Morris tribune., 1880-04-15
Mr.. EDITOR.

desire to address an explanation OF the
controversy, concerning the pcculiarites
of the Municipal Court of st. Paul, to the
people, as the subject is of deep interest to
them, affecting their fundamental rights,
which should be scrutinized, Investigated,
and corrected by the Legislature at the
earliest possible opportunity.
Trial by jury has been accepted as q test
fact in the history of the development of
man, from the savage to the civilized state,
and of his de!iyerance from despotism to
civil liberty.
The right to trial by ones Peers, where
the life. liberty or property of an individu-
al is involved, was wrenched from King
John Of England by his stalwart and spirit
ed BaronS and made Il part of the .Hagna
Chartd, that inest Unable right has descend
ed to US, and is incorporated in the pream
BILE of our constitution.
The meaning of ones peers" is, our
neighbors, and that, again, signifies those
of like quality and station in life, who
are capable of comprehending and appre-
ciating the nature of the act to be investi-
gated.
1t Was one of the grievances complained
of by our fOrefathers against the
Government of Great Britain, that the
colonistS of North America were compel
ed when they appealed, to have their causes
of action taken to England for final adjudi
~ i; vi
convenience of litigAnts. For transporting
us beyond the seas to be tried for pretended
Offences" is one of the counts charged in
the declaration of Independence of the col
onists against the British Monarch.
Now. in this day, there is a court estab
lished in the City of St. Paul, with powers,
which it exercises whenever called upon so
to do, to compel US to travel, even az far
us from St. Vincent on the borders of the
British Territory, to st. Paul, distance of
| four hundred miles, with our witnesses, to
defend actions Of whatever character, in
amounts ranging from one dollar to two
hundred dollars, the cause, to be tried, not
/ by jury selected from the intelligent and
virtuous citizens of that City or of Ramsey
County, but gathered from the slums, from
among such idlers as are found standing
around the streets, or inhabiting the dram
shops of that City, in a court presided over
by one of the most notorious debauchecs in
this state. No change of venue is provided
for, or allowed, and If the parties to the
action are dissatisfied with the rulings of
such Judge, or the verdict of such jury,
there is no appeal, except to the Supreme
Court of our state, which is in St. Paul too.
Think of the expense of this whole pro-
ceeding. The continuances, "the laws
delays" Are those juries composed OF
our Peers? That municipal court has
greater powers than are possessed by any
other tribunal of this state. Greater pow
ers than any court ever has had from the
formation of this Territory. claim that
the operation of the law giving such extra
ordinary powers to that court is uuneces
sary, oppressive and tyrannical, and am
determined that no covert insults clothed
in high sounding phrases, no ri6icule cou
ched in latin quotations of questionable or
biography, or disrcspcctful jcers of others,
shall conceal the immense proportions of
this Devil Fish" of judication, from the
vision and understanding of the people.
Denouncing this creature as monster
has excited the ire of its friends. 1t is evil
IDENTIFY Pet of the merchants and lawyers
of St. Paul, which can, with its many
arms, simultaneously leach to every part
: of our state, and snatch debtors from any
distance, draw them into the Capital City
and stuff them into its ineXorable nav, tc
be chewed up at its pleasure. Hoping the
charge of Redundant verbiage" will no
be applied to this article and that it will
; not be so ''senentious" but that it may b,
comprehendsd by the champion of this
modern iniquity, Isubscribe myself,
Yours Respectfully,
GEO A T 0vERT0N