Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-03-31

lOt-DOX. but SIR there our p0lllcS should
| end. 1t should never transcend the duties so
clearly marked out for it by introducing its un-
| friendly offices into the only palladium of our
| liberties.
believe, sir, that politics, like religion,
has purifying and sanctifying influence when
| kept within its legitimate bounds in any gov
ernment and does much to rectify and curb
the rapacious spirit of the party in power !;
but it mistakes the great object of its creation
ana departs from its legitimate sphere, when
| it exceeds the limits of moderation and pru-
| dence, and seeks TO corrupt the channels of
Justice, and to fasten its deadly fangs into the
| lives and character of those who, perchance,
may think differently as to the policy of the
party that may for the time be in power.
The day has been when men could meet to-
gether and discuss, in the most social spirit,
the great issues of fthe day, without any ex-
citement on the subject, and pa.t again upon
the most intimate terms with each other
That day, am sorry to say, seems to be fast
passing away. Political jealss!sies and ami.
mosities seem already to have become dom
inant characteristic in many of our public
men, and especially in the political press of
our country, so well calculated to add fuel
to the slready over grown bitterness of the
age.
When we reflect, sir, that we are living in a
period the most momentous in the history Of
modern times-when one portion of our once
happy country is arrayed in hostile conflict
with the other, under whose deadly scourge
the nation reels and staggers and all this, sir
originated, in great degree, on account of
erroneous political views, entertained by men
regardless of the best interests of the nation,
that their own party purposes might be sub
served and yet, at this late day, encouraged
and persisted in by the political demagogues
of the age, who, forgetful of our high destiny
as nation, still continue to cling to the old
careas of party, which has well nigh engulphed
all that is near and dear to us IN one common
ruin. Now, ask, is it not time for us to a.
wake to the importance of the occasion, and
with earnestness and due diligence save that
department of government which is our only
safeguard to justice from the communicating
influence of groveling party politics All,
sir ! appeal to the eandor of my distinguish
ed friend from Lancaster, and to the astute-
ness of my highly esteemed friends from Erie
and Berks. whether these facts, to which
have so hastily adverted, are not fearfully and
solemnly true Are they still willing TO per-
NIT their constituents to rock in the cradle of
political insecurity, when at any moment, some
one of the number may be compelled to un-
dergo the ordeal of political ostracism, scarce
ly less inhuman or unjust than that praeticed
est and best of statesmen
If so sir, upon their devoted heads restthe
awful responsibility of an insulted eonstituen-
ey, though that constituency may only be a
respectable minority but whose rights and
privileges, itseems to me, ought, at least, to
be respected. For my part, my desire is that
my constituency, to whom | am responsible, |
shall be governed by such wholesome laws by /
which even the appearance OF evil may be a.
y0ided that when any human being shall be
arrayed for trial, before jury OF his country
men, he can have the conscientious assurance
within himself that stern, infexible justice
viii be meeted out to him without fear or fa-
vor, partiality or reward.
Mr.. Speaker, the bill under consideration,
it seems 10 me, clearly provides the remedy /
desire 1t repeals all that portion of the Act
of Assembly, approved the l4th Of April, 1884
which empowers the sheriff and commission
ers to select the persons who are to serve as
Jurors in the trial of all issues of fact in the
several courts to be held in the county, and
places that whole duty under the control of
two competent men elected by the people, but
in manner differsut from that of any other
officers In the county save that OF inspectors
OF election.
The bill expressly provides that two compe-
tent men shall be elected as commissioners
of jury, but that each electOr shall vote but
for one !; consequently it viii be next to i'm
possible to elect both from the same political
party in any of the counties Of this Common
wealth for the reasen that neither of the
political organizations is so vastly IN the ma
jority as TO do so.
1t further provides that in the selection of
persons to FIJI the wheel, the commissioners
ofjury, after having assumed the duties OF the
Office, under the solemn sanction of an oath,
are required to select alternately, from the
body Of the county at large, sober, intelligent
and judicious persons to serve as jurors for
the ensuing year, and not those whose politi-
cal proclivities may induce them to aspire to
that position.
1t is plain sir, from the provisions of this
bill, that the political equilibrium of the panel
must always be such as to furnish to every
Jury drawn fair proportion of men from both
political parties, and that too, sir, in such
manner that neither of them could be exhaus
ted by peremptory challenges, even were it
positively designed by the counsel.
Under the present system it is the easiest
matter imaginable for the commissioners and
sheriff to conspire together and select from
the body of the county at large only men who
entertain similar political views, or at best, in
such number that the small minority may
easily be peremptorily challenged off and all
this could be done prospectively in view of
some trial in a matter OF fact originating in q
political alteration, or affecting some indi
vidual who may have been prominent actor
in the great political drama of the agein which
we live.
The system propose will obviate all this
danger, and place beyond the possibility of
fraud or political intrigue the filling of juries,
which should ever be regarded as the palladi
um of our liberty. the dispenser of Justice, and
the greatest and only safeguard against the
wrongs of mankind. Pass this bill-local in
its application admit but nevertheless gen.
eral in its principle and character-and you
inaugurate system, which must ultimately
upturn the whole fabric of jurisprudence, and
confne politics within its legitimate sphere,
and where it always should remain-at the
ballot box.
Pass this bill, sir, and you exclude at once
and forever from our courts of justice, the
very idea of political favortism, and place
beyond the reach of designing politicians the
possibility of packing jnries for political pur-
poses.
Pass this bill and you viii have no more
changes of venue-seldom, If ever, an. apph-
cation for new trial, unless for causes Hn-
known 10 politics. The administration OF
jnstice will be conducted in such spirit of
fairness that the innocent who perchance may
have been indicted for some supposed mis-
demeanor, viii feel within himself the assn
rance that his life and character are intrusted
to the unbiased judgment of honest men, who
viii speedily render TO him an honorable ae-
quital on account of his innocence whilst
on the other hand the felon arraigned before
the har of iugtice becanSa Of hia crimes. and