The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1872-09-07
JURY DUTY AND REGISTRATION.

JURY DUTY AND REGISTRATION.
The question is asked US by CORES
pendent, whether or not there has
been any change in the law that pro-
vides the manner of selecting jurors =?
There has been none the venire is
drawn from the list Of registered vo-
tiers. Those not registering are, there
fore, practically exempt from jury du-
ty.
This fact, of securing exemption
from jury duty by failing to register,
has inflenced many thoughtless citizens
not to register rs voters. No greater
evil could befall the State, and society,
than this voluntary abandonment, by
good citizens, of two Of the most inn
portant functions of the sovereign; and
we are persuaded that little sober re-
Election will induce every intelligent
citizen to adopt this view of the SUBJ
ject.
The main objections entertained to
serving upon juries are the disagrcca-
bic associates one meets in the jury
room and the disesteem in which juries
in this State are popularity held. 1t is
unnecessary to underrate these objec-
tions, or to combat the fact that they
exist. They do exist, and they are
weighty objections.
But what ought good citizens to do :?
Wait supine1y for the reformation of
the jury system to come of itself? Will
their absence from the jury box, or
the ballot box, aid in the least the de-
sired changes? Are not those who re-
fuse to register and vote, and who re-
fuse to do jury duty, helping to per-
petuatc the very cviIs'of which they
and the country so loudly and 20 Justly
complain?
1t is plain that sucl, is the practical
result. The jury system Of our State,
acknowledged by men Of all parties to
be defective, can never be improved,
until all good men unite in voting into
power men with the ability, patriot
ism and honesty requisite for the task
of revision of the jury laws, regardless
of the effect such revision may have
upon their personal advancement. If
but this one measure of reform was to
be carried, the citizens duty and inter-
est, whose life or property may, any
day, be placed mt the disposal OF igno-
rant jurors, would seem to demand
impcrativcfy that ne exercise all the
franchises accorded him, tor the pur-
pose of establishing the much needed
reform. But it is not this abuse alone
we arc called upon to uproot, but there
are hundreds of Others, many as repug-
nant rs the one under considerations,
which equally as imperatively demand
the active and energetic intcrposition
of the citizens ballot to prevent their
further existence.
The revision of the jury laws is Il
matter which appeals directly to every
voters interest. An individual may
be assured, by non-registry, of exemp-
ton from duty as a juror, but no one
can possibly assure himself, or be assur-
cd, of exemption from the cS-partc in
Vestigatiohs of the Grand Inquest of
ms parish, the biased vcrticts OF prciu-
diced and il!iterate jurors. or ofthe fact
mat his father, friend or ncighbcr NAV
not suffer from the same causes.
increase the number of honest and
ih'elligent voters, and you increase the
number Of honest and Intelligent iu-!
rors, and to that extent insure the moro
certain administration of Justice and
the surer preservation of the good order
of society. But diminish the nunber