PRACTICAL MORALITY. 



the case, not the judges who sit on the bench. 

 Keeping this in view, it is one of the chief qualities 

 requisite in a jury to maintain its proper dignity 

 and honour inviolate, nevertheless with all cour- 

 tesy, and to act with firmness in the execution of 

 its important function. Besides deliberating dis- 

 passionately on the evidence presented, it is the 

 duty of the juror to be totally regardless of every 

 consideration but that of justice. He is to regard 

 the rank neither of the culprit nor of the injured 

 party. In a court of jurisprudence, all men sink 

 to an equality. It is also the duty of the juror, 

 after forming his conscientious opinion, not to be 

 coerced or flattered by counsel into a different 

 opinion. He is invested with a solemn trust, and 

 that trust he must preserve with scrupulous care, 

 as consonant with the best interests of society. 



Electoral Duties. 



There are duties of another nature which we 

 may be called on to perform in our character of 

 citizens. We are invested with the high and 

 solemn trust of electing our representatives in 

 parliament, as well as representatives in our j 

 municipal institutions. In the execution of our j 

 duty as electors, we are bound to divest ourselves 

 of all factious or personal considerations. We 

 have certainly to consult our own good in making 

 a choice of a representative, but it is only as 

 flowing from the good of the whole community. 

 We must hence act entirely without passion or 

 prejudice. We should always recollect that we 

 exercise the trust of electors for many who do not 

 possess that privilege. A large proportion of the 

 community consists of women and children, and 

 persons otherwise unqualified to vote. These 

 look to us for protection from wrong, and it is our 

 duty to afford it to them. If we therefore act 

 with levity and imprudence in appointing men 

 who, from their conduct and character, are un- 

 fitted to exercise the important function of public 

 representatives, we in more ways than one com- 

 mit a crime against society, and prove ourselves 

 unworthy of possessing the valuable prerogatives 

 with which we have been invested by the constitu- 

 tion. 



In our capacity as citizens we are frequently 

 called upon to elect representatives in different 

 municipal bodies ; such as civic managers of the 

 city in which we reside, managers of local trusts 

 general, political, and religious. In performing 

 this duty, we must take care not to be borne away 

 by private feelings ; we must not give our vote 

 simply because the candidate is an acquaintance. 

 A consideration for what is best for the public 

 interest should in every case govern us ; and we 

 should not be afraid to let these our sentiments 

 be known, for they can give no honourable man 

 offence. But even after we have made choice of 

 the individual whom we intend to support, from a 

 conscientious conviction that his election would 

 prove beneficial to the whole community, we ought 

 not unduly to influence the suffrages of others. 

 They may be convinced that another candidate 

 possesses higher qualifications for, and a superior 

 claim to, the office ; and it should never be lost 

 sight of that their opinion is entitled to equal 

 respect with our own. We ought not, therefore, 

 by intimidation, or by the exercise of any undue 

 influence which, from our position in society, we 

 may possess over others, to coerce them into the 



support of an individual to whom they may be- 

 conscientiously opposed. Neither should we have 

 recourse to those forms of bribery, either direct or 

 indirect, which too often form such a disgraceful 

 feature in election proceedings. We may, indeed,, 

 legitimately endeavour to convince our fellow- 

 electors of the erroneousness of their opinion, but 

 we have no right to ask them to act in opposition 

 to it Were these rules to be universally adopted, 

 there would be an end of those disgusting exhibi- 

 tions by which too many election contests are 

 disgraced. 



The elected have, in like manner, certain duties 

 to discharge towards those electing them. For 

 instance, our qualifications as electors perhaps 

 render us liable to be ourselves elected. In the 

 event, therefore, of being called forward by our 

 fellow-citizens to fill the honourable situation of 

 their representative, it is our duty to sacrifice 

 perhaps our own feelings and a portion of our 

 time in the public service, provided we conscien- 

 tiously consider ourselves qualified for the task, 

 and that our health and private circumstances per- 

 mit it. The principal question we have to put to- 

 ourselves, when we are so brought forward, is : 

 ' Have we sufficient time to spare to attend the 

 various meetings to sit and deliberate in the 

 numerous committees to have our minds fre- 

 quently occupied with public affairs ? ' If we 

 deceive ourselves in answering this important 

 question, we wrong society, and give ourselves 

 cause for much after-disquietude. 



Neighbours. 



Our duties as neighbours are numerous and im- 

 portant. Every person has a right to enjoy life, 

 and to use all things which he has to that end ; 

 but he has not a right to any enjoyment which 

 necessarily disturbs that of others. Peace, tran- 

 quillity, and security within one's own walls, is an- 

 essential condition of happiness. A neighbour, 

 therefore, who so conducts himself, as to vex, 

 harass, and disturb those who are necessarily 

 within sight, hearing, &c. commits an offence 

 against morality. 



The moral duties of neighbourhood extend to- 

 all things which minister to the common comfort, 

 convenience, and security. Each one of a neigh- 

 bourhood is bound to make his own dwelling- 

 place as agreeable and pleasant to those around 

 him as he reasonably can ; and also to uphold 

 the credit of his own little community. He is 

 therefore to join, with a liberal and manly feeling, 

 in all the improvements which tend to please and 

 adorn. Such things, even if they occasion some 

 expenditure, are sources of self-satisfaction ; and 

 one comes at last to take an honourable pride in. 

 hearing his street, his village, his town or city, 

 commended by observers. Every person, in gen- 

 eral, is a member of some kind of society or asso- 

 ciation. Some persons belong to many. These are 

 intended for some useful purpose. Every member 

 of such a society has some duties to perform. 

 He owes some proper part of his time, some 

 proper contributions, to the common object, and 

 has an interest in the prosperity of the design. 

 All these institutions do some good, and some 

 of them eminent good, in helping on the 

 great purpose of social life, which is general 

 improvement Of this nature are public charities, 

 educational institutions, libraries, agricultural 



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