Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1844-03-14

10 uatter vi right. lie alluded
70 number of petitions from various
counties. praying for the passage of ar
get, to take the sense of the people Of
virginia on the subject of calling Con
ventlon to amond the Constitution of the
State-and although thousands of the
ireemen of Virginia have been for wears
pressing the consideration of this ques.
tion,y.eet the house rejected their petitions
without the usual courtesy of reference
OF the subject to committee of enquiry
Mr. McP. bad heard, with pleasure
the beautiful encomium which the learn.
ed gentleman from the city of Richmond
had passed upon the ancient trial by Jury
and, like that gentleman, he was devoted
to this mode of trial, above all others
which the skill of man hat. introduced
into the worl d-and, although this sys-
tenn may have some imperfections,
which might be amended. yet lie was fear
sul to touch so noble work in the man
ner. proposed by this bill, when such a
proposed change must injure, instead of
improving the present system--that he
believed the present mode of trial by iu-
ry, and the mode of selecting the iuries.
as practised in Virginia, the very best
he had ever seen, land he had witness
ed the practical operation of the iuries in
! New York and Maryland) and his expe-
rience had convinced him that ten times
out of twelve, the juries of the country
were right in their decisions. The judi
ges OF our superior courts are not oltener
right, and as to the Virginia jury system.
it is as near the standard OF perfection as
human wisdom can attain, unless men
should become angels on earth. The
English people may we'll boast of this
trial by jury-they call it sacred. and
sacred things should be approached with
solemnity and alteration. Let US then
beware how we touch this sacred trial
by jury-the sure safeguard of our Ilber-
ty, and strong shield against tyranny.
Mr. Mop. said he would enumerate
some Of the most prominent changes pro-
posed by the bill under consideration, to
the present jury law, and endeavor to
prove that all the objections urged ag-
ainst the present jury law, by the gen
tleman from Richmond city, applies with
equal, if not greater force, to this new
plan which the gentleman advocates.
with this additional Objectionable fea-
ture, tina: this new plan, if carried out,
will cost the people 10 each county from
$500 to $500 a year-nearly half the
amount of the State taxes in many coun-
! ties-and this sum is TO be raised by a
county tax, at the option of the County
Courtsi
This new bill proposes, first, that the
commissioners of the revenue in each
county shall take list of all the qualified
jurors, ankreturn the same to the clerks
off ce; that the sheriffs shall summon in
rotation. say about forty, to each of the
quarterly and superior courts, and cut
of this number the necessary iuries are
to be made up by drawing twelve out Of
the forty and juries thus made up are
to remain during the term of such courts;
second, that each juror shall have pr %
perry qualification of $500; and thirdly,
that tie juries are to be paid for their at.
tendance on such courts by county lie.
Wy at the option of the county courts.
The gentleman from Richmond city
has informed the house, that as the law
now stands, the sheriff picks up just such
Jurors as he can find most convenient to
himself, and that they are composed Of
hangers-on about the court houses-ma.
ny of them disqualified, corrupt, and of.
ten intoxicated; and he insists that, by
passing this bill, you will prevent all the
evils here complained of. Mr. Mop
: contended that the causes of the evils as
} signed by the gentleman, did not exist
J from the present law, but if true, existed
in the imperfect execution of the law b,
those who had the power of enforcing it,
and that the changes proposed would bs
! found in practice liable to every objection
. urged by the gentleman from Richmond
t city.
MIR Mop. contended that the mode o
! summoning jurors, as now practised il
Virginia, by picking them up suddenl'
5 from the assembled multitude on cour
: days, had thus far proven itself to be tn
: most admirable system; nor has the wis
: dom Of the states I'm his humble opinion
E yet produced its equal. BY thus sud
r denly selecting the jury,no party concer
D ned IN odr courts can have any prevou
knowledge who is TO be the jury; Their
3 is no time for corruption by promises q
| reward. or threats of retaliation ecaus
. the jury, the moment they are sdmtnon
e ed, at once take their seat on the jur,
] bench, and under the eye of the cour
] and all parties concerned; thus aifcom
e munication of conversing with the jur.
r is entirely cut off; whereas, by this nev
r plan, there is wide field for corruption
t tif jdries are capable of being corrupted
: because the sheriffs, attorneys and suit
\ ors all have an opportunity of knowing
+ beforehand who are to compose the jur.
r at the next court; at least, they cal
r know the forty that are to be summoned
t and they have an opportunity of tamper
ling with portion. if not All of them
-. nc IN,