Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1802-03-13

/ truf, fir, the committee are la.ished
that the number of judges, which com
pole the circuit court is no, too great, and
that the legilla,ure would have been ex-
rremely culpable, to have committed the
high powers of this courtto fewer hands.
Let me now ak, if the compensation al.
lowed to thele Judges is extravagant.-
1t is little more than half the allowance
made to the judges of the fupreme court.
1t is bot a finall proportion OF the or
binary practice Of ,hoie gentlemen Of the
bar, who are ft, and to whom we ought
to look to eli the places. You have gi-
ven-a ialary of 1000 dollars: The pull
ne judges of Pennsylvania, l believe,
have more. When you deduct the ex-
pences OF the office, you will leave but a
moderate compensation for fsrvice, but
fcanty proviiion for family. When, MIR.
Chairman, gentlemen coolIy conEder the
amendments of the late law, | Aatter
myielf their candour will at leaf admit
that the prelent modification was fairly
deigned TO meet ard remedy the evils of
the old fyfem.
The fupreme court has been rendered
fationary. Men Of age, of learning,
and of experience, are now capable Of
holding a feat on the bench they have
time to mature their opinions in caufes
on which they are called to decide, and
they have lsifure to devote to their books,
and to augment thei: fore of knowledge.
1t was our hope by the prefent eRabli.h-
ment of the court, to render it the future
pride, and honor, and fafety of the ma
ton. 1t is this tribunal which mutt aamp
abroad the judicial character Of our coun.
try. Ii is here, that ambailadors, and
foreign agents, reiort for juf;ce, and it
belongs to this high court to decide
finally, not only on controversies of un-
limited value between individuals, and
on the more important collilion of fate
pretenfions, but alto upon the validity of
the laws of the Ga,es, and Of this govern
ment. Will it be contended that fuch
great fruits ought to be repcied in feeble
or incapable hands. 1t has been anerted
tina, this court will not have bufneis to
employ it. The aaerticn is fupported
neither by what is paR, nor by what is
likely to happen. During the pleient
felton, of Congrefs, at their laft term, the
court was fully employed for two weeks
in the daily hearing of -casies. But its
buiinefs mutt encreafe. There is no long
er that reitraint upsn appeals from the
circuit court, which was impoled by the
authority of the judge of the court to
which the appeal was to be carried; no
longer will the apprehension Of fecret
unavoidable bials in favour of the deci6on
of member OF their own body, flake the
confidence of fuitor in referring to this
court, who thinks that iuaice was not
doue to him in the court below. The
proprefiye increafe Of the wealth and po-
pulatiou of the country, will unayoida-
bly, fwell the budnefs of the court. But
there is a more certain and unfailing
fource of employment, which will arife in
the appeals from the courts of the nation
al territory. From the courts of origi-
nal cognizance in this territory, it affords
the only appellate iulifdition. If gen.
tiemen will look TO the fate OF property
of vaft account in this city, they mne be
fatis6ed that the fupreme court will have
enough to do for the money which is paid
them.
Let us next confder, fr, the preient
fate of the circuit courts.
There are fix courts, which Fit IN TWEEN
ty two diariets, each court Wits at leaf
three diiiries, iogne four. TIE courts
are now compoled of three Judges OF equal
power and dignity. Stardiog on equal
ground their opinions will be independent
and firm. Their number is the belt for
confaltasion, ard they are exemp, from
the inconvenience of an elual diyition Of
opinion. But what value nca, ana
what was deigned TO remedy the great
defect of the former fyReTn, is the
identity which the court T.aiDtains.-