National Republican., 1875-12-03
AHysrrsp conpIIxEKr.
a Flea .inR Episode in Tbs Criminal Court
gu See How Hen Of Merit Are soug

a rIes ing Episode In Tbs Criminal Court
.'.sn See How Hen of Merit Are Sought
After"
Yesterday, before discharging the petit jury,
all the cases Of the Government TO be tried be-
fore them during this term having been disposed
Of Judge Macarthur made q few beautiful and
well-timed remarks. He thanked them for their
good and faithful work, and the efficient and IN
every way satisfactory manner in which they nad
DISCHARGED their duties as jurors, and SAID tnaf,
as jury Ct more than, ordinary intelligence and
discretion, they had assisted him no little In ia'i
itsting the business Of the Court, and py their
wise and judicious actions had done great creoit
to both the community and 70 themselves. AT
the conclusion of Judge MacArthurs remarks.
]. d. McGill, ESQ.,. editor and proprietor OF the
GeoT0etotpn Courier and one OF the jurors, In be-
halt Of his associates, stepped forward and read
NAV II please your Honor: The petit Jurors of
the Criminal Court desire, before severing their
inoWiedgments for the courtesy, kindness and
cor orsiderstion which you have so uniformly ex-
tended 10 them. Ever since your advent among
US, commendation Of your course as an uPrlgny
able Judge could be heard on every side; Dut II
required such proximity as We have enjoyed 70
tb6pusn unconssiSUsIy & iIIustrated as il has been
The jury system, the origin Of which is 50 re-
mote as to battle the antiquarians researches, mas
Of late years been assailea IN many qas.Ses -, ~
the glorious principle, but rather TO the delln-
auency Of those who, consulting their ease or the
accumulation Of wealth, refuse to discharge fully
their high duties as citizens. Law, though prop
erly defined the perfection of human wisdom, !"
is yet so surrounded with mystihcation as not to
be within the comprehension Of ordinary minds;
but it has, nevertheless, been made SO clear to us
by you, to whom, evidently, the most subtle and
abstruse questions are
mo more difieult
Than for Q blackbird IT'S to whistle,
that our path has been easy and the performance
Of duty unmistakable throughout.
during the summer recess, when discovery after
discovery followed each other 30 rapidly that it
seemed as If the foundations Of society were
shaken, and good men generally, with bated
breath, asked themselves, what next2 But, as
their minds reverted to this imperial tribunal,
they were instinctively treasured, for, panoplied
justice, they felt that here was the anchor Of
their hopes, and terror to evil doers, fmpervious
to assault as rock Of adamRnt, or rather like
"Some tall cliff, that lifts Its awful form,
Swells from the vale, and midway leaves the
storm,
Though reund its breast the rolling clouds are
spread,
Eternal sunshine settles on its head"
These remarks are made, may It please your
Honor, with no desire to initiate against the
worth Of your predecessors, and least Of all the
venerable and learned gentleman associated with
you in this Supreme tribunal OF the District; but
we, who can never expect to meet together In
the came capacity again, the duties of which
were to some OF us entirely new, and to all more
or less irksome, know that We have daily prohted
Dy our ottenoance mere, anu snail, Is We pursue
our avocations, in retrospection realize with ST.
Paul that we, too, have sat at the feet Of CANA
lieI. Profoundly impressed as We are with these
views, we cordially wish you, Judge maoArtnur,
q long and happy life, as an ornament TO society
and q credit to Jurisprudence.
Mr.. McGin asked that this address, which was
signed by all Of the jurors, be entered upon the
records Of the court.
Judge Macarthur thanked them warmly for
these expressions of their kindly feelings, and in
severing his relations with them wished each and
every one q long and prosperous life.