Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-09-13
FOR SMALLER JURIES.

In the constitutional convention on
Wednesday during the debate on the
question OF reducing the number OF
jurors In uDimportant cases Mr.. X.
Walton Moore, of Fairfax county, said:
"And very many others may be tried
With q small jury, and expenses s,ved.
That is, l repeat, what they did In
Louisiana in the constitution OF 1884,
and when you 60 to the constitution Of
the State OF Louisiana adopted in 1898
you fad what? You lad that they
we're 30 we'll satisfied with the expert
ment OF 1884 that they not only retain
cd the provision for the reduction OF the
number of jurors 10 mIsdemeanor cases,
but they extended il.
80, We have to guide us the expert
ence OF the State OF Louisiana, covering
the period from 1884 to 1898, as well as
the experience OF other localities. Ooly
theory can be vouched against my
proposition, and II we are to act upon
theory and disregard our practical ex-
perience and observation, what oppor'
unity will we have to work out the re-
forms to which we are pledged and
which we are endeavoring to make 10
the framing Of the constitution
Now, II is q practical matter. 1t In
wolves large saving to the Commvn-
wealth. No one, 10 my humble judg'
ment, csn say that the slightest inher'
eut right OF any citizen will be taken
away If you allow the body which rep.
resents the citizens OF this Com
@onwealth to declare 10 its judgment
that certain misdemesnors may be tried
by less than twelve men.
Woat is the General Assembly OF
Virginia, to which we are asked to give
a discretion ? 1t is the popular branch
Of the State government elected by the
people. 1t speaks for the whole peo-
ole. Are you to announce that you
tear that this body, which assemblies
here 10 the Capitol biennially, or may
hereafter assemble quadrennislly, is
GOT to be trusted with the matter of
disposiug of these misdemeanor CASE
with less expense to the Common
wealth?
Gentlemen Say "Do not change the
Jury; IL is q common law institution. "
Some one said yesterday that Sir
William Blackstone pronounced q
great eulogy upon the jury system as
IL stands today. Does any lawyer
forget the high encomium which the
same distinguished authority pronoun-
ced upon the ancient system of CON-
mon Law pleading, which has been
swept away in England entirely, and
| to some extent sbrogated 10 Virginia
Does any lawyer forget the encomiuu
| which the same authority pronounced
upon the law fixing the legal status o
married woman, status that has
been completely destroyed in Vir'
ginia and 10 almost every other STATE
10 the Union, and likewise, / believe
10 England ?
L. will not do, gentlemen, to conclude
because our forefathers or men distin
euished and able upon the other side o
| the water have approved and applaud
ed thing that is necessarily right an'
necessarily entitled to our commends
ton and approval at this time In all II
features.
would be one Of the last men to la
an irreverent touch upon any part
our fabric OF government, if by 30 doip
III would infringe the liberties of tn
people of this commonwealth 10 a ma:
or as individuals, particularly when "
are upon the consideration OF this Bl
OF Rights. During this discussion
have not forgotten the history OF th
county which has given me q seat her
That county may verify be called
Mecca to which the apostles aud th
worshipers Of liberty may fitly tur
their eyes. ,
In no small measure the Bill
Rights as 1t was adopted In 1776 had ]
origin in the action OF the peop
of tha. county. upon the verge OF II
Revolution. It's author found Il
material for many sections OF II
Bill of Rights 10 the procee'
inps largely the work OF his own hand
of the fseeholders of Fairfax-the local
ty now represented by my friend fro
Alexandria (Mr. Smitb) and myself;
r. the proceedings OF q committee .
| pointed by those patriots, ana 10 u
proceedings Of the Independent Cor
. pany OF Fairfax whose attitude OF th
iuncture invited the approval In writii
Of the people of the community no
represented by the distinguished ee
. tleman from Augusta Mr.. Brsxto
who sits at my left.
AZ the representative OF coun
which has helped TO furnish to {
= world It's charters OF liberty and
whose soil at Mt. Vernon and Gunst'
Hall rest the aches of those who we
J. foremost in the early struggles
liberty, could not seek to introdn
into the Bill OF Rights any provision th
/ suspected might weaken the prin
: pies it declares or imperil the rigf
which 1t seeks to guard and prote
E But ss to the pending matter there @
!, be no danger OF that character. IL
- impossible that any such result can fl
from the amendment which / have
fered.
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Whooying Cough and Messle Cough with