Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-07-15

viduat may have partiates and enmities An indi-
viduai may be accessible to bribery. When tho
accusing power Is lodged with snindividua, no must
DC permanent officer. Persons exposed TO prose
cuuon Know tchese 90 upply and ho,c to apply the
means OF corruption. IL 10 too great responsibility
TOT any INDIVIDUAL, too strong temptation to human
virtue. In the organization Of . Grand Jury, the
means of corruption and every improper influence
are taken away. The members are scattered over
the whole county. The individuals composing 1t
are not designated, hot separated from the mass
o, Their ieow-citizcn-, till few days before the
sitting OF the court, in the highest tribunal. Though
IN TINS court they ret ain their Offices for year yet
the crimes cognisable by this tribunal, not of
such character as to make the permanence OF the
Office dangerous. Though the institution adop-
ted IN times of greater violence aud the state Of
ciety is greatly changed suce, yet is still admlra
oily adaptedt TO the purposes for which 1t origi
nally adopted. The object is, to have intelligent
and impartial tribunal, inaccessible To any improper
influence, To determine the propricty of public prose-
cutions, who IN the manner OF their rganIzatio. shall
be completely protected from bri berry and corruption
on the one hand, aud threats and dcnuncatious ON
the other. Suci body YOU are. Faithtuliy dis
charge the important duties entrusted you Pros
ecute the guilty, protect the Innocent diligently en-
quire and deliberate 1.-THE cvidease is satisfactory
prosecute. 1.-THE complaint is urged upon improper
motives. muliclousiy and vi hout sufficient evidence
reject the accusation.
The origin of petit uries, iurieS of trials, also
IN remote period. II is necessary that permament
officer should be appointed 10 preside in u court of
according tn the circumstances of each IL con
sistS IN general rules and permanent principles The
lndge cannot ga asray from s duty he cannot weld TO
the Influence of bribery any eXtraneous impulses
he Cannot decide from any improper motives withou,
Immediate detection.-Ilis violation of the principle
of the general rule, will immediately be perceived
1t Is necessary that the Judge should be permanent
officer on another account. Great study and expert
ence are necessary 10 prepare him for the proper
discharge of the duties Of his office But the deter
mnatlon of questions of fact stands OH different
ground. The circumstances of different cases are
almost infinitely various. The decision is to be
made according 10 the evidence in .ach purticular
case. The precise circumstances of one case NAV
never occur again. If an individual should be an
pointed To decide questions OF fact, and corruption
should mud ITS way to him, if, frum any cause, he
should be influenced by improper motives, he could
not so easily be detected. He would be compara
lively safe. The facilities of access to him for uur
poses OF corruption, would be greatly increased
lie person, tho Character, the means of influence
would be well known. But the manner in which
Jurcs of trials organised renders corruption inn
practicable. The individuals come from different
parts of the cOunty--arc not known till few Lays
before the sitting OF the court. When the two iuros
are empannelicd, the party DESTROYS of using an i'm
proper influence, canno. know which jury will try his
cause, SO that attempt at corruption must be made
To operate upon twenty four men. Indeed, so mn
Is the accomplishment of this object that
never heard VI the attempt being made
jury oi twelve men much more competent
10 TIE decision of questions of fact than an individual
II would be difficult, If not impossible, for an indvid.
ial To bear III ils mind all the evidence and particular
accompanying it OF complica ed case
3ul some one OF twelve men may, and, believe
frequently do, correctly rccoect every fact and cir
umsta.lcc. What may escape one, may b. retained
y another A single individual of the Jury would
e more likely to recOllect the evidence than the
ndgo, who being constantly engaged in tryinp
auScs, the circumstances of particular case would
lot make so strong an impression as on the mind of
heJuror. The juror comes to the business fresh it
new TO HIM, and consequently interesting He
reals with deep attention. and the evidence makes
trcng impression his mind | have often had
occasion To observe this, aud always feel pcrfect
confidence IN dispute between counsel between
counsel and court as TO particular portions of tcst-
nony, to submit 1t 10 the recollection of the Jury
An individual may be subject TO exctcment-a iurv
IRE usually mpassIonaie. 1t is very that Give
men can all feel excitement in the same case
lhey are usually unknown 10 the parties. They
ave never heard OF the case, and it, from anv cause
portion should be influenced by any improper mo-
I'VE, tcIr feelings will be corrected by the others
Is believed, also that intelligent jurors are better
Qualified to decide complicated questions of evidence
han any other tribunal. The evidence has its n q
'eT and Legitimate effects upon their minds They
lave not been accustomed TO consider the niceties
ind technicalties of legal proceedings, and thcy
Judge according to the views of a stronG understand
ng applied TO the testimony.
The excellence ofthe institution Of iuries is such
that every effort should be made, and every means
adopted TO keep up ITS present respectabity of char
iclcT anu pf1ctlCaOle, TO increase it. The duty of
a Juror Is so important TO the community that the
OF the statutes for securing able and i'm.
partial men should be carefully carried into effect
Power is gwen TO The selec;men of the several towns
to make a list for the jury boxes, no. exceeding
certain proportion TO the number Of inhabitants aud
to present these lists to the town for their approba
ton and revision. Much has beon done OF late for
the Improvement of Juries, and it gives me much
pleasure to see that their responsibility has gradually
Jurors generally perform their du,ios
with great falthfulnes and it is not often that thoy
return yerdicts decidedly wrong. But, it is TO be
feared that IN some instances selectnen are careless
in making out the lists and towns in CORRECTING them
aud improper persons are suffered to remain in lie
boxes No fear of offending particular Individuals
or motives OF decacy, should prevent the most tho
rough correction Of the jury lists. The importance
Of this subject will he duly estimated when ii is con-
rldered what important duties they perform in the adj
nnlsrotion OF justice; oDd that in the rhcst court
their determinations the questions of fact are gen
orally hnal The duty Of Juror IS 10 a certain ex-
tent, burdensome and arduous. IL takes him from
bs family aud business, and his compensation is a
bare indemlficatiOn for expenccs. Many on Tina nc