The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1906-12-07
THE STAR CHA MBER
CONDENSED HISTORY or A FAMOUS
SCHEME OF OPPRESSION.

~ First It's Objects Were LaudabIc
but Ia Subsequently Became "a Cruel
R"a Unjust PoNcr-Some OF Its Out
Vnxrnus Penalties.
Whrn the Earl Of Richmond had
Gelca,rd Richard Ill ut EoSworth and
had n.ru crowned king aS Henry NII..
hr t'unu the times in SO troubled q
STATE that men whose rights were in
frinS"l upon or denied them dared not
GDDly ibr Justice to The ordinary courts
I'll" l;nblushing manner in which
brlh"S and threats were rcSortrd TO by
those that had influence over the pro-
crr'i:ugS of these courts denied To them
the >""';"ity OF jurors oath.
To reach mischief that had grown
SO ininlcrable Henry. feeling himself
strnns enough with his second parla-
ncnt. created court made up OF
the highest officers of the Kingdom
embracing. Theoretically. the king him
self. who was considered the author
of AL justice. to which were contided
unlimited power and discretion over a
larg" indetined class of offcnses. many
OF which We're of Il political character.
without the restraint of a jury and
This was afterwurd known as the
court of the star chamber. SO called
because the ceiling OF the room in
which it met was studded with stars
or because In this apartment prior to
the time OF Edward l. the contracts
of the Jews. called stars, were de-
posted III boxes or chests.
This scheme had good results at first
Wcalthy landowners who had op
pressed their neighbors with inpunity
were brought before this court, where
neither fear nor favor could avail. and
tricd tor their offenses. The greatest
merit OF the court was that it was not
dependent OH jury. for juries We're
unable or unwilling To render Il verdict
in Keeping with their consciences.
One sud, "A court thus constituted.
with powers so broad and Il discretion
unlinlt,'h by prescribed rules. though
cail'l iutu existence for wise and Salu-
tary purposes. WIS in The end like i'll
vokm= ia" spirit of mischief without
n CORE. .r,ndinS power in reserve to
lay !. OF check its ryccsscs if inclined
to .iU>,' rs authority"
Instead OF losing power us the neces-
'
drew to .t>rif new elements Of strength
and rnIlrscd the extent Of its juriSdic-
tiun. l. became. after successive adj
minISiritipnS under the hands of am
bitiuII> i'adcrS such as iiouriShcd in
The rirm. II Henry WILL Elizabeth and
tho two %iuartS. Il most potent engine
of ''Sp1tic rule ana Intolerance. Tor
tur" Intimidation AID other devices
w"r" '..,'l 10 compel ihr accused To in
crnuu.i'' himself.
Guar. =, !. through the STIR chamber,
ii!!.,i iIIa offers. bur!ug hi; reign such
enorIuOuS lines were Imposed for triv-
iai g:frn>cS that the audience gathered
about l.ic courtroom ai > o'clock in the
mOrnIuS to secure seats to hear the
proceedings. The discretionary power
Of the rurt i'm the way Of punishment
made . / means of cruel injustice in
the hiuI( Of bad men, instances OF
which disgrace the history OF its adj
minisiritIpn during the regns OF
James md Charles |.
orc Dl the most remarkable cases
w,'~ that If Bishop Williams. who had
been IprI keeper OF the seal II popular
prriIir and IL man of learning and
SpIfI ftli at one tiint Il Sptcial 1aVOf'
ito 4 James. While enjoying his pat
romrlr ne rXcrtcd his influence in be
halt OF Iaud. aftrrward archbishop
who owed his tirN promotion To his
guni offices. Some disagreement arose
be- tween th"m. Nothing would satisfy
Lnui Bat the ruin Of the man who
had h"frr'ndcd him.
On SONS slight prct"Xt the bishop
W. brought before the star chamber
and tined tlO.OOO. committed to the
TnN"r Turing the kings pleasure and
suspended from office. His furniture
ami bpp,iI were levied upon to pay the
fiI". NMOng som" refuse papers were
found ,inc letters from DbaldiStOn, Il
SchOulIn1Stcr. directed To the bishop. In
th"N" I"rt"rS The writer spoke Of a
"littI" great man" ana in one place of
a little urchn." AS I.aud was small
Of stature, ii WIS cDnjccturcd that
these terms referred to him. They