Z and the constitution, not only as an important
tribunal 20 judge between the king and bits
subIects--.thc offended and the offender
but that, by the favor Of that constitution, we
ssct in situation of still greater confidence
for We form joy, the barrier Of tho people,
hgainat tho possible influence, prejudice, pas-
aicn---or corruption OF the bench"
To you, my lord, rnee'ing you within
these walls, !, for my own part, might pos
fsbly measure my rcspec, by your private
virturs--in this place your private character
10 invisib cs Tor II is, in my eyes, veiled in
y your oihcial one, and an open conduct 10 that
only we can look into.
This jury, my lord, did not in this busi-
ness presume 10 Office the bench the smallest
degree of disrespect, much less OF insult ; vc
pay Il the respect, one tribunal should pay
another, Tor the common honor of both.
This jury, my lord, did not srraign that bench
With par,iaIi,y, prejudice, infamous decision,
5 nor yet with influence, passion, corruption,
& oppression, or tyranny no, we look 10 II as
the mercy scat of royslty--as tho sanctuary
of truth and justicc--ssiIi, my lord, We cae-
MOI blot from our minds tho records OF our
\ kochool books, nor erase the carly inscriptions
sXsilson 10 the &, ct page OF our intcllects and
Il memoirs. Hence wc mus, he mindful, that
<nonarchs aud judges are fallible mortals,
kkat tyrents have sst on thrones, aud that the
1nsscy seat OF royalty aod tho sanction OF jus.
>Ite have been polluted by a Trcsilian,
1efaggs, and Jefferies. Here Jtown
yyfom fhe bench.
fyv'N Nay, my lord, am q poor man, but I
o0 free boro subject--a member Of the
fponssitption---nay, am now higher, for am
representative thereof Therefore claim,
Cor myself and fellow jurors, tho liberty OF
Spsecr, and if am refused Il here, l shall
xsSume il before tho people at the door OF
3hisfonr house, and tell them why deliver
myjmind there instead Of this place. Here
ny fJench resumed eousnlrseney.
~ say, my lord, we have nothing to do
5silk yorr private character---we know you
Sfe'ouly IN that Of a jcdge and as such
Ahalli respect you--you know nothing OF us
66t ss q iusy--and in thar situation we look
|eo you for reciprocal respect, because we
f0ow GO man however high in title or rank,
whom tho law or constitution would war
755oSS the presumption Of an unprovokcd 'n-
1nlt towards tho tribunal, In whom they have
vested the dearest and most valuable priviic-
yes they possess. I before said, my lord,
! that VIC ore here met, not individually, nor
ID we cssSme pre-eminonce: bur 10 the az
q y character OF jsry, We should be want.
-. 10 NJ. et<clf. III