Wilmington daily gazette., 1872-06-21
PARrVzAM JURORS.

FAN AN OVWO"Ss
It's commendable fact that the gentlem en-
forming the Democ ratio Levy Court OF this county.
although they succeeded Radical Levy Court.
which had excluded Democrats from the jury
boxes almost entirely, ignored politics altogether
and supplied the boxes from which the ju1ies are
drawn. with the names OF 50 many Republicans
that there was really a majority OF gentlemen oil
that party drawn and served during the late Term
OF Courts at New Castle.
What contrast is here presented between the
parties When We reflect that the exclusive poll
cy has Leen followed by the Radicals IN making
up the jures of the United States Courts, the
comparison becomes even more strong, and must
be repulslve to every tar minded gentleman who
values the institutions OF the country.
And this course ha. been Justified by the party
organ Of the Radicals Ii anything is calculated
to destroy the sentiment of patriotism which it
used to be the pride OF every free and independent
citizen to stimulate, 1t is this policy OF prosecuting
men for their 7ltcal opinions and destroying the
last hope Of tar trial by jury of their country
men
Why, where when such acts can be done
and approved of by the press and the party IN
power! Ii such Is to bc the policy OF the country.
trial By jury may become farce. One may have
as fair chance to prove his innocence under the
most supreme ruler.
departure like this from one of the funda
mental principles OF our government, so long fol-
lowed. and sanctioned by custom from generation
to generation, is we'll calculated to destroy the
cherished hopes OF establishing upon solid basis
the system of sef-government, which cost our
fathers so much patience, labor and boodshed to
initiate, and which the world had almost been
convinced was accomplished
No man can 60 to trial with u jury summoned
and packed of his political opponents, with that
confidence of receiving justice at their hands to
which he is entitled, matter how innocent he
may be- Ii there IS anything OF which our Courts
and juries and law officers can base their claim to
honor aud dignity and estimation by their fellow
countrymen, it Is tor having melted out in that
fair and impartial manner which the founders OF
our system intended justice and right to every
man, aud especially an opponent charged with
political offence.
Why this is the especial pride of country
as it was also of our English ancestry, and the
names OF the two or three judges who dared to
depart from this policy even to crafty party ma
Lightly and please a sovereign were sunk so
low even in old Arstocratic England long years
ago as to be an approach and stigma of shame
until this very day.
1t has been said that iuries formed from one
party exclusively in Kent and Sussex counties
on inquiry we have been assured that such is not
the case. The only exclusion being the negro
population, who 1t Is true are mostly if not wholly
Radical III casting their votes. And 1t seems this
exclusion now reaches the U. S. Courts held in
tbs city, which has I'VE think wisely abandoned
the summoning of negroes as jurors. At all
events the present jury is wholly of white men
But even II Kent and Sussex had excluded Re-
puofcans from the juries, 1t will hardly be said
with any pretence TO consistency that the United
States Courts should attempt TO punish the gem
tlemen OF the Levy Court of this county. who
have acted So differently, Tor the offence of Kent
and Sussex. This would not be dispensing jusf,ce
but rather dispensing so,M ii. as a matter of NO
concern, by those who have solemnly sworn to
fulfill all the requirements of the Courts-the
chief OF which is that justice and equity be melted
out to every citizen.
SO far as We know or can learn, the gentlemen
OF the Levy Court who have been arrested, are
entirely innocent of the infractiou of any law
certain we are that they are not guilty OF any ma
lcious or intentional violation thereof