, 1862-05-05

aTAR CHAMBER CoEKTS.
The more the Gath and 18th sections Of
,hc 9Th article Of the new Constitution IS |
examined, the more odious and dangerous
they seem. By virtue Of these provisions
no mans personal liberty will be safe. He
il liable to arrest, imprisonment and mcar-
ceration in the penitentiary, though per
fact]y innocent of the offence charged |
against him, merely On the oath Of some
personal enemy. 1tis alleged by the adj |
yocates Of this dangerous assault on the
liberties Of the citizen, that the
Attorney General in England may
nov, in cases Of a libel against
The government and in some other cases,
proceed BY Information, but such 1ntor-
nation can only be fled in the Court OF
Kings Bench, court composed Of men Of
the highest legal lesrning, and Of the parest
character; and even before this high tribu-
nal. the humblcst citizen is not compelled
to be tried; he may demand trial by jury,
and the Cause is sent down 50 to be tried
The humblest Euglishman is thus secured
against the malice Of his enemies, and the
expressions Of the rich and powerful Arc
these safeguards to liberty and property to
be denied to American citizens?
The friends of the new Constitution have
called it the '.poor mans Constitution If
this be the protection provided for the poor,
God bless Them No more cfectual instru-
ment can be devised By which, through the
influence Of the rich, the poor and humble
can be deprived Of character and property.
One man only stands between him and the
prison OF fine, The power Of wealth can
often mould that one man into the instru-
ment of lis ruin, whereas it would be diff
cult to control the action Of twelve men.
What is offered as compensation in ex-
change for the ancient bulwarks Of liberty
and prosperity, thus proposed to be demo1-
isheds It is so desplcable and insulting,
that it would seem impossible to believe
men could be found base, and mean enough,
10 urgeit. isan appeal to mans avarice,
The mcanest and most groveling passion of
his nature. It insulipgly assumes the
character Of the people Of this State to BE-
so mercenary as to suppose they will bar
ter away all the safeguards Of liberty an6
prosperity, to save a few dollars il
taxes. Southern traitors and aristo
Gratis have charged that free labor
ers were so spititless and mercenar1
that they were willing to sell character
liberty and every thing sacred for money
This provision Of the Constitution assume
this to be true Such an assumption is al
insult to the people of this State, and shoul
be indignantly repelled and rcbuked- Blu
in truth, it has moi even the recommends
ton Of economy. Of the indictments fouui
large number arc never tried, for the tcs
son that subsequent developments acqu!
the party accused without tnal. Circln
stances indicating guilt are explained, an
the prosecuting officer becomes satisfied {
the innocence Of the accused and discor
tinucs the prosecution. In most counties
grand ju1y spends g week OF two in th
course Of 3 year, investigating alleged o
fences. Hundreds Of cases are prescnte
in which no prescntiuent is found, whic
under the new system would t
tried. There are now twenty -eisi
circuit attorneys, at 4 saiarT Of fiji
hundred dollars each, Under the ne
Constitution there would be one hundrc
and form prosecuting attorneys at an e:
pcnse of $4,000 against $4,000 under IL
present Constitution. The Circuit Cour
try the criminal cases, without any adj
tional compensation to the Judges There
to be under the new system a coun
judge for each county, ut salary Of
least 81 Gao each amounting to $4,000
Besides, justices Of the peace, must
compensated fs'r the cases they may tt
SO that here is an extra expense Of over ol
hundred aud twelve thousand dollars, ov
and above what shall be paid to justlcs
But this is not Ill, an appeal is allow
in all cases to the Circuit Court when
trial by jury must be hai Of the same ca
All rich rngucs, who can secure bail "
in a1l cases appeal, whilst the poor IN
who is without friends OF money. howey
innocent he may be, must suhu,i. TO 1
finding of,the single judge or justice.
4 jury trial is denied bef,re the coun
Judge or justice, but required before t
circuit judge, who is supposed to be & II,
Of big gher atfainmcnts than q justice Of I
peace. Under this system there will
TWO trials iu the circuit, where there is q
now, because there will be vast incrci
Of criminal trials, and hence the cxnez
greatly increased.
The above are s,:1le Of the objections
this monstrous proposition, fraught "
1nischieE and dangers so glaring as oug
if there were none other, to insure the
tain rcjec,i.sn IF the new Constitution.
i MATTER NOR Ell C0NSIDE