The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1821-12-18

admit Norwegian ships into our ports, WITHIN
the payment 81 discriminating duties-lt nav Dc
subject otiinp ortAnt Consideration, il Congress,
whether the ordnance Of Norway come, within
the provisions of the act of 81 March, 1915. II
lt should be considered within It's provisions, aul
Norwegian ships be entitled 20 trade there, with
out the payment Of discriminating duties, the
claim Of France, in such case, mlgat SEN to be
supported. We presume The subject viii receive
the attention Of Congress.
The message next informs us, that the Empe-
ror Of Russia is the umpire, to whom is referred
the dispute, under the Irst article Of the Treaty
of Gnent.
The subject Of the cession Of the Floridas IS
next considered. With regard to Gen jackson,
the message shortly notices the dispute between
him aud Col. Caliaya-speaks Of the omission on
the part OF the late Spanish Governor 10 deliver
over the documents, &c.-dnd adds, that this has
given rise to incidents Of painful nature, which
viii be communicated by the documents.-The
message appears to speak the language of apoio-
gy, as ]! respects Gen. jackson. 1t also recon-
mcnds the establishment Of government over
the Eloridas.
1t then discusses the subject ofthe commission
Tor adjusting claims under the Spanish treaty
and notices our relations with Spain and Portu-
gal.
From the language of the message, in regard
10 south America, we may presume that the
President is fully satisfied that the authority of
Spain Is nearly extinct il those colonies.
Our revenues form an interesting part Of the
message. Ii Is calculated that on the first Of
January next, there VIII be about - DOC, 900 in
the treasury, uneXpended; and ii is believed
that the revenue, under the present system, will
IN al1r E,so
years--so that we have 10 reason 10 apprehend
a necessity Tor new loans or additional taxes.
Our manufactures and our fortihcations are
also noticed lnen follows IN account of the
manner in which our naval forces have been
employed.
To this able state paper we again invite the
attention OF our readers. We think upon the
whole, il will give general satisfaction; and that
foreign nations viii consider it an honour to our
country.
The Indictments found by the Grand Jury at
the present session of the Common Pleas, have,
understand, been unusually numerous. The
civil business has not been so great as usual
the Court will probably adjourn to day or to-
morrow. Mr.. r. A. l.. GOODMAN, has been adj
mitted this term, ga Attorney of this Court.
We alluded in our last to the report ola COM
mittee IN Boston, proposing an alteration in the
police OF that town: it provides for the estab-
lishment Of a board of magistrates for the trial
OF the criminal offences which now come under
the cognIZance Of Justices Of the Peace. The
abuse Of this jurisdiction has become subject
OF universal complaint in Boston, and has. for
some years, called loudly for remedy Nor is il
confined TO that place alone but every large
town, where criminal law is administered upon
the same plan, is exposed TO a similar evil. Even
III lhls town, we have heard numerous complaints
and the subject has, for some time, excited the
attention OF those citizens, who are ever watch
full for the public good 1t is considered by the
committee, chosen by the town of Boston, an OBJ
lect of great importance that there should BIO q
tribunal of the first resort in criminal cases. of
known, certain, established and honorable char
acter, members Of which, by the receipt of per-
manent salaries, should be perfectly independent
and unbiased to sit in Judgment in those cases,
on which the personal liberty Of the subject de-
ponds.
The inconvenience and abuses of the pres
ent system are numerous, and necessarily grow
out of its composition. The Justices are men of
legal education not, as the case NAV be--thcy
are compensated by the fees which arise in
each case, and consequently the more cases they
examine the more their fees the constables
have an inducement TO multiply complaints as
by their increase their fees are multiplied the
are interested in the tnanufactory
Of these trials, as they receive pay as witnesses
Now the consequence of this no doubt is that
complaints are too frequently got up, not to rid
society Of corrupt members but to put money in
the pockets of the several grades of persons a. |
bove enumerated. And this money Comes from
the treasures of the counties and state. In
England, during the administration of Mr.. Pitt, !
in 1891, an alteration was made in the police |
Of London, TO remedy such abuses as we have |
noticed history Of that time makes The fol |
lowing observations upon the subject.
" The great prevalence Of thefts and crimes |
Of every description, the difficulty of bringing
offenders to punishment, and the fragrant abuse |
Of Justice by persons known by the name Of trad |
ing Justices, in the metropolis, had long been a |
subject Of complaint, and bill was introduced
this session, under the sanction of government |
for the purpose of preventing these evils in flu
Lure, by means of 4 new system of police in the |
capital and its vicinity. This bill empowered /
bis majesty to establish seven public offices, in
specified situations, for the administration ofjus
tee, and to appoint three magistrates to each of
them, who were TO attend at certain hours eve
~ day, and TO have stated salaries, without any
other emolument whatever"
The legal fees and penalties are now paid into
the exchequer. This course is found not only |
10 promote the cause of Justice, but 70 be saw
ing ofexpence to the nation. And We can have