New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-04-08
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA LAW.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA LAW.
The rules enforced as to the qualifications Of
jurors in the Sickles trial recall attention to the
anomalous condition of the District Of Columbia AZ
to the code of laws there prevailing From the
time of the ces.ion to the United States of the por
tons Of territory on both banks Of the Potomac Of
which the District of Columbia was originally CON-
posed, down to the removal thither Of the seat OF
the United States Government, In loOl, these two
portions Of territory were left under the jurlidc-
ton Of the States to which they had originally be-
lopeed. After the removal thither of the seat OF
Government the United States constituted for the
District law courts and local administrations of its
own, but instead Of providing homogeneous code
for the entire District, the laws Of Maryland and of
yireinis as they stood at that moment were con-
tinued in force On the north and south sides OF the
Potomac respectively. Thswss no doubtintended
as mere temporary arrangement; but subse'
quenty, when it has been attempted as has been
several times done, to provide code for the Dis
trict the Slavery question, that constant enemy as
well of harmony as Of progress and Improvement
has interviewed to prevent it. Mr. Stanton, one OF
M Sickless counsel, in reference to some remarks
of Nr Carlisle, hoped the gentleman would not
lug the question of Slavery into the case Blu! the
question of Slavery is in the case already, without
being logged in by anybody. 1t is the Slavery
question which has left the District OF Columbia
with the code of laws which it has, and which thus
ntervenes to regulate the selection of the Jury by
which Mr. Sickes is to be tried.
One of the strange consequences Of the make
shift system Of jurisprudence adopted IN the DIG
triet was, that, until few years ago, when the
Virginia portion was ceded back again, the Dis
trict had two codes-one for the North side of the
Potomac, the other for the South side, which DIFF
fered and even conhicted in some important par
ticuars. The two portions OF the District occu-
pyipg, as TO laws, the position Of two independent
States, this independence and opposition were
particularly apparent on the subject Of Slavery
By the law of Maryland as il stood when the Mary
land code was adopted for the Northern portion Of
the Distrc, OF Columbia it was forbidden to bring
slaves into that State to be permanently held there
Tbis exclusion was held to apply to slaves trans.
ferred from the southern to the northern portion Of
the District Who in repeated cases, we're adjudged
TO be entitled to their freedom, because, contrary
to this prohibition, they had been removed from
Alexsndria TO Washir ston. These decisions were
made at time when the Southern Courts and
lawyers still leaned in favor of freedom; and they
had become tbs received law Of the District
previous to that lurchDg over to the side Of SlaV-
err which forms SO marked feature in the South
n tha ~ tan
Yet, means no doubt would have been found for
setting aside these decisions had lot the retroces
sion OF Alexandria County to Virginia delivered the
District of Colambia from the anomaly Of being
governed by two independent and sometimes con.
fictipg codes.
The other singularity, however, stil remains.
The District is governed BY an antiquated code,
originally made for the State Of Maryland, many
Of the provisions Of which have long since been
superseded IN that State. There is no more
remarkable thing in our American social and
political system than the constant change I've do
not soy it is always for the better which our laws
are undergoing. We seem TO be much in the pre-
dicament Of q boy who is growing rapidly, aad who
constantly has TO cast aside his old shoes, hats,
coats aud uOWsers, even before they are old, and
to have Few ones. Some economical parents go
upon The principle that il is Just a. well not to be
very particular about The quality of the garments
which young Hopeful will certainly outgrow long
before be puts them to much wear And some of
our economical legislators seem TO proceed much on
the same principle; so that, while Legislature after
Legislature literally Contributes TO renew our
legal spparel it will not always DO to examine too
clo.ey the texture or workmanship of the new out
st. To tas prevailing custom the District Of Co
umbis forms q remarkable exception. The Laws
there are slmo,t IS unchAngeable as tho.e Of the
Modes and Persiars There is not State in this
Union, sIty years old, or anything like it, which
has not hsd in that time two or three eodhc,tions
and REVEALS Of law', perhaps half = dozen, and
whos laws, - they ssacd to day, DO uOs Isord Some