The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1857-02-04
5hihhlrhury Rtggttr.
M Id DiL U r
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4. 1857.
How to Preserve Trial by Jury.

How to Preserve Trial by Jury.
A satisfactory administration of JUS
tico in our courts of law is indispensable
to the permanency and prosperity of any
community ADD in no society is it so
important, as it is in q government like
our own. Such administration is impos-
sible without the exercise of great care
in the selection of Jurors. These un-
pretending and often unknown officers
of the law are invested with powers,
which in the long run, aud On the whole,
are more important than are ordinarily
exercised by tho highest officials of tho
State. The lives, the regulations, and
tho property of the community are in
their hands, and it is for them to say
whether the laws shall be respected and
observed or whether they shall be des-
pissed and 60 for nougbt.
The early founders Of our ins,itutions
understood this very we'll and hence the
extraordinary safe guards they threw a
round the selection Of names for the
Jury Box. So important. was i. regard.
ed that they burst not trust the appoint.
meut directly to tho body of the peo-
Pile but the duty of nomination was
committed to the civil authority, who
are ordinarily chosen from the wisc. ju.
dicious and experienced part Of the com
muuity,
With all this precaution, ho viewer, uu-
suitable men found tboir way into the
panel, and accordingly attempts have been
made fro M tine to time, to modify the
law, so as to impose still greater r%estric-
tious upon the appointment Of Jurors.
We have heard complaints from almost
every section of the State, that latteTly
panels have not been composed Of such
men as the people have a right to demand.
Iu some instances IN en- have been seut,
to whom some Of their neighbor rs woulG
not be willing to commit u t,iding matter
Of arbitration or men destitute Of expe-
riencc in the affairs Of life. Not uDfre-
quently has it been observed that men
were found in the panel who had cases
in court, or who had a direct interest in
matters which their fellows were to try.
1t is easy to soc that such men arc not
proper Jurors, aud pains should be ia
ken to prevent their appointment.
To make the trial BY Jury respectable
and to preserve all the important rights
which i, secures, the best men should be
selected; non of integrity aud Of sound
judgment in short the leading meu of
the town The ofice should not DO made
one Of convenience or Of compliment,
but Of fitness and Of worth. SO long as
this is done, the good old Saxon trial
treasure will remain among US, q perpet.
ual bulwsrk of right a course different
from this, will serve only to weaken, if
not to destroy it.
We are led to mako these remarks
from the consideration that the Lecis.a-
turo at the last session for the first time
in the history of tho State, attempted to
trench upon this long tried and sacred
right Of trial by Jury aud because we
understand still further assaults from the
same quarter, are intended Ii is a du.
ty of the ProSs to keep the people al
vised on topics of Importance like this,
and to point out the methods by which
detriment may be avoided.