Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-06-19
WILLIAM PENN AND HIS HEROIC
JURY.
HON. SAMUEL s. cox IN THE HOUSE,
JUNE 3.


Bailey, in 1870, for tumultuously as
sembling, with others, in Grace Church
street, in London, where he had
preached his Quaker doctrine. But
the light which shone within him, the
unjust Judge could not quench. When
an honest Jury were impaneled, aud
while he was bufeted by Jeiireys, that
inner light broadened into n radiance
which-iilled two worlds with its glory.
The popiniay courtiers and bad Judges
of that day mistook their man-this
quiet, serene, non-swearing and non
rcsistent Quaker; ny, too, they mis-
took their jury. While in former
trials there had been II conspicuous
failure of the system, yet, like the fail
ure of the alchemists, it may be attri-
buted to impunity of the ingredients; (;
but on this trial the unalloyed gold
appeared in the alembic. The person
al heroism of Penn inspired the jury,
and after struggle of five days, be-
tween judges, jurors and accused, at
last verdict came in. that Penn was
mot guilty." 1t was II scene for an
historic picture. 1t illustrates one of
the nobest sentiments OF our Dcclara-
ton of independence. With it Penn
sylvana might well adorn her hall of
Independence. Pennsylvania is now
discussing whose etiigy, chiseled by the
sculptor's art, shall be sent in her be-
half, to ornament our federal capitol.
How can she hesitate? Let it be
William Penn-not as her proprietor
and founder; not as standing among
the red men ut Shakamaxon, forging
that covenant chain which was to
last while sun and moon endure; not
rs n swordless magistrate, law maker
or humanitarian; not defying the
lieutenant of the tower; but Us the
champion of jury trial, when it was
almost friendlcss in the British islands.
Go with me IT, fancy to the London
of two hundred and nine years ago.
How it looked then you may see by
the rude cuts in Il little volume of
1851, now on my desk. Here are the
gates, the churches, colleges, gardens
and monuments. Here is Westmin-
ster Abby and the Parliament House,
White Hall and The Temple, and
here the wonderful arms of the fifty
trades and companies out of which
the lord mayor is chosen And here,
mirdJiie risl! is the lord mayor him
self and, tier above tier, his court of
adipose aldermen! Seated ut the top,
between two heralds, one with Il staff
and the other with n sword, is the
grand mayor, and above him the arms
of England, with q sword and n pen
non inscribed Dieu ct mon droi In
their full wigs, ample gowns, and
" full, round bellies, with good fat
capon lined" sit the pompous, puffy
aldermen! These are the judges of
the heroic Quaker.
This book describes the city then rs
so brave, fair and stately as to "out-
vie the most magnificent city of the
universe" All it had been a proud
city and in other days displayed its
pride against the craft of kings and
courtiers who sought to rob it of its
charter. Now, it is low indeed, under
servile vassalage to n frivolous mon
arch, as the scene of Penn's trial
shows.
Parliament had just passed the
conventicle act against profanc and
loose persons who preached non-con-
formity. One of these was the we'll
born Quaker of twenty five years,
who had already suffered for his
faith by expulsion from Oxford. He
is seized by constables, while speak
ing to n crowd near his chapel,
whose doors had been purposely
closed. He is borne off to Newgate
and there imprisoned.
The gray and gloomy prison had
received many a miscreant and many
n patriot. Here had been immured
Lord Russell and Jack Sheppard,
the regicide Harrison and the assas-
sin BeIlingham. 1t was no respec-
tor of rank or person. Never be-
fore had its gloomy walls confined n
finer or firmer spirit than that of
Penn. His undaunted soul knew no
prison walls.
The trial begins on the 1st of
September, 1870, at the Old Bailey,
(which runneth doune by the Mall,
upon Hounds Ditch to Ludgate,"
and was equally celebrated then as
now for its criminal sessions. The
hero of that trial, next to Penn, is
one Edward Bushel, juror; its
shame is the furious mayor, Sir
Samuel Startling, and one John
Howell, the insolent recorder. The
aldesmen and sheriHs are rather lay
figures in the scene. The court Is
crowded. Silence is called. The
witnesses are heard "a to the assemb-
ling in the streets. Penn rises to ac-
knowledge the facts and vindicate his