Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-04-22
Washington News and Gossip.
QUALIFICATION OF JURORS.

QUALIFICATION OF JURORS.
I" Tke Bill in relation to the qualification oi
jurors, which has passed Congress, isias fol.
lowH.s ..-- ~ - atffH
Belt enacted, &c, That no person shall be
hela.incompetent to act as juror upon any
grand jury by reason of having formed orex,
pressed an opinion upon the matters to be
submitted to such grand jury for inyestiga-
tion, founded upon public rumor, statements
in'public journals or the common history Of
the'times, provided he be otherwise compe.
tent and upon his oath declare, and it appear
to the satisfaction OF the Court that notwith.
standing such opinion, he' can and will act
impartially upon the matters to be submitted,
and true presentment make according to the
evidence; but the Court may, in its discre'
ton, set aside any such person.
SEc. 2. And be it further enacted, That in
trials for offences against the United States,
no person shall be held to be incompetent to
act,as juror by reason of having formed or
expressed an opinion upon the guilt or inno-
cence Of the accused, founded upon public
rumor, statements in public journals, or the
common. history of the times. provided he be
otherwise competent, and upon his oath de.
clare, and it appear to the satisfaction of the
Court that, Notwithstanding such opinion, he
can, and will impartislly try the accused upon
: the crime charged in the indictment or infor-
nation and true verdict give upon the evi-
dencet to be presented upon the trial but the
Court may, in its discretion, set aside any such
juror j, t,....n,. ,..,.~eI
OF this Bill the Washington correspondent
Of the Baltimore Sun says: 1t is understood
thatthis Bill was framed with express refer
ence to the case of Jefferson Davis. It will
be remembered that Judge Underwood testi-
fed before the Judiciary Committee that it
would be impossible to convict Mr.. Davis
without the jury was picked, and this Bill
taking away the right. of challenge from the
defehce, nothing will be. easier than, under
the auspices OF Judge Underwood, to Gin his
'ownglanguage) pack jury that would con-
IvietsMr.. Davis of any crime under heaven.
eAs a part of this long delayed but still
cherished scheme of vengeance on the head
of Mr. .a.Davis, "a new indictment has been
lately. found against him by. Judge Under
woods grand jury-an indictment skillfullY
dram up by astute Radical lawyers in this
city,iwith the settled purpose to convict SEN
atofs Of the United States have not scrupled
to say on the floor that had they the power
theywould hang Jeff. Davis, and it is well
known here that Judge Underwood and the
clique which surrounds him are more conf
dentsthan ever of being able to accomplish
their desires to that effect.
The significant articles which appeared yes.
terdly in the New York Herald and Tribune,
5roge that there is s,me truth in this. The
Herald urges Mr.. Davis to flee the country,
ADVICE which he will, of course, not take, and
Mr. Grceley publishes in the Tribune. over
his own signature, an earnest article, depre-
catifg;in the strongest terms the idea Of capi-
tai pdaishment being inflicted .on the leader
oftsso Southern cause. Mr.. Greeley Justly
saysahat such an act, three years after the
e1d the war, would be viewed with abhor-
res jail over the civilized world.n