Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1802-02-09
FROM TIE PALLADluM.
THE JUDICIARY ACT.

JdtCu XII thAS oSSS foP~' W mani sSSAA'
tor the intereRing debates on the repeal of
the Judiciary law. The gentleman, Who
introduced the motion and tholc " no Top
port it, contend, frenuouily, for The right
Of Congrefs to alter and reform iueh inte-
rior courts as may from time 10 time, be
thought expediem. Eus this power is
conceed, and theie gentleman would fave
,hemeives much trouble, it they brought
their arguments to bear upon another
point which in, olives their own fidelity 70
the contribution. The power which 'hete
gentlemen claim, unquea. onatly sefides II
the legifa:u,s, and was INTENDED by he
trainers OF The contribution, 10 lie exercn-
ed w;.h great caution and diieretion, tor
pvrpotes of puoi,c benefit. II is OF ia
ture not TO be defined or bounded by diff
tiaSt lines but it is conEded by the con-
ai,usion, as !acred truit, to the w!idom
and diicrerion of thofe, who are authorized
to give Il its ieve1sl uiretticns. Ii Wa
neceGary that there ihould be iaeh pow
er, it was imYoE5le TO feci!y in wha:
manner it lhou!d he exercifed. though
it is given as srcs' ttcn, il may lie uttc
as an iritrument of deitrutticn. TO til.
right uie, therefore, CT 'fls power, 81
nexed, all the obligations a,iting upor .
ipeci1c duty 70 the tylsi, # the eoniti;u'!
on, IN ADDITION 70 thOle which iprlug iron
the oeliescy and the honor OF a gentleman,
In proportion, then, as this rraH is G:
a delicate ard cont6enti.l nsru,,, ircspa-
bic OF definite f.m!'hticn, and drawing az
Ter it cu,i:quences OF great ~onlent, IN.
creates Inr obi'sa,:on II ute II with ex
trc:ne caution AMI found difcre,ion. Wh.'
then ihaIl <s Think of taoie, who, /" il
an evil hour," lay their ralh hands rpon
fyfcm, jut commencing its operations,
and upon which dsle end he Liberties CT our
county. A rre"iP;ta,e r,pe.l OF this law,
a2nn The grounds ot its ;nuri'ity, at this
period OF lis OPERATION. ard for iuch rea-
ions as have been brought forward, can be
nothing eff than a wan;on, ii Tot per
hdious abu!e Of power, as wei! IS d,relic-
ton of rhole generous, honorable fenii-
nen,s, whi>h give fecur'ty and confidence
where laws sre Inefficient.
The exIence OF Judges is one objettion.
Yet probably 10 great civilized nation
can have gcod administration of juttice,
70 cheapiy as $4,000 dollars, the fem
of which the democrats complain. Ii is
cheaper than the want Of juaice, under
the old confederation. While THEE men
ere willing to volantser it, to give be.
tween thirty and forty shou(and dollars
for reralrs of the Bereesa, it is Grange,
or rather it is not itrange, that they
vince at the charge Of Judges. We ak
do they expect to fave all the charge CT
Judges, and on this plan are we TO fpend
rafting for jufice Then We fhall have
mjgfiee and that will pay itfelf.
The imall nsmber OF iui,s in the Fed
raj courts is another argument, exactly
adapted to the for, of minds which moh
philosophers have difplayed, VIXEN it pleaf.
es God, in bis wrath, that they ihall ex-
ercife power. Either the tewneis of fui,s
is proof, that jultice was we'll admin.
tered 70 as to prevent wrongs, or, that
the cid Judiciary Law afforded fuch in.
diffcren, and inconveniens remedies, that
few chole to leave the State courts, to
luc in the Federal courts. In either fup
petition, it woald be folly to repeal the
exiting law. In the fra cafe, proven,
ton is better than remedy. In the latter,
the abolition Of the law would augmen;
the evil. indeed it may be truly iaid
that the cid Judicial Establishment was
incompetent. Lefs than the whole conai,
su,ionsl iurildieaion was provide ed for and
aligned 20 the Federal Courts by the Law,
and every one knows, tina, much Of the
remaining bufnes was discouraged, land 10
effect repe!!ed from thofe courts, by the
defects of the old Law. Shall the new
Law to remedy ,hoic defects be repealed
before it is eve, tried Shall it be ehare.
ed alto with the fpalloefs OF the bufneis,
which is plainly to be charged TO the old
fyfem, which did not we'll provide 10. its