The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1821-02-12

INHERENT SCI OF JUDGES. each VIII Ieet more
-ensihly their responsibility, and be equally
emulOus that their decisions should be cor
rect
Mr.. ;. made other objections % the Bill.
lie said 1t was impossible that the Attorney
General could attend all the Courts, as they
sometimes sat at two Different places. at the
same time, and he believed this legislature
would not willingly appoint another. He al
80 objected 10 the bail, because the smaller
counties were deprived Of The privileges OF
law term. and would have TO iraye out of
their own county to have their questions Of law,
&c. decided. He thought they ought to have
equal rights aud privileges with the larger
counties.
He said il had often been observed that
The people are in favour OF this system. But
hey bad petitioued for very different sys.
tenn They wished to increase the number
Of Courts. DOT 10 diminish them They wish
ed To prevent delays in the administration of
Justice, not Ia make Il more dilatort than al
present. They wished TO have justice brought
home 10 their doors, not carried farther from
them. In the part of the State where he re-
sided. he bad often heard the people complain
oi the former nisi prius system, and he did
not believe they would be satisfied with the
same system carried 10 a greater extent than
it ever was before.
The example OF New Hampshire ought TO
have no weight on iAis Legislature. They
had adopted one experiment, and It's success
remained 10 be proved. Besides, their siua-
ton was different from that OF Maine.-They
were an agricultural state. & had but one sea-
port. The yeomanry of our Country were
not these who had much occasion for law
In mercantile Countries, such as Maine, where
numerous contracts are made, and OF course
many broken, there was the most frequent
necessity for The Interference of the law 10
settle disputes. Though this system might
therefore answer for Hampshire, it by no
means could be inferred that il would do equal
ly as well for Maine, where the business OF
tie Courts was so much greater. AT least we
may without danger wait the result OF her ex-
pertinent, and if she should think proper IN
few years TO change the system she bad adopt
ed, as he believed she would, we might then
bring her experience as an argument. BTt
at present be saw no reason to follow the ex-
ample OF New-Hampshire, in preference 10
that Of every other State in the Union.
Mr. REDINaToN said, that bis remarks with
regard to INCREASING the duties TO be perform
ed by The Judges OF the Supreme Court, had
been noticed He would add but few words
10 them He would not attempt to prove,
that il was unconstitutional: but as ne knew
something of righR and 1grong, he would un-
derlake TO say. that, ii he hired man TO labor
for him at a certain price and the quantity of
work 70 be done was we'll known to them both,
at the time of making the bargain, and be
should afterwards double the labor and tell the
man he should perform il or be turned out of
his employment. the people IN the town which
he came from weuld cal him dishonest
and il the man was poor, and he should treat
him so, they would call HIM an opprsssor OF
the poor. The honorable Speaker wishes 20
double the duties OF the Judges Of the Supreme
Court, yet he is unwilling 10 increase their
paw or add 10 heir number.
The honorable Speaker says, we do not
complain because a man Is 10 have but one
trial for his life, but we contend that man
ought to have two for The value OF a puppy"
But the circumstances Of the two trials are diff
ferent-A man may be forced to trial about
bis property, when he is not prepared, but
when he is to be tried himself, the Court ask
bin if he is ready; if he IS not, they ask him
when be will be ready, and they give him
full time to prepare. lie has the liberty Of
challenging twelve Jurymen, without giving
any reason, and as many more, as be can
sign good cause for. Every reasonable indul-
gence is given him, and there is no reason TO
complain.
A remark Of mine, made in the former part
OF I've day, excited some laughter did not
intend to raise laugh referred 10 fact,
which knew.
The gentleman from Readheld, said, that
he wished Court might be established at
Nsssslborough, 70 try ..PPies, and that might
be the Judge iremember when was IN the
Legislature Of Massachusetts,, end said sumo
thing. which had better have let alone,
good friend OF nine advised me, when ~ de-
bate, never TO attack persons, but 70 attack
their arguments. believe the advice was
good. / have endeayored 10 follow il, and
should be very sorry if have, in any case,
while have had seat here, done otherwise.
III abiding to the canine race, certainly did
not mean to burt the feelings Of any body IN
this House, and do say with the greatest SIN
cerlty, hat if had seen the gentleman from
Readfeid, in his seat, would not, on any ac
count, have made use of the word puppy.
$3.50.
ErasNT EEFCE ArsFTTD -