New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-01-23
THE TRfAL BY JURY.
A LECTURE.

Last evening JAS. 7. BRADY loctured before the
Mechanics Society Trial by Jury. Tne attend
arce was exceedingly numerous; not only the room
but all the passages leading TO it were crowded Tue
lecturer commenced with historical view OF the
il sttuton; from its Grst appearance rs conVoca-
ton of twelve men TO give true evidence rs 70
facts occurring in their neghborhood to its present
FORM In Ango-Saxon Chronicles there Is M trace OF
Tfs BY Jury; centuries before the germ Of 1t existed
among the Dance; it first appears IN Lnglaud after
the Nom M Conquest; and in the reign Of william
the First the mode Of trial By duel was introduced.
The great value Of Jury Trial is thet it gives the
people part in the al nnistration Of the law. The
theory of the IT, that the verdict Of Jnry as 10
facts can never be fet aside, unless SUFFICIENT
proof be aitewsrd given tina. they were,
from any Cause partial or Incompetent JUICES
Of the facts. Ia the lecturers opinion t1s Wa gel;
because Judge. by his intellectual habits, - no. so
competent TO pronounce on mere facts as Jury OF
ordinary men, Trial by Jury could not in tsef have
lad much influence in advancing civil freedom the
eooc effect must be ascribod to corresponding IN
crease Of free principles in the popular mud jury
in itself may be easily an instrument OF oppression
a. safe. uard ofberty thus Eugh Juries have been
brought before the Star Chamber aud fined for Their
VERDICT even when il was one % CONVICTION In ms
country the fnl verdict OF jury Is the sole proec
lion Of any citizen. Though there is here no klogi
tlere is soyeregnty, which Sometimes dl'plays II
self as "publc opinion" which IS We emitted 70
respect when founded on ascert truth Du' WHICH
de.erves place 10 airy Judicial prcces ing IL tray
oyerswe both Court and jury. Our jadicia.y how
eyerwel selected Of from tbeneiure OF men, DC
uuinfuenced b. heirhope oTchance Of reeecu.ni OUT
TO means can be found Of selecting jury whien can
interfere with tteir true representation OF tne CON
puritv Their proper value cannot he rea.Leo tll q
trial occurs In which the hand Of power the NJ shi ol
n majority or the phrenZy of moo, Is drecIed
eeaust q citizen and the night OF beng trIed py
fellow citizens carrot be taken away from the psops
of Erlr'a-
soyer De Tccquevle says, that where trial b. Jury
i, Limited 10 Grimm al cases, It's existence sulperh'
because by being used in civil cases II II kspt oeg.e
tie eyes Of the people gives the people tae Wy
ii ions OF the law besides having far m,re genersl
n fu.uce IN the community because 10 man expects
to re implicated in cyil sli,, but any ore ms oe-
come engseed in a civil ce1Ee. Also, u aN7,
awsy the rust OF sOcety, which is indiVidaN
seh:hress and lives an emil h'ened exercise
for the nil 1. The right ct judging on jury,
Is the choicest part Of our liberty. In tue choice
Of cur rulers we often feel that We have reely IA
no part; they are too mach the growth OF the party
diciatioD OF The necessity Of choosing between bad
and worse. But - Jurors we csu control the com,
uulity for is beu 81 sgalst the msehlnaions OF Hai
rulers, or weak or corrupt Ju1ielery' las rs
been e1empliEed IL tie past, and Will pro2aoiy Dc
still pore % In the future. feel sait the Lecturer
the danger row arising IN our colmual'y from tne
fact thar Jurors are deieriorsng in quaiy ana tnA'
good citizens refuse 70 serve. 49,,
Jurors axe lot properly cared for. Tie u1nieipal
authorities forget the sceommod .toh3 cI5 70 .-e
Office in arranging the places assigned 70 TIE ury.
They are too much tIes.ed % elass OF nea whose
duties make them liable 70 imprsonnsA, ara star
ton One great object should be u increase me ei
cheney Of TIL, mode of trial oy proper e5l aloI =.
hu, that which also nculcstes tie religious pnacpie
Of duty which the office demands.
NJ Brady was listened 10 with the utmost atfea'
ton and his discourse elected frequent applause.