Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1843-11-04

Did you ever serve on jury, my dear
sirH ! don'irefer. now. TO coroner's ju.
~; nor grand jury; nor jury in the
criminal courts--these are well enough in
their way--but TO the cases where charac.
ter and property are discussed; where just
ice 10 matters civil is confined TO the dis
cretlen Of ones peers. Is
Iiue, the theory nj s.i~i -. -. 20 q
beautiful conceit. A citizen of the Uniiei
States to be tried by his peers! 1t looks
vastly we'll on paper; there is something
ID the very sound that excite oue's Amcri-
can feelings. But, my dear sir, theory is
one ihing--practice, another.
| And, wh,1 Because, sir, the word peers
II, very ambiguous Specification in this
free and glorious republic. 3
| The theory saith that litigation be:
tween merchants involving thousands of
pounds shalt be a,bitrated by merchants
| possessing thousands of pounds; that me-
chanics shalt mele out justice to mechan-
les; gentlemen of leisure TO gentlemen OF
leisure; and so on; And, indeed, this the
orv carried out, would secure the end and
aim ofjustice.
But look at the practice. The merchant
the gentleman, the man of wealth, whatev.
er be his vocation, disregards the summons
of the court to attend as juror, and pays
his fine because he can afford it. The poor
man, on the contrary, who has quite as lit
tie leisureas his rich neighbor, and can faI
less afford 10 spare that little, obeys the
summons because he nevertheless has Ne
money to boy his fine.
The result is obvious enough. The jury
not being tie peers Of the parties lltigan'
and unable, not from deficiency ofsense
but from diversity of occupation, 10 judg'
| intelligibly Of the relative rights of these
> parlies--meet in the jury room and look a
5 their watches.
], Foreman--Gent!cmen, are we all io
the plaintiff
, Three Jurors at once--Yes, of course
g it's clear case.
!, Foreman--Very good; let us assess th'
. damages. How much do you say, MI
/ Smith?
e FRS, Juror--A thousand dollars.
!. Second Juror-Eifty dollars.
Third Juror-Nine hundred and ninety
Il zine dollars.
4 Fourth Juror--Six cents.
Fifth Juror--Tcn dollars.
@ SIKH Juror--A hundred and thirty.hv
dollars.
;. Seventh Juror--Six hundred dollars.
u Eighth Juror-Seven hundred dollars
!. Ninth Juror-Fify cents.
+. Tenth Fony.iour cents.
., Eleventh Jnror--A hundred dollars.
Foreman--rwen.y-five dollars.
il Foreman, I'm conlinuation) Cent
>, men, this won't do! We shall never agr'
fe ut this rate, and--it is almost three o'coc
nj Fourth Juror viii never change II
of vote!
= First Juror--Nor |. I'll starve first
n Eleventh Juror--So will !!
Foreman--Gentlemcn, am sorry
hear this. The plaintiff undoubtedly h
Suffered some" in the business and
= looks to this jury of his peers for justc
!, He has family, as we all have; he h
/ rights, as we have; and, as | have arca
: said, il IS nearly three O'Clock. lpropos
gentlemen, that we adj up our sever
- amounts, and decide upon their average
4 our verdict.
:, First Juror-Agreed!
!. Second Juror-Agreedl
~ Third Juror--Agreed!
g Fourth Juror--Agreed!
20 Fifth Juror--Agreed!
20 Sixth Juror-Agresd!
~ Seventh Juror-Agreed!
=. Eighth Juror-Agreed!
:. Ninth Juror--Agreed!
a Tenth Juror--Agreed!
ri Eleventh Juror--Agreed!
~ Decentralization, | congratula
Il; you on bringing our deliberationstoa clos
Justice, TO be Justice, must he speedy.
~ have cast up the amounts and find the
= gresate to be three thousand six hundr
a. and twenty dollars; one twelfth of this
=, three hundred and one dollars and six
~ seven cents. Are you all agreed up
~ this as your verdict
~ Jurors unanimously--Ycs!
u Ereunt OmnCs.
ocl wygl1. ! - ! sE1isa4!
DIED-ln this place on the 3lst u
er EVEN HENRY, infant son ofJohn i. "a
q eron, aged Is months.
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