The Democratic Whig. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1842-1843, 1843-06-15
CITIZENS MEETING.
COLUMBUS, (GA.) JUEE ., 1913

OOAlAnl1T A0Asl sNRNA - A0A@a
Soon as the verdict Of the jury in the case
ofthe State vs.. John l. Lewis, was generally
known, the city bell was toled, and immedi-
ately, almost every citizen Of the county, then
in the city, repaired to the Market House, a nd
exhibited one Of the largest meetings ever
held in this county. Our valuable and vener-
able fellow citizen, John Bethune, was called
to the chair, and Josiah Morris, requested to
act as Secretary. The object Of the Meeting
was thep stated m .hriet 6lsak.Rre alOHg68i
bis motion, committee ofeleven was appoin-
ted to prepare q suitable expression Of the
opinion Of the meeting then assembled, in ref
erence to the result ofthe trial Of the said John
L. Lewis-tO report to said meeting on the
ensuing morning at o'clock.
FRIDAY MORNING, 8 o'clock.
A numerous meeting Of citizens were again
in attendance and the following report was
offered by the committee. through A. H. Coo
per, Esq. who prefaced his reading with few
chaste and IudiciOus remarks.
We fselas good citizens that we are bound
at all times to submit to the majesty of the
laws, assured as we are that any violent inter-
ference on the part Of the people, would In the
main be productive Of more evil than good.
But we cannot refrain on the present occa-
sion from expressing our unqualified dissppro-
baton Of the yer dict Of the jury, in the case of
the state vs.. John L. Lewis. We are not
disposed toiudge jury aclingo on oath harshly;
and had the testimony been Of character as
to admit Of the slightest possible doubt Of the
guilt Of the accused, our feelings would not
have been Outrsged-the principles of justice
50 Palpably trampled under foot, nor should we
have condemned the jury iOi giving the pris.
Oner the benefit Of that doubt.
The evil Of which we complain-the escape
Of well known elons--we think arises from
The present mode ofseleeting Jurors in criminal
sascs. Under the present system, wealth, |
power and friends, never fail to secure one
rom the righteous penalties Of offended laws,
while they fan with peculiar power on the
iriendless and needy, This is great evil Of
which we complain, and we deem this a favor
IDLE time TO call the attention Of the people to
{, and to suggest the prOpiety Of petitioning
be Legislature toltaks. the subject into eonsi-
leratiOn, and ifpOssibls to adopt some system
letter calculated 10 mets out equal Justice to
be powerful and the weak, the rich and the
'oor, the influential and the frisndless. We
egard such ameasure as indisPensably neces-
airy to the protection Of lie and the security
{ property.
Therefore Resolved, That we recommend
the next Legislature the plOPriety Of altering
be present mode Of selecting iuroR in GRIM
lal trials, 90 that the honest and intelligent
oEtion Of the community may MOI be rendered
ioompstent to serve IN such cases, By 3 mere
xpFessiOn Of opinion founded on vague rumOr.
Resolves, That until such alteration Be ef.
'cted we viii refrain las far as pOsaibls) from
xpTssuing any opinion il relation to the guilt i
T innocence Of persons ehsgod with crime. I
ven when familiar with I'll tbs facts attending
5 preparation.
Resolved That the testimony taken IN the 8
ase OF the State vs. John l. Lewis, ought to '
published forthwith bslisvingas we do. that
viii demonstrate to the people the necessity
the action we here recommend. I
Resolved, That We dsPFscate any violence (,
the jury or the acquitted, but recommend '
at every honest nan give to them the notice h
d consideration their conduct deserves.