Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-04-07


showing clearly that the wisdom of Him who
passeth all understanding, is exercised in behalf
of our glorious Republic. We have no reason to
apprehend danger from want of patriotism or
craftsmanship on the part of Senators That
body this day contains men whom the nation will
delight to honor and respect when they have
passed from active life.
The act of that body on the question of admit.
ing Kansas as State, although considered by
many as mere vote on admitting i sovereign
State into the sisterhood, yet involves great ma
tional principle, the violation Of which would be
the death kneii TO the perpetuity of our Confrde-
racy. And the time will soon come when the
statesmanship Of that act of Senators will be seen
IN different light than at present, and they will
receive, from the North, south, East and West,
the plaudits Of all national men. Whilst sena-
tors are mixed up with the excitements of the
day, and bound to take part in the discussion Of
doubtful questions, they will of course meet with
the opposition Of all political enemies, and occa-
sionally OF political friends Hence it will not
be until after they have retired from the active
participation In State affairs that their former
actions will be viewed with unprecedented eyes
Thuse Senator's who We're found ready and will
ling to defend the wise policy Of the main instru-
ment In saving the Union at this time, will be
held in dear remembrance by their countrymen
IN all time TO come. A CITIZEN OF KANSAS.
The RECEPTION, LAST NIGHT.-The ladies
present at the White House last night were in
great luck, and those who were not there will
wish they had been, for just about midway of
the evening who should appear but the Grand
Turk, Mahommed Pasha, with his suit and in
terpreter. The Turks were dressed in ordin--
airy naval costume, save their heads, which
were buried in tight-ftting red woollen caps,
which they wore through the evening, and
which somebody says they sleep in. AT any
rate they-the caps-were dingy enough look
ing affairs, butt as bachelor friend intimates,
these Ottomans, who have to keep two or three
hundred wives apiece in new bonncts, can't
afford to expcnd much for their own head
dresses.
The President was looking well, and in good
spirits, and had a kind word to say to all those
hemely sort of folks who feel "sort o skcert"
on making their first appearance at the Execu-
tive Mansion. Even crazy Pop Emmons was
listened to kindly and treated with patient
consideration which sent tho poor distraught
poet away with n proud step and flush Of
qualification upon his face.
Marshal Selden oficiated last night, and
seems TO have 'got the hang Of the new school
house very satisfactorily. Ex-MarshaI Hoo
yer was present and held quite a lcvee of his
own In the East Room Everybody was glad to
see that our popular Deputy Marshal Phillips
has been retained by the new Marshal Dr.
Blake, Commissioner Of Public Buildings. was
at his post by Miss Lane, and in this quarter
of the oval room We noticed the genial face of
Mr. Henry, the Presidents Private Score
tary.
There was an average attendance last night
of members of the Diplomatic corps Of the
Cabinet we noticed Messrs Cass Brown. Toucey
and Thompson. Of the Supreme Court Judges
Wayne and Greer. Senator Hale was there,
and George Sanders, and Senator Gwin, and
Clingman Of North Carolina, Smith of Virginia,
Hatch of New York, Gen. Harvey. Duff Green,
Prof Henry, Clark Mills, the artist, Assistant
Postmaster General King, Corcoran, the banker,
| the venerable Rembrandt Peale, &C., &c.
The Marine Band, headed by Prof Scala,
| was present, and furnished its usual quota of
really good music.
TRIAL BIZ Jury AT THE NoRrH.-The press
| of some Of the Northern cities are endeavoring
| to correct the crying and most shameful evil
involved in the manner in which the jurics of
that region are for the most part constituted.
in both civil and criminal cases. We make the
following extracts (the first from the Philadel-
phia Bulletin and the second from the New
York Tribune by way of explaining the state
of things in this connection existing there
| which, in turn, explain the reason why trial by
jury in criminal cases in those cities, is so often
a mere mockery:
"Those who furnish the names of,en,imes So
lect persons to whom the one dollar day is of
importance, and thus idle, lazy, careless people
VINO are Ignorant and without any fixed Prin-
ciPies to guide them, get on juries They care
not for the real merits Of the case Some are cor.
rupt, and others stupid and ind frrent and easily
CONT oiled by more aItful meh. Thus il is that
citizens are wronged In their property and their
characters, their liberty and their lives and the
public scandalized and outraged by the acouittal
OF lawless, bad men, murderers, rniians, rogues
thieves and evil-dOers- Now and then business
men, and men of substance yvpalth and education
are summoned to serve on iuries Instead OF
| obeyiny the call as high duty to society, they
generally ask the court to excuse them on some
pfetext, or, what is worse, they pay the officer
who serves them with the process to return them
| as NOT found, and thus they escape by bribery.
and In so doing wrong the public, wrong them
selves, and help to encourage all of the corrup-
ton and abuses they complain of in the admiuis-
| tration Of public justice. -
1.-The indisPositicn to sit on juries on the part
or competent persons no doubt mainly arises from
tue fart that Jurors pay is but nominal. The
| theory upon which this nominal PAYMENT ia
| based is, that every man owes a certain duty to
the public aud his fellow citizens to assist in the
administration of Justice, which he ought to rem
der without compensation. If this theory is TO
be maintained, 1t ought to be carried out The
| capable and intelligent, those whose services
alone are Of any real value, ought not to be al
| lowed to escape this great public duty by the
| payment OF trifng fine or by frivolous
| excuse, while the burden Of the administration
OF justice is thrown upon that very class of cit.
zens whom no one, unless conscious of having a
very bad case, would be willing to select as ref.
erees. This avoidance of their duty to the pub.
lie on the part of the intelligent aud apable the
very men who, OF all others, ought to sit as Jurors,
might be prevented by imposing a high fine
three or four hundred dollars at the least-and
the admission of no excuse such as would not he
deemed satisfactory In the of an absent wit
ness. Another method would be-that which il
has been found necessary to resort 20 in England
allowing the jurors n compensation i'm some me a.
sure equivalent to the value of their time Some
thing, at all events ought to be done by way Of
remedy to a great and growing evil. Service on
juries is fast sharing the fate Of commands i'm
| the militia which, from once having been posts
OF the highest honor, are now generally des pissed
aud neglected by men of position and standing,
and left 10 be occupied by very inferior class
The ISDIANs.-A large delegation of our