Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-09-12

WI !" ITS fpefa.ioa on society. lust III
proporiio 10 the trouble, delays, and ex
pense attending the administration OF jus.
tice, VIII b. the multiplication OF courts,
of lawyers, ut constablcs, and the nume.
rous other attendants, who 6nd their into
rest intimately connected with the perpe-
tnelon and even the extension Of abuses.
tisncc II. is an iDcontrovertible fact that
this drscGiptlon Of citizens have invariably,
and 100 successfully, opposed all the re.
iorns1hat have been proposed. II is not
meant, by this remark, to fix an unusual re-
proach upon any class of citizens. Their
conduct hiss doubtless been dictated by
motives common TO all other men; the
pu,suit Of Individual interest ought not to
be considered rePreheDsible, when it is
not in violation Of positive law, or moral
duty. 1t is evident that in the present in-
stance there is no violation of positive law
and il Can eaaily BIZ conceived, that con-
',dnGf sanctioned by law and usage, howe
yer rcpugnant TO some moral principles.
will not be viewed AS reprehensible, by
those whose Immediate interest is con.
neesed with it.
| In estimating the extent of this evil, we
can do no more than Offer a rough state
msnt. This shall be done under a scrupu-
lous respect for truth: and in order 10 a.
void lis violation our statement shall be
. within bounds. II we take Pennsylvania
as the central state Of the union, and con-
slider her as possessed Of an administrator
! intermediate between that of the Eastern
/ aud Southern states, we shall probably
exhibit in The facts furnished by her on
this subject the most correct view Of the
union generally. There is in that state,
One cou,t of Errors and Appeals, prin.
| cipally composed Of the Judges OF inIcri-
or tribunals, and which therefore does not
involve much expense, perhaps not more
than one thousand dollars.
There is supreme court of FIVE iulg-
es whose salaries and incidental expenses
may amount TO $4,000 dollars.
| There are the Presidents of five circuits,
whose salaries amount to 900 dollars.
There are three or four associate judg-
es in each county, whose salaries amount
TO about 10000 dollars.
to $1,000 dollars.
The establishment of jails may amount
to about 10000 dollars.
The fees pad the various clerks OF
courts, sheriff,, constables aud criers may
amount 20 10000 dollars.
] The sums paid lawyers may amount to
100000 dollars.
All these sums amount annually to
$1,000 dollars.
= In addition 20 these hems of expense, is
tie expenditure oil time and money incur
red by the parties, the Witnesses and ju-
F, rrinen IN attending courts. 1t may be
computed that there are three hundred
Courts held at-whica one hundred parties,
! so Jurymen ard 60 witnesses attend, on
an average, iorsix days; yaluing The time
lost and the expenses of travelling incurr-
ed al one dollar and half day, an an.
! nual expense is incurred of $4,000 dol
lars. Add fer justices of peace $1,000
! dollars.
This added to the preceding expenses
amount TO 100000 dollars.
One view still more important remains
| 10 be taken on this branch of the enquiry,
viz. he quanum Of labor lost to the COM
MUMMY by the number of persons engag-
ID IN the administration OF justice.
This may be computed as follows:
Judges and Justices GOO
Jaiors 60
Clerks of courts, sherifs,
constables, criers AID their
clerks 900
Lawyers 900
Time consumed by par
ties, Witnesses and jurymen
about 900
1850
Estimating the value ofthe time OF each
person at 800 dollars, we have the sum of
46Sooo dollars; which added to the a.
boye 100000 dollars, amounts in the
whole TO 968. 600 dollars a sum but lit
short OF million.
Let us contrast with this vast expendi.
ture the advantages derived from il.
II is large estimate to state The pro-
perry IN controversy each year lhoughout
the state at eve million of dollars; on
which, therefore, il appears that there is
paid commission OF about twenty per
cent.
The detailed view, we have taken, a.