The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-06-17
THE CONGRESS.
Federal Juries in the South.
The Senate Discusses the Test Oath and
the System Of Drawing Juries il
the United States COURTS.

WASHINGTON, June 16.-The Chair laid
before the Senate, memorial from the
Louisiana Constitutional Convention, asking
for the creation of d new judicial District Re
ferred. Also emorial from the Louisiana
delegation asking the United States to cede
the Baton Rouge Barracks to the State for an
artillery school. Referred to the Military
Committee,
Mr. Davis, of West Virginia, said the Com
mittee on Appropriations was not ready to
report the House joint resolution providing
tor final adjournment, and that II would
w absurd To remain Ill the committee room
for the present.
MI. Walker introduced resolution, which
was agreed to, authorizing the Committee to
Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses
Of the Senate To Sit during the recess of Con
Eress also, resolution calling On the Presi-
dent Tor information as I'd the number Of sol
diers killed and the value ct property de-
stroyed iii the various Indian wars OF the past
ten years. Placed On the calendar;
Mr. MCPHERSON called UP Senate Dill NO
GIL, to amend an act for enrolling and licens-
ing ships tn be employed iii the coasting
trade. etc. The bill simply exempts canal-
boats and barRes Id the BOHstlng trade from
1893.
Mir. Conkling asked II these would not ID
clude tugs which often tow cargo ships back
with passengers.
Wr. Mcpherson thought it would,
Mr.. Cameron offered to amend BY inserting
the words, land not In any case carrying
passengers,D 90 as To restrict the exemption
to freight vessels. TIE amendment was
mi Mn. .tI Conkling said the proposed oct would
allow an owner of boat to oblitsrate Ito
name with paint brush, % that hereafter
no lien for debt can attach.
Pending the discussion the regular order
was called, being the judicial expense DliI.
Mr.. Dawes spoke against the bill, saying
that II was the most perniclons OF all bills
vet brought before the Senate. He described
the mode Of choosing jurors LIZ Massaehn-
setta, where every voter passed upon thslr
agitation might be, that consideration never
influenced the selection Of jurors. The same
conditions obtained with slight differences
throughout New England. Instead OF ali this
1t is proposed to make the choice g, of these
Jurors merely partisan affair. Inls Is an
anomaly In legislation.
Mr. Hill said he wanted to reiterate what he
said Saturday, that he indorsed cordially the
views presented by the Senator from New
was necessity, and, therefore, decent and
proper bill. Mr.. Hill then gave history o.
the present jury system In his own State OF
Georgia. From the time Of reconstruction
until 1879 there was nothing to com
plain of In this regard, but in that year
the items were changed so as to enable the
United States commission to choose panel
of 600 persons, not from the taa books, as
hitherto, but from the whole body OF the
people In the southern district Of Georgia.
without reference to race or previous con-
dition Of servitude Here WAS an answer to
the statement that the Senator from New
York made on Saturday. There could be no
difficulty in getting good juries In Federal
no ho fat ln
did not believe that In the last six years there
had been Federal jury In Louisiana before
which the Senator from New York would
argue case.
Mr.. Conkling thought a good law ought not
to be repealed because there are abuses under
it: better amend the law, and make Its weak
points stronger. He was not In favor OF the
bill which was dictated by g party caucus.
would not apply to the Northern States. It
was to correct an existing evil in the South.
and for that reason alone would he vote Tor
It. Under the circumstances 1t was the best
thing that could be done: =,
Mr.. Hereford spoke in favor OF the blll
which he advocated for the reason that judges
do not obey the law.
Mr. Morgan reviewed the history OF the
jury system of this country. The present resent
abuse, and in his opinion its! consti-
tutionality ought to be tested by, a
decision Of the Supreme Court of the
United States. The Judge OF the court
Is chosen under circumstances of great
caution He Is appointed by the President
and confirmed by the Senate, sitting with
closed doors, after every. .precaution has
been taken to ascertain whether he is not en-
entirely free from partisan prejudices but the
Judge Is but one part OF the court. The iuries
which compose the other part are chosen In a
manner far otherwise. They are chosen by
partisans and for partisan purposes. Grant
ing that this was necessary In 1866, and for
short time afterward, 1t cannot be called
for now, when universal amnesty prevails, Of
course the test oath law is almost universal
Eight millions white inhabitants, men, women
ana children-who participated in some de
gree In the late struggle between the States,
are now debarred from jury service under the
partial trial BY any jury which can be chosen.
Mr. Morgan critized, with great. severity,