Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1809-08-07

organized, it was necessary and useful.
The country being new, and the OPEN
ing and improving Of roads a primary
object, ii was for the interest of each
town to have representative in the
court where this subject was regula-
ted, and the justice generally attended
as the agent of bis town. But as the
country became settled, the necessity
for this ceased. The federaists never
wished lis continuance, but long since
were DESTROYS of having its powers
transferred To the court OF common
pleas. but they knew that the demo
Gratis would endeavor to excite popu
lar Glamour against the measure, by
representing il as an abridgement OF
repnblican principles, in reducing the
number oi judicial officers.
No sooner, however, bad the demo-
Gratis obtained the administration OF the
government OF this State, than they set
tied on the plan of new modelling the
Court OF General Sessions, and erect
ing new court on the ruins of the old
one, solely for the purpose Of reward.
ing host Of hungry paItizans, who had
aided in TIE triumph of party with the
possession of salaries and power.
After having duped majority OF
the people to become their stepping
stones to power, the leaders divide the
ioAves and fishes Of office, and then
laugh at the credulity of those who
were the mere instruments of their
elevation. The Argus witer states the
round number of those who were thus
paid oil for their "useful labours" in
democratizing the state, to be nearly
900, consisting Of Judges, Clerks and
County Attornies. Be it SO. What
is the consequence ? Why, the good
people Of this Commwealth are reliev-
ed from the burden and tax of support
ing these 200 der,agogue5, whose prin-
oipal Recommendation to Office, was,
that they were supporters of Jefferson,
Sullivan and embargoes. In feet the
Court was mere lumber room for the
political par,izan men however quali-
fed they might he for the common oc-
cupations OF life, most them were to-
tally unacquainted with Judicial pro-
ceedings.
How stands this subject under the
late regulation OF the federal legisla-
ture +? Instead of 100 unnecessary
Judges at salary Of four dollars per
day, when in session, and pay for ira
vel, and another 100 Clerks, At,ornics
SC. whom the people had to support
:. by paying them large fees, whose prin-
cipal duty was that of laying OCT county
roads, and licensing retailers and ian :.
keepers--,ae Justices of the Court Of
Common Pleas are authorized and re-
| quired to perform this duty; and in
doing which, the public do not pay a
single cent. And it is believed that it
| will not be denied by the most partial
friends OF the late Justices of the Court
Of Sessions but shat the Justices of the
Court of Common Pleas, who now ex-
eroi.e the power, are at least equal if
not superior TO them in honesty, ca
pa,iiity and faithlulness 10 the cons,i-
utien." Thus we see that the people
in this affair have gained every thing,
,and the demagogues lost every thing so
Ear as Cov.Sulliyan's commissions made
ihem Of consequence.
a lew years since, similar regula.
ton vas adopted in the State of New
Hampshire. Experience has proved
Its utility, and | understand little op-
position was made to the passage OF the
law in June last.
If we are as well accommodated,
& free of expense, too, under the pres
ent system, all the grumbling OF the
r .ftyas scrib6ier can be of little conse.
r quence. A CITIZEN.
u -
FOR THE GAZETTE