Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-07-11
From the Mo. Republican.

From the Mo. Republican.
Y The New York Express, of the
goth has an able article upon the practice
al operations Of the "Higher Lo,c and
Conscience" party in the Eastern States,
based upon coalition between the Abo-
litionists and ] ocofocos, as exemplified
in the case Of the juror lately put under
arrest for perjury, by Judge Sprayue,
upon the trial of one of the Boston rio,.
ers engaged IN the rescue of the slave
Shadrach from the officers of the law.
The Express says:
There IS now, as our readers have
been informed. the third case on trial,
and the party under arrest is Robert
Morris, ga colored lawyer" After this
trial had proceeded TO some extent,
Mr.. Dana b. Walker, who had sworn
to find verdict according 10 the law
and to the evidence, was challenged by
Mr.. Lunt, the U. s. District Attorney,
who desired to introduce testimony 10
show that this Juror was disqualified.
and that he was liable to the pains and
penalties of perjury; that, though he
had sworn lhat he was unbiased, and
that he could render verdict against
person charged with aiding in the escape
OF fugitive slave, is the facts sustained
such charge, yet he was known to he
an open reviler Of the law: that he had
often declared it impossible to get Jury
to convict under it; and that on Friday,
he had exulted in the fact that the Gov
eminent had been unable to get a verdict
against any of the individuals tried, and
exclaimed to one person with whom he
was in cOnversation-"Did | not tell
you that jury could not be found in
Massachusetts willing to convict under
this law" Mr.. Lunt said he could
prove, further. that this juror had decla-
red the Fugitive Slave Law unconstitu-
tional; that he would spill his hearts
blood in resisting its provisions; and
that no slave should be carried out of
Massachusetts. What is worse, Mr..
Lunt proved all this.
Nath. Seaver, Esq, Hon. Cyrus
Washburn. Albert Bowker, ESQ.,, and
others, corroberated all this. Mr.. III.
5. Senator) Hale cross-examined these
witnesses thoroughly in behalf OF Lis
client, but it only led to such develop
ments as this:
Mr.. Bowker cross-examined-In his
cooler moments, l never heard Mr..
Walker retract anything that he had
said Of the law, its authors, or those
who act officially under il. Webster,
Clay, Cass, and others, l have heard
him wish anywhere but in Abraham's
bosom. Laughter.
Judge Spragne, without ceremony, set
the perjured juror aside, and, il Justice
is done him in Boston, he will be indict-
ed and sent to the State prison.
! We have called the especial attention
OF our readers to this case, to show the
rascality and crime to which men pre-
tending to have better conscience
than other people have will resort. Here
Is juror, solemnly swearing to try
case according to the law and the evi-
dence, smuggling himself upon panel
of jurymen for the deliberate purpose
of committing perjury, in order to vio-
late the law! The Boston Advertiser
well says:
1t derives its importance from the fact
that the position Of this juryman is taken
aader advice. Ii he is guilty of periu-
ry in assuming the duties Of an unbias-
sed Juror, when he had already decided
the case, it was because he adopted the
grounds of those Of his party leaders
who had told him that he might forfeit
his woid for conscience sake" The
theoretical views of Mr.. Theodore Park.
er, that man may go into jury room
with an oath upon his lips and lie in
his heart. may have been promulgated
as figure of rhetoric, but j, has been
translated literally. At last the persons
who wish TO show what philanthropy
and conscience can be brought to, have
shown tie extent Of their radicalism.-
Even jury mus. yield to their intrigue.
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