The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1876-09-13
JURORS AND POLITICS.
Bascum as a Lawyer--The Ju-
rOrS of the Present Day Mix
ed with POIitics--@ Good
Lord, Deliver U.s.

] cd with HOlIG1cS-- GOOO
Lord, Deliver U.s.
To the Editor of the Morristown Gazette:
COUSIN JOHN DO you remember
that old and tedious way they used
to have of trying men in the courts
by the law and the evidence?
1t was perfect bore. and many a
time the same broke a fellows leck,
more especially if the proof against
him was substantiated by the killing
Of some innocent person. But the
late method of trying a man accord
ing to politics alone is much short
er; and, if a man makes judicious
selection of persons, is a much less
dangerous way, than the old "law
and evidence style.
Now, it is true, that much law is
read by the lawyers. and they often
attempt to quote scripture and the
evidence is taken, and rehersed to
the jury of twelve of the best men in
the county, but when those twelve
men retire to arrive at a decision,
the first and most material point in
the case at which they wish to ar
rive, provided they do not already
know, (but they usually know, for
the lawyer in his argument scarcely
ever fails to make known this fact),
is, of what political persuasion do
the defendant, or plaintive belong!
And in very many instances, If a
verdict was reported to the court, as
arrived at by the jurors, it would
read somewhat thusly: Guilty Gc-
cOToling to the IaaU and the evidence,
but not guilty according to politics"
But jurors have way Of getting
around that by merely reporting
"not gully"
In this country, where the two
parties are so equally divided, this
is a very convenient way of trying
a man, provided you have the good
will of the sheriff; but when politics
are against you. and an unsympa-
thetic sheriff to deal with, / would
some rather take my chances at
throwing heads and tales with
blind man.
Not long since was at q court
where a trial of this kind was tried,
and after it was disposed of by a
jury of twelve honest men, a gentle
man of the same politics as the man
who was tried, remarked to me that
Mi had been cleared. told
him that l understood as much.
"Well," said he, II knew that would
be the case as soon as / saw the
jury"
You see at once, Cousin John, that
this is much the best way.
Now, in older times, when law
and testimony was part and parcel
of the trial, a man could not tell
these things by looking at a jury,
and if bad case, it rendered ones
friends uneasy until the jury return
ed a verdict. But under the present
mode of trial by politics, all of that
uneasiness is dispensed with, pro-
vided your lawyer and yourself are
only posted with regard to the polit-
ical record of the men summoned as
Jurors. 1t is true that the present
plan renders it little more difficult,
at times, to get up q jury. all of the
right persuasion than the old law
and evidence plan did. and then. oc-
casionally, outsiders notice the thing
and make remarks about it; but
when a man s life or character is at
stake, these little outside issues are
not to be taken into consideration.
1t looks right funny to see law
yer refuse juror Of his own politi-
cal persuasion, in order to save his
client who is of the opposite persua-
sion, but this is sometimes done.
But tell you, it makes fellow
feel powerful bad to be spotted out
from the regular pannel on account
of his political opinions, and some
one else chosen in his place who is
more friendly, politically speaking,
to the cause of the accused than he
is but this is sometimes done, and
it generally works well. l like this
new departure from law and evil
dence very much, especially when /
lave the benefit of politics on my
side. THos. BAsCUM.