Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-07-28
.IITRIES.


In this country, thanks to the free character of
our noble institutions, II IS not often necessary to
yIndicate the independence of Jurors. But even
here, Judges have sometimes forgotten the dignity
and courtesy due TO this humble, but Gyorite ri
6unal. Such an one was eioqucntly rcproved in
the following address, reported UerbqiH by the ,fe
Rev. Edmund Butcher. The whole Circumstance
proves that true eIoquence is the child Of nature.
n Judge on the Northwest Circuit in Irelnnd
tired an action for assault, brought by a
land owner against poor tensnt who had resort, 4
10 tits method Of redreEsing wrongs of the most
grevous character. The Jury found him NOT Gun
TI:l
"The Judge was enraged, and told the Jury thew
must 20 back and reconsider the matter: adding, he
was astonlshed at their giving such an infa1o,,S
verdict The Jury bowed went back, in a quarter
OF an hour returned, when the foreman venerable
old man, thus addressed the bench: NV lord. i'm
compliance with your desire, we went back 10 our
room; but as we there found no reason TO alter ouf
opinions Or our verdict, we return 10 Won I'm tI,e
same words MS befOrc-EoT GUILTY. We heard
your Iordshps reprOOi; but we do not ncce pt IL MS
properly applying to US. Individually and In our pri
ya1e capacities, II Is true, insignificant men;
We claim nothing out Of this box above the com.
mon regard due 20 our humble, yet honest stations
but, my lord, assembled here as a Jury we cannot
bo nsonsiDlc Of the great importance Of the office
we now sustain. We feel glad that We are nppofnt.
ed, rs you are, by the law and the constitution no,
only 10 act imp1Tti1ily between the king and ms
subjects, the offended and the offender but to form
the barrier OF the people, against the possible inu.
erce prejudice, or corruption Of the bench; to which
we do not wish TO offer the smallest degree OF dis
Respect much less Of insult; we pay Il the resp,c,
which one tribunal should pay 10 another, for Inc
common honor Of both.
| This jury did not accuse the bench of p,rfieIitv
or oppresson--nO, we looked uyon u as the sanctU.
airy Of truth and justice; still my lord. we cannot
erase from our minds tho records Of our school
| BY them we were taught that kings and Judges ar,
but hIlOIe moraIs and that the seat Of Justice h,i
pen polluted by Itcssi'Itr, a Scoggs, and JET
| itey@ The judge lrowuod at these words, but th,
INTREPID juror thus proceeded: 'My lord, am bu
n poor man, yet ! an a frcebotn subject and ,
membtro the constitution nay, I am now high
er Tor ! am ono Of It's Representatives; I there
tore claim for myself and FELLOW Jurors, liberty o
speech
"Ihe judge here resumed his complacency an,
the aiOr continued his address. we have nothin,
TO do, my lord with your private character IN thi
place, Il ls veIcd by your official one. we know
you here only in that II a Judge, and, as such, W
would respect you-yOu know nothing Of US bu
AZ Jury; and m that situation, wo look TO you TO
reciprocal respect, because We know Of no mar
however high his titles or his rank IN whom the l,y
or the constitution would warrant an unprovoked in
suit towards that tribunal, N which they have vest
ed the dearest privileges they possess. We 1T herr
my lord, sworn 10 give verdict according TO on
oonseionces, and the best Of our judgments, ON IN
evidence before Us. We have, IN our minds. dis
charged our duty ns honest men II we have erred
we arc accountable, not to your ordship nor To th
king who appointed you, but to a higher power IN
King Of kngsD
+ "The bench was dumb, the bar silent. astoni.t
I mentand appluse murmured through tho crowd, an
! the poor man was discharged"