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alike true in all countries. But that power and property so far go together, as to constitute pri vate fortunes into public stations, as to cast upon large portions of the community occasions which render the preceding principles more constantly applicable, is the effect of civil institutions, and is found in no country more than in ours; if in any so much. With us a great part of the public bu siness of the country is transacted by the country itself: and upon the prudent and faithful manage ment of it, depends in a very considerable degree the interior prosperity of the nation, and the s tisfaction of great bodies of the people. Not only officers of magistracy, which affect and per vade every district, are delegated to the princ pal inhabitants of the neighbourhood, but there erected in every county a high and venerable trif bunal, to which owners of permanent property down almost to their lowest classes, are indiscrim inately called; and called to take part, not in the forms and ceremonies of the meeting, but in th most efficient and important of its functions. Th wisdom of man hath not devised a happier insti tution than that of juries, or one founded in a jus er knowledge of human life, or of the human es pacity. In jurisprudence, as in every science the points ultimately rest upon common sense But to reduce a question to these points, and propose them accurately, requires not only an un derstanding superior to that which is necessar to decide upon them when proposed, but ofte times also a technical and peculiar erudition Agreeably to this distinction, which runs perhap through all sciences, what is peliminary and pr paratory, is left to the legal profession; what final, to the plain understanding of plain me But since it is necessary that the judgment eh men should be informed; and since it is

utmost importance that advice which fal h so much weight, should be drawn from th est sources; judges are sent down to us, w ve spent their lives in the study and admin

tration of the laws of their country, and who came amongst us, strangers to our contentions, if we have any, our parties, and our prejudices; strangers to every thing except the evidence which they hear. The effect corresponds with the wisdom of the design. Juries may err, and frequently do so; but there is no system of error incorporated with their constitution. Corruption, terror, influence, are excluded by it; and prejudice, in a great degree, though not entirely. The danger, which consists in juries viewing one class of men, or one class of rights, in a more or less favourable light than another, is the only one to be feared, and to be guarded against. It is a disposition, which, whenever it rises up in the minds of jurors, ought to be represented by their probity, their consciences, the sense of their duty, the remembrance of their oaths.

And this institution is not more salutary, than it is grateful and honourable to those popular feelings of which all good governments are tender. Hear the language of the law. In the most momentous interests, in the last peril indeed of human life, the accused appeals to God and his country, "which country you are." What pomp of titles, what display of honours, can equal the real dignity which these few words confer upon those to whom they are addressed? They shew, by terms the most solemn and significant, how highly the law deems of the functions and character of a jury; they shew also, with what care of the safety of the subject it is, that the same law has provided for every one a recourse to the fair and indifferent arbitration of his neighbours. This is substantial equality; real freedom: eqality of protection; freedom from injustice. May it never be invaded, never abused! May it be perpetual! And it will be so, if the affection of the coun try continue to be preserved to it, by the integrity of those who are charged with its office.

THE END

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