The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-03
COLORED MEN As JURORS.
Judge Christian. Reply 60 the Petition OF n
Committee OF CoIored Men.

RICHMOND. Va. June 2.-Judge Christian
Of the Hastings Court to-day gave his answer
10 the petition OF a committee OF colored citi-
zens. asking him to summon as jurors all per-
sons entitled TO serve. and whose names may
appear upon all poll books. without discrimina-
tion between white men and black men. Judge
Christian. in his answer. says that he concurs
fully in the reasons given by his predecessor.
the late Judge Guigon. for refusing the petition
asking that In cases where colored persons
were accused OF crime they be- tried 10y colored
jurors who can read and write: but the form
and substance OF the present petition being very
different. and the laws for summoning juri.s
in his court being changed. ne deems IL necss-
sary To give somewhat different answer. He
quotes from the laws "a 10 who are qualified 10
serve rs jurors and says that there can be no
question that the State has the right to pre-
scribe the mode in which jurors are to be- se-
lecied and summoned and trials conducted IN
IT. courts. This he sustains 10y numerous cita-
tons ~ high legal authorities. including Judges
Marshall Storey. Taney. Chase aud Waite. He
holds that the state Of Virginia having the ex-
elusive right TO do so. has through its Legisla-
ture. conferred on him the duty Of furnishing
lists from which lurics In his court shall he
taken. He recognizes the equality OF the coll
ored people before the law, and that they are
liable to serve on luries, ana says that he
will summon them for such purpose when he
ieems IL best for the proper enforcement OF the
laws of the Commonwealth.
The only principle which has governed or
charge Of the duty Of selecting jurors Is that
which will enable him TO comply with the law
and at the same time secure the best material
for It's proper enforcement. On this point he
says: when Ind that | can best do this by
selecting colored jurors will do so. but not till
then. II | WAS disposed to do so. IL would be
simply impossible fur me TO select all persons
entitled 10 serve. and whose names appear on
the poll books rs prayed for I'm the petition and
comply with the law when 1t says that must
select only such as / think we'll qualified to
serve as jurors There are hundreds in this
city. both white and colored. that l have no
opinion Of one way or the other. that never
can or never will select. knowing nothing OF
their qualifications. If | were to select some
colored jurors. with the hundreds Of more
Intelligent white persons liable 10 Jury duty
that | know Of to select from. such selections
would be made simply because they We're coll
ored and would then bee applying IL test Of
qualification condemned by the spirit at least.
OF the Fourteenth Constitutional Amendment
and tho Civil Rights bill Nothing that have
said or done, or can say or do and no addi-
tonal Legislation is necessary to render colornd
citzens more liable under the law than they
now are to jury duty. Education. elevation OF
character and the legal qualifications are the
only things that | know OF necessary 10 render
any persons liable to such duty in this court"