Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-12-22

RuoDE IsLASp-In The case ofLyman Cooley who
was charged with treason against The acting govern
meni Of Rhode Island, the jury were unable TO agree
upon verdict They stood seven for conviction, and
five for acouitia Some singular proceedings occur
red on this trial. The indictment contained FIVE counts
setting forth that the defendant with Others assumed
The sovereign powers OF the State. The jnry before
taking their seats were required to answer this CUES.
lion: "Do you recognise the existing Government OF
This State as The lawful Government thereof" All Of
them affirmed their belief in the lawluaess of The
acting Governments; and OF course III The unlawful
ness OF the Constitution, under which the prisoner act
ed The counsel for the prisoner, urged that the re
snl, would be 10 draw from the jury verdict in part at
least, before they had heard the facts in the
BIT the court overruled the objection. special plea
was then filed on the part of the prisoner, stating the
oc,s in relation to the origin oihe charter government
and the suerancc under which existed, and also The
facts in relation TO The Suffrage government This plea
was filed, and replication prepared and delivered 10
the prisoners counsel for their rejonder, when the
court ordered the plea TO be stricken out The prisoner
plead "noi guilty. and the only grounds of defence
was tina, it had no, been sufficiently proved that the
defe ndant had acted representative from Tie city OF
Providence, Us charged in the indictment. The jury,
as above noned, disagreed, and they have been dis
charged and the trial ordered to be continued to tha
ne 1t term The Providence Journal, in the bitterness
of its disappointment, because the prisoner was not
convicted, declares that some OF the Suffrage men had
sworn themselves into the jury box and thus attempts
TO brand with reproach the character Of the whole jury
lis remarks are worthy of notice, indicating the
CHESS and ferocions spirit with which friends in
that little State have to contend. The Journal says
"The jury had all solemnly that they believed
the present government 10 be the legal government Of
the State and in the jary room they admitted that they
were satisfied Cooley acted representative from this
city; there question, them that the law was vio
lated The inference IS irresistible. We are satisfied
The Government has done lis duty
Here, then, a case in which citizen is brought
before tribunal claiming 10 be the Supreme Court Of
the State and yet the jury, through whom is to be ad
Ginisered impartial and pure justice, are 10 be men
whose opinions prejudces and ouths all bind them 10
the side of the What opportunity for fair
trial is here afforded to the prisoners What benefit is
il 10 him that he is entitled to all the privileges and
advantages which said to exis, only republic Of
Liberty: And because 1t SO happened, that the jury
did not come the result for which they had been in
manner packed some of them charged with hav
ing sworn themselves into the Jury boz. And these
can be others than the five who refused To assent
10 the prisoners conviction, who thus charged
The spirit of true liberty is moi malignant spirit like
the one that makes snch chargcs.-.E ]. Er. Post.