Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1803-11-24

When the country washIsr cedcd 10 Spain. 81.
preserved many Of the Fsepch regulations, but bv
.he mott impsrcep,ib!- degrees they have dis,n.
peared, ard at present The province IS governed
entirely by tie laws of Spain and the ordinances
formed expressly tor the colony. Various oraI.
nances promulgated BY general O'Relly, its FIST
governorund.r Spain, as well as some other laws.
are translated ard annexed intae appendix, No.
cea,fs ef J5safs.
The governors court has a civil and military
jurisdiction throughout the province. That Of
the lieutenant governor has tao same extent in
civil Cases only.
There are two Aleades, whose jurisdiction,
civil and criminal, extends through the city Of
New Orleans and five leagues around it, where
the parties have no faet0 miliiar or military pri.
yllrge those who have can transfer their causes
to the governor.
Thetribunal of the iutendant has cognizance
Of admiralty and fiscal causes, and ouch suits as
are brought for the recovery ct money in The
kings Ia e or against him.
The tribunal of the Alcalde Provincial has
cognizancc of criminal causes, where otfeaces are
committed in the country, or when the criminal
.akes refuge there, and in other specified cas-.
es.
The ecclesiastical tribunal has jurisdiction in
all matters respecting the church.
The governor, iearenant governor, Alcaldes,
Intendant, Provincial Alcslde, and the provisor
in ecclesiastical causes, are respectively sole
Judges. All sentences affecting the life Of the
cuprit, except those of the Aicaide Provincial
must be ratified by the superior tribunal, or capt.
general, according to the nature Of the cause, be-
fore they are carried into execution. The Cover.
nor has not the power of pardoning criminals,
An Auditor and an assessor, who arg doctors of
laws are appointed to give Counsel to those
Judges: bur for sonctime past there has been no
assessor. II the judges do not consult those Of
dcers or do not follow their opinions, they make
themselves responsible for their decisions.
The commaDdants of districts have also spc-
ces of judicial power. They hear and determine
all pecunIa7y causes not exceeding the value OF
one hundred dollars. When the suit is for
larger SUN, they commence the process, collect
tte proofs aad remit the whole to the governor,
to be decided by the proper tribunal. They can
inAict no corporal punishment except upon slaves
butstey have tie power OF alrestirg and impr:-
soping when they think it necessary advice of
which and theig reasons must be transmitted to tue
governor.
Small suits are determined in summary way
by hearing both parties viva Voee bur in suits OF
greater magnitude the proceedings are carried CD
by petition and reply, replication and TejolndeF'
reiterated uhlli the auditor thinks they have no.
ihing new to say. Then all the proofs either
patty chuses to adduc3 are taken before th- keep
er of the records Of the court, who is always Il
notary public.
The pmrieshave now an opportunity ofmak'ng
their remarks upon the evidence by way OF pttl-
ton, aud of bragIng forward opposing proofs -
w hen the auditor considers Ills cause as naturs
he issues his decree, which receives its binding
force from the goverosr's signature, where tho
cause depends before bin,
There is an appeal 10 fiavannah, i appi'ea
for wi'h!n FIVE days after the date of'the dec eeD
in eau5ts above certain value. An utelor aP-
peal lies to the audience which farm-rly sat az
st. Domingo, ont winch isnow removed to sons
art of Cuba, and FROM thence to tic councI o.
h Indies in Span.
Suits are Of various durations. II pecunaT
tna1lelS'the laws encourage summary PtoecCI''6
An execution may be had On pond IN four days.
snd in the same space On note of hand afser t's
parsy acknowledges i, or after his Signature IS
proved. Mcveaole properly is sid after giyin6
aine days warning, provided il be three tunes
publicly cried IN tbat Interval. Landed property
nust be likewise cried three tnes, with All lnieF-
val Of nine daysb-tween each, and it may t!ieh
be sold. al! property taken 10 execution must %
appraised aud sold for at least half the appra!s:-
mctit. In pecanlary matters thu governors de-
eide verbally without appeal, when the sun d9s'
not exceed one hundred dollars. The A!cal's'
have the same privilege when the amounts not 90
bove twenty dollars.
In addition TO these courtsfcur years ago there
were established, fouf Acades de Barrio, OF 4e''y
napistrates. one for each of The four quarters o.