The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1855-01-25
Know-Nothing Juriea.


The gentleman from Mississippi. 1 think,
intimated that there were to be some in
dictmants. and a friAnd nf hiS jury ,ousses-
ted thata Pennsylvania Judge had charged
agrand jury against the "know-nothings. !"
We'll, ,,sir, these men have done nothing yet
except to carry an election here and there,
and that is not treason, even though a
Pennsylvania Judge did charge jury that
certain things could not be done, or ought
not to be done, or were criminal in point
of law, Sir, it is the people who are pass
ing through these avenues, those who
make judges and district attorneys, and
they will take care of them all. They will
take care of the juries and sheriffs as well
as the judges. .-Mr. Banks speech. 3.
This is an extract from Mr.. Bank
speech in defence Of the know-nothings.-
1t informs the public that jurios hereafter
are to be taken care of. What does the
gentleman from Massachusetts mean by
this? Have not the juries of this country
been taken care Of before? Has the re-
public been existing under its present CON
stitution for more than three score years,
and are its juries now to be attended to for
the first time? The constitution provides
as follows:
sin all criminal prosecutions the accus-
ed shall enjoy the right to speedy and
public trial, by an impartial jury of the
State and district wherein the crime have
been committed" &C.
"In suits at common law, where the val
ue in controversy sha Il exceed twenty dol
lars, the right of trial by jury shall be pre-
served,
In the different States of the Union there
corresponding provisions, and the statutes
of the land do not fail to recognize the
rights and duties of jurors by the most full
and careful provisions. The trial by jury
however, is essentially common-law in
stitution. 1t is one of those muniments of
freedom which came with our fathers from
England. Lord Brougham once said that
the whole machinery of the state was de-
sired to bring twelve men into the jury box
10 decide of questions connected with lib
erty and property. This is an exaggerated
idea Of its importance by an English peer;
but it is none the less cherished as safe
guard of liberty by the American people.
The juror among us everywhere regarded
as filling an important place, and exercis-
ing the grayest functions. The lives and.
property Of his fellow-men are intrusted
partially to his keeping. He deals with
great interests. There is no man so high
that he may not be brought before him, Or
SO low as to be sure of escaping his judg-
ment. The idea of corruption in such an
officer is shocking to every mind, He is
to be good man and true" He is TO
try the causes submitted 10 him according
to the law and the evidence" He is be
controlled 'neither by fear, favor, nor the
hope of reward" Proof that he has been
tampered with, or has ever been exposed
TO improper influences, is cause for new
trial, 1t is criminal to approach him with
bribe, While he deliberates. he is. as
far aspossible, kept from temptation. The
jury room is guarded by an officer. Moth
ing is left undone which seems likely to
assist in securing to every citizen the right
of fair trial by an impartial jury An an
nouncement that this trial cannot be had
in the United States is sufficient to shock
the public sense throughout the Union.-
To feel that the avenues ofjustice are inter
rupted is to feel that one of the great pur-
poses Of our Government has failed
What, then, we ask again, does Mr.. Banks
mean by taking care cfjudges and juries?
w udl Is 10 De uOn0 VIII In6ln! w nat
novelty in Judicial practice is to be intro
duced? What fresh method has been found
of reaching the minds and consc;ences of
those who sit on the bench or in the panel
Is the underground railroad to be connec-
ted with our courts Of justice? Are jurors
to be approached through the covered pas
sages Of the secret orsisrR Are oaths to be
administered to them in darkness which
will control any other oaths they may take
in the face of day? Are causes in court
TO be determined not upon their merits, but
by the relations Of the parties engaged TO
the know-nothing conspiracy
These questions are of deep Importance
The aippant languange Of the member
from Massachusetts, onthe subjects Of judg-
es and juries at least indicate danger
from secret association, il it does notthnsqt-
en- one. Everybody. knows how difficult
il is in cases Of preysding excitement to