The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-02-14
THE JURY Bill.
An Explanation of IT,
To the Edition Of the Cnmet:

y
vanced against the principles involv-
ed in the measure. The chief obiec-
ton urged seems to be.upon the point
ofparty policy. Just legislation should
be unable to distinguish between
principle and policy. TO paraphrase
an old proverb, good principle is the
best policy. The Democratic party
within the last ten years has we'll nigh
wrecked itself by following this phan-
tom of policy, during Which it's line
of march has been marked by the
ruins of splendid opportunities, and
the monumental follies of decade of
blunders.
This measure will be good law,
and therefore good party policy. 'o
Furthermore, it is not party meas
ure.. Although brought forward by
Democrat, several Republicans advo-
Gated and voted forit. Among these,
Mr.. Selby, colored Republican, from
Marshall, made very fine and tell
ing speech in it's favor. He is a man
of excellent education and culture,
combined with very fine intelligence,
and who understands the measure i'll
all its bearings as we'll as any man in
the House. | believe also, that Mr..
Fields of Pamela, another colored Re
publican, and a man of sharp observa-
ton, common sense and keen wit, ALSO
supported ID, though I cannot state
positively as to him.
The whole matter seems to be mis-
understood. 1T is not an experiment.
1t is based upon similar systems
which havelong prevailed and given
satisfaction in such States as New
York, California, Illinois, Texas, Ala
bama, Georgia, and most other States
of the union.
The scheme of tie bill is as follows.
The Circuit Judge selects annually,
three jury commissioners for each
county of his circuit. who are bound
by oath and criminal penalties, for the
impartial discharge of their duties.
They have furnished them by the tax
assessor, list of all the persons on
his roll in the county. From these
names the commissioners shall select
according to the population Of the
county, not less than two hundred, nor
more than five hundred men of "good
intelligence, sound judgement and
fair character, and shall take them as
nearly as may be in equal numbers
from each Supervisors District" No
other qualification is required, No
man is excluded on account of race,
color, educational or property qualifi-
cation. The only classes excluded are
fools and scolmdrels., Who wants |
them to decide on questions of life,
liberty and property?
These five hundred names are put
in petit jury box, and the petit juries
are drawn therefrom, not by the COM
missioners, but by the Circuit Clerk
and Sheriff, by lot. So there is no OPP
portunity to pack jury.
The Commissioners serve only one
year, and are Ineligible for the next
three and new jury boxes are also
made up every year, so that every
man in the county fit to serve, has his
turn. Provisions are made to rid the
courts of the pest of professional jurors,
Thus is combined the principle of
intelligent selection, with that of
chance drawing by other officers,
whice affords an effectual check
against fraud and Partially, which is
further guarded by the frequent
change of Commissioners, and of the
names in'the jury box.
Debate in the House disclosed the
fact that it is now impossible, under
the present system, to convict rich Or
influential criminals, or persons guilty
of political offenses. One member
stated that during the last fifteen
years, out of many white men tried
for homicide in his county, only two
had been convicted; that during the
same period, he estimated that not
less than thirty colored men had
been found guilty of the same offense.
The object of the bill is to reach the
powerful criminals, as well as the hum
bic and friendless, and also to secure the
intelligent determination of rights of
property by men who can understand
them. 1t will give us jurors, who
cannot be bribed-the great curse Of
the present system.
1t was urged to place the selection
of the jury lists in the hands of the
The objection to- that
was, that it would subject the jury
box to political manipulation, the
Supervisors being a political body
many men, especially the professional
juror class, who do not earn ten. dol
lars month, deem it god-send to be
summoned on a jury, where they can
draw 81 so a day, and mileage, and
sleep away the time over the rights
and liberties of litigants. Such men
would make the putting.of themselves
in the jury box, Il test in the selection
of Supervisors.
With the safeguards thrown around
The commission system, it was thought
to be the better of the two. But if
this cannot be attained, it will be a
vast improvement on the presen dig
graceful condition of things, to leave
.he same duties TO be performed by
he Supervisors. Undoubtedly a
'lHnge is urgently demanded ,bv II
jhe majority of popular sentiment
the State. CD.
Hon. II. r, TrimbIe for tI,a Su,,.o,.