Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-07-27
THE ONE MANS COURT"

AnG VINE NAV " VIVA
The following remarkable editorial, from
the Greeneville Union, q Democratic pa
per, on the Criminal Court Bill, by which
the proposed Criminal Court for Knox
county is established, is worthy OF the most
earnest perusal and consideration OF every
citizen. We express no opinion as to the
alleged objects OF this remarkable law, but
we invite the especial attention of our
readers to the dangers which the Union
anticipates. To whom will the people of
Knox county confide the anomalous and
dangerous powers imposed upon the Judge
by this law? viii they entrust it to any
man who is supported and endorsed by the
Knoxville ring that concocted this law
Are the clique of men who had this law
passed for some particular object, to be al
lowed to dictate through caucus the man
to administer this dangerous law? Read
now what this outspoken Democratic sheet
has to says of this Court and law:
THE ONE MANS COURT.
Among the various sections of the act creating
and defining the powers SG t Of H%IGe court
SEC T. BE IL further enacted, That the Judge
of said Criminal Court shall, from time to tlmei
appoint grand and petit juries to attend sald
court at its regular and special terms ana Jurles
and witnesses thus attending shall receive the
same compensation and shall be subject to the
same regulations AS now prescribed by law IN
the Circuit Courts of this State.
SEC. Z Be II further enacted. That the Judge
of said Criminal Court shall not be dlsquallied
by reason of said position from practlclng MS
profession in civil causes in the other courts OF
this State
Section 4 is "a most remarkable provision in
deed. The Court is not only to charge the law,
but under this section is to select the members
of the grand juries and the petit iuries: What
does IL trial by jury amount to under this extra
ordinary enactment 1t is simply one man 5
court i corrupt Judge can call around HIM II
corrupt jury and accomplish any desired opJect,
and never fail unless he mistakes his man.
Our legislators are not at all times as consd-
crate as they should be, and on bills the most
important, but seemingly unimportant, they
often vote yea or nay without due consideration.
We believe this is case IN point 1hey certain 9
" did not mean TO do what they did. They
certainly did not mean TO virtually place within
the keeping of one man the life and liberty OF the
people of populous county, as well as the pub
lie interest contingent on the vindicatlan OF I'M
partial law.
We are Informed that the people of Knox,
generally, wished for Criminal Court-that Il
bill for the creation of such court was drawn
to be submitted to the Legislature-that section
was modified, as above given, to confer extra
ordinary powers on the Judge. In whose mind
this modification originated we know not, neither
do we care; but one thing we do know, there
was Il design coupled with the act. What that
design was we have TO infer from the reading of
the act, and from the nature OF tnc surroundings,
that are to be affected by its enforcement. All
must agree that extraordinary circumstances
only could demand such extraordinary legisla-
ton. Beyond this the opinions might be varied.
Among the various opinions will be found this
not unreasonable one that the act was designed
to meet particular case. Some believe that it
was intended to cover the case of Col. Baxter
anG Gen. Msbry. Our own convictions flashed
in that direction the first time our eyes fell upon
the text Whether or not our mind has under
gone any change it makes particular differ
ence but multitudes believing, from the nature
of the Baxter Mabry difficulty, that the pend
ing criminal suit caused the modification of sec
tcn so as to command extraordinary means
for the accomplishment of extraordinary ends
the friends of the measure should, if possible
remove from it this suspicion.
Whether intended to apply to n particular
case or not, the principle is abominable, the pre-
cedent dangerous in the extreme. 1t is wide
departure from the old landmarks that promises
no good but much evil What might not the
result be? Suppose one cause gives rise to both
a criminal and civil suit. Under the two sec
tons quoted, the Judge may be retained in the
civil suit and sit on the criminal case, and even
select the the jurytO try the latter. What could
corrupt men not accomplish under this most in
quitous enactment? How guarded we should
be in these corrupt times, when such a large
proportion of our rulers are corrupt to the core.
Let US contenn such abominable laws as not
only permit vice in high places, but hold out
inducements TO bribery and corruption, and
seek 10 defeat the ends of justice