Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1880-04-20
lFor the Spirit of JsiIerson.l i
MIXED.


Federal. dictation as to the selection of
jurors for the State of West Virginia, in con-
fict with the laws of the State, occurred in
Petersburg a short time ago. This outrage
upon the sovereignty of selfgovernment
must be rebuked at the polls next November.
The question is not because new element is
to be foisted upon the juries of the country,
but the Prescriptions interference by the
general government with the non. delegated
powers by the States, and for the base parti,
Fan purpose OF further invading the sacred
guarantees OF States rights. And for what
Not to benefit the negro. but to use him to
help the party to finish what they have begun,
viz: the destruction of republican govern.
ment.
How significant this Wood county case
Reuben Grant, negro indicted for felony,
requires under the dictune of venal court,
that his peers shall try him. Like another
Grant, he is sensitive about his peers. Well,
if white men are not his peers, then the
eight jurors who were white were wrongfully
in the box. But still more remark able is the
fact that Grant stole watch and money from
Bradley; here We have a Grant roLGing a
Bradley, and then claiming to be tried by his
peers (negroes) in conformity with that no.
torious Bradley who helped to make the de-
cision under which the law of West Virginia
is to be made of non>efect. 1t is not settled
it the Supreme partizans of the Court in
tended that negro peers should be on juries
to convict their peer at the bar of justice, or
hang the jury composed of whites and blacks.
One thing is certain, if man is to be tried
by his peers, and whites are not the peers of
negroes according to the Supreme Courts de-
osion, then Reuben Grant is not tried by his
peers. for eight Of the jurors are white IF
the decision is worth anything in decid>
ing that the color of mans skin is to
constitute peerage or equality, then jury
must be summoned to suit the complexion
of every pan to be tried mulatto
must have jury of his own complexion
in order to get justice a Chinaman must
have his olive-skinned countryman to peer
his case through the labyrnths of modern
Jurisprudence, as decided by the astutes of
the chief wool sack Let US forget that there
ever was Marshall and fancy on the Su.
preme Bench until these Strongs and Brad
leys are off of it. The court was reconstruc.
ted to get them on; now let it be RECONSTRUCT
led again to get them off, or they will by
their decisions, disfranchise the white race
But after all, they are fair exponants of their
party. 1t is but few days ago, whom a SO.
called Republican State convention put two
negroes as primaries aud two white men as
a!ternates as delegates to their national farce
to be holden in Chicago to ratify the wishes
of Don Cameron and Prince Conklyn Tho
Democratic party makes DO strife between
the rnces; it leaves each race to seek and
enjoy all the benefits of reciprocal relations
based on the great laws of business. each
recognizing the political rights as they exist,
without trenching the one upon the other,
thus establishing harmony which the so,
called Republicans are legislatiug and judi
cially destroying. And all this for one pur.
pose alone. viz: to keep themselves in office
They have no sympathy with the African
race, apart from what they can make out of
him. They declared again and again. when
the war commenced, that it was rot for the
purpose of freeing the slaves, yet freedom
resulted from the war, as n punishment to
the shareholders of the South. but not as
reward, or purpose by them, to benefit the
saves. They esteemed them as contrabands
o. war, which the party appropriated az guar
dams OF the ballot box to vote into office the
false friends who destroyed their homes, to
make them the miserable subjects of their
avarice and ambition by sending them from
genial homes to cold Northern States with
view OF voting as they dictate, in order to
change the politics of such States as Indiana
thus seeking to make a solid North Aud
to reconcile the negro to the new bondage
which they covertly design for him, they
decide that he must be forced on jmrics as
palliative for the yoke they are fitting to his
neck. They never think of offering him
office IN the Northern States, but would like
to see him have the Offices they cannot get