Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-01-22

SouHsy, Wutcn mas very much Incrcas-
ed the chancerv business.
I 5. Having tsvo dec&ets, one for chan
Gerry causes; and the other for law
rases. For generally, as soon as tho
latter is disposed of, either the term is
out, or both bench and 6eu, are willing
to quit; SO the chancery docket goes
untouched. IL is true, this docket
might be called, and the causes tried.
ar monthly session; but Ike reasons
prevent 1t: fer the lawyers 90 to a
monthly session to get business, and
not TO try causes.
q. HE want of attention in the
courts, 10 ire broper sub;ects ofjari.-
dicfion, For, If they would attend 10
the proper line which separates eouit-
d6ie from legal Jurisdiction, 1 do SUP.
pose, atieast, one half of the present
namoer OF causes, entertained hy .hem.
would stand excluded. This fault
however is not so much to be i,,pu..d
to these courts, as to TIE former chan
cellor, and TO the former course of the
court of appeals. And
8. And principally the wan. of suf-
lcSsn' induce ment in the magistrate.
70 sit TO do chanceyy business. The
'act IS, when an individual wants a
thing done, he pays for it; and so must
the public.
1t rests then with the Ieeislatu,e TO
remove this objection, either by tax
on the process, and On the DEGREES, 10
be collected AID paid to the magistrates
by the clerk, IN proportion to the time
they SIT, or in any other way. more
compatible with he public interest
aud all 'he other causes OF DELAY. with.
IN the control OF the bench, wilt b. re-
'aoved or course: and, as to the re-
| naming causes, withiu the control of
the legislature, they should in any E.
vent be removed.
2. As to the superior courts of law.
They should be tried; BUT I cannon
subscribe even to hope of heir utili.
ty. The old dis'rict system was ?
good one, and afforded all the means
or a fail, and impartial trial; since net
a cause could be called, but might be
tried by jury of stranger and the
Jud ges carried with them the respect
due 70 the bench.
8. AS TO the general court. This
court should have appellate l,lrisdicti-
on from the superior courts OF las :;
and not less than ten JUDGES should
compose court. The term. are suf,
hcient and the salary of ssch Judge
should be tOo thousand dollars. The
great advantage 10 rhepublic is obvi-
Gus the judges would be improved,
and one uniform rule of law and prac-
tice GIiiastd throughout the state twice
a year; besides, the many cases which
would be stopped, from going to the
court OF appeals: and when it is ecol.
'iected that this court holds the deynier
resort, in ali criminal cases, who is
there among us, that will not unite in
the adoption OF plan, calculated TO
answer so desirable an end. The SIM
nier sesSion of This court, should be
held IN StNmtoa, for the trial OF all
the appeals from the superior courts Of
Law on the western side of thu ,ouu-
tam and the faH session should be
held - Richmond, for the trial of all
the appeals from the like courts, ON the
eastern side of the mountain.
4. Asto the superior courts of chan
Gerry. Althoughno cause Tor a cha,,ee
IN any re-Pect is disccrned, unless the
present districts are too large vet, as
/ have said, no one eau doubt the pow
er OF the legislature, TO establish adj
di'ienai districts in chancrry. Iwoold.
therefore, u it is thought desire able.
d'ylde the state into ten districts: four
on the western side of the mountain.
and six on the eastern side and ap.
point another chaDceler Cor the wes-
terra county. The chancellors on the
western SIDE of the mountain should
each hold two courts twice year,
and 1--we within their respective cir.
cults. The chancellors ON th- eastern
side OF the mouotaiH, shouid zach hold
three courts fwice a year, and likewise
live within their circuits. The salary
shauid be two thousand dollars. The
hiSh CART Of chancery should be re.es-
tsbiishsd andthe presen. chaneellors,
as we'll as the one to be appointed,
should be appointed judges of that
court; and rs such, should have a8bef
late juriSaicti21 6nly, fro q the superior.
courts Of chsnce,y. The bigh court