Grass Valley telegraph., 1854-01-19
For the Grass Valley Telegraph.
JUSTICE AND JUDGMENT.

JUSTICE AND JUDGMENT.
Justice is an attribute of Deity; and so
seldom seen in the Courts of our beloved
State, that one might with some reason, con-
clude it to have been entirely erased from the
creature, created in the image ofGOd Courts
of Justice have become the jeer and sneer of
the multitude. Why so? Is it because cor
ruption has mounted the throne of our high
places, and holds the scale unblindfolded,
causing the balance to ponderate on one side
or the other without regard to right. This
may in many cases be the cause Again,
Courts may err in their decisions upon ques-
tions of law, and FOR want of a suficiency of
intelligence that should adorn the bench, may
err in their rulings, but were these the only
difficulties in our Courts, they. could and
should be removed instanter.
The sovereign people should select for their
officers and Judges, men, not only of tried
and known integrity,-a fool may possess all
this, but men of intelligence, and at least
possessing some knowledge Of law but an
attentive and careful observer Of doings in
Courts could not fail to.detect the real caasse
of the scarcity Of that virtue
That moves the body which she doth possess,
Yet no part toucheth, but by virtues touch"
It exists in the want Of proper, high aud
holy estimate of the sanctity of an oath. The
oath is administered to a witness, and the Ju-
~ with fhat oarelessness and want Of respect
for the name of God, that issues from the
mouth of the profane swearer, when know
ingly, he calls upon Deity to curse him if
thing is not so, which the swearer knows to
be utterly false, and deems not that he calls
God to witness the utterance of lie. The
witness often feels himself under little or no
restraint, and is held with bit and reins by
the skillful attorney, a witness not for justice,
but for one of the parties at issue the juror
laboring under the same scanty regard for
the sanctity of his oath, will often with
reckless, needless regard Of the sacred rights
of his fellows and the obligations resting up
on him as juror, compromise a verdict,
which compromise, often works greater injus-
tice to both sides, than verdict. in favor Of
either party could do. Would it not cause
the blush of shame to crimson the cheek of
every honest American to have it said, thai
preference for Attorneys have swayed the
verdict Of juries? Yet to the shame of such
Juries or jurors, such has been the case and
without doubt is often the case. Again, ju-
rors have regarded the ringing bell, sum-
moning the hungry to breakfast. dinner OF
supper-a sufficient apology for compromis-
ing his conscience, and without being con-
Vlnced, render verdict, that he knows or be-
lleVes to be contrary to the law and evidence
in the case. How are these great evils to be
reformed? 1st. Let all our Courts clothe
themselves with all that solemnity, which
! gives sacred dignity to a Court or Judge
Swear the witness and Juror upon THE BOOK :;
not that men are less in the presence of AL
mighty God, when they simply hold up their
hand and nod their head but we are all
creatures Of circumstance. and when the sa-
cred book is presented and kissed. it must i'm
press the mind Of the most needless solem-
nifty with its commands
10 the witness: Thou shalt not put thine
hand with the wicked to be an unrigbteous
witness"
To the Judge and Juror: ''Judge in Right
eousness, = FOR with what Judgment ye Judge,
ye shall be judged and with what measure
ye mete, 1t shall be measured to you again. y
More anon. REFORM