Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-01-16
JANUARY 9Th, 1917.

Respectfully yours. ZENO.
JANUARY 9Th, 1S47.
In the Senate, Mr.. Jones reported back the
bill to pay jurors in Justices court, with recon-
mendation that it be rejected.
Mr.. Burns offered an amendment TO make the
compensation OF juror twenty five cents instead
OF fifty, as proposed by the bill. He thought
twenty five cents was enough, fifty too high; that
it would induce idle persons to hang around jus.
tees courts with view 10 be summoned on ju.
ries, and il they could get or two dollars for
sitting on uries on law day, i: would be more
than they could make till the next law day. He
considered tax OF three dollars as burdesome
costs in small cases before Justices.
Mr.. Bean opposed the amendment with force
and vgor; he desired TO pay a juror as much for
his services as such as for ordinary lebor-as
much as is paid to witnesses. witness before
Justice receives fifty cents per day, but uror
in the same court and cause is to receive only
twenty five cents, il this amendment passes, al
though he may be detained twice as. long. The
witness may give his testimony in few minutes
end go home, but the Juror is compelled TO re.
main ill the trial is over. He desired 10 frame
the law so as TO produce equality. &c. He spoke
a, some length in reply to Mr.. Burns, after which
the amendment was rejected.
Mr.. Wells moved the indefinite postponement
oil the bill, and made an able argument in oppo.
sition. He commended that 10 require parties 10
III, IF H. it,t;op
that the constitution declared the right Of iIial by
jury shall forever remain inviolate, &c. A jury
properly consists Of twelve men-a jury Of SIX
is unconstitutional, and paying constitutional
jury according to this bill, would increase the
costs six dollars, which would be so burden.
some as to prevent many from calling for one.
Mr.. Bean replied. He was surprised at The ar
gument Of the gentleman from Marion; that it
was unconstitutional 10 pay jurors was novel and
wonderful; and still more so his position that i,
is unconstitutional to have jury Of six men. III
q Jury OF six is unconstitutional, then this State
has been habi,uaIly violating the constitution from
time immemoral, and many other States have
committed the same great error and it is wonder.
full that the discovery was left to the Senator from
Marion. But he appears to have strange notions
about the constilution--for in every little matter
he raises some constitutional objection whether it
be to pay for wolf seal ps or jurors for their servi,
ces; he now says it is unconstitutional to pay ju |
rymen for their time and services. but perfectly
constitutional to drag men from their business,
compel them TO serve ss Jurors 10 settle
other peoples business and still give them no
compensation. What lungs will the gentleman
take next! The Senator from Marion says he |
has been called Governor of the State of War
rem and he appears to have made some wonderful
discoveries in the mode OF catching wolves, but
his novel and new constitutional discoveries
are far more astonishing. Is it equal or Just to
make honest, peaceable men leave their homes
and their business, against their will, to try eau
ses for quarresome neighbors and do it for moth
ing? VIII the Senator from Marion do SO? II
a man applies to him to attend 10 suit before a
justice OF the peace, he will charge him ten, ff
teen or twenty dollars for so doing, but is unwil
ling 10 allow juryman the small SUM OF fifty
cents! Such conduct is amazing, passing strange!
Have you constitutional right to take either a
mans time or property without Compensation
To him it was good argument in favor of paying
jurors and then petty, vexaous suits would be
more frequently left to the judgment of the jus.
tice, and the honest end peaceable citizen would
not be SO frequently harassei by the litigation OF
other people. He hoped that the Senator from
Marion would not drag the constitution so often
into petty debates, and that his motion to postpone
indefinitely might be rejected.
After some further discussion, the bill was in.
definitely postponed.
JANUARY ~.
In the Senate, this morning the wolf caln |