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OUR RELATION TO OUR COUNTRY.

[Part II.

sagacity, strength, and comprehension of mind, and earnest andunbroken attention, they may, after the most full and lucid state-ments and illustrations of the bar and court, still be too imper-fectly acquainted with the many facts, circumstances, and rea-sonings pertaining to the case, to come to a sound decision onits merits ; if, again, they are wanting in impartiality and are influ-enced by prejudice and passion, the stains with which partiality,prejudice, and passion are accustomed to discolor every object,will be seen on their verdict ; if, finally, they are wanting infirmness and independence of understanding and judgment, theywill be led blindly by the court, or in times of strong popularexcitement, yielding to the general impulse, they will become thetools of party, or mere instruments in ministering to the excitedpassions of the multitude.

It is the duty, then, of the citizen, to bring to the mainte-nance and support of this institution, those qualifications of heartand understanding, which are indispensable to give it its full effectand influence, and to sustain the high estimation with which ithas been regarded wherever it has been known. Jury trials canfully answer their end, only in countries where education and themoral and manly virtues prevail, and only so long as they pre-vail ; and the state of trial by jury in any country is a very goodindex of the morals and intelligence of the people. Moreover,any duty which is committed to the hands of very many is indanger of being neglected by all; and hence it happens, thatmany of our citizens, if they have suitable impressions of theimportance of the institution, seem to be without adequate viewsof the moral and intellectual qualifications required, and of themoral responsibilities which the duty of a juryman imposes onhim. The trial by jury is the main pillar in the temple of justice ;and impartiality, truth, knowledge, wisdom, integrity, candor,firmness, patience, and independence adorn its portals, and be-come its sacred precincts. It is the duty of the citizen furtherto aid in the administration of justice by giving testimony on oathin courts of justice, when required by law.

Some persons, in their estimate of the obedience which theyowe to the laws of their country, acknowledge themselvesmorally bound by such laws as prohibit intrinsic evil ( malum,