The Statesman.
London, England, 1820-06-02 00:00:00

PRICE SEVEN PENCE.

on for decision, the suitors must travel over the who'e
circuit along with the Judges, helot e any decision could
be given. Another evil was that persons in England
could not be brought into Wales as witnesses, as the
Courts had no power to enforce their attendance; and
witnesses wishing to avoid giving evidence had nothing
to de but to pass over from %Vales to England. To
complete the evils of this system, there was no appeal
from these Courts to any other Court but the House
of Lords. He should pass over the great defect of the
Judges practising in the English Courts as Barristers ;
but he could not avoid nothing the great inconveni-
ence of their bring Members of the House of Com-
mons, and their always, in virtue of their appoitrment,
going the same Circuit as Judges. Their salaries were
very small, and it was natural to expect that they she:La
wish to make up for that scanty remuneration, by a
subserviency to Ministers in that House, and an ex-
pectancy to higher situations. 'I he case was very 41:f-
fewest with the English Judges. 1 hey took a ton•
stant rotation of circuits, so that if one had coannittssl
an error on a particular Circuit, it would be corrected
the next Circuit by another. Besides, the English
Judges held their situations independent of the Crown.
This establishment of the independence of Judge, was
one of the most memorable actions that marked the
equitable reign of his late Majesty, who nobly
even beyond his own reach, that power which bad bet
so often used as an engine in the hands of desposhe
Governments. England thus enjoyed the groat bless-
ing of having an independent Bench. But was there
any thing like this in Wales? No; the Judges" there
were comparatively obscure, and their situations de-
pended altogether upon the pleasure of Ministers. Tte
whole system of justice there was imperfect and bad.
There were eight Judges :hire, all of them ill paid ;
they were all dependents on Ministers; and it was im-
possible for the country nit to look on their proceed-
ings with disgust. Would it be said that eight Judges
were necessary fur such a (-tomes, as Wales, when there
were no more than twelve for the whole of England
If there were only four Judges there, the justice of the
principality would be better administered. It eras
WISE impossible that many Judges could be necessary ; -
oil therefore it was the duty of the House to examine
into the whole of these abuses, with a view of correct-
ing them. If his motion for a Committee of Inquiry
were now refused, he would then move a resolution, to
eschtde the Welch Judges from seats in that Hone.. •
He saw no reason to expect any permanent relief in the
administration of Justice in Wales, unless the Churt
'Great Session were abolished. It was, however,
possible to expert, that the English Judges collie at-
tend to the business of that country, unless they were
Increased in number. He could not see any objection • o
tosuch a measure as this ; or any reason why St- nunibe r
of oar Judges should always be confined to twelve.
Mem. Member tooted swami periods of our
liktbry, in which the Kings of lingiaudhattatore than
twelve Judges. He was sure the House would bear
with pleasure that the main object of his motion was
to have the Judicature of Wales totally abolished, sit,d
fie assithitate the mode of sdministeriag justice in
Wales to that of Englneil. He then moved, " That
• Select Committee be appointed to consider of the/
state of Courts of Judicature in Wales, to determine
upon the propriety of abollshiug the same, and to con-
ceit upon the means of including Wales within the cir-
cuits of English Judges."—(llear, hear!) '
• Mr. WANIIIM (Chief-Justice of Chester) began by
taking notice of some observations made by the Hun.
Member who bad just sat down, which he considered
as reflecting so severely upon the personal character
et the Learned Gentlemen who now filled the offices of
Judges in 11-ales, as to require some attempt at
Mr. CAMPRKLi interposed, observing that he had no •
intention of alluding to the personal character of any
of those gentlemen. lie addressed his animadversiwis
wholly to the system.
Mr. WARREN begged to remind the Hutt. Gentleman
of his statement, in which he imputed to the Judges of
the Welch Circuit, not only to the Gentlemen who at
present tilled those offices—not only to those who bail
tilled them in times past, but to ail who should beconte
Judges in future, ignorance and obscurity. Did the
Hun. Gentleman ever hear of Sir William Grant?—lt
was to be presumed not. Did he hear of Sir James
'Mansfield--of Lord Kenyon—of Sir V: Gibbs—or of
the present Chief Justice of the Common Pleas? It
was to be presumed not. The Hon. Gentleman, if be
W ever beard of these great characters, would have
feitente to charge the Welch Judges of " past times
at least" with ignorance. New be (Mr. Warren) had
had the confidence and friendship of several Gentle-
men opposite ; he should recal the word friendship, for
be was afraid that it was often sacrificed when party
%teetered. At all events, he hoped not, looking to
'both sides of the House, he believed he had been 1911-
railed by a moiety on either side, at one time ur
Mather. He begged to know from the Hon. klogaber
trhu spoke last, if he (hlr. W.) was included in the
amber of those Judges who acre described as ipso-
not and obicure. He hoped not. He had not been
in the House some time back, when a Noble Lord ep-
peakte (Lord J. Russell) did allude to hint in a manner
Alit would have called upon him for somsamenspt at
eludicatiun. He had been unfortunately absent from
die House at the time, and only knew that he was al-
laded to by teeing the speech of the Noble Lord in the
wade prints. However, he assured the Noble Lord
te, and the Hun. Gentleman (Mr. Campbell),
he had too moth respect for their characters and
talents to feel the least degree of anger at their illu-
sions, and hoped that, when the Noble Lord again
thought proper to reflect upon him (Mr. Warren) in-
any capacity, be would do so in a manner that would
afford him (111 r. Warren) a fair opportunity of reply-
ing to his charges. He would now come to tiler's.
Sion before the House. He bad no hesitation,
rant anti obscure as he was, in declaring his approlft
tars of the motion, to the extent of an inquiry. n4l.

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