Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-03-16
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
MEDITATION on Law AND POLITICAL.
ECONOMY.
BY LurHna Baows.

This is the 7th of March, it is very
muddy, and shocking bad travelling
bnt | think ! see as many as 80 men
starting from all parts OF the county
for. Lancaster. What does it all
mean? Why, they are jurymen,
going there TO assist in dispensing
justice part of them are grand jury>
men--you see. GRADER stole a pig, (so
they say, and Bruiser knocked down
a woman. and damaged her consid-
cradle and both of these cases are
against the peace, and dignity ofthe
State; and the grand jury are going
TO investigate them; and if they think
GRADER and Bruiser are guilty they
will turn them over 10 the court, to
be tried by the other jury; and If
they are not willing to be tried where
they are known, they will make oath
to that effect, and their case will
probably be removed to another court,
and another jury will at some future
time be called to try them and this
is called practicing political economy.
In the mean time GRADER and Bruiser
will (for the want OF bonds) oe board
ed at public house, (vulsularly cal.
led ajalD at the public expense; in
winter men will be employed to pro-
vide fuel, and keep up fires under
them, SO they shall not suffer by
reason of the cold. Now this is the
Centennial year, and it is wonderful
to see the Improvement that has been
made in the science of law, and polit
ical economy. In ancient times, if a
man stole camel, or an ass, he was
taken before the Judge, who on
hearing the proof, Immediately sem
fenced him to some suitable punish.
ment; they did not give him the priv.
ilege of the writ of haLeas corpus,
nor get together 80 men from which
he might select jury no, they de-
prived him of all these precious priv
ileges which are now so fully enjoy
ed by the people of this glorious
country. Had it hot been for the
writ of habens corpus Tweed would
still have been prisoner on Black
wells Island and forced to be the
companion of thieves and robbers,
and there would have been but little
money made on him while there.
| Now political economy is great
thing it is what makes Nations
rich ; and it is worthy of serious
enquiry whether the way we manage
our GRADERS, and Bruisers, is the
best that can be devised. There are
60 men, taken from their homes by
the strong arm of the law, and forced
to remain an indefinite time for the
trial of GRADER and Bruiser and
their pay amounts to xl.25 per day
which the people have to pay. Sup
posing jury OF IL men is necessary
TO ensure fair trial /; (Which | b,
no means admit) where is the neces
sity for employing 80 so as to give
The prisoner a chance TO pick hls
men? Have the people no rights,
that prisoner is bound to respect .
What has become of political econ
omy that has always been loudly
professed by political parties !? ] hold
1t 10 be susceptible of the dearest
proof that juries are Of no possible
use in courts; that the rights Of
parties would be better secured were
the whole left to the Judge, who
always has character that he can.
not afford to trade off besides, oul
courts are open, and should Judge
dare to trample on law. and justice
the fact could not be concealed, and
it would be the signal for hurting him
from power. But there is reason
why juries have been established, and
one man given power to defeat tn,
will of eleven but to explain it here
would make this lesson too long.